Law General
LLM
Application options include:
Course Overview
Our LLM Law General is a highly flexible course that builds on our experience of offering postgraduate legal education at master's level. It will provide you with substantive knowledge of a wide range of contemporary legal topics and introduce you to key critical legal theories and methodologies.
Our teaching is underpinned by legal, critical, policy, social sciences and humanities-oriented perspectives. You will be introduced to cutting-edge theoretical debates and perspectives that support understanding of the relationship between law, politics, economy, environment, art and the creative industries, technology and justice.
You can look forward to a stimulating learning environment, alongside others with diverse backgrounds and professional experiences. Our students include those with pre-existing knowledge or experience of law, and those with a desire to pursue a specialism in this area. This course is ideal if you would like to advance in your existing career or are ambitious to carve out a new career path.
On the LLM Law General you will benefit from the use of sophisticated learning resources and the expert direction of high-level research academics. You can choose any module on offer on our postgraduate law courses, ranging from human rights to critical legal studies, law and new technologies, international economic law, environmental law and criminology. This enables you to tailor the course to your own professional or research interests. A personal supervisor will help you choose the best path through this wide range of options and provide you with support if you undertake a research dissertation option.
Discover the career opportunities available by taking Law General (LLM).
Key information and modules
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Law General: January start LLM: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting January 2025
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Law General: January start LLM: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting January 2025
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Law General: on-campus study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting October 2025
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Law General: January start LLM: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting January 2026
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Law General: flexible study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time, flexible learning, starting October 2025
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Law General: online study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time, online, starting October 2025
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Law General: on-campus study, October start LLM: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2025
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Law General: January start LLM: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting January 2026
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Law General: flexible study, October start LLM: 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting October 2025
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Law General: online study, October start LLM: 2 years part-time, online, starting October 2025
Pathways for Law General (LLM)
This course has additional Pathways to offer you the chance to specialise depending on your interests and career goals.
- Law with Global Political Economy (LLM)
- Law with Commercial Law (LLM)
- Law with Law and New Technologies (LLM)
- Law with International Intellectual Property (LLM)
- Law with Human Rights (LLM)
- Law with Environmental Law, Governance and Policy (LLM)
- Law with Constitutional Politics, Law and Theory (LLM)
Find another course:
Highlights
- We have a proud tradition of critical scholarship in law and you will be taught by staff who address issues of law through power and inequality and who are led by principles of social, economic, political, environmental and racial justice.
- You will be able to attend our Law School Annual Lecture and specialist research seminars which feature international scholars speaking to current issues and path-breaking interdisciplinary research.
- We are home to the Birkbeck Law Press which publishes Law and Critique: The International Journal of Critical Legal Thought. You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library.
Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.
Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the Key Information section under Attendance.
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Entry Requirements
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in law, the humanities or social sciences; other honours degrees will be considered. Equivalent international qualifications will also be considered.
Other relevant qualifications and appropriate professional training and experience are welcome and will be taken into account.
Excellent English language skills are essential.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.
Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.
International students: if you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you must meet certain, minimum in-person attendance requirements. You will be required to primarily study on campus so this means you will not be able to pursue the LLM Law General flexible or online routes. However, you will be able to follow the Law General on campus route or choose any of the pathways taking the on-campus route.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.
Visa and funding requirements
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.
The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:
- Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
- Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).
For full information, read our visa information for international students page.
Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)
If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.
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Fees
Law General: January start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26
Academic year 2024–25, starting January 2025
Part-time home students: £7,080 per year
Full-time home students: £14,160 per year
Part-time international students: £10,935 per year
Full-time international students: £21,870 per yearAcademic year 2025–26, starting January 2026
Part-time home students: £6,420 per year
Full-time home students: £12,840 per year
Part-time international students: £11,205 per year
Full-time international students: £22,410 per yearLaw General: on-campus study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2025-26
Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025
Part-time home students: £6,420 per year
Full-time home students: £12,840 per year
Part-time international students: £11,205 per year
Full-time international students: £22,410 per yearLaw General: flexible study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting in academic year 2025-26
Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025
Part-time home students: £6,420 per year
Full-time home students: £12,840 per year
Part-time international students: £11,205 per year
Full-time international students: £22,410 per yearLaw General: online study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting in academic year 2025-26
Academic year 2025–26, starting October 2025
Part-time home students: £6,420 per year
Full-time home students: £12,840 per year
Part-time international students: £11,205 per year
Full-time international students: £22,410 per yearStudents are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy.
If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.
Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.
International scholarships
We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship.
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Teaching
At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.
Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.
In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.
Methods of teaching on this course
Teaching on this course is through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Teaching hours
Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.
On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).
Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.
Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.
On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.
Timetables
Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).
Indicative class size
Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.
Independent learning
On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.
Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.
Study skills and additional support
Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:
- academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
- written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
- numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).
Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.
Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.
Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.
Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.
Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.
Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.
Methods of assessment on this course
Assessment varies depending on the modules you take but may include short written exercises, essays, quizzes and multiple-choice questionnaires, practical assessments and case studies.
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Careers and employability
Graduates can pursue career paths in the legal profession, government, the private sector, and research or journalism. Possible professions include:
- barrister
- solicitor
- researcher
- journalist
- chartered legal executive
- licensed conveyancer
- human resources officer
- patent attorney.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
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How to apply
You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.
You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification.
When to apply
You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.
You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.
You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.
Help and advice with your application
Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.
Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.
Apply for your course
Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section.
Related courses
Pathways for Law General (LLM)
- Law with Global Political Economy (LLM)
- Law with Commercial Law (LLM)
- Law with Law and New Technologies (LLM)
- Law with International Intellectual Property (LLM)
- Law with Human Rights (LLM)
- Law with Environmental Law, Governance and Policy (LLM)
- Law with Constitutional Politics, Law and Theory (LLM)
Course structure
The LLM Law General starting in October is offered with on-campus, online or flexible learning routes (on-campus and online study combined).
If you are planning to start in January, this route is available on campus only, however some modules may become available online too, depending on the module.
Course structure listing
Course structure and modules for Law General: January start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting January 2025
You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- a compulsory module (30 credits)
- five option modules (30 credits each).
Please note: this course starting in January is only available on campus.
Compulsory module
Indicative option modules
- Algorithms and the Law
- Commercial Law and Market Regulation
- Constitutional Law in Practice: Regional Perspectives
- Criminal Law Theory and History
- Environmental and Climate Law and Justice
- Environmental Problems and the Law
- Healthcare and Human Rights
- Intellectual Property and Global Health
- International Intellectual Property
- Introduction to the History, Theory and Politics of Constitutional Law
- Issues in Commercial Law
- Issues in International Law and Human Rights
- Labour, law and technology
- Law Masters Research Project
- Law of the Digital Economy
- Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
- Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy
- Law, Solidarity and Alternative Economies
- Negotiation, Interpretation and Explorations in Law, Arts & Human Rights
- Perspectives on Political Economy
- Psychology of Law and Crime
- Regulating Technology
- Regulating the Creative Economy
- Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights
- The History and Philosophy of Human Rights
Indicative options from LLM/MA Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
Course structure and modules for Law General: on-campus study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2025
On this on-campus route, you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- a compulsory module (30 credits)
- five option modules (30 credits each).
Compulsory module
Indicative option modules
- Algorithms and the Law
- Commercial Law and Market Regulation
- Constitutional Law in Practice: Regional Perspectives
- Criminal Law Theory and History
- Environmental and Climate Law and Justice
- Environmental Problems and the Law
- Healthcare and Human Rights
- Intellectual Property and Global Health
- International Intellectual Property
- Introduction to the History, Theory and Politics of Constitutional Law
- Issues in Commercial Law
- Issues in International Law and Human Rights
- Labour, law and technology
- Law Masters Research Project
- Law of the Digital Economy
- Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
- Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy
- Law, Solidarity and Alternative Economies
- Negotiation, Interpretation and Explorations in Law, Arts & Human Rights
- Perspectives on Political Economy
- Psychology of Law and Crime
- Regulating Technology
- Regulating the Creative Economy
- Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights
- The History and Philosophy of Human Rights
Indicative options from LLM/MA Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
Course structure and modules for Law General: flexible study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting October 2025
On this flexible route you can choose to take modules online or on campus. You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- five option modules (30 credits each)
- a research methods and project module (30 credits).
Indicative option modules
- Constitutional Law in Practice: Regional Perspectives
- Environmental Problems and the Law
- Equality and the Law
- Futures: The Globalization of Human Rights
- Healthcare and Human Rights
- Introduction to the History, Theory and Politics of Constitutional Law
- Land, Law and Dispossession
- Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
- Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy
- Law, Post-Development and the Critique of Political Economy
- Law, Solidarity and Alternative Economies
- Law, Trade and Geopolitics
- Negotiation, Interpretation and Explorations in Law, Arts & Human Rights
- The International Economic Constitution
LLM Law General project
Course structure and modules for Law General: January start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting January 2026
You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- a compulsory module (30 credits)
- five option modules (30 credits each).
Please note: this course starting in January is only available on campus.
Compulsory module
Indicative option modules
- Algorithms and the Law
- Commercial Law and Market Regulation
- Constitutional Law in Practice: Regional Perspectives
- Criminal Law Theory and History
- Environmental and Climate Law and Justice
- Environmental Problems and the Law
- Healthcare and Human Rights
- Intellectual Property and Global Health
- International Intellectual Property
- Introduction to the History, Theory and Politics of Constitutional Law
- Issues in Commercial Law
- Issues in International Law and Human Rights
- Labour, law and technology
- Law Masters Research Project
- Law of the Digital Economy
- Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
- Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy
- Law, Solidarity and Alternative Economies
- Negotiation, Interpretation and Explorations in Law, Arts & Human Rights
- Perspectives on Political Economy
- Psychology of Law and Crime
- Regulating Technology
- Regulating the Creative Economy
- Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights
- The History and Philosophy of Human Rights
Indicative options from LLM/MA Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
Course structure and modules for Law General: online study, October start LLM: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting October 2025
On this online route, you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- five option modules (30 credits each)
- a research methods and project module (30 credits).
Indicative option modules
- Constitutional Law in Practice: Regional Perspectives
- Environmental Problems and the Law
- Equality and the Law
- Futures: The Globalization of Human Rights
- Healthcare and Human Rights
- Introduction to the History, Theory and Politics of Constitutional Law
- Land, Law and Dispossession
- Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
- Law, Post-Colonialism and Political Economy
- Law, Post-Development and the Critique of Political Economy
- Law, Solidarity and Alternative Economies
- Law, Trade and Geopolitics
- Negotiation, Interpretation and Explorations in Law, Arts & Human Rights
- The International Economic Constitution