International Law

LLM

  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Discover the latest specialist knowledge from our experts

  • Your gateway to a wide range of rewarding careers

  • 6th in the UK for Research Impact (REF2021), 88% rated "outstanding"

Why Lancaster?

  • Develop the expertise you need to advance your career in international law
  • Benefit from our strong links to chambers and law firms across the UK, including Magic Circle firms in London
  • Choose from a wide range of optional modules that reflect our diverse range of legal expertise
  • Learn from world-class researchers and be the first to hear about our research into international human rights law, international commercial arbitration and the law of the United Nations
  • Carry out your own research to bring fresh insight into international law

As perspectives shift, we’re seeing significant developments in the way law operates at an international scale and how it can help us address pressing issues like the climate crisis. Be part of the change and specialise in this exciting area of the legal field.

Specialise in international law

Studying this course, you’ll be taught by world-leading experts in this field. Zone in on the rules and customs that govern inter-state relationships as you increase your knowledge and understanding of international law. Examine how the essential elements are used to shape the world we live in while exploring theory and practice.

Thanks to our diverse expertise you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules. What you focus on will depend on your interests – perhaps you want to take a closer look at the United Nations, or maybe you want to understand how terrorism threatens peace, stability and security.

Carry out research with confidence

Research is important for progress in law. You'll learn about their latest research from our expert academics. We'll also make sure you have all the skills you need to carry out your own research and investigate the issues that matter to you. We’ll look at different approaches and designs, as well as discussing ethics.

Your dissertation will focus on an area that is linked to a legal question or your career interests. Whenever you need support, you’ll be able to turn to your supervisor who will guide you through the process and help you confidently carry out your own research from start to finish.

Careers

By combining core modules with your choice of elective modules, you’ll graduate with an insight into a wide range of global issues while also being able to show employers your insight into international law.

You might decide to take the next step in your career. Or perhaps you’ll contribute to important legal research to help move forward understanding of this area.

The ability to critically evaluate research is in demand in both the public and private sectors. You might even unlock opportunities in international associations such as the UN and address matters on an international scale.

Our graduates work in a range of areas at organisations including:

  • Judicial services
  • Multinational corporations
  • NGOs
  • Charities

The LLM is also an ideal stepping stone for further studies at postgraduate research level (PhD/ MPhil) on issues that are prevalent in international law.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Law or any other subject.

We will also consider applications on an individual basis if you have lower qualifications, or a qualification that is not included on our list of international qualifications, or experience in professional legal practice.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home £11,500 £5,750
International £23,875 £11,935

General fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.