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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

The course is exclusively by research although students are required to attend, in their first year of study, the weekly (during term time only) two-hour research training classes provided by the Faculty's Research Training and Development Programme.

One to one supervision

While individual arrangements may vary considerably, MLitt students may normally expect to receive one-on-one supervision once a month during the early stages of their research. Meetings may be less frequent thereafter and in the writing-up phase.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University's expectations regarding supervision.

Seminars & classes

Students are required to attend, in their first year of study, the weekly (during term time only) two-hour research training classes provided by the Faculty's Research Training Programme.

Lectures

Students are encouraged to attend lectures, especially at LLM level, within the general field of their research.

Journal clubs

The Cambridge Journal of International Law is an open access, peer-reviewed academic journal founded and run by the postgraduate community at the Faculty of Law.

Posters and Presentations

Students have the opportunity, in the third term of the first year, to give a presentation on their current research as part of the requirements of the Research Training and Development Programme. In addition, the Research Training and Development (Extension) Programme offers students the opportunity to present their work-in-progress (eg. a PhD chapter or a draft article) to their peers and Faculty members at a later stage in their research.

Taught/Research Balance Entirely Research

Feedback

Supervisors are required to submit termly reports through a web interface on the progress of each of their research students through the Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System. Once a report has been written and submitted, it is immediately available to students as well to the Faculty, the Degree Committee and the College.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

A thesis, not exceeding 60,000 words inclusive of footnotes but exclusive of appendices, bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter, is referred to two examiners (normally an internal examiner and an external examiner), appointed by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Law. Each examiner shall make an independent report to the Degree Committee on the thesis. Students are required to attend an oral examination (if appropriate, an Independent Chair may be appointed to attend the oral examination), after which the examiners will submit a joint report to the Degree Committee stating whether or not they recommend the award of the degree.

Other

Candidates for the MLitt are also formally reviewed towards the end of the first year (or at a proportionally later date for part-time candidates) by two assessors appointed by the Degree Committee. Students must submit for the first year assessment/registration exercise (i) a thesis or not more than 15,000 words in length, inclusive of footnotes but exclusive of bibliography and appendices, (ii) a Research Personal Progress Log and iii) a short explanation of the overall plan for the final MLitt thesis. After the oral examination, the Degree Committee will decide whether or not candidates should be formally registered for the MLitt after considering the report from the assessors.

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Key Information


2 years full-time

3 years 4 months part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Letters

Faculty of Law

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2026

Applications open
Sept. 3, 2025
Application deadline
Dec. 2, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2026

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 2, 2025
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 15, 2025

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas , Lent and Easter .


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