Law (LLM by Research) (2025 Entry)
Explore our Law LLM by Research degree at Warwick
The University of Warwick's Law School offers a comprehensive LLM by Research. Pursue an extended research project in a wide range of areas, with careful supervision from a specialist.
Course overview
In this programme you will be carefully supervised by an individual specialist in your chosen area of study and supported to generate a research question and produce a thesis. For this degree you are required to write a thesis of up to 40,000 words.
Our Research Degrees attempt to achieve a balance between individual study, academic supervision, and participation in a communal, scholarly learning environment. As a research student, you will be a vital part of our research culture and we will encourage you to fully participate in the life of the Law School.
Teaching and learning
You will attend a research methods and theory course and meet with your supervisor at least once a month throughout your degree.
Each year postgraduate research students get the benefit of feedback and presentation opportunities, skills workshops, as well as a series of ‘masterclass’ events led by world-leading researchers. These workshops and events support a self-critical assessment of research methods and techniques and allow you to learn from others working in your field. In addition, you will be invited to attend research seminars, public lectures and other training opportunities with the Law School and across the University.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Law or a related social sciences discipline with significant legal content.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 and minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Our research
Eleven research clusters:
- Contract, Business and Commercial Law
- Comparative Law and Culture
- Development and Human Rights
- Gender and the Law
- International and European Law
- Law and Humanities
- Legal Theory
- Governance and Regulation
- Empirical Approaches
- Migration
- Arts, Culture and Law
The Law School’s research is rooted in the twin themes of law in context and the international character of law.
Explore our research areas on our Law web pages.Link opens in a new window
Find a supervisor
Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.
Explore our School of Law Staff Directory where you will be able see the academic interests and expertise of our staff.
You are welcome to contact our staff directly to see if they can provide any advice on your proposed research, but will still need to submit an application and meet the selection criteria set by the University before any offer is made.
You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.
Research proposals
You should make contact with a potential supervisor before submitting your application.
You will be required to submit a Research Proposal with your application. This should be 2000-2500 words (MPhil or PhD) or 1000-1500 words (LLM by Research), and contain the following:
- Proposed research title and rationale, and a working hypothesis or research questions
- Research methodology, including any proposed field work
- Survey of the relevant literature and a clear expression of the originality of the proposed work
- List of publications (where appropriate) and research experience
Find out more about our research proposal requirements on our websiteLink opens in a new window.
Tuition fees
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 registration and some student amenities.
Find your research course fees
Fee Status Guidance
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.
Find out more about how universities assess fee status
Additional course costs
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 Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).
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 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department 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
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
School of Law
From the first intake of students back in 1968, Warwick Law School has developed a reputation for innovative, quality research and consistently highly rated teaching. Study with us is exciting, challenging and rewarding. Pioneers of the 'Law in Context' approach to legal education, and welcoming students and staff from around the world, we offer a friendly, international and enriching environment in which to study law in its many contexts.
Get to know us better by exploring our departmental website.Link opens in a new window
Our Postgraduate courses
How to apply
Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.
For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.
How to apply for a postgraduate research course
After you’ve applied
Find out how we process your application.
Applicant Portal
Track your application and update your details.
Admissions statement
See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.
Join a live chat
Ask questions and engage with Warwick.
Explore ways to connect with us
We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:
- Warwick hosted events
- Postgraduate Fairs
- Live chats
- Talk and Tours
- Department events
8th in the UK
in the Guardian University Guide 2025
6th Most Targeted University
by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)
69th in the World
out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)
5th best student city in the UK
Coventry is ranked as the 5th Best Student City in the UK, and 40th in the world (Best Student Cities, QS World University Guide 2023)
Gold standard teaching
Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
92% of our research
was assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Page updates
We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.
About the information on this page
This information is applicable for 2025 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 terms and conditions to find out more.