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LLM Applying and Entry Requirements

Our entry requirements and guidance to help you successfully complete your LLM application.

UCL’s online application portal for graduate programmes allows you to track the status of your application, resend reference requests, update your contact details, and receive decisions on your application. Take a look at UCL’s How to Apply Guide.

Please note that applications for the LLM programmes for 2025/26 entry opened on 14 October 2024.

Entry Requirements

IELTS or IELTS Indicator: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 7 in each of the subtests

UCL International Pre-Master’s Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the four elements of the examination

UCL Pre-Sessional English Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the subtests

TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition: Overall score of 109 with 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening. Please note that TOEFL iBT MyBestScore is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement. UCL's institution code for TOEFL is 9163.

 

Academic entry requirements

Entrants to the UCL LLM programme must have ‘a good 2.1 with evidence of 1st class ability’ (or equivalent in other jurisdictions), and must provide evidence in their application of motivation, reasoning and analytical ability and communication skills. Please refer to the UCL Graduate Prospectus for international equivalent qualifications.

‘A good 2.1’ shall normally mean an average of at least 65% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study, and ‘evidence of 1st class ability’ shall normally mean at least one 1st class mark (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) over the entire degree.

We may be willing to consider applicants who are close to, but do not meet these quantitative criteria, where space on the programme allows. Such applicants must demonstrate that they excel in motivation, analytical and reasoning ability and communication skills. This needs to be demonstrated across the personal statement and the written work. Applicants with less than an average of 62% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study will not normally be considered under these criteria.

You need a law qualification to be considered for the LLM, i.e. Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Juris Doctor (JD), Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). In very exceptional circumstances, graduates without a law qualification but with work experience will be considered, although this is a very uncommon route to the programme. In these instances, experience must be relevant and a minimum of five years.

Graduates whose first degree is not in law will be considered for admission if they have an average of 65% across all years of undergraduate study, plus an average of at least 65% plus at least one mark over 70% in the Graduate Diploma in Law recognised by UK professional bodies (achieved or in progress). Alternatively, graduates whose first degree is not in law will be considered if they have an average of 65% across all years of undergraduate study, plus have successful completed studies on a Solicitors Qualifying Examination full time programme of at least 12 months duration, usually resulting in a Masters qualification equivalent to a Merit classification with an average of 65% in all assessments, including a pass in the SQE on first attempt.

English language requirements

If you are not a national of a country deemed by the UK Home Office to be "majority English speaking", you are required to show that your command of the English language is sufficient to meet the demands of the degree programme. The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

Please note that the test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment and the required scores must be achieved within a single test.

We accept the following English language proficiency tests:

IELTS or IELTS Indicator: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 7 in each of the subtests

UCL International Pre-Master’s Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the four elements of the examination

UCL Pre-Sessional English Course: 75% overall, with a minimum of 70% in each of the subtests

TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition: Overall score of 109 with 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening. Please note that TOEFL iBT MyBestScore is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement. UCL's institution code for TOEFL is 9163.

We may also accept the following as evidence of your English language proficiency:

UCL Laws may also accept evidence of recent substantial academic education in a country that UCL considers to be "majority English-speaking" (usually a minimum of three years, for example, a three year degree course) undertaken no more than the summer two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. The list of "majority English-speaking" countries can be found on the main UCL English language requirements page.

We do not accept work experience as evidence of English language proficiency for the LLM.

UCL Laws reserves the right, in individual circumstances, to specify an additional language requirement for an applicant. UCL also reserves the right, after acceptance, to require any student to withdraw from UCL if, in the opinion of the relevant teacher, the student’s proficiency in English is inadequate.

 

 

UCL Pre-sessional English courses
We would urge you to take a language test in your own country in order to meet the English language condition. If it is not possible for you to complete a language test in your country, you may be able to take a pre-sessional English course at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education. These courses are very popular, so please check availability and your eligibility for the programmes in advance. Visit the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education website for further details of courses, tuition fees, and how to apply.
We do not accept results from any language centre other than UCL. If you do take a pre-sessional English language course elsewhere, you will need to sit/resit one of the tests above in order to meet the English language requirement.
We do not accept work experience as evidence of English language proficiency for the LLM.
UCL Laws reserves the right, in individual circumstances, to specify an additional language requirement for an applicant. UCL also reserves the right, after acceptance, to require any student to withdraw from UCL if, in the opinion of the relevant teacher, the student’s proficiency in English is inadequate.
In accordance with UK Visas and Immigration requirements, students who require a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa to enter the UK must meet these English language requirements.
We may also accept the following as evidence of your English language proficiency:
UCL Laws may also accept evidence of recent substantial academic education in a country that UCL considers to be "majority English-speaking" (usually a minimum of three years, for example, a three year degree course) undertaken no more than the summer two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. The list of "majority English-speaking" countries can be found on the main UCL English language requirements page. 

When to apply

Applications for 2025/26 entry opened on 14 October.

We run a rolling admissions process, meaning that once places for the programme are allocated, we sometimes close applications early. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The deadline for those who will need a visa to study is 4 April 2025.

The deadline for those who do not need a visa to study is 29 August 2025.

What you need to apply

Academic Transcripts: Provide scanned or digital transcripts (with certified English translations if necessary). Include all marks if still studying.

Personal Statement: Tell us about yourself and what your motivations are. Submit a statement up to 3000 characters via the text box or upload a document (max two A4 pages, size 12 font). It is important that your personal statement addresses each of the bullet points listed below. 

What we look for in your application:

  • Why you would like to study Law at graduate level?
  • Why you would like to study Law at UCL Laws?
  • How does your academic and professional background meet the demands of the programme?
  • How can graduate study help your professional ambitions?
  • What taught modules you are interested in studying?
  • For LLM students, why you have chosen your particular specialism (if applicable)?
  • What field you would like to explore in your Research Essay?

Written Work: Submit a 750-word essay on a contemporary legal topic, demonstrating reasoning, analytical ability, and communication skills. You should upload this as an ‘additional document’ under the Education tab on the application portal, entitled ‘written work’.

Referencing and footnotes are not included in your word count. Plagiarism detection software may be used to check submitted work. 

Reference: One academic reference is required. Ensure your referee is aware and has a valid email. Once you have completed your application, your referee will receive a secure link via email to complete their reference. They will need to submit their reference via the online system within two weeks of the deadline. 

Your referee should be someone who can comment upon your suitability for the programme and is acquainted with your academic ability, research and writing skills.

Assessing your application

Successful applicants will receive a formal offer signed by the UCL Academic Registrar. This letter will indicate whether the offer is unconditional or conditional. In order to secure your place on the programme, a tuition fee deposit is required by the deadline outlined on your offer letter.

The application process involves several stages:

  • Initial review by UCL Central Admissions to ensure it is complete. 
  • Assessment of the qualifications by the LLM Admissions team to see if you meet the entry requirements set out on the website. If a document is missing the team will contact you to upload it. Your application will not be assessed until all documents are supplied.
  • The LLM Admissions team (including academic admissions tutors) will assess your application and either recommend you for an offer or a rejection and refer your application back to the Central Admissions team.
  • Final decision by the Central Admissions team. 

Make sure to regularly check your application portal and email for updates. Given the volume of applications we receive, it can take at least 10 working weeks, upon receiving an acknowledgement email confirming that your application is complete, to make a decision on your application. 

For efficient service, please refrain from contacting the Laws Graduate Office about your application status during these 10 weeks. If you have not received a notification after this period, you can reach out to the LLM Admissions team with your application ID.

 

Further information

For questions about the application process or the LLM courses please look at our frequently asked questions page. 

To speak to our team visit the contact us page.

Application fee

 

The LLM programme application fee for 2024/25 is £90.

Applicants applying to the LLM should submit only one application - either for the general LLM or a specialism per academic year. If multiple applications are received, we will only accept the first which was submitted and withdraw the subsequent others. Application fees will not be refunded. If you would like to study an LLM with a specialism, you should apply to that particular route. If you do not wish to specialise or are unsure, apply for the general LLM.