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LLM (General)

Key information
Additional information
Scholarships
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Summary

An LLM in law gives you the opportunity to decide which areas have the most relevance to your future career and to choose the four modules from all of our other programmes that most interest you. This is the ideal programme if you wish to gain Masters level knowledge and skills without limiting yourself to a particular branch of law.

Key facts

Type of Course: Taught

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Start date: September 2012

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a good Honours degree in law, or a degree in another discipline augmented with a pass in the Common Professional Examination, or a corresponding level of achievement in the case of applicants from other jurisdictions. Applications are welcomed from students whether home- or overseas-based.

International students
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements

Standard English language requirements apply

Contact details

The LLM Programme Secretary
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6290
Email: law-llm@bham.ac.uk

How to apply

Learn more about applying

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

Fees and funding

Standard fees apply
Learn more about fees and funding

Scholarships and studentships
For 2012 Birmingham Law School will be offering a range of scholarships to applicants for its taught LLM programmes.

up to £5,000 for international students (non-EU)
up to £2,000 for UK/EU students.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Applicants must already have applied for one of the taught LLM programmes. For more details click on the "Scholarships" tab.

For general information email sfo@contacts.bham.ac.uk

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

Programme overview

Why Study the LLM in Law at Birmingham?

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise puts Birmingham Law School 7th in the country for world-leading and internationally excellent research
Flexible programme where you choose modules to suit your interests and needs
Wide range of available modules across the legal spectrum
A vibrant intellectual environment with numerous high profile events
A range of available scholarships

The General LLM programme allows you to study modules across the full range of available subjects. This programme is particularly suitable to those seeking exposure to a range of legal disciplines, giving students expertise across the board and providing the skills and knowledge required for a successful legal career.

Programme content

You follow a modular programme (180 credits in total), which comprises six taught modules (20 credits each) and a dissertation of 15,000 words (60 credits); the latter to be submitted at the end of the year of study.

Students on the general LLM programme choose six modules from those available in all the other LLM programmes and write a dissertation on a subject of their choice.

The modules available are:

Students are also allowed to choose one of their six modules from those offered by the Political Science and International Studies department. Students may chose from the following list:

A full brochure on all our LLM programmes is available from: The LLM Programme Secretary; Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6290; Email: law-llm@bham.ac.uk or visit www.birmingham.ac.uk/llm.

Structure of the Birmingham LLM programme

Birmingham's LLM programmes have been designed to allow in-depth analysis of important legal topics. Modules are all 20 credits in length, comprising 10 two-hour seminars, to enable students to develop significant expertise which will enhance their career prospects.

Birmingham is able to offer small-group teaching on the LLM and students following popular modules with large numbers of students will receive (where possible) additional teaching time. For these additional hours large classes will be split in to two separate seminar groups in order to provide an equal opportunity for class interaction compared to those in smaller groups.

The LLM programmes last 12 months, running from September to September. All LLM programmes follow the same basic structure.

In part I of the programmes, you take six 20 credit modules: the range of choice depends on the programme you decide to follow. Assessment in those modules, by essay or formal examination, is in May and June.
In part II of the programmes, you research and write a 15,000-word dissertation on a selected topic of law under the supervision of a member of staff.

The LLM programmes enable you to develop expertise in a range of subjects. You will acquire a systematic understanding of these along with a critical appreciation of the problems that arise these fields. You will be encouraged to demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge together with a practical understanding of how established research techniques are used to create and interpret knowledge.

Law School induction

At the start of the course there is a two-day induction designed to help you settle in and gain an understanding of the LLM programme.

Students do not register for modules before arrival as we feel it is important that you are able to make an informed choice. As part of the induction process module leaders will give a detailed description of what their subject entails and you will have the option to attend any areas which you are interested in for the first two weeks of the course before having to submit a final decision.

Studying part-time

All the LLM programmes may be taken part-time and completed over a period of two years. This mode of study is particularly suitable for barristers and solicitors who wish to combine professional practice with university-level study, gaining CPD points in the process.

Classes for part-time students on the LLM will be scheduled between 9am-6pm and students will typically have between 2-4 hours of teaching each week. Fees are the same as for full-time study but are split over two years.

International students

International students are invited to participate in an orientation course run by the university’s International Office before the start of the academic session. For students from outside the UK, there are also lectures on the British constitution, sources of English law and the working methods of the common law system. The English for International Students Unit provides a range of support in reading and writing academic English.

LLM Scholarships

For 2012-2013 Birmingham Law School will be offering a range of scholarships to applicants for its taught LLM programmes.

up to £5,000 for international students (Non EU)
up to £2,000 for UK/EU students.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Applicants must already have applied for admission to the LLM degree.

Applying for a Scholarship

Applicants are required to send a letter of motivation to Mrs Sharon Jones (Law-LLM@bham.ac.uk) addressing the twin requirements of academic merit and financial need.

The closing date for the receipt of Scholarship applications is Friday, 22 June 2012.

Successful applicants will be notified in July 2012. Scholarships are not payable directly to successful applicants but are set off against the University fee invoice for 2012-2013 and will be transferred once successful applicants have paid the balance owed by them to the University.