School of Law, Gender and Media & Centre for the Study of Colonialism, Empire and International Law

LLM International Law

Key information

Duration
One year (full-time), two or three years (part-time)
Start of programme
September
Location
Campus
Fees

Home: £15,740
International: £26,770

Course code
M3U1
Entry requirements

A 2:1 degree in a relevant undergraduate degree.  

If you have a lower degree classification, your application may be considered if you can present a strong case, either through relevant work experience, other legal qualifications, or a strong supporting statement. References are not required, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:1 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications. 

See international entry requirements and English language requirements.

Course overview

The SOAS LLM in International Law provides a diverse and unique range of courses that interrogate critically the theory and practice of international law and explore cutting edge topics of contemporary significance particularly as they relate to the global south.

At SOAS you will not only gain fresh insights into the fundamentals of international law; you will have the opportunity to engage with issues that reflect the research specialisms of our expert teaching staff.

Why study LLM International Law at SOAS?

  • We are ranked in the UK top 20 (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • We are ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • Our research publications have been rated first in the UK - and our School of Law rated sixth in the UK - in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
  • The LLM in international law adopts an innovative, interdisciplinary, and critical approach to teaching and learning that draws on the wider international community of academics, legal practitioners and NGOs both in London and internationally
  • We deploy a range of innovative teaching and learning methods including: student-led research conferences, student blogs; meet-the-author book review sessions; film reviews; re-enactments of historic international legal events; international law mooting or pleading; and simulated peace negotiations
  • You will join the International Law Master Class. This is a non-assessed course designed to build a research community and nourish your legal research and writing skills, your powers of critical thinking, and your international legal imagination

Centre for the study of Colonialism, Empire and International Law (CCEIL)

International Law occupies a central place in the SOAS School of Law and the SOAS School of Law occupies a central place in the wider international law community in London and internationally. The School of Law is home to the Centre for the study of Colonialism, Empire and International Law (CCEIL) – a hub for inter-disciplinary collaboration and research on international law and its historical and contemporary relationship to colonialism and empire. 

As a post-graduate student on the LLM programme you will be invited to become a member of the Centre and join a vibrant research community of international legal scholars and a diverse community of students from all over the world. 

Together with our Doctoral students, you will have the opportunity to play a role in CCEIL’s research and other activities: hosting the Student Salon; assisting with CCEIL’s events; and organising Afternoon Teas as part of the International Law Master Class. You will also benefit from the various collaborations with other research communities in the Law School, at SOAS and beyond. 

Why you?

This programme is ideal for LLB or other graduates from a related discipline as well as legal or other professionals with an interest in the theory and practice of international law, particularly as it relates to the global south. You will join an international alumni of graduates from the LLM at SOAS many of whom are now working at the UN, in NGOs, in government, in private practice, in policy work or in academia. 

Please note that the LLM is open to applicants from different disciplines and is not restricted to applicants who hold an UK law degree or international equivalent.  

Global Partnerships

This programme can be offered as part of a dual LLM degree with a number of our partnering Universities. 

For further information about our LLM Dual degree partnerships, please visit Global Partnerships.

Structure

Students must take modules to a total value of 180 credits, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules. Taught modules are worth either 15 or 30 credits. Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM are required to take at least 60 credits associated with their specialised LLM, and the dissertation topic will be undertaken within the LLM specialisation.

Please note that not all modules listed will be available every year. 

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. 

Compulsory module

Specialist pathway options

Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM in International Law are required to take at least 60 credits from the following list. 

General Law options

Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM in International Law are required to take at least 30 credits from the following list. 

Open options

Students who wish to graduate with a specialised LLM in International Law must take an additional 30 credits from either the specialist pathway list, the general law option list or SOAS open options.

Teaching and learning

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

We recommend that part-time students have between two-and-a-half and three days a week free to pursue their course of study. 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Students will acquire specialist knowledge of international law.
  • This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, knowledge and understanding of the following:
    1. the theoretical and practical underpinnings of international law;
    2. the context in which law is made, interpreted, adjudicated, and amended;
    3. the role played by law, particularly international law in different areas;
    4. the role and function of legal institutions in managing international law
    5. the weight and significance of different sources and methodologies.
  • Students will develop knowledge of how to locate relevant materials and assess their relevance and/or importance.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

  • Students should develop rigor in analysis and assessment of legal arguments.
  • Students should develop the ability to understand, summarise and critically assess differing perspectives on theoretical debates.
  • Students should develop independence of thought and the confidence to challenge the accepted wisdom.
  • Students should learn to identify issues and formulate questions for further research through independent work.
  • Students will be encouraged to bring to bear their own previous experience and knowledge in addressing legal issues in an interdisciplinary manner.

Subject-based practical skills

The programme will help students develop the ability to:

  • Write clear research essays and dissertations.
  • Research in a variety of specialised research libraries and institutes and online, and retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources.
  • Present seminar papers and defend the arguments therein.
  • Discuss ideas introduced during seminars.
  • Develop essay and dissertation research questions.
  • Read legal source materials rapidly and critically.
  • Present legal arguments in moots and debates.

Transferable skills

The programme will enable students to:

  • Communicate effectively in writing.
  • Structure and communicate ideas and arguments effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Read and comprehend significant quantities of reading rapidly and effectively and develop critical faculties.
  • Find and use a variety of written and digital materials, especially legal materials, in libraries and research institutes.
  • Present (non – assessed) material orally.
  • Develop teamwork skills.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resource

Scholarships

Title Deadline date
Tibawi Trust Award
Felix Non-Indian Scholarship
Felix Scholarships
Sasakawa Studentships
SOAS Master's Scholarships

Employment

Our Law graduates have found the LLM a vital boost to their work as legal professionals and that this Law Masters is an excellent base for further study towards a research degree such as a PhD leading to an academic career.

Careers

SOAS Law graduates work for organisations including:

  • Allen & Overy
  • Clifford Chance
  • Baker McKenzie
  • United Nations
  • Linklaters
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • Gibson Young Solicitors
  • Liberty UK
  • Slaughter and May
  • CMS Cameron McKenna

Find out about our Careers Service.