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LLM Legal and Political Theory

Question the fundamental aspects of political life and gain a firm grounding in key legal issues

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Department

York Law School

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

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Governments and international institutions regulate our lives. This raises profound questions about how we relate to each other and to our government.

By what right do some people rule over others? Do citizens have an obligation to obey the law? How can we live together peacefully if we disagree about how best to live?

This course, taught in conjunction with the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Politics and International Relations, explores the core issues of political and legal theories and the relationship between them. By studying the works of theorists both past and present, you'll delve into the fundamental questions of legal and political philosophy.

Funding opportunities

C and JB Morrell Trust Bursaries

These bursaries are available for students on the LLM Legal and Political Theory programme. After accepting your offer to study this programme at York, you can apply for this additional funding by contacting York Law School at: law-pgt-admin@york.ac.uk.

You will be asked to complete a short statement outlining why the bursary will make a difference to you, which will be considered along with your CV and further application questions.

Problem-based learning

A modern, dynamic learning method that ensures you experience and understand law in its practical, social and theoretical contexts

The course challenged me to consider the political and philosophical dimension to legal study and the weekly Morrell Seminars also widened my academic interests. There is an expansive and great depth of knowledge in the department and all staff were extremely supportive and accessible.
Byron, LLM Legal and Political Theory

Course content

Your core modules will introduce you to the fundamental questions of legal and political theory. By choosing from a range of options for the rest of your modules, you can focus your studies on what interests you most.

You'll learn about the fundamental issues and theories of jurisprudence, alongside looking into the most important approaches to political theory. In your option modules, you'll have the chance to learn about topics such as pluralism, terrorism and ethics.

You'll also develop your research skills in preparation for a 12,000-word dissertation, which you will write during the Summer Term.

Dissertation

You'll write a 12,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice, incorporating a legal dimension, under the supervision of a faculty member. You'll be supported in the preparation of the dissertation proposal by specialist research training.

There is a wide flexibility in choosing your topic and you are encouraged to make the most of the broad range of expertise made available by the collaborative nature of the programme.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate the central questions of legal and political theory and the works of the great legal and political theorists both past and present who have examined these questions.
  • Discuss and critically evaluate the fundamental principles and theories of common, civil and international law systems and apply a comprehensive understanding of the operation of such principles to the analysis of legal and commercial problems.
  • Apply and adapt problem-solving skills working efficiently and effectively to develop effective solutions to diverse, complex and integrated legal, practical or societal problems.
  • Influence debate in chosen areas of specialisation and interest by developing well-reasoned, critical and creative arguments, theories and solutions to broader legal issues within society, supported by researched evidence, with the capacity to draw on these to produce original responses.
  • Evaluate propositions and solve complex problems by reflexively drawing upon and applying a broad awareness of perspectives and interests in their work, capable of taking into account key considerations (such as: ethical, social, political, professional, commercial, financial, business, international, policy, human rights, ethnic, gender and client interest considerations).
  • Record, reflect on, and evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and progress in their own personal learning and professional development.
  • Develop legal research skills including: the use of computer databases and search strategies; critical evaluation of normative research questions, determine research methodologies which can be used to successfully address such questions, apply the skills and knowledge developed on the programme to a selected problem, and plan, project manage and implement a substantial project with minimal guidance.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £10,590£23,900
Part-time (2 years)
This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
£5,295£11,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You’ll be taught in a variety of ways depending on the modules you choose. For most modules, you’ll be in small groups either in a seminar format – discussing issues in depth with peers and staff – or in problem-based learning groups. For some modules, you will attend lectures and plenary sessions where you will be introduced to key debates.

Teaching location

York Law School is located on Campus East. Nearly all of your teaching will take place within the Law building or nearby on Campus East.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

The forms of assessment differ depending on module choice, but most modules are assessed by an essay written over the vacation following the term’s teaching. You will receive feedback throughout your course, including written feedback on your work during each module and informal feedback in seminars.

Careers and skills

Throughout your time at York, you will receive active support in careers and development planning from the York Law School employability tutor.

We encourage you to get involved with our Careers and Development Programme. The programme includes several employers, providing an insight into the legal profession and the relevant recruitment processes.

There is also help available for those of you who are thinking about non-legal employers or academic routes following your LLM.

Career opportunities

  • Manager at a human rights charity
  • Government policy advisor
  • Law conversion course
  • Civil Servant
  • Financial executive
  • Local government officer

 

Transferable skills

  • Research skills
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Project management
  • Reasoning and judgement
  • Document and case analysis
  • Negotiation and mediation
  • Advocacy

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent in Law or a related social science
International pre-masters programme Pre-masters from our International Pathway College
Other qualifications and experience Applicants with equivalent legal professional, management or commercial experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 7.0, minimum 7.0 in Writing and 6.5 in all other components
Cambridge CEFR C1 Advanced: 185, with a minimum of 185 in Writing and no less than 176 in all other components
Oxford ELLT 8, minimum of 8 in writing and no less than 7 in all other components
Duolingo 130, minimum 130 in Production and 120 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT C1 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 75 with a minimum of 75 in Writing and no less than 70 in all other components
KITE 495-526, with 495-526 in writing and 459-494 in all other components
Skills for English C1: Pass overall, with Pass in each component
PTE Academic 67, minimum 67 in Writing and 61 in all other components
TOEFL 96, minimum 24 in Writing and 23 in all other components
Trinity ISE III Distinction in all components

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

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