LL.M. University of London

Master of Laws University of London

At the University of London students have been studying the Master of Laws programme since 1925. It is designed for both legal and non-legal professionals. The programme provides graduates with profound knowledge of legal cultural contexts and gives them the abilities to research legal matters effectively.

It also offers the possibility of improving one’s forensic legal skills such as analysis, critical evaluation or logical thinking. By participating in the program students have the opportunity to develop skills to also deal intellectually with the most complex legal problems.

The Master of Laws of the University of London is designed as long distance learning programme. Therefore students don’t have to travel to London every couple of weeks to personally sit in class during the modules. In fact the programme does not require personal attendance in London at all. Neither the topics of the module are taught in class nor do teachers provide academic feedback in person. However, students have the possibility to learn by themselves – wherever and whenever it suits them best.

For each module, they get extensive written or web-based study material which has been developed by experienced researchers at Queen Mary and UCL’s Law departments and which has been optimized for distance learning purposes.

Based on experience one can assume that each module requires approximately 115 hours of self-studying before the student is likely to pass the module exam. Therefore students need to invest roughly 1.840 hours of studying to cover the topics of the required 16 modules in four different courses. Twice a year, May and October, students can sit their exams about the topics of the previous modules. For this, participants visit one of the numerous local examinationcentres which the University of London runs throughout the world. Students who wish to do the exams in one or more modules have to apply before 31 July and enrol by 10 November if they aim to sit the exam the following May.
In case they wish to attend the examinations in the October period, applications have to be submitted by 31 January and enrol by 15 April.

The University of London offers a broad variety of courses from which participants may choose. The courses cover most fields of interest such as Admiralty Law, Law of Treaties, International Economic Law, Human Rights of Women, Derivatives Law or Youth Justice. Students pick four of these courses which usually consist of four modules.
They have the option to combine Admiralty Law with Commercial Banking Law or any other course to their heart’s desire.
If students prefer to specialize they might want to choose three courses within one field of specialisation. For instance, if they wish to deepen their knowledge in Banking and Finance Law, they have the option to choose three of the following courses:

• International and Comparative Trust Law
• International Economic Law
• International Trade Law
• Law of Financial Crime
• Law on Investment Entities
• Private Law Aspects of the Law of Finance
• Securities Law

The fourth course needn’t be part of this specialisation. After graduation the participants receive their Master of Laws degree in their specialisation.

Specialisations and Flexibility

Participants have the freedom to choose when and how long they wish to study.
The timeframe for the exams of each of the 16 modules is up to five years.
Yet students have the possibility to stop their studies for months in case they have to shift priorities for a while and focus on their business career. It goes without saying that the programme can be put on hold any time in case students become parents and need to focus on their family.

Admissions Process

Since the University of London’s Master of Laws programme is designed as a long-distance learning programme without any personal attendance to modules students decide when they wish to start.

• Only applicants who meet the admissions requirements can apply
• The applicant completes the online application form: There they name each of their qualifications and upload verified copies of their documents. After completion the form can be submitted
• Within 24 hours the University of London sends a message of acknowledgment as well as a student number which applicants and students are advised to use for communication with the University
• Within five workdays the University of London informs the applicants if their application was successful or not. In case the applicant chose to post the copies directly to the University it will take more time for the Board to consider.
• If the application was successful the applicant will receive an offer of registration which explains that the student has one year to enrol from this point of time.
  Besides, the student gets further instructions for completing the online registration as well as for the payment procedure.
• The student fully enrols by completing the payment and the online registration process.
• The student starts the programme

Conclusion

For almost 90 years the University of London has been offering Master of Laws programmes by distant learning.
Participants benefit from this long-standing experience and the flexibility of the programme: Students enjoy the flexibility to study whenever and wherever. They simply have to pass the exams following the sixteen modules.

In addition to this, students have the option to organize their studies by themselves. In case their family requires more time or their professional careers dictate a more intense period of time, it is no problem at all to leave the programme for a couple of months.

Yet participants need to be very motivated to revise all of the topics by themselves.
It is strongly advised that students who would prefer to receive information by lecturers or enjoy working with other students in team-work projects reconsider their choice since they might feel more comfortable with a different scheme and a different university.
The same is true for students who wish to strengthen their business network with this programme. Since it is designed and layed out solely as long-distant learning programme which will be performed by the students on their own the chances to meet fellow students is rather limited.

Further informations at londoninternational.ac.uk/llm