Law

LLM

  • Entry year 2026
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years
Apply now
Open days
Request a prospectus

Overview

Ready to advance in your career? Or start your journey into the legal profession? Whether you’re new to the field or want to take your career trajectory to the next level, with our LLM you’ll work with our leading academics to gain essential legal skills and in-depth technical knowledge. You’ll have the flexibility to choose from modules that match your interests and ambitions, as you prepare for your next career move.

Why Lancaster?

  • Learn from our leading academics and their up-to-the-minute research into matters of national and international importance in the field of law
  • Be inspired by innovative teaching delivered by award-winning educators
  • Prepare for a legal role – gain core knowledge along with insight into specialist areas
  • Follow your interests and tailor the course with your choice of modules and areas of focus
  • Benefit professionally from our strong links to chambers and law firms across the UK, including Magic Circle firms in London

Prepare for your future

On our LLM Law you will explore how Law shapes society and vice versa. You will develop your legal skills and proficiency in law and legal studies, and you’ll acquire the expertise you need to access a wide range of career options.

The course is suitable for you if you are:

  • Aiming to work in the legal sector and need a wider, critical appreciation of the law
  • Already working in the legal system and want a higher-level qualification
  • Looking for in-depth knowledge in technical legal areas
  • Needing to enhance your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
  • Wishing to progress to a PhD in law or a related subject

Expert legal team

You’ll be taught by leading academics who carry out research in a variety of areas including international law and human rights, corporate and commercial law, law and society, and more. They have expert, detailed knowledge of the legal landscape and technicalities, and are abreast of current developments around the world. This ensures that what we teach you about legal, jurisprudential, and socio-legal issues is always informed by the latest practice. You'll find your tutors are accessible to you. They are committed to delivering innovative, inspiring teaching and focussed on providing excellent student support.

A tailored approach

From human rights breaches to commercial disputes and breaches of regulations, law permeates all spheres and sectors. On this course you will have the flexibility and freedom to choose modules that match your interests and ambitions, without necessarily committing to a particular area or cluster of laws.

In your dissertation, you will carry out your own investigation and analysis to bring fresh insight into a key legal question or issue that fascinates you. To do this you’ll use your knowledge of theoretical approaches to the study of law, and you’ll receive guidance on research design and ethics from your academic supervisor.

Previous students have chosen topics such as terrorism, breaches of human rights in the garments industry, and legal issues in VR and the metaverse.

Boost your career

You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with the public in our Legal Advice Clinic. And we’ll ensure you have the opportunity to build your professional network via our strong links to chambers and law firms across the UK, including Magic Circle firms in London.

Whether you wish to advance your existing career or start a new journey into a law-focused career, or even follow the path of advanced academic study, the LLM Law programme will prepare you through developing your skills and expertise in law and legal studies.

Careers

On the LLM Law you’ll build a network of academics, peers and alumni. These connections will help broaden your perspective, boost your expertise, and prepare for whatever you decide to do next.

You can choose to take the next step in your career, contribute to important legal research or enhance your existing role. The skills of critical thinking, research evaluation and effective communication are in demand in both public and private sectors and within and outside of the legal profession.

Our graduates work in a range of organisations including:

  • Law Firms
  • NGOs
  • Charities
  • Judicial services
  • Academia
  • Consultancy services
  • International corporations

To show our commitment to your success, we work with two Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) training providers – Barbri and BPP. These organisations provide out students with discounts, free training modules, masterclasses and events, and careers advice.

This course is also the ideal stepping stone to PhD study, where you can carry out in-depth research into an area of law that interests you.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas. Our specialist Employability team is ready to support you, whether you are starting out your career after leaving higher education or returning to university to open up new career options.

We provide individual employability advice, application support, career events, development opportunities and resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals. We also run a paid internship scheme specifically for arts, humanities and social sciences students.

The Lancaster Award is available to all postgraduate taught students and recognises work experience, volunteering and personal development alongside your studies. Developed with employers, it helps you reflect on key skills, boost your CV and articulate your strengths with confidence.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability

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

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

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.

Optional

optional modules accordion

Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home n/a n/a
International n/a n/a

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

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.

Scheme Based on Amount
Based on {{item.eligibility_basis}} Amount {{item.amount}}

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

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.