Medieval England is the origin of the standard law system. Later, with the expansion of the Commonwealth, the standard law system gradually spread around the world, constituting the basis of the legal system of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries; the world’s top ten law firms, four of which are headquartered in the United Kingdom. In addition, the law programmes of British universities are also well known globally, and the teaching strength is extreme; there are about 16 law schools among the top 20 universities in the UK. Below, you will find the rankings of law programmes in the UK.
About Law Major
The main body of legal education in the United Kingdom is divided into law schools at comprehensive universities, independent law schools and on-the-job training institutions. Most international students apply to the law schools of the universities, most of which offer LLM and MA/MSc degrees.
LLM
LLM is a professional Master of Laws with a duration of 1 year and a purely legal-based curriculum, which generally requires applicants to have a professional background in law or legal practice experience. Suppose your undergraduate degree is in a law-related field or you have relevant work experience. In that case, you can consider applying for this degree programme. The LLM programme has a wide range of courses; international business law, maritime law, criminal trial, criminology, legal research, police science, and public order are all more popular courses.
MA/MSc
MA and MSc are law-related master’s degrees, and they are also one year long. These specialisations are usually a combination of law with business and sociology. Applicants are usually not required to have a professional background, and students must express a strong interest in the legal profession and motivation to study.
Recommended Law Schools
UK Law Rankings
Top 100 Universities for Law in the UK according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024:
Recommended major: MSc in Law and Finance
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: first-class or 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in law.
- Chinese undergraduates: 985/211 institutions require 90%, while other institutions need 95%; applicants with less than 95% from other institutions should also have at least one qualifying master’s degree.
Language Requirements: IELTS 7.5 (no less than 7.0 in any single subject), or TOEFL 110 (Listening 22, Reading and Writing 24, Speaking 35)
The history of Oxford University Law School can be traced back 800 years. It is perennially ranked in the top two in the United Kingdom and the world’s top five. Oxford Law School’s main features are the same as those of other Oxford colleges: the tutorial system, the tutors by the researchers, and the fact that they are primarily scholars of good character.
One of the most popular programmes is the MSc in Law and Finance, which is jointly taught by the School of Law and the Saïd Business School. In addition to core courses and electives that develop academic analytical and practical application skills, Oxford’s strong alumni circle also allows students to have more opportunities to communicate directly with senior legal and financial professionals.
Recommended programme: Master of Law
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: UK first-class honours degree; in rare cases, applicants without a first-class degree will be considered, but extensive professional legal experience or a professional legal qualification equivalent to a first-class degree is required.
- Chinese undergraduate degree: Bachelor’s degree from a reputable university with 90% or 3.8/4.0 GPA; Bachelor’s degree from an outstanding institution with 95% or 3.9/4.0 GPA.
Language Requirements: IELTS 7.5 (no less than 7.0 in a single subject) or TOEFL 110 (no less than 25 in a single subject)
The University of Cambridge has been educating in law since the 13th century, and its teaching and scholarship quality is among the best in the world. The expertise of the faculty covers virtually every aspect of English-speaking law and history.
The University of Cambridge Law School is characterised by being one of the oldest law schools on the planet. Yet, it places great emphasis on integrating the law with the latest developments in science, technology and business and is at the forefront of exploring practical applications.
London School of Economics and Political Science
Recommended Major: Master of Laws(LLM )
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree. Applicants with a first-class or 2:1 honours degree in another discipline and very good grades at postgraduate level in law in the UK may also be eligible for admission. Applicants without a legal education background will need to have demonstrated a high level of professional or academic experience in a law-related field before they will be considered for admission.
- Chinese undergraduate degree: attending a top-ranked Chinese university and achieving an overall undergraduate degree mark of 88 per cent; for all other applicants, a mark of 93 per cent is usually required.
Language Requirement: IELTS 7.5 (no less than 6.5 for speaking and no less than 7.0 for others)
LSE has a strong law programme is ranked 7th in the QS Law Subject Rankings. LSE’s programme emphasises student participation, and courses are generally conducted in two forms: one is a Seminar, which allows 30 students to participate in a weekly 2-hour seminar; the other is the traditional Lecture, but students are divided into small groups to increase the opportunities for students to discuss and speak. In addition, students are free to choose from a wide range of law courses. Still, they can also choose 1 or 2 courses related to their law interests according to their interests, e.g. students who want to become international lawyers can take a course on international relations. However, LSE’s LLM programme is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 13.9% (250/1800).
Recommended major: Law LLM
Requirements: A UK 2:1 degree with at least a first-class grade in at least one subject; students who do not meet the criteria for the degree will be considered on a space-available basis, but they will need to demonstrate excellent ability in analytical reasoning and communication skills. Graduates whose undergraduate degree was not in law will need an average of 65% in their undergraduate degree and at least one postgraduate diploma in law recognised by a professional body in the UK with a score of 70% or above.
Language requirements: IELTS 7.5 (no less than 7.0 in a single subject) or TOEFL 109 (27 in Reading and Writing, 23 in Writing and Speaking).
Founded in 1828, UCL Law School is one of the world’s leading law schools, dedicated to research and innovation in the law, particularly the operation of the law in the context of globalisation. Located in London, UCL’s LLM is suitable for both practical and academic applicants and accepts more than 300 students from more than 50 countries annually. The LLM programme consists of four courses and a 12,000-word The LLM programme consists of four courses and a 12,000-word thesis. Students can study a specific branch of law that interests them, learn to analyse and critique hot topics in these areas and apply what they learn in practice in a wide range of elective courses. In addition, dissertation writing enhances students’ research and writing skills. Alternatively, for LLM students who aspire to a career in academia, courses in teaching law are also available.
King’s College London
Recommended programme: Master of laws
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a minimum overall mark of 60% or a minimum of 70% in a law course; if the degree does not meet the requirements or is an undergraduate degree in another subject, evidence of relevant work experience (at least three years of legal work experience) or evidence of a relevant postgraduate qualification (Masters or PGDIP) is required and will likely be considered.
- Chinese Undergraduate: Attendance at a top-ranked Chinese university requires an average undergraduate degree score of 85%. In comparison, applicants from other universities must obtain a score of 88%.
Language Requirements: IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.5 in a single subject), or TOEFL 100 (no less than 25 in writing and no less than 23 in other subjects)
KCL Law School is very high in gold and perennially at the top of the list for legal education. It not only has an excellent location but also extremely strong teaching capabilities. The various law programmes have produced many outstanding lawyers and authoritative experts from all walks of life. Officials from the British High Court also come to the school to give lectures, and it is a popular programme for students from all over the world to apply for.
The LLM at KCL has a very wide range of branches and allows students to design directions according to their own interests. Students are required to complete a total of 180 credits, of which 120 credits are taught courses, 40 credits are for a 15,000-word thesis or 7,500-word research paper of the student’s choice, 20 points for courses, and 20 points for legal skills courses. After entering the school, students can choose to become specialised LLMs or LLMs, depending on the course chosen.
Recommended major: LLM in Law
Application Requirements:
- UK Bachelor’s Degree: 2:1 Honours Degree in Law or 2:1 Honours Degree in a Social Science subject.
- Chinese Bachelor’s Degree: Bachelor’s Degree from a Chinese ‘Priority List’ university or other recognised university with a minimum grade of 80-85.
Language requirements: IELTS 7.0 (no less than 7.0 in writing and no less than 6.5 in other subjects) or TOEFL 100 (no less than 25 in writing and no less than 23 in different subjects).
Edinburgh is a world-ranked Top 30 renowned university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The University of Edinburgh Law School is in the centre of Scottish law, close to the High Court of Scotland. It is one of the largest law schools in the UK and one of the largest communities of legal scholars in Europe, with a global reputation for its diverse teaching and research. Its LLM taught Program has 14 branches, the most detailed branch direction among British schools. Most Chinese students choose to study Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law and so on. Lectures are conducted in a discussion mode, and students must study the reading materials beforehand and then discuss and express their opinions in class. The general assessment is essay and problem-oriented exercises. The examination also includes a dissertation of about 10,000 words, and students must complete three courses and a dissertation.
Queen Mary University of London
Recommended majors: International Business Law LLM
Applicants Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: undergraduate 2:1 honours degree in law or other subjects containing a substantial law curriculum. 2:2 Equivalent honours degree graduates may also be eligible if they have other legal qualifications or substantial professional legal experience.
- Chinese Bachelor’s Degree: A four-year undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree with 75%-85%. Specific grade requirements vary depending on the university attended.
Language requirements: IELTS 7.0, writing 7.0, reading, listening and speaking 5.5
The School of Law at Queen Mary University of London is one of the top law schools in the UK; the Law School was established in 1965 and is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the UK for research and teaching quality. Many professors and staff are consultants from the government or other industries and organisations. It is geographically located in Holborn, the centre of the UK legal system, very close to the Royal Courts of Justice.
Recommended major: International Business Law LLM
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: 2:1 Honours degree in Law or another major programme with Law as the main component.
- Chinese undergraduate: a background in Law or a related discipline with Law as a significant component, with a GPA of 80% or above from a 985/211 institution or 85% or above from a non-local institution.
Language Requirements: IELTS 7.0 (7.0 for writing, 6.5 for others) or TOEFL 102 (27 for writing, 25 for others).
Durham University Law School is one of the UK’s most distinguished law schools and a leading centre for legal research. It has been a world leader in legal education and research, producing leaders in the legal profession from various government organisations, including the UK Supreme Court and MPs. Durham University is located in the city of Durham; Durham’s LLM faculty is relatively strong, offering three kinds of LLM, two of which are business law, reflecting Durham’s strength in this field. In addition to the taught courses, students must choose their area of interest to complete a thesis under the tutor’s guidance, allowing them to communicate with academic researchers. The difference between the several programmes is mainly the choice of courses, but all other requirements are the same.
Recommended programme: Corporate & Financial Law LLM
Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: Law or other 2:1 Honours degree with law as the main subject.
- Chinese undergraduate: A UK 2.1 or above honours degree (80% or above from 985/211 universities, 85% or above from non-local institutions). A background in law or a related professional discipline with law as a significant component;
Language Requirements: IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 95; GPA 80+ from a non-local institution; GPA 75+ from a 985/211 institution.
The School of Law is one of the four original colleges established at the founding of the University of Glasgow. It has been educating graduates in a wide range of fields for hundreds of years. The University of Glasgow School of Law is one of the four founding colleges of the University of Glasgow, which was founded in 1451. It is the largest and oldest law school in Scotland and one of the largest legal research centres in the UK. It has strong teaching and research capabilities and maintains long-term cooperation with many judicial institutions at home and abroad.
Recommended Major: LLM Law
Application Requirements:
- UK undergraduate: first or second class first (2.1) grade or overseas equivalent law degree; applicants should demonstrate a strong background in law modules relevant to the programme, including public law and contract law, and achieve a 2.1 or above in the appropriate modules.
- Chinese Undergraduate: Graduated from a listed institution with a minimum average score of 80 required.
Language requirements: IELTS 7.0 (7.0 in writing, no less than 6.5 in other), or TOEFL 100 (25 in writing, no less than 22 in other)
The University of Manchester has provided legal education to world-class standards since 1872, offering a full range of programmes from undergraduate and master’s degrees to PhDs. It is also one of the most vital law schools in the UK. The University of Manchester has the third largest library in the UK, after Cambridge and Oxford. It has the most significant number of Nobel Prize winners in the UK. The University of Manchester is a world-renowned university for its academic excellence and quality of campus life, and the LLM in Intellectual Property Law is an ace speciality of the Law School of the University of Manchester.
FAQ
According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, Oxford Law School is ranked in the top two for Law and is the best Law programme in the UK.
Oxford University and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have a high employment rate of 91.8 per cent for law graduates.
Recommended International Business/Commercial Law, International Trade Law, International Law, Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, international corporate law and Maritime Law.
