How can law help to build a more just world? Our interdisciplinary LLM examines the relationship between development and global justice, with a focus on the Global South. Combining theory and practice, we’ll challenge you to think critically and creatively about the role of law in addressing inequality, protecting rights and supporting social change. Engage with the latest thinking at a law school rated in the top 10 of the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
Sceptical about what was awaiting me after travelling over 4000 miles to pursue the LLM in IDLHR, the University of Warwick surpassed my expectations! From lecture rooms and academic support to career guidance, it has been nothing short of a remarkable journey. The experience has expanded my outlook as well as honed my critical thinking, legal research, and leadership skills. It has been life-changing to learn and interact with course mates from diverse backgrounds. My experience is one for the books and you too can be part of the Warwick community!
Joel
IDLHR
Modules
Investigate the political, social, economic and global dimensions of development and justice.
Key knowledge: develop insight and experience in the central theories, debates and substantive law
Contextual awareness: explore globalisation, economic regulation, climate justice, citizenship, migration, gender justice and social activism
Legal skills: build capabilities in policy and legal analyses, reflexive public advocacy and cause lawyering
Dissertation: develop expertise in an area of particular interest
Specialist options: tailor your studies through a range of advanced modules
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
Please note: Only modules running in the current academic year are listed. These are subject to change in future years.
Teaching and learning
Develop your expertise through critical inquiry, collaboration and research.
Research-led teaching: stay connected to the latest thinking in international development law
Critical analysis: evaluate legal, theoretical and empirical approaches to development and human rights
Advocacy and communication: build skills in presentation, advocacy and written submissions
Collaborative learning: work with peers through discussion and group projects
Independent research: complete an in-depth study with guidance from expert academics
This will depend on the popularity of the modules you select but class sizes can range from between 10 and 30 students per module.
You will typically have up to 12 hours of in-person contact time per week on the full-time programme, depending on your LLM programme and modules selected, but will be expected to do additional research and reading outside of the classroom.
All IDLHR modules will be assessed by essay rather than examination. The core module will be assessed by your dissertation. Assessment methods of optional modules may include essays, examinations, portfolios and presentations.
We regard feedback as a vital part of the assessment process. We seek to help you reach your full potential by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your work and the actions needed to develop your understanding. You will be given feedback after your assessments each term.
Entry requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in law or a related subject with a law component.
IELTS overall score of 7.0 or equivalent, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Since 1968, our School has built a reputation for looking beyond legislation alone and pioneering the ‘Law in Context’ approach – examining the law’s strengths and weaknesses, and its potential for improving society.
Be inspired by innovative research and teaching to think critically, question assumptions and engage with legal issues from multiple perspectives - alongside students and staff from around the world. Join a department ranked 10th in the UK for Law (Complete University Guide 2027) and 84th in the world (QS World University Subject Rankings 2026).
Based in the Social Sciences Building, Warwick Law School sits close to the Library, Warwick Arts Centre, modern teaching spaces and collaborative study areas, placing you at the heart of a vibrant academic community. You’ll have access to a dedicated Student Hub where you can work independently, develop group projects or simply relax. Plus, you’ll enjoy a full schedule of activities, events and opportunities within the Law School community.
Careers
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
£40,000 was the median salary for University of Warwick 2022/23 postgraduate taught graduates whose main work was full-time and in the UK. (Figures are based on 605 Warwick graduates that participated in the survey and provided salary details - 11% of the relevant Warwick graduate population.)*
Previous graduates from the School of Law have gone on to work for employers such as*:
Anthony Collins
Chatham House
Evershed Sutherland
Prince’s Trust International
RSM
Trade Remedies Authority
University of Warwick
They have pursued occupations such as the following*:
Business, research and administrative professionals
Finance and investment analysts and advisers
Further and higher education teaching professionals
*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey 2022/23, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2025. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation.
The School of Law has a dedicated careers consultant (part of the Student Opportunity careers team) to support your personal career journey during your time at Warwick. She offers impartial advice and guidance (one to one support) and delivers workshops and events tailored to the needs of Law students.
This is in addition to specialist speakers who may be invited to contribute to your LLM programme. Events previously organised by the wider Student Opportunity team include:
Careers fairs and sector events including a Law Fair, a Social Impact careers programme, a Graduate Recruitment Fair, Management Consultancy events, HR and Management, Working in the Public Sector, and International Development Workshops on all aspects of the recruitment and selection process including applications, CVs, covering letters, interviews, psychometric testing and assessment centre practice Discover more about postgraduate careers support at WarwickLink opens in a new window.
While this course does not offer a formal work placement, postgraduate taught students at Warwick can self-source internships and work experience to complete alongside their studies, subject to visa conditions and the 20‑hour weekly limit for full‑time students.
Opportunities can vary in length and location, including in the UK, online and internationally. Postgraduate students find that shorter, remote and/or flexible opportunities work best around their studies, often seeking opportunities over the summer when teaching decreases and the focus moves to final dissertations and projects - although this can vary depending on the nature of the course and personal preference.
Support available:
The Internships, Placements and Work Experience team provide workshops to help you to source and prepare for work opportunities, and organise peer-to-peer support so you can hear about other students’ placement experiences.
The WorkReady Toolkit guides you through the whole process, from sourcing to completing work placements.
Our Work Experience Bursary can help you cover costs if undertaking unpaid work experience.
Part-time work allows you to gain experience and additional financial support, with opportunities advertised on Warwick’s careers portal, myAdvantage and Unitemps.
Warwick students worked 286,295 paid hours via Unitemps in 25/26.
Access short-term international study, work or volunteering abroad experiences, without extending the length of your studies (duration is typically between 3 days and 12 weeks), with opportunity to apply for funding.
Students can apply to TeamWork, a four-week part-time online international experience programme, helping them to gain work experience and improve their employability skills.
Volunteer for projects which support the local community through the award-winning Warwick Volunteers.
Getting involved in societies and sports teams, especially on exec teams.
In 25/26 our jobs portal advertised 1577 12-month placements, work experience opportunities, vacation employment and volunteering from 564 employers.
Whilst there is lots of support available at the University to help, students themselves are responsible for finding and securing a suitable internship or work experience. You will also be responsible for ensuring opportunities meet visa requirements, do not exceed the universities advised 20 hours per week for full-time students and for balancing extra-curricular activity with your studies.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
