LLM in UK: All You Need to Know About Pursuing Masters of Law in the UK

Yocket Editorial Team

Jan 13, 2022

22 mins read

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Done with your undergraduate law degree? Keen on pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) degree? Then you should set your sights on the UK. Britain has some of the best colleges in the world that offer an LLM degree. If you are looking for world-class grooming and some envious career opportunities, then certainly keep LLM in UK in mind.

Of the top 5 best universities in the world for LLM, UK Law schools secure two spots. While you may have to pay between £19,5000 to £44,000 a year for the courses, you can expect to make double that amount once you graduate. Read on to find out about top universities for masters in law UK, the programs they offer,eligibility criteria, career opportunities post completion of the course and more.

Table Of Contents:

Masters in Law in the UK: A glance
Why study LLM in UK?
Different LLM courses in the UK
Eligibility criteria and admission requirements for LLM in UK
Documents required for LLM Admission in the UK
Cost of studying LLM in the UK
Top 5 universities offering LLM in the UK
Career opportunities after completing LLM in the UK
Frequently Asked Questions About LLM in the UK

Masters in Law in the UK: A Glance

Before we delve into why you should pursue a Masters in Law course in Great Britain, let’s look at the LLM course duration in UK and other important attributes.

Programs Offered	LLM, MSc Law
Mode	Full time degree
Duration	1-2.5 years
Cost	£19,5000 to £44,000 a year
Requirements	A first-class undergraduate honours degree in law Good score in English language proficiency exams, such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, etc.
Top Universities	University of Oxford University of Cambridge The London School of Economics and Political Science King's College London The University of Edinburgh
Top Specializations offered	Corporate Law Public Law Gender Studies International Law Environmental Law Criminology and Criminal Justice Innovation, Technology and the Law
Job Roles	Lawyer, solicitor, arbitrator, legal executive,legal writer

Now that you are aware of the basics of the LLM program in UK, let us understand why is it a good option:

Why Study LLM in UK?

LLM in UK for Indian students is a great option since Britain is known for its quality education — many of the top law schools are housed there. The country has had a pioneering role as far as establishing modern law goes. So, it only makes sense to direct yourself to a Masters in Law in the UK.

Here are other reasons to pursue LLM in UK:

There are over 75 universities that offer this program in the UK and Wales, each offering several interesting courses.
The four countries that make up the UK have different jurisdictions, which makes law interesting, considering it covers such a large base.

Top universities that offer Masters in Law UK are spread across the country, so you can either choose to study in a cosmopolitan or choose a quieter town.

All courses are taught in English, so you do not need to learn any additional language.’

While studying law in the UK, you will have access to practical methods of teaching and an opportunity to network with people from your field of study.

You get to choose from an endless list of specialisations including Gender Studies, European Law, International Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice, etc.

Having understood the benefits, it's time to take a look at the different types of LLM Courses in UK:

Different LLM Courses in the UK

Looking to return to India after completing the degree? Aspiring students can pick from a range of LLM courses in UK. This makes LLM in UK for Indian students a good option, since it allows them to practice law abroad.

Pick from several different courses that help you become among the topmost lawyers in India and abroad.

Listed below are some of the top courses on offer for LLM in UK:

Corporate Law
Commercial Law
Public Law
Gender Studies
International Law
European Law
Environmental Law
Human Rights Law
Law and Finance
Media Law and Ethics
Dispute Resolution
Medical Law
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Law and Finance
Innovation, Technology and the Law
Intellectual Property Law

Now that you have made up your mind to do LLM from UK, it’s important to look at the eligibility for LLM in UK for Indian students and other International students.

Eligibility Criteria and Admission Requirements for LLM in UK

The eligibility may vary slightly for each university, but the overall requirements are the same:

Let’s look at the LLM in UK requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree in Law, with a 65%-75% score. So, you can do LLM in UK after LLB in India
Good score in English language proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE etc.)
- TOEFL: 110 minimum overall score
- IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score
- PTE: 58
- C1 Advanced: 191 minimum overall score
- C2 Proficiency: 191 minimum overall score

Although the LSAT exam is not mandatory in all the universities offering LLM in UK, some may require you to qualify the exam.
While having work experience isn’t necessary, it does look good in an application.

Documents Required for LLM Admission in the UK

Before applying to any university for LLM, ensure that you have the following documents ready:

Completed application forms
Updated CV
Statement of Purpose
Transcripts
Letters of Recommendation
Score cards of the exams
Work experience certificates
Written work

Another factor to consider apart from eligibility and requirements is the cost of education. Let’s take a look at the cost of studying Masters of Law in UK -

Cost of studying LLM in the UK

The overall cost of studying Law in UK depends upon fees that your university charges and the lifestyle you choose. Therefore, the costs may thus be divided into two parts: Tuition fees and cost of living.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees of LLM in UK can be £19,5000 to £44,000 a year. Convert that into INR, and the cost of LLM in UK for Indian students can be around INR 43 lakh a year.

REMEMBER:

While the LLM in UK fees seems steep, consider this: once you complete a degree from any of the top universities in the UK, you can find a job as a barrister or solicitor in UK and earn as much as £83,000 a year. This is nearly double of what you spend a year.

Considering that the LLM duration in UK is between 1 and 2 years, the ROI for an Indian student is quite high.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in UK depends upon your lifestyle and preferences. An estimated cost for international students is £1,215 - £1,715 per month. It covers all amenities like housing, food, travel, stationery, recreational activities, etc.

Scholarships

There are several scholarships that one can apply to for UK universities. Securing one will greatly reduce the LLM in UK fees and up your ROI even further.

Here’s some scholarships that you can apply to:

International Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships
UBir India Outstanding Achievement Scholarships
Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarships
Global Excellence Scholarship
Humanitarian Scholarship

Now that we have covered all the prerequisites, costs and scholarships, let us know about the best universities in UK for LLM:

Top 5 Universities offering LLM in the UK

The UK is home to some of the best-ranking universities that offer LLM degrees. Online searches will throw up several results for LLM UK universities. But fret not, as we list some of the best universities for LLM in UK.

Here’s a quick look at the top universities in the UK for LLM:

University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
The London School of Economics and Political Science
King's College London
University of Edinburgh

Let us go into details of each university one by one:

1. University of Oxford (Oxford)

Oxford is one of the best universities to pursue Law degrees. It offers the Magister Juris, or MJur program, and several MSc programs. It is among the best for Finance, International Tax Law and Banking, and Securities Law.

QS Law & Legal Studies Ranking 2021	2
Average Tuition Fee	£15,165 to £42,120 / year
Programs Offered	MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice MSt International Human Rights Law MPhil Law MSc Law and Finance MJur Magister Juris MPhil Socio-Legal Research

2. University of Cambridge (Cambridge)

This is the second-oldest English-language university in the world, and it’s law school is one of the oldest worldwide. No wonder that it often comes up on the top in several rankings. The school offers an LLM, as well as a Masters in Corporate Law.

QS Law & Legal Studies Ranking 2021	3
Average Tuition Fee	££29,109 to £46,865 / year
Programs Offered	Master of Law (LLM) Master of Corporate Law

3. The London School of Economics and Political Science (London)

Among the largest departments at LSE is its Department of Law. One can explore a number of specialisms at LSE. The school is best known for International Tax Law, Competition Law, and Banking Law.

QS Law & Legal Studies Ranking 2021	6
Average Tuition Fee	£25,224 / year
Programs Offered	Masters of Law

4. King's College London (London)

Also ranked among the top 10 law schools in the UK, this college currently offers a range of LLM programs. They include International Finance Law, International Business Law and International Tax Law.

QS Law & Legal Studies Ranking 2021	16
Average Tuition Fee	£14,730 to £19,680 / year
Programs Offered	Masters of Law Law Research

5. University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

The University of Edinburgh offers a diersee both LLM and MSc programs. Given a wide range of legal masters programmes, students get an excellent opportunity to specialise in a particular area of the law, or to pursue a broader perspective at a more advanced level.

QS Law & Legal Studies Ranking 2021	23
Average Tuition Fee	£25,300 / year
Programs Offered	LLM Commercial Law LLM Corporate Law LLM Comparative and European Private Law LLM Human Rights LLM in Medical Law and Ethics

Once you secure an LLM degree in the UK, you can explore your career options in UK or in other countries. Let’s take a look at these possibilities.

Career opportunities after completing LLM in the UK

As a Law graduate, you can apply to work in Britain itself, in other parts of Europe, back in India or anywhere else in the world. This is because most universities that offer the course are well recognised worldwide.

There are many career paths. You could:

Find work in commercial law firms
Get into government and in-house counsel within companies
Go to the bar
Get into academia, either by pursuing a PhD or becoming a lecturer

Many choose to pursue their careers in the UK itself. This works out financially for them, considering they are able to pay off their student loans easily.

Below are some career options that you can consider after LLM UK universities and the average yearly income for each:

Job Title	Average Annual salary
Barrister	£25,000 to £100,000
Solicitor	£39,375 to £100,000
Paralegal	£55,000 to £70,000
Arbitrator	£65,000 to £100,000
Lawyer	£27,000 to £60,000

Pursuing an LLM degree from the UK can set you down a successful career path. You have a plethora of course choices to pick from and can have a lucrative career anywhere in the world. So, go through the information above and make the best choice regarding the specialisation and university. In case you need further assistance, reach out to Yocket Counsellors for expert advice.

This is everything you need to know about pursuing Masters in Law in UK. Before we wrap up, we have answered some of the commonly asked questions below:

Frequently Asked Questions About LLM in the UK

Is the UK a good country to pursue an LLM degree?

Ans. Yes, the UK is among the best countries for a LLM course, since it is a pioneer in modern law. Over 75 universities offer this program, which are spread across Britain.

What is the eligibility for Indian students?

Ans. A Bachelor’s degree in Law, a good score in English language proficiency exams (like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, etc.), a statement of purpose, transcripts and letters of recommendation. Work experience is preferred, but not necessarily mandatory.