Entry Requirements

This programme follows the standard requirements for postgraduate study, generally a 2.1 honours degree or equivalent. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. All qualifications must be from a recognised higher education institution. If you meet the requirements below you should consider commencing the application process. Places on the programme are generally awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Legal Academic Background

If you have previously studied a legal subject, you should have at least an undergraduate degree deemed appropriate for advanced studies of law. An "excellent" award (equivalent to first class honours in the United Kingdom) or "very good" award (equivalent to an upper second class honours in the United Kingdom) is required.

International Equivalency for Entrance to the LL.M (distance learning)

When considering applications we look for at least one degree or other recognised qualification which has been completed over a minimum of three years to an "excellent" or "very good" standard.

Non-Legal Academic Background

You may still be eligible for study even if you have not previously studied a legal subject.

You must hold an undergraduate degree in an area appropriate for this programme, which may include:

• Medicine and other medical practices
• Chemistry, biology or physics related sciences
• Design, media, marketing, journalism and other creative industry related subject areas
• Economics, Accountancy and financial industry based subjects
• Computing science and other IT related qualifications
• Social sciences and humanities based subject areas such as social policy or psychology;
• Information management.

 

Note that this list is not exhaustive and every application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

An "excellent" award or "very good" award is required.

Candidates with non-legal academic qualifications meeting the above criteria will be considered for the programme but should note that you will be required to conduct extra-curricula study (courses are provided as part of the programme) during the beginning of your programme, to familiarise yourself with legal study and research.

Applications with existing Postgraduate awards

Candidates with postgraduate qualifications, such as MA, MSc, MBA, PhD will be considered. The subject area of your postgraduate qualification must be relevant to this programme.

Professional Background including qualified lawyers

Candidates with professional experience in appropriate areas will in almost every instance be expected to have reached the required academic levels. Please contact us to obtain further advice.

Recognition of prior learning

It is possible to recognise prior learning on admission to the LLM programmes. Applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis and will be assessed on following principles:

1.      All applications for RPL must be supported by evidence that the applicant’s prior learning:

           - is closely similar in content to the course(s) from which exemption is sought

           - is at SCQF level 11

           - is sufficiently recent that the student’s knowledge remains active and up to date.

               Normally the time elapsed  since completing the prior learning should not exceed three years.

                  - has been undertaken at other universities or institutions of comparable standing recognised for this purpose by  the

             University Court. 

2. The maximum number of credits for which RPL may be granted is 60 credits.

English Language Requirements

For students whose first language is not English, documentary evidence of competence in both written and spoken English must be provided. Your local British Council Office can advise on taking a test. You will find details at the website: www.britishcouncil.org/english/.

IELTS

A minimum IELTS aggregate of 7.0 IELTS score with a minimum score of 7.0 in both reading and writing elements.

TOEFL

Scores of 600 (paper based) or 250 (computer-based) or TOEFL-iBT 100 (with at least 19 in each section) are expected.

Other Language courses

On-campus programmes at The University of Edinburgh may be considered. Further information regarding English language courses available at the University of Edinburgh, Institute for Applied Language Studies (IALS), can be found at www.ials.ed.ac.uk.

Candidates may be requested to complete the University of Edinburgh's English Language for LL.M module to satisfy any conditional offers.

Other courses may be accepted, please contact us for further detail.

Exemptions

Students from Botswana, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea. Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Indies, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are exempt from pre and post admission language testing.

Language test exemptions may be granted at the discression of the Postgraduate Admissions team (College level) if you have been working in an english speaking country for at least the previous two years; have completed your most recent academic qualification in an english speaking university sometime in the previous two years.

Further Enquiries

You may like to email the programme organisers prior to submitting your application to obtain further advice on your suitability as a candidate.