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The Cambridge LLM (Master of Law) is a nine-month taught master's degree commencing at the beginning of October each year and finishing by the end of the following June. The LLM, as a master's degree, is intended for those who wish to pursue further legal studies after completing their first degree in law, including those who are considering an academic career or intending to practise law.
LLM students take four courses of their choice from the list of available LLM course offerings. In recent years, the number of LLM courses on offer has tended to be in the region of 30. The advanced nature of the LLM programme is reflected in the fact that it is organised and taught separately from the undergraduate law degree at Cambridge. All of the LLM courses are specifically tailored for the LLM programme.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, each course had been most commonly assessed by means of a three-hour written examination at the end of the LLM year, although students could elect to write a full dissertation in lieu of the written examination for one course (only), subject to prior formal approval of their dissertation topic. In 2020 assessment shifted to open-book, online examinations with a time and a word limit – and this basic approach has been applied for 2022-23 (where a 5h time limit and a 6000-word limit has been applied for each course). In the context of the University-wide re-evaluation of the assessment process, the examination options on the LLM are currently being reconsidered.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the LLM programme, students can be expected to have greatly enhanced knowledge of their chosen subject areas, an increased ability to apply sophisticated and rigorous analytical techniques to primary and secondary legal materials, and a better facility in advancing robust evaluations of doctrinal, theoretical and policy arguments in the fields of their studies and more generally.
Continuing
A number of students wish to pursue further advanced legal studies after completing the LLM. Cambridge offers various research degrees. Students wishing to continue their studies at Cambridge by undertaking a research degree in law should apply for their chosen course through the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office by the relevant deadline.
The Postgraduate Research page on the Faculty of Law website contains information about the options available.
Open Days
The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.
See further the Postgraduate Admissions Events pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.