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Queen mary university of london: law (phd).

The PhD in Law programme at Queen Mary is one of the largest in the UK, with more than 120 research students. As a PhD student at the School of Law, you will be part of a diverse and cosmopolitan research community, as students come to Queen Mary from all over the world.

PhD students are a vital part of our research culture and you will be invited to attend regular research seminars at which faculty members, visiting scholars and PhD students present their work in progress.

This programme will:

Allow you to specialise in virtually any field of law you choose. All supervisors are qualified members of staff with their own major research projects and publications.

Give you research training, through a series of seminars at which you will be required to present your work, and through a formal research methods training course run at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Participation in these courses is a compulsory part of the first year of research.

Allow you to study additional courses which are provided by the college on different aspects of the PhD research process.

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Full-time, 3 years starts sep 2024, part-time, 6 years starts sep 2024.

Queen Mary University of London, The School of Law

Queen Mary has campuses in the heart of legal London in Bloomsbury, and East London – a vibrant and fashionable part of the city where we also offer affordable, postgraduate accommodation. There are also opportunities to study our programmes in Paris, in Singapore or Online.

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Entry requirements

You will be expected to have a distinction on an LLM or equivalent qualification. In some circumstances the requirement will be applied flexibly, for example if an applicant has performed to distinction level in an LLM dissertation or has an outstanding undergraduate qualification. In exceptional cases, vocational experience in the proposed area of research may compensate for the lack of a master's degree, or a grade below that specified above. For example, working as a magistrate, judge, lawyer or expert for a considerable period of time, such as five years, in the proposed area of research will be taken into account. A relevant undergraduate degree in Law or its relevant equivalent qualification is necessary in all cases.

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

• Allow you to specialise in virtually any field of law you choose. All supervisors are qualified members of staff with their own major research projects and publications.
• Give you research training, through a series of seminars at which you will be required to present your work, and through a formal research methods training course run at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Participation in these courses is a compulsory part of the first year of research.
• Allow you to study additional courses which are provided by the college on different aspects of the PhD research process.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

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PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Queen Mary University of London

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Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

All supervisors are qualified members of staff with their own major research projects and publications. Our large and thriving community of postgraduate research students numbers around 120 at any one time. The School of Law is part of both the LISS and LAHP Doctoral Training Programmes, so can accept applications for both doctoral awards, as well as offering a number of other funding opportunities.

The School of Law can supervise PhD projects in most fields of law. However, the major research activity is broadly defined by the following research groups:

• Aviation and Shipping Law
• Banking and Finance Law
• Competition Law and Policy
• Criminal Justice Law
• Economics and Finance
• Energy and Natural Resources Law
• Ethics and Equality
• Global Law and Governance
• Human Rights Law
• Information Technology, Media

and Communications Law

• Insurance and Tax Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Commercial Law
• International State Crime
• Legal Theory and Legal Humanities
• Public International Law
• Regulation and Compliance

What students say

The facilities at Queen Mary University of London are modern and functioning. What is more important for me is the excellent teaching and delivery mode. We have active student.. Read more

the best aspect is the prestige and great teaching. I can say that I have been constantly challenged to do my best while at the university. Another great aspect is its great going.. Read more

Typically, the minimum entry requirement is an UK upper second class honours degree (2:1). Some Schools/Institutes require a first class honours degree and/or a masters degree.

Students living in

£4,712 per year

Students from Domestic

The fee mentioned is for 2023-24 academic year and there may be a slight increase in the fee for 2024-25 entry.

£20,950 per year

Students from EU

Students from International

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Arbitration and Dispute Resolution

School of international arbitration.

The School of International Arbitration (SIA) is a centre of excellence in research and teaching of international arbitration and is part of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) in the School of Law at Queen Mary, University of London.

The School of International Arbitration was established in 1985 to promote advanced teaching and research in the law and practice affecting international arbitration. Today the School is widely acknowledged as the leading teaching and research centre on international arbitration in the world. The School of International Arbitration offers a range of international arbitration courses including: specialist LLM modules, postgraduate diplomas, professional courses and training and one of the largest specialist PhD programmes in the world. 

Members 

• Ms Norah Gallagher (Director of the School of International Arbitration)
• Dr Debbie De Girolamo
• Remy Gerbay
• Professor Dr Julian D M Lew QC (Head of the School of International Arbitration)
• Professor Loukas Mistelis
• Dr Mary Mitsi
• Professor Maxi Scherer

Visiting and Honorary Professors

• Mr Christopher Newmark
• David Brynmor Thomas QC
• Mr Dominic Spenser Underhill
• Ms Marion Smith, QC

Teaching and education

The School of International Arbitration offers seven LLM modules, two postgraduate diplomas and one of the largest specialist PhD programmes in the world.

All taught and research degrees are offered through the School of Law at Queen Mary, University of London.

• LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution
• LLM in Paris
• Postgraduate Diploma - International Dispute Resolution (Arbitration)
• Postgraduate Diploma - International Dispute Resolution (Mediation)
• Postgraduate Diploma by Distance Learning - International Dispute Resolution (Arbitration)
• Postgraduate Diploma by Distance Learning - International Dispute Resolution (Mediation)
• Executive Course on International Investment Law and Arbitration

View all events on the School of International Arbitration website .

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Centre for Commercial Law Studies

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PhD Program

The Queen’s Law PhD program is a four-year program of advanced scholarly research and writing, culminating in a dissertation. Queen's Senate recently approved the expected length of the PhD program from three to four years.

Our students represent a broad range of research interests, and are encouraged to use a variety of research methods. Doctoral students are a key part of our vibrant intellectual community: some teach courses in the law school and work in collaboration with faculty members on research projects. They are invited to participate in faculty workshops, lectures and seminars, and engage intellectually with other students and faculty.

We welcome applications from students who have excelled in previous legal studies, normally with an undergraduate law degree (JD, LLB or equivalent) and a graduate law degree at the Masters level (LLM or equivalent).

PhD Program Requirements

First year:

• Two mandatory graduate seminars ( Legal Research Methods & Perspectives  and  Advanced Legal Research ). If similar courses have been taken at another institution different course requirements apply. 
• Graduate-level courses relevant to a student’s research topic (for credit or audit), as recommended by the student’s supervisor and in consultation with the supervisory committee.
• A course of directed reading set by the student’s supervisor and supervisory committee.

End of first semester of second year:

• An oral qualifying exam to demonstrate readiness to pursue a dissertation.
• Final dissertation proposal

Second, third, and fourth year:

• Research and write a doctoral dissertation not to exceed 80,000 words in length exclusive of footnotes, endnotes, bibliography, appendices, tabulated data, table of cases and legislation, and tables of contents.
• Defend dissertation before an examination committee

More information

The  School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs  offers a full list of learning outcomes and a pathway to PhD completion on its website.

Practicing Law in Canada

Please note that obtaining an LLM or PhD in Canada does not qualify students who do not have an LLB or JD from a Canadian university to practice law in Canada. International students who are interested in practising law in Canada should contact the  National Committee on Accreditation .

Potential Applicants

If you are a potential applicant please see our Graduate Admissions Process for information and a link to the application portal.

Applicants do not contact potential supervisors prior to applying for admission.  Normally, supervisors are assigned when we admit applicants to our Program. Our application form allows applicants to suggest potential supervisors.  If there is someone you are interested in working with, please add that professor’s name to the application form. On the Research Interests webpage , you can find potential faculty supervisors under the various research areas. Availability of supervisors depends on current supervision numbers and if sabbaticals or leaves occur.

Recruitment for our online courses is closed. Explore all QMUL postgraduate courses .

Tel: +44(0)20 3835 4250 WhatsApp: +44 (0)7883 302152

Rethink your approach to conflict resolution

International dispute resolution llm (online), entry requirements.

• Student support
• Career prospects

This course is no longer recruiting. QMUL offer a wide range of alternative postgraduate courses which you may like to consider. A full course listing can be found here .

21st in the UK - QS World University Rankings 2024 11th for law in the UK 18th for law in the UK (up 6 places) – The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide

Your studies will combine solid theoretical grounding, broad interdisciplinary training, and opportunities for individual research and skills development. Our dynamic programmes are designed to offer you all the excellent learning opportunities you would get on campus, without the restrictions of fixed times and locations.

Your course questions answered

How can I balance my studies with a full-time job? How will the course prepare me for career success? What exactly will I learn? 

Find out if our LLM (Online) is right for you. Watch co-Programme Directors, Norah Gallagher and Dr Remy Gerbay as they discuss the structure of the LLM, explore the modules in detail, and the benefits of learning online and part time: 

Read the transcript for this video

- Hello, everyone, and welcome to this live event for the International Dispute Resolution LLM. Today, we're meeting our academics. Today, we have with us Dr. Remy Gerbay and Ms. Norah Gallagher, which are our co-program directors for the dispute resolution program. - Welcome from a miraculously warm and sunny day here in Ireland. I'm in Wicklow. And, in fact, just before we went live, Remy and myself were trying to figure out how long we've known each other. It's actually 17 years, which is quite a long time. It doesn't feel that long. We met when I was working in-- we were both working in Herbert Smith Freehills as it is now-- Herbert Smith as it was then. So I've been in international dispute resolution for well over 20 years now. I've been teaching at Queen Mary since 2002. And as I'm no longer working in a [INAUDIBLE] law firm, I'm not conflicted. I also sit quite regularly in ongoing arbitrations, often with an energy-specific and mining focus. Welcome. - My name is Dr. Remy Gerbay. I'm one of the c-directors of the LLM program with Norah Gallagher. As Norah was explaining a minute ago, we met about 17 years ago when I started my career in international arbitration at English law firm Herbert Smith. And fast-forward 17 or 18 years later. I have now two jobs. I am an academic at Queen Mary University of London, where I teach international arbitration. And I am also a partner in a law firm in Washington, DC called Hughes, Hubbard, and Reed-- in the arbitration group, where I act as counsel and as arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings-- both commercial arbitrations and investor-state arbitrations. And so Norah and I have been co-teaching and co-directing this program for about five years now, I think, although, as Norah explained, she has been teaching at primary for 20 years. And I've been teaching at Queen Mary for about 10 years. - The School of International Arbitration that's based at the Center for Commercial Law Studies was the first dedicated institute to teach the discipline of international dispute resolution. In particular, obviously, it started in commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration. It was, I suppose, the brainchild, if you will, of Dr. Julian Lew, who, again, both Remy and I worked for in Herbert Smith. And it was supported by Sir Roy Goode. So that was back in 1985. So it is coming up close to 40 years. There are, obviously, other institutions that now teach specifically LLM-focused arbitration courses. And there are many universities globally that now offer certain modules in commercial arbitration, mediation, ADR, and investment dispute resolution. But we were one of the first. We like to think that we're one of the best. We've been doing it quite a long time, and we have a lot of experience. We have a growing number of alumni. And I think that factor does set us apart. So, Remy, I was going to hand over to you to cover over the rest. - Yes, I will simply add that, yes, of course, the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London is the oldest and largest academic institution dedicated to the study and research of international arbitration. [INAUDIBLE] has been often copied but never quite equaled, we like to believe. But one of the things that really distinguishes the teaching of arbitration at our school from other programs is the fact that we take an international and comparative approach to the study of international arbitration. For example, when we study international commercial arbitration, we do not focus exclusively on English law. And even though the School of International Arbitration is based at an English university, of course, we cover English law-- the English Arbitration Act of 1996 and the case law. But we also study every single week court decisions and statutes from other jurisdictions-- from Asia, Africa, and North America. And, in fact, our student body very much reflects this diversity. So when we study commercial arbitration, we study the rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Center, of the ICDR in the US, and of a number of other institutions. We look at court decisions from all over the world. And I think that really is a distinguishing feature. I don't think any of the other international arbitration programs take this comparative approach to international arbitration law. - In order to be able to achieve an LLM, you have to have 180 credits. So you have to take a certain number of modules. And then you need to write a dissertation, which is also a credit-- I think, with 60 credits on that module. And they're divided between Remy and myself. Remy does the international commercial arbitration. There are two modules there dealing with specific aspects and, as Remy says, looks at more jurisdictions than just the UK. So it has a comparative and international aspect, which, actually, a lot of students who have some work experience maybe in dispute resolution just in their home jurisdictions find incredibly useful because it broadens out their experience. And then there are modules on investment treaty arbitration. And, of course, that is, I suppose, entirely internationally focused because it has a huge amount of public international law that's relevant-- all of the investment treaties. We look at the ICSID Convention. So it's divided up into various number of modules. And depending on what choice students make, there are three different levels that can be chosen. You can do a certificate, which requires a certain number of modules, and then the diploma and then the LLM. And you don't necessarily have to at the very beginning, if you're not sure of your workload or your personal commitments, commit to doing the LLM. You can actually do it on a progressive basis. So get the certificate first. And maybe then take a bit of time if you want to decide to go back and do the diploma and/or the LLM. So it is, I suppose, progressive. Obviously, most of our students are working full-time. So they do have that concern about being able to balance the workload and the modules over time. And so that ability to be able to choose the level of commitment that you're giving at any point in time on those three different levels-- certificate, diploma, and then LLM-- has been found to be quite useful for students in the past. - So we have two commercial arbitration modules which you take sequentially. And in the first commercial arbitration module, over a period of a few months, we give you a full introduction to international arbitration. And we cover such issues, for example, as the consent to arbitrate, arbitration agreements, the procedure, constitutional arbitration tribunals, et cetera, et cetera-- all the way to the enforcement of arbitration rules. In the second commercial arbitration module, we dig a little bit deeper in some of the more complicated issues in international arbitration. So we look at issues of evidence, for example, and privilege. We look at the issues of enforcement and things like that. And so we build upon what we've learned in the first module. Now, the way we've designed this course on commercial arbitration is that we are very much catering both for students who already have extensive knowledge of international arbitration and students who are new to it. And so the way we have designed our lecture notes, our readings, and the progression over each of the two commercial arbitration modules is such that somebody who is brand new to arbitration will be able to gradually acquire the required knowledge on the topic. But individuals who have been practicing in law firms for many years-- and we have a lot of students like that-- are also getting a lot out of these first and second modules because we are building into our courses advanced the readings. And, typically, we find that both experienced and novice students are really getting a lot out of these commercial arbitration modules. - Thank you, Remy. Actually, before I even get into any of the content of the two investment modules, I'll answer a question that I often get asked by students at the very beginning. Do I need to have a background in public international law? And I say, no. In fact, based on some of the student feedback, what we tend to do before the first investment treaty module is we have a session dedicated to the main public international law principles that you would need to be aware of. So for students who've never done any public international law, we have, as Remy says, quite a lot of students who have a lot of experience in, maybe, a particular area-- maybe in construction, maybe in litigation in their home jurisdiction but not necessarily in international law. So we would look at the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in that session. So how are tribunals interpreting the treaty provisions that are negotiated by states? We look at the international law in relation to state responsibility. When and how can a state be held accountable for its actions or inactions? So we really have worked to try and make sure that there's a certain level of awareness of those principles. So you don't need to have studied public international law in the past. The two investment modules cover, obviously, a quite exciting, I suppose, a growing area. Since I started when there was only one or two investment treaty arbitrations filed at ICSID, which is the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington, DC, where Remy is today-- two every year. Now, you know, it could be 40, 50, 60 a year. And that's just at ICSID. So we look very closely at, I suppose, the background and evolution of the investment treaty arbitration process, which, to put it simply, is what they call a mixed arbitration where you have either an individual or a company that is upset at the treatment it has received by a host state. So somebody went in and made an investment in Ireland, where I am today. And the government expropriated or adversely interferes with it in some way by changing the regime, and they feel that has impacted their investment. So we look at how do you get to go to ICSID, the requirements for consent, the jurisdictional limitations, and actually quite a lot of the procedural and mechanical aspects, including a topic that has come up recently for much discussion. And many of you may have already read a lot about this in the paper-- about issue conflict, repeat appointments, having a very small pool of arbitrators who act on very many of these cases. And also, we look at what makes ICSID arbitration unique because it obviously was set up by a treaty. And it has an annulment process which is completely different to the New York Convention, which you will have learned about from Remy on enforcement of commercial awards. And then the second module that I said we're just finishing now really goes into a lot of detail on the specifics of those substantive protections provided in these treaties. And we're always updating the material. So we're actually looking now at treaties that are being signed today-- that have completely different focus and a lot of additional requirements and obligations, both on states-- and even trying to impose ESG obligations on investors. So we're predicting that this may actually change the type of investment dispute that we'll see in the future. But we run through all of those standard protections-- so expropriation, which is one of the older and more established protections provided to investors, minimum standard of treatment, most-favoured-nation, national treatment-- freedom of transfer because, obviously, you don't want your money to get trapped. We also look at state defenses. And, again, this is an area that we've seen significant change. Even within the last three years, there's been much more willingness of states to take a counterclaim against an investor maybe for, say, breach of their own national environmental laws. And so of those have been upheld by tribunals. There are some very interesting changes and developments that are being made, both by states in the type of treaties that they're running into and also, I suppose, the willingness of tribunals to grapple with issues such as human rights, which definitely, I can tell you when I started my first case back in 1998, would not have been anticipated-- so quite an interesting area-- a lot of detail. As Remy says, we do try and streamline the reading. But for such a topic, it's quite difficult. And, obviously, the awards can also themselves be quite long. But it's a very interesting and dynamic area of public international law. And, also, probably many of you will have seen in newspapers. A lot of the disputes can be quite high-profile because they are often in the public domain, much in the same way that everybody's heard about the Yukos case against Russia. So they are the two investment treaty modules. - There are a number of benefits. The first one is that, as I said, we've designed a program specifically with working professionals in mind. This is not a traditional face-to-face LLM like the one that we have in London-- that will just put on Zoom because of the pandemic. This is a program that has been designed specifically and built specifically in order to be delivered online and in order to accommodate working professionals. And that, I think, is something that becomes very clear when you start studying the LLM. You see the platform. We use Canvas and all of the tools that we use on a weekly basis to teach the LLM. - Yeah I just would stress there that those webinars are incredibly useful. So that's a time when I always try to encourage students to come to them. Obviously, depending on the time zone, it's not always possible this year, much like the investment treaty module that we're just finishing with some students in North America-- some students in Singapore. So it's quite difficult. So some people have to watch back the recording. And then, obviously, if they have any questions that arise that they didn't understand or they need clarified, they can then put that in the forum. So our teaching team is super. They're very experienced. They've worked in both commercial and investment treaty arbitration. And they're very active in that kind of online discussion platform. But we do try and address any of the confusions each week on that live webinar where you have a chance to put your question, turn your camera on, turn your microphone on, and actually speak with us. And I think that that's a really important option, especially when the material can be a bit confusing. Or maybe you know about commercial arbitration, but you don't know about investment treaty arbitration. And you need some things clarified on how the umbrella clause is working or what tribunals are doing in relation to the minimum standard and fair and equal treatment. So it's a really useful function. A student [INAUDIBLE] helps to clarify certain points. And just to confirm [INAUDIBLE] right, so the module is kind of iterative. We start at the very beginning of the process. So what is investment treaty arbitration? How do you get to go to ICSID? We spend a whole week on consent because it's so important-- then the jurisdiction requirements. So each week follows on from and adds to what it is you've learned the week before. So that's quite an important point as well. - Maybe two points to add-- the first one is that Nora and I are the co-directors of the program. We're teaching. But we have with us a team of lecturers who are teaching with us. And, really, this team is quite incredible. And that really makes the difference between our program, I think, and even what happens in London. Whether you come to Queen Mary, to the LSE, to UCL, or any other English universities, typically, if you study an LLM program, you're going to have your lectures with the professor. And then you're going to have tutorials with, typically, PhD candidates who are teaching assistants. And their job is to support the professor. What's different with our online program is because a lot of our students are very senior, we've recruited lecturers who have extensive experience of arbitration. So our associate lectures who are teaching with us and animating, if you want, these weekly webinars with us are not your average teaching assistants. We're talking individuals who have practiced arbitration in big law firms-- who are in the process of finishing a PhD because they're moving away from big law into academia, for example-- so individuals who have actually been in arbitrations-- who truly understand what it is that they're talking about. And so the quality of our associate lecturers is really quite incredible and, frankly, unique. I've never seen that anywhere else. It's been a lot of work for Nora and I to recruit these people, but we're very happy with that. And the second thing is that when you do this LLM, you very much learn from the students as well. When you do these tutorials at the end of the week, you learn a lot from the class participation-- the interventions of your fellow students. As I said, some of our students are new to arbitration. But some others have been practicing for a long time. We have, every year, individuals who have practiced arbitration for many years but who want to become full-time arbitrators and stop working as counsel-- as partners in law firms. We have very senior partners in big law firms in Singapore and elsewhere. And so you can imagine the quality of the discussions. So in this intake-- the most recent intake-- we're doing commercial arbitration. One of the people that's studying with us is in charge of defending arbitrations for governments of a big country. So you can imagine the quality of the interventions. And we learn from each other about how arbitration works in different countries. And it really is a unique learning environment and a great networking environment as well. By participating in the weekly webinars, even though you're not flying to London and you're connecting from wherever you're located, you're able to network with individuals who, like yourself, are studying on this LLM program. Well, I think the answer very much depends on a number of factors, including where you are already in your career and what you want to do with it. What I can say is that every year, we have students who are both junior and senior lawyers who decide to do this LLM. And they do it for different reasons because they want to get different things out of it in their careers. Often, junior lawyers have recently finished their undergraduate law degree and decide to do an LLM in arbitration like ours because they want to gain a specialist knowledge in the field and to start building credibility as young, budding arbitration lawyers. And the idea is that it will help them become more employable-- get a better job in whatever jurisdiction they're placed. And also, for the lawyers that are already working as young associates in law firms, there is the perception that doing a specialist degree in arbitration will help them build credibility within their firms so that they can have first dibs when it comes to being allocated to international arbitration matters and become the specialist in their firms. - So it's generally allocated as 20 notional hours. And what that will mean is that there are some weeks where you will actually probably have to spend a bit more on the material because it will be maybe something new-- something more difficult. As Remy mentioned at the very beginning, we do get a huge amount of students who have some dispute resolution either experience or exposure-- maybe as engineer in construction disputes. So there might be some parts of the module where you wouldn't have to spend any more than five or six hours in a week. So we use 20 on average throughout the course. And, basically, I suppose there is an element of organization here. So you would have to be able to try and dedicate your time throughout the week. I'm not saying that you have to sit down and do a whole block of four or five hours but just to be able to log on and off at various points of time. Make sure that you're covering the material because the course will be much more enjoyable and, in fact, a lot easier if you are able to follow. Even in something you're familiar with, it's good to be able to revise. I mean, we have a practitioners week where we try and get really high-profile speakers. In fact, a year or two ago, I had Professor Schreuer. And he's a professor from Vienna who has written the entire book on the ICSID Convention-- literally article by article. And so the students were delighted to have him come. But you always learn something from that. So, if it's going to help, revise each week-- even the stuff that you know. And then spend a bit more time on the material that may be new to you. So, for sure, some people may have some exposure. We had a couple of students who had worked for the Egyptian government on their disputes. So they knew quite a bit about part of the investment treaty process but not others. So they were able to spend a bit less time on some of the weeks and more time on others. And then, as I say, it's just a matter of fitting it in. We're conscious that you're all working-- have family commitments and, obviously, life. So there will be times when you'll end up having to do some of your study over the weekend. I know it's not very popular to hear. But it is a distance learning program, and you will continue to be working. So there will, by necessity, be times where it will eat into your personal life. But I think that, inevitably, students who sign up for a distance learning program and who are going to continue to work know that there are going to find a way to make that balance between work and study. Remy, I wasn't sure if you wanted to add anything on to the time allocation there. Yeah, I agree. I mean, we aim to make the modules as fun, entertaining, and interactive as we possibly can online. But in the end, it's up to each student individually to assess their own time commitments at any point in time. Now, obviously, I just wanted to add something on, Remy. We have had students who had looked at their calendar, thought that it would all fit in, and then maybe something happened right in the middle. And so they had to interrupt, which you can do. And they came back and completed it later. So, obviously, if something very unusual happened or we had some students who fell ill, there are ways to be able to manage that. But in the end, despite all our best efforts at making it as engaging as possible, we try to future look, as I mentioned, to climate change disputes that we're beginning to look at because we think that is the direction-- in particular, in investment treaty arbitration-- that it will be going. But in the end, you have to decide for yourself about timing and balancing those commitments.

Why study International Dispute Resolution?

Queen Mary University of London is ranked 10th in the UK  for law in the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Learn more about the benefits of the course as well as career impacts and networking opportunities by watching our Q&A interviews with LLM students: 

Juan Cilliers, Legal Counsel

Watch our on-demand virtual Q&A with Legal Counsel Juan Cilliers to find out how he feels the programme will impact his career:

You can also read our Q&A interview with Juan , where he goes into more detail about networking opportunities, career advancement and how he manages his time.

Vishakha Gupta, Senior Associate

The online programmes in International Dispute Resolution can be studied part-time as a Master of Law (LLM), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), or Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert). The PGDip and the PGCert are shorter versions of the LLM programme.

School of International Arbitration

These three programmes are offered by the School of International Arbitration (SIA) within Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS). The SIA is a global leader in teaching and research in International Dispute Resolution. As a research-led centre, the SIA studies the specific problems that arise in arbitration and contributes to the development of arbitration theory. Taking a practice-orientated approach to teaching arbitration, the SIA helps lawyers grasp the complex theoretical problems and parameters of the subject. CCLS is a centre of national and international excellence in legal study and research. CCLS specialises in the knowledge and skills in commercial law that can be placed at the service of government, public bodies, overseas institutions, the legal profession, industry and commerce.

For more information about CCLS please visit ccls.qmul.ac.uk .

Have a question about studying?

Our course adviser team is here to help:

As the partner in a law firm, who can’t move to another country for one or two years, it was very important that the programme was online. Catalina Hoyos Jimenez, LLM student, Queen Mary Online

The LLM in International Dispute Resolution is available for part-time study offered over two academic years. During that time, you will undertake four taught modules and a 15,000 word dissertation. For each module you will be awarded 30 credits and you will receive a further 60 credits for your dissertation. To graduate you must have accrued the full 180 credits, which involves completing every aspect of the modules and passing all relevant assignments.

Postgraduate Diploma

The PGDip in International Dispute Resolution is available for part time study offered over two academic years. During that time you will undertake four taught modules. For each module, you will be awarded 30 credits. To graduate you must have accrued 120 credits, which involves completing every aspect of the modules and passing all relevant assignments. After completing your PGDip, you have the opportunity to progress onto the LLM programme. Please get in touch with a course adviser to discuss the details.

Postgraduate Certificate

The PGCert in International Dispute Resolution is available for part time study over one year. During that time, you will undertake two taught modules. You will take the first two modules from the lists below, depending on whether you start in May or September. For each module, you will be awarded 30 credits. To graduate you must have accrued 60 credits, which involves completing every aspect of the modules and passing all relevant assignments. After completing your PGCert, you have the opportunity to progress onto the PGDip or LLM programme. Please get in touch with a course adviser to discuss the details

Module details

The two modules on commercial arbitration offer students a detailed view of all key legal issues arising in the course of arbitration proceedings. The modules on investment arbitration will give students an in-depth understanding of the work of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSD) and the issue of Substantive Protection. Combined, these will equip students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in this field, whether as in-house lawyers, outside counsel, academics or arbitrators

• International Commercial Arbitration: Theory and Context

Compulsory module for the LLM, PGDip and PGCert.

Aim: to introduce the fundamental principles of international commercial arbitration.

Topics include:

• What is Arbitration? Forms of Arbitration; different dispute resolution mechanisms; main arbitral institutions
• Legal framework of arbitration; theories of arbitration
• The Arbitration Agreement  I – formal and substantive validity; separability; kompetenz-kompetenz
• The Arbitration Agreement II – essential characteristics of arbitration clauses; pathological clauses; drafting and effective arbitration clause
• Arbitrability
• Appointment of arbitrators – selection mechanisms, neutrality and independence; conflicts of interest; repeat appointments; ethics
• Arbitral Procedure I – party autonomy vs harmonization; different phases of arbitration; bifurcation; terms of reference; hearing
• Arbitral Procedure II – evidence; discovery; tensions between civil and common law; IBA guidelines
• Arbitration and the courts in general – provisional measures and enforcement.
• International Commercial Arbitration: Selected Issues

Aim: to establish knowledge and critical understanding of international commercial arbitration as an independent comparative law subject.

• Decision making in arbitration: role of Arbitral Institutions, arbitrators, domestic courts and administrative secretaries
• Legitimacy of the arbitration process:  due process, rule of law and other hallmarks of legitimacy 
• Applicable Law Issues I – determination of applicable substantive law 
• Applicable Law Issues II – law governing the procedure 
• Challenges to arbitrators, including standards of independence and impartiality
• Multi-party arbitration; multi-contract arbitration
• Provisional measures; emergency arbitrators
• Recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards
• Funding of arbitration and costs, including third party funding.
• Investment Treaty Arbitration

Compulsory module for the LLM and PGDip

Aim: to develop awareness of the complex international legal elements involved in the resolution of investment and trade disputes. 

• Introduction to the subject matter and the course – Regulatory and Institutional Framework 
• ISDS – overview and history
• ICSID – jurisdiction: consent; ratione materiae; personae 
• ICSID – procedural Issues  
• ICSID – award and annulment 
• ICSID – enforcement and sovereign immunity 
• BIT I – models and key content 
• BIT II – key procedural issues  
• Investment Arbitration: Substantive Protection
• An evolution – from BITS to FTAs to mega-regionals
• NAFTA 
• ECT – a sectoral FTA/BIT
• CETA, TPP, TTIP and other endeavours 
• Substantive Protection I: expropriation
• Substantive Protection II: fair and equitable treatment
• Substantive Protection III: other rights and state defences to investor rights
• MFN and umbrella clauses
• Dissertation

Compulsory module for the LLM

Dissertation (15,000 words) – independent research. An advanced, in depth examination of a particular area of law: the chosen topic should relate to a relevant issue within the academic field.

Module order

Depending on whether you start your course in May or September, you'll take modules in the following order:

May start 

September start

Need more information?

To be eligible for entry to the LLM, PGDip, or PGCert International Dispute Resolution programme you should have the following:

Law graduates

• The usual qualification for entry to the programme is a degree in law, or a degree with a substantial law content, of at least 2.1 honours (or international equivalent).
• Law graduates with 2.2 honours who also have other legal qualifications and/or substantial professional legal experience may also qualify.

Non-law graduates

• Non-law graduates with a minimum 2.2 honours degree who have also obtained a Merit (or 60 per cent) in the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) recognised by the UK professional bodies, may also qualify.
• Non-law graduates may also be considered on the basis of substantial professional experience in a legal area or an area directly related to their programme of study.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, you should also have one of the following:

• IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall including 7.0 in Writing, and 5.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking.
• TOEFL: 100 overall including 27 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening and 20 in Speaking.

Please visit the  Alternative English Language Qualifications page  on the main Queen Mary website for more information on language requirements.

Get advice from an IELTS examiner on taking your IELTS English Language test:

Taking your IELTS English Language test?

Here are top tips from an IELTS examiner on how to prepare for each section and perform at your best on exam day.

4 skills are tested in the IELTS exam:

Advice for reading

• Read newspapers and academic journals regularly to help improve your vocabulary and reading speed
• Download IELTS practice tests from the ielts.org website to learn how to identify the easiest questions
• During your exam, read through the paper in full initially and identify which questions are easier for you
• Start with the easier questions to guarantee yourself some marks and help you feel confident

Advice for listening

• Listen to the radio, TV and YouTube videos to help you understand various accents
• Practice your spelling of names, numbers and addresses

Advice for speaking

• Speak in English as much as possible in your day-to-day life
• On the day of the exam, see if you can speak in English to another candidate outside the exam hall, to put yourself at ease

Advice for writing

• Practice writing academic papers and get feedback from a teacher or professor if you can
• Get to know the band descriptors IELTS examiners use to mark your writing – you can find these on the ielts.org website
• Identify the areas you need to improve on and practice these before your exam
• During your exam, make sure you answer the question that’s being asked and complete all parts of the task

And finally...

Leave yourself plenty of time to prepare! If you can, try to book your exam at least six weeks in advance to give yourself enough time to practice the different skills. Practice makes perfect with the IELTS exam.

Have questions?

If you're unsure about any areas of the IELTS process and would like further advice, please reach out to our course adviser team.

• Tel: +44(0)20 3859 7192
• WhatsApp: +44 (0)7360 818402

Taking your English language requirement test at home

The following at-home tests are also being accepted for September 2023 entry:

• HOME TOEFL: 100 overall including 27 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening and 20 in Speaking.
• IELTS Indicator Test or IELTS Online Test: 7.0 overall including 7.0 in Writing, and 5.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking.
• PTE Academic Online: 68  overall including 68 in Writing, and 51 in Reading, Listening and Speaking.

In all cases, a full online application is required in order for a fair assessment and decision to be made. Each application is considered on its merits and on sight of comprehensive application documents. A full and detailed CV is required for all applications and is particularly relevant where professional experience needs to be considered. If you would like to apply but are unsure whether you are qualified, please contact our course advisers .

How you are assessed

As a student at Queen Mary Online, we ask you to play an active part in your acquisition of skills and knowledge. We use a mixture of discussion forums and group webinars, designed to generate informed discussion around set topics. Each module will consist of assessed tasks, a module essay and final assessment exercise (take-home exam). Continuous assessment will enhance the student-tutor relationship and you will be provided with regular feedback by expert tutors. You will also be able to address questions and concerns directly to the course convenor and the course director. The final dissertation required for the LLM will involve more in-depth study and independent research, on a topic agreed with your supervisor.

Independent study

At Queen Mary Online we take your studies seriously and in return we hope that you will do the same. Each week you will need to invest additional time on individual study. This could be spent preparing for, or following up on formal study sessions; reading; producing written work; completing projects; and undertaking research for your dissertation. The direction of your individual study will be guided by the online weekly content, along with your reading lists and assignments. We expect you to demonstrate an active role in your own learning by reading widely and expanding your knowledge, understanding and critical ability. Independent study helps foster the ability to identify your own learning needs and determine which areas you need to focus on to become proficient in your subject area. This is an important transferable skill and will help you throughout your working life.

Resources and services

"You have a lot of resources, such as Student Advisers, to help you. And remember, you’re not going to be the first person to ask these questions, and you aren’t going to be the last. So, don’t be afraid about reaching out for advice or guidance." Nicolas Paez, LLM student

Our online students enjoy the same status as those who attend Queen Mary on campus. You will have access to our extensive online resources and if you are able, are welcome to attend any of the extra-curricular events run by various research centres to complement your studies.

We provide free access to extensive online databases and collections, including:

• Kluwer Arbitration
• Oxford Scholarship online

Queen Mary has law careers advisers who organise events and internship opportunities with top UK and international law firms. Senior practitioners and academics from leading law firms, chambers and other universities also contribute on our programmes, providing excellent online networking opportunities for our students.

In addition, you will benefit from dedicated tutor support, enhanced online material, and a range of interactive features. There will be lively online discussions with your peers and webinars led by academic members, all accessible at a time that suits you.

You’ll also be able to turn to our helpful Student Adviser team once you enrol. They will help you with any non-academic questions and to ensure your experience with Queen Mary is positive.

The online tutors are really active, responsive, knowledgeable, highly encouraging and helpful at all times. I have had the most stupid doubts and they have cleared them up without any hindrance whatsoever. It's only made me have a better understanding of International Commerical Arbitration. LLM student, Queen Mary Online

Academic team

As a member of the Russell Group , Queen Mary is committed to the highest quality teaching and research.

The DL programmes in International Dispute Resolution are taught by academics under the direction of Norah Gallagher and Remy Gerbay, the co-Directors of the Distance Learning programmes.

Co-Programme Directors

Dr remy gerbay.

Ms Norah Gallagher

Associate Lecturers

Mr álvaro nistal.

He has represented foreign investors and States before numerous international dispute resolution fora, including ICSID, the ICC, the SCC and the International Court of Justice. Álvaro also regularly speaks at conferences and publishes articles on international arbitration and public international law, which he has taught to public officials and the legal departments of multiple States and corporate entities as well as at universities in the UK and abroad.

Mr Mohamed Mahayni

Dr Javier García Olmedo

A Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Luxembourg, Dr García Olmedo holds a master's degree in Law from the University of Granada (Spain) and an LLM in Private International Law and Arbitration from King’s College London. He is also a dual-qualified Abogado (Spain) and Solicitor (England & Wales). Before joining the University of Luxembourg, he was a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg and worked as an associate at Foley Hoag and Hogan Lovells, where he represented sovereign States and commercial entities in numerous arbitrations governed by the ICSID, PCA, UNCITRAL, and ICC rules. He also practiced arbitration with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Paris and worked as a research assistant for Professor Martin Hunter at Essex Court Chambers in London.

Mr Denis Parchajev

Ms Agnieszka Ason

Viraj Bhide

Other academic members of the School of International Arbitration, who have some limited involvement in the Online Learning programmes include the following:

Teaching and Research

Established in 1985, the School of International Arbitration (SIA) is the oldest academic institution dedicated to the study of international arbitration and dispute resolution, and one of the largest specialist PhD programmes in the world.

The SIA is a centre of excellence in research and teaching of international arbitration and is part of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) at Queen Mary University of London – which consists of 32 full-time academic staff and more than 50 practitioners, judges and visiting academics contributing to the teaching, research and life of the centre.

Involving leading practitioners and business in the delivery of our courses continues to ensure that the teaching and training we deliver is relevant and practical whilst retaining the highest academic rigour.

CCLS’s advisory council (chaired by The Right Honourable Lord Justice Kitchin) and its Development Board are comprised of judges, solicitors, barristers, general counsel, business leaders and academics.

CCLS has approximately 100 doctoral and 1000+ LLM and MSc students from some 80 countries and has trained over 10,000 lawyers since its establishment. Our students benefit from learning from leading academics who in turn involve experienced practitioners in their teaching teams. Graduates from our programmes go on to form part of the vibrant Alumni and Friends of the School of International Arbitration.

The School of International Arbitration is widely considered as one of the world’s pre-eminent academic institutions for the study of international arbitration.

The School of Law at Queen Mary is consistently ranked in the top 10 law schools in the UK for the quality of our research and teaching and our students enjoy a very high employment rate within six months of graduating. It is also often ranked as the top law school in London.

Queen Mary is in the top 120 universities in the world and the top 50 in Europe. We're also a member of the UK's 24 leading universities, the Russell Group.

The networking you get in a university like this is impressive. Catalina Hoyos Jimenez, LLM student, Queen Mary Online

How could Queen Mary's course benefit my career?

Queen Mary University of London is a member of the Russell Group of leading universities. Studying online with us gives you access to the highest quality of teaching and research, empowering you to achieve lifelong career success and make a global impact. Queen Mary’s School of International Arbitration (SIA) is the world’s oldest and largest academic institution dedicated to the study of international arbitration. The SIA is widely recognised as a global leader in the field. 

We have students who have recently graduated from law school and are looking to start their career, preferably in arbitration or international resolution. We also have mid-level or senior lawyers who want to understand international arbitration better, because they need it in their work or want to transition from general litigation, for example, into international arbitration. Dr Remy Gerbay, LLM Programme Co-Director

What career-relevant skills will I develop?

During the course, you will get a broad perspective on arbitration . At Queen Mary, we teach international arbitration taking a comparative law approach. Our courses are not limited to English arbitration law. Instead, we study statutes and cases from numerous jurisdictions, covering continental Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. Throughout the course, you will work on questions based on real cases, conduct legal research, write legal analyses, and get feedback from our academic team. Through our LLM, students with no background in arbitration will gain a comprehensive knowledge of both commercial and investor-State arbitration, garnering both precious practical and theoretical insights into these fields of practice. For experienced arbitration lawyers, studying our LLM is an opportunity to take some distance from your everyday work and gain a top-down, theoretical understanding of the subject matter. A specialised LLM will also bolster both experienced and inexperienced lawyers’ credibility as arbitration practitioners, thereby helping you achieve your professional goals. 

Hear from current student Juan Cilliers about how the course has opened up opportunities within his career in arbitration:

Juan [00:00:01]Just bearing in mind that this is not only a arbitration masters degree but international dispute resolution programme, I was also asked to sit as a mediator in some commercial disputes, which I was really flattered by. And that's all because the word spread that i'm enrolled at Queen Mary. And obviously, I've got a bit of a advantage over some of the colleagues who might just have exposure to domestic arbitration. So going forward, I think it will open some doors. And yeah, I'm looking forward to what the future holds.

What additional career support is available?

You’ll also have access to QM Careers and Enterprise throughout your studies and for up to two years after you graduate. The service offers information and guidance on a wide range of topics, from choosing a career to finding work experience and starting your own business. Find out more about career guidance for Queen Mary Online students on our Career Support page . 

What are the networking opportunities?

You will also have access to various extracurricular events organised by the SIA, including a range of online seminars relevant to the course on topics such as transparency and insolvency.  

Where have graduates progressed to?

From the success stories of our LLM graduates, we know the variety of careers that are likely to be open to you on successful completion of this course. A large portion of our graduates have applied their degree knowledge directly while working in private practice, in law firms big and small. Others have gone on to work as in-house counsel for private companies, government, or arbitral institutions. Finally, some of our students have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees and joined academia. Students who had already been practicing for several years prior to the LLM have found themselves able to advance their position within their existing organisation, or to transition into a new area of law. The skills developed through our programme – combined with the extra-curricular activities we offer – have enabled Queen Mary graduates to move in to careers in the UK and around the world at companies such as:

• Albright Stonebridge Group
• Ashurst LLP
• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Dittmar & Indrenius
• Intel Corporation
• McDermott International
• Pinsent Masons
• The World Bank

Source: LinkedIn 

Want to study on-campus?

Apply for a postgraduate course at qmul, want to study at postgraduate level.

Academic Registry and Council Secretariat

Thesis submission and the viva,  please email  [email protected] to ask us a question., thesis submission .

To submit your thesis for examination you  must submit an electronic copy of the thesis to the Research Degrees Office in the approved format (a digital (PDF) file) by email to   [email protected] . The email submitting the thesis must be received in the RDO by 23:59 hours on the thesis submission deadline.

The thesis may be submitted by email to  [email protected]  or you may use the QMUL File Exchange Service at  https://collect.qmul.ac.uk/   (please email the link to  [email protected] ). If the File Exchange Service is used an email must be sent to  [email protected]  including the collect weblink on or before your thesis submission deadline.  Please ensure that you choose an appropriate time period for the web link to be accessible e.g. two weeks.

We kindly ask that you do not use Sharepoint to share your thesis with the Research Degrees Office. 

Please complete the PGR Thesis Submission Form (RD02) [DOC 39KB] and attach this to your email to RDO.

The two bound copies of the thesis are NOT required. The thesis must be submitted as a single combined document, preferably PDF. Appendices must not be submitted as separate documents. If you have any questions or need to submit additional material with your thesis, e.g. digital material, please contact   [email protected]   so that we can advise.

The date of thesis submission recorded on MySIS is the date on which the electronic copy of the thesis is submitted to RDO.

Thesis submission deadline

How to submit your thesis, embargo your thesis, presentation of the thesis, acknowledging support, examination outcomes.

The thesis submission deadline is determined by programme length and whether a student is studying full-time or part-time. Please see the table below for general guidance.

Students who have changed their mode of study from full-time to part-time (and vice versa), interrupted their studies, or have been granted an extension to their period of registration will have a different thesis submission deadline to the guide above.

A student’s thesis submission deadline is published in the  MySIS  Research Student Data view on the student’s home page. The submission deadline date is shown in the “Thesis” section.

Please contact the  Research Degrees Office (RDO) to confirm the thesis submission deadline. 

The formal entry for examination is the submission of the thesis to the Research Degrees Office before the thesis submission deadline. 

You must also submit a completed PGR Thesis Submission Form (RD02) [DOC 39KB] with the electronic copy of your thesis. The electronic copy of the thesis can be submitted by email to   [email protected] , or you can also use the QM 'Collect' file transfer service  for files up to 2GB. Please ensure that the maximum time limit for download is chosen.  

The date of thesis submission is recorded on MySIS by the Research Degrees Office. 

Once the Research Degrees Programmes and Examinations Board has approved your examiners (please see our page on the   nomination of examiners   for more information about this process), the Research Degrees Office will formally invite your examiners to act. 

Once the examiners have accepted the formal invitation, RDO will send the thesis to them electronically.

Your thesis will NOT be sent until BOTH examiners have accepted the formal invitation.

The two bound copies of the thesis will NOT be required . The thesis must be submitted as a single combined document, preferably PDF. Appendices must not be submitted as separate documents. If you have any questions or need to submit additional material with your thesis, e.g. digital material, please contact    [email protected]   

If you do not wish your thesis to be available online, you will be able to indicate it on the online form, when you submit the final version of the thesis to the library (post-viva).

The thesis must be presented in the format set out in the notes on PGR Presentation of Thesis Notes Apr 23 [PDF 122KB] . Bound copies of the thesis are not required unless the examiners request a paper copy. Please see the above guidance about thesis submission.

QMUL policy on editorial assistance for research degree theses

Please note that only a pdf of the thesis is required

Word limits.

The thesis must not exceed the following word limits:

• PhD – 100,000 words
• MPhil – 60,000 words
• MD(Res) – 50,000 words

For the degrees of DrPS, DPsych and DClinDent the minimum length of the thesis shall be no less than 25,000 words. [The bibliography is excluded from the word count; footnotes are included within the word count; appendices are excluded from the word count and should only include material which the examiners are not required to read in order to examine the thesis but to which they may refer if they wish.]

Your supervisor is responsible for arranging the viva and keeping you and the Research Degrees Office informed of these arrangements. If you have any queries about the viva, please speak to your supervisor in the first instance.

Research degrees oral examinations may be held remotely with all participants attending online or face to face on a Queen Mary campus in line with health and safety and travel guidance in place on the day of the viva. All participants must agree the format of the viva.  One examiner can attend remotely if the student and other examiner can attend in person together.  The student’s supervisor is responsible for organising the viva and will contact the examiners to liaise with them about these arrangements. This is subject to change according to Government guidelines. PGR Exam Guidance Notes August 2023 [DOC 67KB]

You must not contact the examiners yourself. You or your supervisor must not send the thesis to the examiners.  Your examination may be declared invalid if you do.  Please ensure that you or your supervisor(s) make it clear if your thesis needs to be printed and a hardcopy is to be dispatched to the examiner.  

Students who have received financial support from external funding bodies such as Research Councils should acknowledge this according to the format stipulated by their funding body. Research Councils require the following to be included on the appropriate page:

This work was supported by the [NAME of funding body] [grant NUMBER, if applicable]

Multiple grant numbers should be separated by a comma and a space. Where the research was supported by more than one agency, the different agencies should be separated by a semi-colon, with "and" before the final funder. 

For example:

This work was supported by the [NAME of funding body] [grant NUMBERS e.g.1234, 11223344]; the [NAME of funding body] [grant NUMBER, 12345]; and the [NAME of funding body] [grant NUMBER 000]

After the viva, your examiners will inform the Research Degrees Office of the outcome. They are required to do this within two weeks of the viva. They may inform you of the outcome of the examination at the end of the viva, but are not required to do so. There are eight possible outcomes:

• Pass subject to minor amendments to be completed and checked by one or both examiners within six months;
• Pass subject to major amendments to be completed and checked by both examiners within nine months.
• Not pass, but the candidate is allowed to revise the thesis and resubmit it within 18 months (for the PhD and MD(Res) degrees) or 12 months (for the MPhil degree);
• Not pass, but the candidate is allowed to take a written paper or practical examination;
• Not pass, but the candidate is allowed to submit to a second oral examination on the same thesis and by the same examiners within 18 months;
• [If entered for a PhD] Fail PhD but the candidate is deemed to have met the requirements for an MPhil (with or without minor amendments) or should be allowed to resubmit a revised thesis for the MPhil degree within 12 months;
• Fail outright: no re-entry permitted.

The Research Degrees Office will write to you to formally notify you of the outcome of the examination and advise you of the post-viva procedure. The RDO will send you a copy of the examination outcome form, a copy of the examiners’ report on the examination, and a list of amendments required by the examiners, unless you have passed outright or have already been provided with a list of amendments. You are responsible for submitting the revised thesis to the examiner(s) responsible for checking your amendments by the date stipulated on the examination outcome form. Please ensure that you keep your personal details up-to-date in  MySIS  to ensure that you receive this correspondence.

The outcome will need to be ratified by the Research Degrees Progression and Examinations Board which is held once a month. 

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Immigration Law LLM

Queen mary university of london, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

LLM - Master of Laws

Subject areas

Immigration Studies Immigration Law

Course type

The Immigration Law LLM provides you with the opportunity to study legal responses to the global phenomenon of immigration at international, supranational and domestic levels and to understand the rationale and operation of the law in context.

You will be taught by a mixture of formal lectures and small group seminars. The seminars are designed to generate informed discussion around set topics, and may involve student presentations and group exercises as well as open discussion.

Career paths

There is a very high rate of employment of our students within six months of graduation. We have specialist who organise events and assist with finding internship opportunities at UK and international law firms and other employers.

After graduating from Queen Mary, you join our network of alumni from over 100 countries, and get access to exclusive benefits and networking opportunities.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in Law or a degree with substantial law content. Law graduates with a 2:2 honours degree who also have other legal qualifications and/or substantial professional legal experience may also qualify. Other routes: Non-law graduates with a minimum second class honours degree, that have also obtained a Merit (or 60 per cent) in the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) recognised by the UK professional bodies, may also qualify. Non-law graduates may also be considered on the basis of exceptional professional experience (of at least five years) in a legal area or an area directly related to their programme of study.

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is an internationally regarded public research institution based in London. It has a long history, dating back over 230 years, and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of universities. Queen Mary has five campuses in the city of London and an international network of satellite campuses in China, Malta, Paris and Singapore. There is a population of around 16,000 students at the London campuses and... more

Criminal Justice LLM

Full time | 1 year | 16-SEP-24

Criminal Justice MRes