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Master of Laws
LLM International and Comparative Law Online
An online Master of Laws (LLM) in International and Comparative Law, offered by The University of Law, is a postgraduate degree designed for law and non-law graduates to enhance your academic legal knowledge. This internationally recognised Master’s course will give you the skills to progress within international and comparative law and can open up pathways to careers such as policy advisors, NGOs, government agencies roles, in-house legal roles and more.
Key Facts
Duration Options
12 months (full-time)
24 months (part-time)
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Course Details
LLM International and Comparative Law Online
The LLM International and Comparative Law is an innovative, flexible programme that will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of international and comparative law in practice. You will explore the main legal families worldwide and the roles of legal personnel and courts within each family type. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore the issues of legal transplantation and convergence and consider comparative legal principles in the context of case studies selected from different fields of private law.
When you study the LLM International and Comparative Law with us you will:
- Be taught by our expert lecturers, including subject matter specialists, former and current practitioners, and research and teaching focused academics.
- Research and critically evaluate the key theories, concepts and principles of international and comparative law.
- Learn about the context within which international and comparative law operates and the interplay with other areas such as economics and politics.
- Gain an understanding of statutes, regulations and any other regulatory provisions.
- Benefit from strategic partnerships with firms, regulators and accreditation bodies, which inform our programme development.
- Improve your employability by gaining important transferable skills and mapping your career with our careers team.
- Strengthen your network - connect with other students, faculty and industry professionals on an international scale, and seek out opportunities for future placements and job opportunities.
- Increase your earning potential - the 2023 Graduate Labour Market Statistics found that postgraduates on average earn £5,000 more than their graduate counterparts.
- Get ahead of the competition - gain in-depth knowledge of your topic of interest and become a subject expert, which will provide you with a competitive edge in the job market.
- Prepare for the future of Legal Technology – study modules in legal technology and gain insight into this emerging area of law.
- Flexible study – studying at our online campus gives you the opportunity to work at your own pace and around your other commitments, within given deadlines, and at your preferred time of day. Our online workshops are taught live by our expert lecturers, but if you're unable to attend then you can catch-up with recorded sessions at a time to suit you.
- 94% of postgraduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
- Our online programmes will save you the time and money on commuting to and from campus and allow you to study anywhere, across devices, however you can be reassured that the course won’t be compromised on quality or be less demanding than our on campus courses.
Please note that, due to Home Office regulations, students who require a Student Route visa to study with us are not permitted to study online and can only choose face-to-face taught modules.
Upcoming Application Deadlines
It's not too late to apply for our February 2025 intake. The application deadline is Friday 31 January 2025.
Course Structure
Terms 1 & 2 (full-time) or 1-4 (part-time)
In addition to a general induction to the programme, there is a two-week induction covering the Key Principles of the English Legal System. This is compulsory for non-law students, but also open to students wanting a refresher in the fundamentals of the law of England and Wales. This would be useful for any student who has taken a considerable break from legal education.
Compulsory modules include:
- International and Comparative Law
- Research Methods Training to help you prepare for your dissertation
You may then choose three* from the list of elective modules which includes modules such as:
- Domestic Human Rights and Judicial Review
- International Human Rights
- Public International Law
View the elective module guide
*All elective modules are subject to availability.
Term 3 (full-time) or 5 & 6 (part-time)
Dissertation in International and Comparative Law.
Course Start Dates
February 2025
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LLM International and Comparative Law
- Full-time: Online
- Part-time: Online
September 2025
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LLM International and Comparative Law
- Full-time: Online
- Part-time: Online
Course requirements
The course demands show you the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments our course will involve.
Study On Campus
You can also study these courses at one of our campuses across the UK. If you’re looking for a more traditional university experience, why not consider studying on campus?
Course Information
Application and booking deadlines vary by intake - take a look at our key application and enrolment deadline dates for more information.
With so many options for studying this course, you can be sure to find a start date and study option to suit your needs.
Modules are assessed by a three hour unseen written examination or 4,500 word coursework assignment.
All assessments are conducted online.
The dissertation module will be assessed by submission of a thesis (15,000 words), and provides an opportunity for sustained, in-depth and intensive investigation into, and reflection upon, a specialist area of International and Comparative Law.
This online course has an innovatively flexible structure, with specific assessments that are conducive to effective learning.
The approach to learning and teaching on the Master of Laws programmes is predominantly learner-centred, with live workshops taught by our expert lecturers to encourage conversation and discussion. However, if you're unable to attend then you can catch-up with recorded sessions at a time to suit you.
Each taught module is divided into a number of Units which are presented using the Prepare, Engage, Consolidate approach.
Prepare: this represents all the work the student needs to complete before attending the relevant workshop. Traditional lecture content will be presented in short bite-sized segments of approximately 10 minutes to better engage the modern student. Guided independent research and reading will be expected as part of a student’s preparation.
Engage: this represents the interactive element of the Unit. This could be a face to face
workshop, a synchronous online workshop or an asynchronous online activity.
Consolidate: this represents the final part of the Unit and can be used by students to check their understanding of the Unit immediately after their Engage activity or as part of their revision for the module or both.
Employability We Set You Up For Success
We care about your career, which is why we offer support with job applications and other work experience opportunities as soon as you accept your place.
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Fees and Applying
You can apply for this course directly with the University.
This course cannot be chosen to study alongside our Legal Practice Course (LPC). For more information on the choice of Master's to study alongside our LPC, please visit the LPC page.
Please note: Our Master of Laws (LLM) programmes are not a direct route to qualification as a Barrister or Solicitor in the UK.
2024/25 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2024)
Online: £11,900 (or £11,400 including a £500 International Bursary*)
By studying a Master's degree you could be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £1000 Academic Master's Alumni Discount.
We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
