This programme is for individual’s seeking a deeper understanding of the many dimensions of public international law from both a theoretical and practical perspective. As this course has an international dimension it will appeal to students from around the world and at all stages of their legal education and professional experience. Students may have backgrounds in legal practice, in multinationals, in NGOs, government and commerce but all that is needed is a genuine interest in global affairs. Students will be able to choose from International Politics modules as well as getting a rounded picture of law in our transnational world.
The specialist Master of Laws (LLM) in Public International Law concentrates on the development of a thorough and critical understanding of Public International Law, the law governing the interaction of states. The last decade or so has seen tremendous challenges for International Law including matters relating to armed conflict, financial and commercial relations, intellectual property and human rights. This programme gives you the opportunity to trace and evaluate some of these practical and theoretical developments against the backdrop of global affairs and students benefit from the practical experience of leading practitioners and academics. Global governance, human rights, the future of the planet and issues of war and peace will be addressed as will the impact of public international law on transnational finance, commerce and trade.
City, University of London’s Master of Laws (LLM) in Public International Law takes a contemporary approach to the study of international law. You may choose from an extensive list of modules including some which are unique to City including human rights in law and practice, economic law, trade law, maritime law, the law of armed conflict and minorities, aviation law, international law of the sea and international politics.
All modules adopt a curriculum that is combines a theoretical approach with a skills-based methodology to enable you to develop your knowledge and skills in the subject in the best manner possible. The teaching is enhanced by talks and seminars given by leading practitioners.
We are interested in receiving applications from individuals with at least an upper second-class honours undergraduate degree in law (roughly equivalent to a B or B+) from a recognised international institution. Applicants with a good undergraduate degree in another subject will also be considered.
Don’t meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You’ll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Law.
City works in partnership with Kaplan International College (KIC) London to provide preparatory courses for international students. Pre Masters courses at KIC London offer comprehensive support to students wishing to complete their postgraduate study at City. Progression to this degree is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London Pre-Masters course at the required level.
If you are an applicant whose first language is not English, the following qualifications are also required:
Don’t meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Applications are now open and can be made through the links below. Late applicants run the risk that the course may be full after the initial round of offers has been made.
You can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:
If you have any enquiries please contact:
Email: law@city.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)20 7040 5787
The City Law School Admissions
City, University of London
4 Gray's Inn Place
London
WC1R 5DX
* Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
The City Law School is firmly committed to a generous programme of scholarships awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Our scholarships range in value and include both partial and full fee waiver awards.
Scholarships are available for all Master of Laws (LLM) courses at City.
Find out more about the scholarships offered by the City Law School.
See our range scholarships, prizes and loans that can help you pay for your course.
Each year a small number of internships become available and you will be provided with information about such opportunities and how to apply during the year of your study.
The course is taught at Gray’s Inn Place campus with some modules elsewhere. Here you will find the Atkin Building which houses a Law student common room and a large lecture theatre. For your second term you will be studying at the new home of the City Law School at Sebastian Street. For your second term you will be studying at the new home of the City Law School at Sebastian Street. There is also a Law common room at Northampton Square.
As a City Law School student you will benefit from everything the institution has to offer including the Learning Success department and Lawbore, an online resource designed to help you find the information you need for the course modules. All course modules have online depositories through Moodle.
As part of the University of London you can also become a member of Senate House Library for free with your student ID card.
You will benefit from City, University of London’s extensive library of hard copy and electronic resources, including its comprehensive database of domestic and international caselaw, legislation, treaties and legal periodicals. There are two law-specific libraries – one at the Gray’s Inn campus and one at our Northampton square campus - with individual study spaces and dedicated rooms for group work.
Additionally, we are a short walk away from the British Library and the Law Library of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
City, University of London is investing in a new, state-of-the-art home for The City Law School. Based at Sebastian Street, the building will bring together all of our undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes into a single hub of legal expertise.
Staff, student spaces and facilities including the law library and mock court room will be housed in the contemporary space, close to law firms and chambers and perfectly placed to enable students to access other university services.
If you start this programme with us in January 2020, you will be among the first to benefit from these new facilities. Following your first term at Gray’s Inn Place campus, from the second term onwards the course will be based at the new Sebastian Street building and delivered in teaching spaces at the Northampton Square campus.
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
This course is taught by leading academics as well as visiting practitioners including barristers and solicitors who work in private practice and in legal departments of major companies.
All modules are structured as 10-weekly two-hour seminars which comprise both lectures as well as interactive tutorials. All modules are supported by our online learning platform - Moodle. Assessment is by way of coursework which comprises 100% of the final mark in each module. Each module carries the same weight in terms of the overall qualification.
You will be allocated a dedicated supervisor for your dissertation who will help you develop a specific topic and provide support in terms of resources, content and structure.
As with all Master of Laws (LLM) specialisms at City, University of London, you may take either five modules and a shorter dissertation (10,000 words) or four modules and a longer dissertation (20,000 words). All modules are of the same duration and are taught per term (September – December or January – April) rather than the whole academic year. If you take four modules you will take two per term in each term and if you take five modules you will have three in one term and two in the other. Dissertations are written during the summer term when there are no classes.
In order to obtain this specialism, you must choose at least three modules from within this specialism and write their dissertation on a subject within the specialism.
Choose from the following 30 credit modules:
For your remaining modules you can choose from more than 50 modules covering a diverse range of subjects.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
As a graduate of this specialist Master of Laws (LLM) in Public International Law you will be well placed to pursue careers in this area of law in private practice, in house in a legal practice, policy and government, non-governmental organisations, and a wide range of non-legal careers in the field of publc international law.
The City Law School has a vibrant Pro Bono programme including our award-winning commercial law clinic for tech start-ups Start-Ed.
Students who complete the Master of Laws (LLM) may wish to continue their academic studies by enrolling in a PhD offered by The City Law School.
Master and research students are encouraged to play an active role in our activities, which include a series of seminars organised by the International Law and Affairs Group at the City Law School.
Applications are now open and can be made through the links below. Late applicants run the risk that the course may be full after the initial round of offers has been made.
You can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:
If you have any enquiries please contact:
Email: law@city.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)20 7040 5787
The City Law School Admissions
City, University of London
4 Gray's Inn Place
London
WC1R 5DX
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.