LLM in Comparative Law

Explore diverse legal systems and develop expertise in constitutional, corporate, human rights, and intellectual property law with the LLM Comparative Law.

Overview

Our rigorous LLM programme in Comparative Law is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of different legal systems and their approaches to legal issues. This programme will develop students’ critical thinking, comparative analysis, and a global perspective on law, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the advanced skills necessary to navigate and influence the international legal landscape. Core modules include Comparative Constitutional Law, Comparative Corporate Governance, and Comparative Human Rights Law, each offering insights into different legal frameworks and their practical applications.

This programme covers a wide array of topics, including constitutional structures, corporate governance mechanisms, human rights protections, competition regulation, intellectual property rights, secured transactions, and trademark law. By engaging with these diverse subjects, students develop a comprehensive understanding of how different jurisdictions address similar legal challenges, fostering a nuanced and informed perspective on global legal practices. The programme's emphasis on comparative analysis and critical evaluation prepares graduates for advanced legal practice, academic careers, and influential roles in policy-making and international organisations.

Highlights

Complete your LLM degree in just 10 months when studying full-time, giving you a head start in industry
Our location in the heart of legal London provides you with a unique opportunity to draw on the resources of the centre of the UK’s government, legal and financial communities.
Gain practical skills with pro-bono opportunities offered at the Centre for Access to Justice, allowing you to provide legal advice and give back to the local community.
Develop your skills and legal knowledge by taking part in mooting and debating competitions.
Access specialist careers support from our in-house Careers Consultant.
Be a part of our global student community and take advantage of our unrivalled Graduate Law Society which delivers an outstanding programme of activities and events each term.

Why choose this programme?

Studying Comparative Law offers a global perspective on a wide range of legal systems, specialising in constitutional, corporate, human rights, and intellectual property law. This program enhances career prospects by developing advanced skills and insights valued by employers such as law firms, international organisations, NGOs, and government agencies. Studying within our Faculty ensures learning from leading legal experts where research informs education. This Comparative Law LLM has one of the most comprehensive offerings allowing students with the opportunity to specialise in their areas of interest and pursue modules that will advance their careers. Emphasising comparative analysis and critical evaluation, the programme fosters advanced legal reasoning and adaptability, preparing graduates for diverse legal challenges in a globalised world.

Who should apply?

This specialism attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including: recent law graduates who are looking to specialise in comparative law; practicing lawyers looking to advance in their fields or further specialise; and legal practitioners looking to enhance their career opportunities in multinational law firms, international organisations, NGOs, or government agencies. Please visit our LLM applying and entry requirements page to find out the exact requirements for this programme.

Applying and entry requirements | Fees, funding and scholarships | Frequently asked questions | Information for offer holders

Programme structure

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and tutorials. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, particularly for seminars and tutorials.

Assessment in taught modules is often by examination, an assessed coursework essay, or through a combination of both. There may be other forms of assessments such as oral presentations, output for audience or group projects.

During the programme, you will research and write a 9000 word Research Essay which counts towards your final grade.

Full-time students

Terms one and two

During the first week of term one, you will attend the LLM Induction Programme, which includes a series of events to welcome you to UCL Laws and to UCL as a whole, and to complete your formal registration onto the LLM programme.

In the second week of term, you will begin your first classes.

There are ten weeks of classes per term, with a break for reading week after week five. Throughout the term, you will be able to take advantage of the wide range of events held within the Faculty and across UCL, including special lectures, mooting, debating and activities organised by the Graduate Law Society.

Term three

Your assessments, including any coursework essays are normally submitted in the first week of term three. All examinations take place during term three and can be scheduled at any time during this term. The examination schedule is published at the end of term two.

During the entire year from September to June you will work on your Research Essay (RE) which will be submitted at the end of term three.

Part-time students

You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:

Your degree will be completed over two academic years In your first year, you will take 90 credits of taught modules In your second year, you will take the remaining 45 credits of taught modules and the 45 credit Research Essay.

You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.

Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and flexi LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.

You will therefore complete module selection twice: once at the start of your programme and again in the summer before you return to your second and final year.

Modular/ flexible students

You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:

You will have up to 5 academic years to complete your degree. You can plan how you would like to complete your 135 taught module credits over that 5 year period based on your personal circumstances (or earlier if you plan to complete the degree in fewer than 5 years).

Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and part-time LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.

We will prompt you to select modules each year. You may wish to have a year or more where you do not take any modules; this is possible. It is recommended that you only complete your Research Essay at the end of your degree, in the same year that you are due to complete all of your taught module credits. You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.

Modules

Students will need to obtain a total of 180 credits consisting of taught modules and a research essay to successfully complete the programme. Students choosing a LLM specialist degree are required to select a minimum of 60 credits from the qualifying modules listed below. Students are required to write their Research Essay in the area of the specialism.

Students are advised to plan their modules choices and research essay carefully and in advance. You will select your modules at pre-enrolment, before arrival.

Below is an example of the suite of modules you can expect to chose from. The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please note that modules are subject to cancellation and change, including changes in module convenors and type of assessment and the modules listed below are to be confirmed for the 2025/26 session. Applicants and offer-holders are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates and changes prior to the start of the programme in September. Module places may be limited and will be subject to availability where there is a high demand and exceeds resources.

Modules for LLM Comparative Law

Modules across LLM Law

Current schedule of modules for 2024/25

The current schedule of modules for 2024/25 can be seen here.

Career prospects

UCL LLM graduates are highly sought after and possess a distinct competitive advantage, well equipped to pursue rewarding career opportunities. Our alumni go on to work in a range of specialist areas and industries which include major law firms, investment banks, charities and UK and international governments. This specialism will also provide you with an excellent foundation if you wish to go onto further research or pursue a PhD in comparative law and work in academia.