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This programme offers a comprehensive exploration of international law focussing contemporary issues. Develop advanced analytical skills and gain expertise to address complex global legal challenges.
Overview
The LLM in International Law offers students the balance between specialised expertise and a strong grounding in Public International Law (PIL). The specialism covers a very broad range of PIL specialist subject areas in depth, and the Faculty’s teaching is deeply grounded in the general framework of international law. The programme is designed for a wide variety of students, all with a deep interest in human rights and the plethora of issues they generate.
Why choose this programme?
The specialism is hugely diverse, both in respect of the subjects offered on the programme, which is notable for its breadth and depth; and equally in respect of the profile of our students – who hail from around the world. The specialism is taught by leading experts in their field whose teaching is informed by their research and scholarship, ensuring that our PIL modules engage with current issues and controversies. Students can apply their classroom learning and engage in a wide range of PIL extra-curricular activities students, including the possibility of participating in the PIL Pro Bono Project, or in international law moots which the Faculty supports.
Who should apply?
Students interested in graduate study of PIL tend to have a deep commitment to progressing the rule of law in international relations. This specialism has attracted those who are interested in public and constitutional law, international law, others that have other specialist interests or career ambitions.
Some of our students have recently completed their undergraduate studies, and are looking to develop more specialised knowledge in a subject area they particularly enjoyed and want to work in. Some have a non-PIL background and are looking to change the focus of their career. Others have been working broadly in the field of international law, and want to further develop their expertise in particular sub-fields so as to enhance their future career prospects. Please visit our LLM applying and entry requirements page to find out the exact requirements for this programme.
Programme structure
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and tutorials. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, particularly for seminars and tutorials.
Assessment in taught modules is often by examination, an assessed coursework essay, or through a combination of both. There may be other forms of assessments such as oral presentations, output for audience or group projects.
During the programme, you will research and write a 9000 word Research Essay which counts towards your final grade.
- Full-time students
Terms one and two
During the first week of term one, you will attend the LLM Induction Programme, which includes a series of events to welcome you to UCL Laws and to UCL as a whole, and to complete your formal registration onto the LLM programme.
In the second week of term, you will begin your first classes.
There are ten weeks of classes per term, with a break for reading week after week five. Throughout the term, you will be able to take advantage of the wide range of events held within the faculty and across UCL, including special lectures, mooting, debating and activities organised by the UCL Graduate Law Society.
Term three
Your assessments, including any coursework essays are normally submitted in the first week of term three. All examinations take place during term three and can be scheduled at any time during this term. The examination schedule is published at the end of term two.
During the entire year from September to June you will work on your Research Essay (RE) which will be submitted at the end of term three.
- Part-time students
You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:
- Your degree will be completed over two academic years
- In your first year, you will take 90 credits of taught modules
- In your second year, you will take the remaining 45 credits of taught modules and the 45 credit Research Essay
- You will therefore complete module selection twice: once at the start of your programme and again in the summer before you return to your second and final year.
You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.
Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and flexi LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.
- Modular/flexible students
You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:
- You will have up to 5 academic years to complete your degree.
- You can plan how you would like to complete your 135 taught module credits over that 5 year period based on your personal circumstances (or earlier if you plan to complete the degree in fewer than 5 years).
- We will prompt you to select modules each year. You may wish to have a year or more where you do not take any modules; this is possible.
- It is recommended that you only complete your Research Essay at the end of your degree, in the same year that you are due to complete all of your taught module credits.
- You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.
Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and part-time LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.
Modules
Students will need to obtain a total of 180 credits consisting of taught modules and a research essay to successfully complete the programme. Students choosing a LLM specialist degree are required to select a minimum of 60 credits from the qualifying modules listed below. Students are required to write their Research Essay in the area of the specialism.
Students are advised to plan their modules choices and Research Essay carefully and in advance. You will select your modules at pre-enrolment, before arrival.
Below is an example of the suite of modules you can expect to chose from. The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please note that modules are subject to cancellation and change, including changes in module convenors and type of assessment and the modules listed below are to be confirmed for the 2025/26 session. Applicants and offer-holders are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates and changes prior to the start of the programme in September. Module places may be limited and will be subject to availability where there is a high demand and exceeds resources.
- Modules for LLM in International Law
Advanced Foundations of International Law of Foreign Investment
Decolonizing Law
Foreign Relations Law
Foundations and Principles of International Law
International and European Refugee Law
International and Global Environmental Law
International Commercial Litigation
International Criminal Law
International Human Rights Law
Law and Policy of International Trade and the Environment
- Modules across LLM Law
Access to Justice: Theory & Practice
Advanced Foundations of Environmental Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Aspects of National Security
Carriage of Goods by Sea
Commercial Remedies
Comparative Constitutional Law
Comparative Corporate Governance
Comparative Human Rights Law
Competition Law (EU & UK)
Competition Law, Regulation and the Intangible Economy
Constitutional Theory
Copyright and Related Rights, Law of
Corporate Finance
Corporations, Finance and the Environment
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions
Environmental Lawyering
Human Rights at Work
International and Commercial Trusts Law
International and Comparative Secured Transactions
International Arbitration
International Trade Law
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition A
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory A
Law and Policy of Climate Change
Law of Patents
Law, Economics and Society: The Foundations of Capitalism
Legal Aspects of International Finance
Liquidation and its Consequences
Marine Insurance Law
Principles of Civil Justice
Privacy, Data and Surveillance Law
Regulation of Financial Markets
The Law and Regulation of Banks and FinTech Services
The Rule of Law in the European Union
Trade Marks and Unfair Competition in the UK, Europe and the United States
Career Prospects
Students on this specialism have gone on to do the most extraordinary work. For example, UCL LLM alumni work for their governments (in the foreign office or international law section of the department of state or justice); work for international and non-governmental organisations which serve to protect human rights and the international rule-of-law the world over (in both policy and legal capacities); practice international law (for example international investment or trade law); and clerk for or intern with international courts and tribunals.