Head of School of Law
School of Law
LLM Law and Development in Planetary Perspective
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Key information
Key information
- Duration
- One calendar year (full-time), two, three or four years (part-time, daytime only). We recommend that part-time students have between two-and-a-half and three days a week free to pursue their course of study.
- Start of programme
- September
- Attendance mode
- Full-time or part-time
- Location
- Russell Square, College Buildings
- Fees
-
Home student fees: £14,550 per year
Overseas student fees: £24,750 per yearPlease note that fees go up each year.
See postgraduate fees for further details. - Entry requirements
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We will consider all applications with a 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in a relevant Social Sciences subject. In addition to degree classification in a relevant subject we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.
See international entry requirements and English language requirements.
Course overview
The SOAS LLM in Law and Development in Planetary Perspective is a specialist programme that provides you with both a good grounding in the fundamentals of international law as well as opportunities to develop an expert niche offered by our diverse and unique range of development and globalisation modules.
Why study LLM Law and Development in Planetary Perspective at SOAS?
- We are ranked in the UK top 20 (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
- SOAS School of Law adopts an innovative and critical approach to teaching and learning which draws on the wider international community of academics, legal practitioners and NGOs both in London and internationally
- we pride ourselves on our diverse teaching culture and high level interactive classes, which includes: 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
- in addition to your chosen modules 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
You will also become a member of the Centre for the study of Colonialism, Empire and International law (a hub for inter-disciplinary collaboration and research on international law) and join a vibrant research community of international legal scholars and a diverse community of students from all over the world.
Why you?
This programme is ideal for LLB graduates or legal professionals with an interest in forming a niche specialism in law, combining the theory and practice of international law with our diverse range of development, globalisation and law in the modern economy modules.
You will join an international body of SOAS LLM, MA and other postgraduate alumni 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 restricted to applicants who hold an UK law degree or international equivalent. If you do not hold an LLB but are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in law at SOAS, please see details of our masters programmes.
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.
Dissertation
Dissertation (12,000 words), on a topic related to the specialism of the degree
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| LLM Dissertation in Law | 60 |
Taught component
120 credits total
Students take the following compulsory module (30 credits)
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Law and Development in Africa | 30 |
And
- Choose modules from List A to the value of 45 credits
- Choose modules from List A and List B OR postgraduate open options to the value of 45 credits
List A (subject to availability)
List B (subject to availability)
Open options
Open options will need approval of deputy PG programme convenor (LLM or MA)
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.
Knowledge and understanding
- Students will acquire specialist knowledge in the area of law, development and governance.
- This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, knowledge and understanding of the following:
- the theoretical and practical underpinnings of law, development and governance;
- the context in which law is made, interpreted, adjudicated, and amended;
- the role played by law in different social and economic environments;
- the role and function of legal institutions;
- 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 resources.
Scholarships
Employment
SOAS Law graduates leave SOAS as civic minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to their communities and societies. With a thorough understanding of the legal dimensions underlying many of our global challenges today, our Law students are valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and global perspective.
SOAS 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.
Recent School of Law graduates have been hired by:
- PwC LLP
- BLM Law
- BloombergNEF
- British Medical Association
- Clifford Chance
- DAC Beachcroft LLP
- Department for Work and Pensions
- EY
- HM Treasury
- Latham & Watkins
- Legal Cheek
- Simpson Millar Solicitors
- The Economist
- Travers Smith
- Vodafone
- World Cancer Research Fund
Find out about our Careers Service.
