Gain essential in-depth knowledge and insight in your chosen area of law and understand the importance of legal rules as they are applied in the real world.
Make an Enquiry
Master of Laws
LLM Journalism and the Law
A Master of Laws (LLM) in Journalism and the 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 the media law and journalism industry and can open up pathways to careers including in-house legal, and compliance manager roles.
Key Facts
STUDY ONLINE
If you’re looking for a more flexible approach to your studies, why not consider our online study option?
Course Details
LLM Journalism and the Law
The LLM in Journalism and the Law is an innovative and flexible programme that examines how law and legal issues are represented in the media, as well as the legal and regulatory principles that govern their reporting. You will explore topics such as the reporting of court proceedings, including reporting restrictions, the concept and practice of open justice, and the coverage of law-making processes and constitutional issues. The programme will provide you with in-depth knowledge of key issues affecting the reporting of law and legal matters, along with the skills to apply complex legal rules to real-world challenges.
When you study the LLM Journalism and the 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.
- Learn about the context within which legal ethics operates and interplays with other areas such as economics and politics.
- Research and critically evaluate the key theories, concepts and principles of legal ethics as applied in the UK.
- 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.
- Enjoy flexibility - We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. That’s why we offer a wide range of study modes (full-time, part-time, on campus, online) across our courses to provide you with the greatest choice and flexibility you need to succeed in your studies.
- 94% of postgraduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
- Prepare for the future of Legal Technology – study modules in legal technology and gain insight into this emerging area of law.
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
Applications for September 2025 are now open.
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:
- Journalism and the Law
- Media Law, Defamation & Privacy
- Research Methods Training to help you prepare for your dissertation
You may then choose two* from the list of elective modules which includes modules such as:
- Data Protection and Intellectual Property
- 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 Journalism and the Law
Course Start Dates
September 2025
-
LLM Journalism and the Law
- Full-time: London Bloomsbury
- Part-time: London Bloomsbury
February 2026
-
LLM Journalism and the Law
- Full-time: London Bloomsbury
- Part-time: London Bloomsbury
Online
Study LLM Journalism and the Law Online starting September 2025 or February 2026
Course requirements
The course demands show you the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments our course will involve.
Study Online
If you’re looking for the perfect combination of a flexible study programme to fit around your other commitments together with the benefit of our expertise, experience and employability focus, why not consider our online study option?
open daysUpcoming Dates
Jan 7th
Law Conversion Courses Open Day (Birmingham Campus)
Postgraduate
17:00 - 19:30
Birmingham
Jan 7th
Legal Practice Course Open Day (Birmingham Campus)
Postgraduate
17:00 - 19:30
Birmingham
Jan 7th
SQE Courses for Law Graduates Open Day (London Moorgate Campus)
Postgraduate
17:00 - 19:30
London Moorgate
next open day
16d 22h 3m
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 Journalism and the Law.
The 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. 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.
Discover more
Find a career that suits you
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.
2025/26 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2025)
Domestic students
London: £14,000
Outside of London: £12,400
Non-domestic students
London: £19,050 (or £16,050 including a £3,000 International Bursary*)
Outside of London: £17,700 (or £15,200 including a £2,500 International Bursary*)
By studying a Master's degree you could be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever.
If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £1000 Academic Master's Alumni Discount.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
If you are an international student and are coming to the UK to study, then you must apply to the Home Office for a visa. In most cases you will need to obtain a Student Route visa. In order to apply for this visa you must be sponsored by an education provider which is licensed by the UK Home Office.
The Home Office has also introduced a Graduate Work visa which allows Graduates to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career in the UK for 2 years post completion of a UK degree. The Graduate route is an unsponsored visa, meaning students will not need a job offer to apply for this visa.
Please note that the University does not currently provide visa sponsorship to students for part-time study. We also cannot sponsor students for online courses due to Home Office regulations.
