The difference between LLM courses is in the specialism prospective candidates are pursuing. No two LLMs are the same. An LLM in Human Rights Law, for example, will differ between universities as some offer more module choices than others. SOAS University allows its candidates to choose a Human Rights of Women module whereas the University of Nottingham has a specific module dedicated to United Nations Law. Prospective students should carefully think about the modules they will benefit from best. Lecturer experiences and course advantages will also differ between LLM providers. Those choosing the University of Sussex’s Information Technology and Intellectual Property LLM will benefit from visits to international organisations such as WIPO (subject to COVID-19 policies). Other universities offer specialised internships as part of their LLM programmes. As each university aims to set itself apart from their competitors, prospective candidates should explore the differences across providers.

It is also of importance to explore the career prospects of each specialism, as well as the career prospects amongst different universities. For example, Sports Law is gaining popularity as a practice, however, some believe that a specific Sports Law LLM may not be required to enter the field. As Sports Law forms multiple aspects of law (Contract Law, Intellectual Property and Employment Law), students should be wary of choosing such a narrow route where career prospects may not be guaranteed and may wish to pursue a more general route instead. Career prospects amongst universities also differ, as certain law firms may give preference to those from Russell Group universities. Some LLM courses offer internships as part of the programme which will improve the career prospects of their graduates. For more information visit the LLM sections of individual providers.

Commercial Law LLM

This LLM provides the opportunity to learn about business agreements, regulations, transactions, and current challenges in the field. Ideally for those who wish to specialise in commercial law and have some previous background in the area (e.g commercial law module in undergrad).  Modules by providers may include Banking Law, Tax Law, Economic Law IP Law, Trade Law, Human Rights Law amongst others.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Durham
  • University of Bristol
  • King’s College University of London
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Manchester
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • University Warwick
  • University College London
  • University of Westminster
  • University of Law
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Exeter
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Nottingham
  • City University
  • University of Law
  • University of Kent
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • National University of Ireland
  • University of Reading
  • University of Liverpool
  • Swansea University
  • University of Southampton
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Kingston University
  • University of Essex
  • University of Glasgow
  • University of Sussex
  • Leicester De Montfort University
  • SOAS University of London
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University of Lancaster
  • University of East London
  • University of York
  • University of Sheffield
  • Middlesex University London
  • University of Buckingham
  • University of Hertfordshire
  • Coventry University
  • Northumbria University
  • University College Cork
  • University of West of England
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Dundee
  • Maynooth University
  • BPP Law School
  • University of Salford
  • The Robert Gordon University
  • University of Limerick
  • University of East Anglia
  • London South Bank University
  • University of Leicester
  • University of Ulster
  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • University of Central Lancashire
  • Huddersfield University Business School
  • University of Sunderland
  • Keele University
  • The University of Northampton
  • University of Derby
  • Pallas Consortium
  • Bradford University
  • Bangor University
  • University of Wales
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Bedfordshire
  • University of Greenwich
  • Brunel University
  • University Newcastle upon Tyne
  • St Mary’s University
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • University of West London

Sports Law LLM

Sports Law is not a specific area of law. It includes a variety of legal areas such as sports management, labour law, contract law, sponsorship regulations, marketing, antitrust, and branding. Those wishing to get involved in different areas of law in a sports context might find this LLM suitable for them.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • De Montfort University
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of London

Environmental Law LLM

Given the current climate, environmental law is becoming increasingly popular. The main focus of this area is environmental protection, climate change regulations, renewable energy, and international frameworks.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • University College London
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • University of London
  • University of Law
  • City, University of London
  • BPP Law School
  • University of East London
  • London Metropolitan University
  • Birkbeck University of London
  • University of Birmingham
  • Kingston University
  • SOAS University of London
  • University of Lancaster
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Buckingham
  • Coventry University
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Stirling
  • The Robert Gordon University
  • University of Dundee
  • Swansea University
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University College Cork
  • Bangor University
  • University of Wales
  • Keele University
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of the West of England
  • University of Kent
  • University of Reading
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Leicester De Montfort University
  • University of Bedfordshire
  • University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Criminal Law LLM

The Criminal Law LLM suits those wanting to gain a detailed understanding of the UK and International criminal systems. Common modules across universities include Mental Health Law, Cybercrime, Terrorism, Corruption, EU/International Criminal Law, Human Rights, Criminal Law and Justice.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • University of Oxford
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Kent
  • Coventry University
  • Keele University
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Lancaster
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • University College London
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • BPP Law School
  • London South Bank University
  • Birkbeck, University of London
  • City, University of London
  • University of West London
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Wales
  • Bangor University
  • Queen’s University of Belfast
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Dundee
  • University of Southwales
  • National University of Ireland
  • University of Strathclyde
  • Maynooth University
  • University of Limerick
  • University of Sunderland
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • Teesside University
  • The University of Northampton
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Ulster

Public International LLM

This course focuses on international organisations, government agencies, and NGOs. Human Rights Law also forms an aspect of this field, those who are interested in both areas can elect it as a module. Other modules might include International Criminal Law, Trade Law, and International Arbitration.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • University of Oxford
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University College London
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Lancaster
  • University of Bristol
  • University of York
  • University of Westminster School of Law
  • City University
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Glasgow
  • Swansea University
  • University of East London
  • University of Durham
  • Maynooth University
  • University of Buckingham
  • Coventry University
  • University of Southampton
  • University of Leicester
  • Birmingham City University
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Manchester
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Essex
  • Cardiff University
  • Dublin City University
  • Queen’s University of Belfast
  • University of Exeter
  • London South Bank University
  • Bangor University
  • SOAS University of London
  • University of Manchester
  • University of York
  • Middlesex University London
  • Birkbeck, University of London
  • Keele University
  • University of Southwales
  • University of Reading
  • Griffith College Dublin
  • Brunel University
  • University of the West of England
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Warwick
  • The Robert Gordon University
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Newcastle upon Tyne
  • University of Liverpool
  • University of Wales
  • University of Hull
  • University of Central Lancashire
  • London Metropolitan University
  • University of Strathclyde
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • University College Cork
  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Ulster
  • Huddersfield University Business School
  • Bournemouth University
  • University of London – Institute of Commonwealth Studies
  • National University of Ireland
  • University of West London
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Derby
  • University of Sunderland

Human Rights Law LLM

This LLM is suitable for those interested in international treaties and agreements in relation to the fundamental rights of humans. Modules in this LLM might include International Criminal Law, Law and Indigenous Peoples, Rights of the Child amongst others.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • University of Oxford
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • The University of Law
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Leeds
  • Swansea University
  • University of Bristol
  • City, University of London
  • Leicester De Montfort University
  • University College London
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Aberdeen
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • University of Warwick
  • SOAS University of London
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Essex
  • University College Dublin
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • University of Kent
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University of Birmingham
  • University College Cork
  • BPP Law School
  • University of York
  • Birmingham City University
  • University of Dundee
  • University of Limerick
  • Griffith College
  • Coventry University
  • Queen’s University of Belfast
  • National University of Ireland
  • Birkbeck, University of London
  • University of Reading
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Lancaster
  • University of East London
  • Dublin City University
  • University of East London
  • University of Liverpool
  • Bangor University
  • London South Bank University
  • University of Leicester
  • University of London – Institute of Commonwealth Studies
  • Middlesex University London
  • University of Wales
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Sunderland
  • Brunel University
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • The University of Northampton
  • University of Southwales
  • University of Derby
  • Pallas Consortium
  • University of Ulster
  • Keele University

Cybersecurity Law LLM

Cybersecurity is less popular as a standalone LLM and many universities offer it as a single module as part of other LLM programmes. Only a handful of UK universities provide the Cybersecurity LLM . Some modules include Data Management, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Financial Service Regulations.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • Northumbria University
  • University of Manchester
  • The University of Law

Intellectual Property Law LLM

This LLM offers the chance to gain knowledge of copyright, patent, design, and trademark law. Often candidates also have the chance to study an Information Law or Digital Law module as part of this degree. Exploring the IP rights of indigenous peoples is another interesting aspect of this LLM.

Providers (in no particular ranking):

  • King’s College London
  • University College London
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Glasgow
  • The University of Law
  • University of Manchester
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Exeter
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Leeds
  • Swansea University
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Reading
  • University of Kent
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Hertfordshire
  • Bangor University
  • Bournemouth University
  • University of West London
  • Brunel University
  • University College Cork
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University of Derby

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