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Edinburgh University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to The University of Edinburgh. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Psychology Personal Statement Example 2 Psychology surrounds us. I often observe my class mates and ask myself why they are so different, struggling with attention or eating disorders. While looking for reasons, I also want to find ways to help them and I am confident that psychology will give me the means to do so...

Politics and International Relations Personal Statement Example 4 The era in which we live goes through constant turmoil and shifting powers. Not a day goes by without a change somewhere on our planet, which in turn has an effect on yet another change to come elsewhere...

French and Arabic Personal Statement Example In studying French and Arabic, I am eager to compare two mutually influential languages and cultures, particularly their overlapping history and its cultural representations. I decided to defer my entry to retake my Maths A2 and plan to turn this to my advantage by working and living in France, putting what I've already learnt of the French language and culture into practice...

Maths Personal Statement Example 3 I am extremely enthusiastic about my decision to read Mathematics at university as for as long as I can remember Maths has always been my main academic interest. From learning to count at primary school, to studying calculus towards my Mathematics A level, I have found this subject intriguing due to its obvious application to the real world...

Environmental Science Personal Statement Example 1 I must describe as undetermined the moment from which my compassion began to aim predominantly towards the natural environment and all the elements that compose it. With the passing of the years since my existence here on Earth, I have been able to witness behind the transparent glass of “development”, how our relationship with nature is becoming more noxious; on having assumed us with the right to take a big part of our Earth as if it was completely within our jurisdiction...

Economics and PPE Personal Statement Example My aspiration to study economics at both advanced and degree level has stemmed from my lasting interest in current affairs and world development. These issues require an application of economics in real-life situations and can be related to many diverse subjects such as politics, philosophy and psychology...

Physics Personal Statement Example 4 The elegance of the scientific subjects, in particular physics is what has established my eagerness for a deeper insight into the subject. What sets physics apart from the other sciences, in my opinion, is that it can be practically applied to all instances of life...

Architecture Personal Statement Example 1 I believe that having a visual stimulus in your environment is important. For example, if I'm walking down the street I want to see an eclectic mix of buildings that I find exciting to look at, rather than rows of uniform houses...

Law and International Relations Personal Statement Example 1 Through my insight into the UN's work I have learned that having declarations about Human Rights does not mean they are obeyed and automatically enforced. Law is not static, but develops all the time. It is part of everyday life, as in Berlin everyone is confronted with the issue of asylum seekers...

Geography Personal Statement Example 1 At first glance, my A Level choices appear scientifically biased, but they underpin key topics studied in Geography. I enjoy investigating the theories of global economies, population and poverty. The mathematics I have studied enables me to manipulate raw data meaningfully...

Economics Personal Statement Example 5 Choosing an undergraduate degree in economics is a result of my deep seated curiosity to know why economies are they way they are; why oil prices in my country, Pakistan, rapidly fluctuate whereas economies like USA and China continue to strengthen despite recessions...

Geography Personal Statement Example 2 In a dynamic world, the study of geography is increasingly important. The diversity of the subject and the interaction between the physical environment and human population is becoming even more evident with climate change and globalisation influencing our everyday lives...

German and English Literature Personal Statement Example Email correspondence with a friend in Berlin during the celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of the German reunification gave me an insight into the importance and relevance of Germany’s past both within the country itself, and throughout Europe...

Scottish History Personal Statement Example “Swap Access to Degree Studies” Whenever I walk through the village where I live in Polmont, and look just beyond the Westquarter valley where the tree line of the Callendar woods are visible, I close my eyes, and I am transported back to one of the most fateful days in Scotland’s history...

Biology Personal Statement Example 8 My interest in Biology started at a very young age due to spending a lot of time outdoors. I am intrigued by the functioning of living organisms and how they are all linked; one small change in one species will affect a whole range of others...

Plant Biotechnology Personal Statement Example I have became fascinated with Science in my early childhood. It came from the first glance through the microscope at Paramecium. Since that time I have shown a pertinacity to learn about the world imperceptible by human eyes...

Economics and Politics/Geography Personal Statement Example My desire to study Economics in combination with the Social Sciences stems primarily from my interest in these fields but also from the fact that these two disciplines compliment each other exceptionally well...

Pure Mathematics Personal Statement Example Mathematics is beautiful to me because of the deep and meaningful ideas touched upon by it, the vastness of these ideas, the clearness and elegance of their representation. Mathematics gives me the ability to apply knowledge by approaching things logically, and thinking clearly...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 8 From the start of my second year at high school a subject which was introduced to me was graphic communication. This immediately caught my attention as the technical drawing aspect of the course was thoroughly enjoyable To further investigate more about this subject I chose to do graphic communication at a higher level which broadened my experience in technical drawing and introduced me to computer aided drawing which inspired me to research different courses related to this subject and doing so clearly confirmed my desire to study this course...

Psychology Personal statement Example 46 Marathon, madness or pleasure? What motivates a person to run 42 195 meters under a burning sun, on a hot summer’s day with a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius? Well, it is a justified question if you’re not a fan of long distance running or if you are a student in the field of psychology...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 43 The ever-evolving nature of medical science and the certainty that we will know more about the many different healthcare practices has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. My dedication to studying medicine has been confirmed by the experience I have gained in different hospitals and practices and I look forward to the academic discipline and challenges that will arise...

Geography Personal Statement Example 12 Considering my interests and hobbies, I could have chosen one of any number of subjects as my main area of interest, but there is no other subject which captures my imagination so completely as Geography, and I see links to it in almost every aspect of my life, both within and outside of my studies...

Economics Personal Statement Example (International Student) 1 The subject of economics, which I seek to study in the coming years, was first introduced to me through the United States Academic Decathlon, a ten-subject team competition for high schools. Over the past two years I have devoted hundreds of hours to independent preparation for this competition...

Law and Business Personal Statement Example (International Student) From an early age, law has always been number one priority in my vision of the future. Probably because of my father's profession (he is Head of the Regional Criminal Police), I have always been intrigued by Criminology and the idea of analysing and solving tangled cases...

Mathematics and Engineering Personal Statement Example Questions regarding the reason for my liking of mathematics have only one answer: mathematical logic and concepts contribute to a practical approach in every aspect of life. It is the diversity and universal applicability of this subject that encourages me to delve further and study it in depth...

Languages/Linguistics Personal Statement Example My decision to study languages at University stems from a fascination of the complexity of language and the changes which languages go through. As I am Scottish, I often speak in a regional dialect and I find myself engrossed as to why people speak in dialects and why speakers of the same language can have difficulties understanding each other...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 48 Given that over ninety nine percent of the body consists of just six elements, it is hard to imagine the human body as an intricately synchronised and immensely complex machine. Yet, it has done well to puzzle even the brightest minds in history-but I am drawn to a challenge; I cannot think of anything else more fascinating to work with...

Geography Personal Statement Example (Human/Environmental) The possibility of the human race’s days being numbered by our destructive lifestyles, as planted in my mind by Al Gore’s sensationalised and controversial ‘The Inconvenient Truth’, has fuelled my interest in the global warming phenomenon, forcing me to question society’s reluctance to tackle it and realise the worldwide impact of each of our daily lives...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 53 I have asked myself many times what it takes to be a great doctor, but like many questions there is never a straight answer. Keeping an open mind with regards to my career has meant that I have been able to pinpoint the one field which has fascinated me unlike any other, medicine...

International Relations/Politics Personal Statement Example 1 Earth is an ecosystem consisting of uncountable amount of substances, organisms and climatic changes, and of fragile relations between all of them. As a slight increase of global temperature causes great changes around the world, like melting of humongous ice glaciers which lead to flooding areas many miles away, as cutting of few trees may cause significant change in the population of one type of animal which destroys balance between other kinds living in the same forest, thus the human world today consists of the same political ecosystem with both fragile and strong relationships between different nations, countries and people themselves...

Archaeology and Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 As an immigrant living in Spain, I am constantly reminded of the importance social and cultural factors have on my daily life, the language I speak, and the difference between the relationships I maintain with people from my own country and those I encounter here on a daily basis...

Ancient/Medieval History Personal Statement Example My decision to study Medieval History at a higher level was never a difficult one. Having always been interested about the relationship between the past and the present, studying History at AS-Level only strengthened my decision...

Law and German Personal Statement Example I have always been fascinated by the structures of societies and how their laws are built. Due to the constant changes of the world, the ongoing conflicts, debates, and controversies, these laws are constantly evolving...

International Business Personal Statement Example 2 The motivation behind my decision to gain a Business Degree lies in my determination to better understand how the real world works. I particularly enjoy the way that business blends in with everyday issues...

English Literature and Personal Statement Example At the war cemeteries of El Alamein in Egypt, I spent an hour or two combing through the British Commonwealth cemetery for Royal Dragoons from my Grandpa’s division and found myself struggling, from the sheer number of headstones, to choose between condemning our capacity for violence and admiring the extent of our sacrifice...

Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 2 To me, fiction is like the magic carpet of Aladdin. It takes me to travel through time and space and explore the slices of human experience. In the wonderful trips, I am guided by the author and accompanied by the characters...

Architecture Personal Statement Example 16 I vividly remember the moment when I knew I wanted to be an architect. I had been taken to Barcelona to see ‘the wavy buildings’, at the time I didn’t know anything about Gaudí or his work so I was relatively unenthusiastic...

History Personal Statement Example 37 My interest in history lies in the simple fact that I have always been fascinated by the past. At eleven I won a full academic bursary to attend my current school. This was a way into a community in which my intellectual curiosity would be valued and where I could further my enthusiasm for history...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 62 When two, I suffered a large third degree burn on my chest. Living in a small town in Romania, I was not able to get appropriate treatment, so I grew up with complexes about the aesthetical appearance of the scar...

Law and History Personal Statement Example 4 Louis de Bernières writes in ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin' that history is fascinating 'because everything [is] connected to everything else in the most elaborate, devious and elegant ways'. Perhaps this explains the importance of history in understanding the modern world; it governs the way in which we view society, dictates our actions and, perhaps most importantly, provides guidance to those who establish law...

Medieval History/History Personal Statement Example My grandmother’s maiden name is Marx. Her uncle, the world-renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, was Karl Marx’s great-nephew. This fact, while seemingly trivial, has worked to strengthen the spark history has ignited within me since I was old enough to read...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 21 The world of engineering is so complex, yet so inspiring. Incredibly, engineers are discovering more ingenious and inventive solutions to complicated problems, whilst continually maximising efficiency...

English Literature & History Personal Statement Example 1 Throughout my education, I have constantly been captivated and inspired by my History and English studies. I have recognised how the two disciplines entwine and coexist to create an invaluable tool with which to explore the past and future...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 54 Since my first years of school, my life has gravitated around the questions starting with “Why” and “How”. In the 7th grade I was introduced to physics, which answered some of my questions but also generated more...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 67 I first became interested in psychology whilst discussing the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and non-conformity with my father. The nature-nurture debate gave me a huge desire to increase my knowledge and understanding of the human condition...

Illustration or Art Combined Course Personal Statement Example When the opportunity arose to combine art with some of my other subjects I leapt at the chance. English and Art being my favourite combinations. I’d illustrate stories, sketch far-too detailed storyboards than was strictly necessary for my Media project, and translate an extract of Shakespearean script into an attempt at a Frank-Miller-esque comic creation...

Electrical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The defining wonder of today’s age is electricity. In just two centuries, we have come from Faraday’s crude but prophetic experiments to devices just a square inch that can calculate in seconds what the most gifted of human minds might take days...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 3 Have you ever heard the Tuvan throat singing technique? Beautiful and intriguing at the same time. The question that's bound to accompany a throat singing performance is how the human voice could possibly produce such a sound...

Mathematics & Physics Personal Statement Example 2 My enthusiasm for Mathematics and Physics comes from the fact that they are both used to further our understanding of the universe and have applications in all other areas of science. My main area of interest in Physics is particle physics as this tells us how fundamental parts of our universe interact with each other...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 7 Coming from a mixed religious background, the comparison between cultural practices has touched me deeply, personally and profoundly. I have been able to observe the influence of culture on people's perspectives and world views...

Geology Personal Statement Example 4 Geology acts as a spyglass into the past, enabling us to understand the ancient environment and how its evolution is a key component to our survival. Through the study of Mineralogy and Palaeontology I have understood the importance of unravelling the earth's structure and mineral composition for both environmental and human benefit...

Accounting Personal Statement Example 4 At the heart of a successful business is a passion to achieve. A clear mindset and the ability to collaborate well with people is what makes profit; this is vital in the field of accounting. After looking further into the structure of firms, one thing in common to each is that at it's centre is a good accountant who makes clear and well thought out decisions...

German Personal Statement Example 8 Studying German at an advanced level strikes me as a very natural choice due to my cultural heritage and my strong interest in the subject. I have been brought up in the French-speaking part of Switzerland in a very multicultural family with an Italian father and a German-Iranian mother...

Earth Science/Geology Personal Statement Example 1 Everyone wakes up in the morning hoping to achieve something in life. That ‘something’ is what keeps them going every day. For me, it is my strong desire to contribute to society. I believe the best way to do that is by helping them understand the earth’s mechanism and how to maximise its potential to not just complement our lives but to make it better...

Law and International Relations Personal Statement Example 3 Our entire system is based on law, making it the essential foundation of stability in societies; the emergence of UN, NATO, and EU made the world more cordial. International cooperation is one of the chief elements of the functionality of the modern world; thus a combination of law and foreign affairs is the base of international prosperity...

Politics & Social Policy Personal Statement Example The ever-changing nature and diversity of politics is fascinating. The rapid social and political development in Russia in the early 2000s, still surrounded by the left-overs, if not quite the toppled statues of the previous socialist regime, kindled my interest in politics...

PPE/Economics Personal Statement Example Humanity today stands at the intersection of the most significant questions facing the world today: if democracy leads to political infighting, should it be sacrificed in the interest of economic well-being? Does religious fundamentalism provide a way for countries in the developing world to assert their identity in the face of Western hegemony? Does the entry of Western consumer goods threaten a country’s economic self-sufficiency? The answers of these questions will determine what the nature of our world is in the twenty-first century...

Law Personal Statement Example 90 Law is the cornerstone of our society, the piece of the puzzle that makes the world we live in work. It sparked my interest a few years ago, when I decided it was time to take a closer look at potential university courses...

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The UCAS Personal Statement

Your Personal Statement is your opportunity to convince Admissions Officers of your suitability for and commitment to the degree programme you have applied to.

What is the Personal Statement for?

It is important to recognise that, when you apply to Edinburgh, you will be competing for a place with many very well-qualified applicants. Your personal statement is your opportunity to make your application stand out.

While good qualifications are essential they are not enough on their own. Admissions Officers will want to be confident that students have the necessary skills and attributes for the degree programme.

What should the Personal Statement include?

In your Personal Statement you should ideally:

• Explain why you want to study the subject courses you have applied for
• What knowledge of the subject can you demonstrate?
• Provide evidence that you understand the career implications of your choice
• Detail any relevant skills or experience
• Outline any relevant personal qualities, interests and skills and indicate how these have been developed

Depending on the degree programme you are applying for, admissions staff will be looking for different things from your Personal Statement.

More details on what sort of skills, experience or attributes are required can be found in the UCAS Entry Profiles.

UCAS Entry Profiles

Challenging circumstances

If you have experienced any challenging circumstances that have impacted on your pre-application education, you can include these in your personal statement so that they can be taken into account during selection. This information can be provided by your referee in your reference if you prefer.

Challenging circumstances policy

Writing a true personal statement

Remember that your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself. The information you give us must be true. If you copy a personal statement from elsewhere, or ask someone else to write this for you, including the use of AI apps such as Chat GPT, you could be committing fraud.

You can find guidance on personal statements on the  UCAS  website.

UCAS guidance on personal statements

UCAS guidance on using AI and Chat GPT in statement writing  

Personal statement guidance for Medicine

More advice on applying through UCAS

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Applying - undergraduate

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This programme offers an exciting and flexible range of courses drawn from across the range of masters level courses offered by Edinburgh Law School, enabling you to tailor the LLM to meet your academic interests and future career plans.

The LLM in Law (or ‘General LLM’) is suitable for students seeking a range of advanced courses, without necessarily specialising in one area of law.

You will have the opportunity to select courses from the following areas of law:

• Commercial Law
• Criminal Law
• Criminology
• Intellectual Property, Media and Technology Law
• International Law
• Legal History and Legal Theory
• Medical Law
• Private Law

The General LLM qualification reflects expertise across a range of subjects. For that reason, there are limits on the number of courses which can be taken from any one subject area.

If you wish to specialise in a specific area of law you should apply for one of our nominate degrees.

View our full range of Masters degrees

The LLM in Law offers students the opportunity to craft a curriculum which suits their needs and interests and to engage with a broad range of subject areas. The range of skills and knowledge which such a programme develops and allows students to demonstrate is increasingly important in view of the interconnectedness of the modern workplace.

Advanced study in legal and criminological fields offers excellent preparation for a range of careers including academia, legal practice, business, public policy. Our teaching is research-led and delivered in seminars which give students the opportunity to engage directly with each other and with academic staff.

The University of Edinburgh's Law School has a vibrant research community, boasting scholars of international repute. Their work is supported by one of the UK’s leading law libraries, which you will also have access to.

The Law School is also home to research centres for Commercial, Constitutional, International and Global and Private Law as well as centres for Legal History and Legal Theory as well as the Empirical Legal Research Network, the Mason Institute (which examines medicine, life science and the law), the Europa Institute, the Global Justice Academy and the SCRIPT Centre (which explores the relations between law, technology and commerce).

Find out more about our research centres and networks

In addition to scholars based in Edinburgh, the Law School also operates two schemes for visiting researchers: the Visiting Scholar Programme and the MacCormick Fellowship Scheme. Through these the international culture of scholarship in Edinburgh is fostered and developed.

Visit Edinburgh Law School's MacCormick Fellows video channel

Find out more about research at Edinburgh Law School

The wide range of research seminars and public lectures provide an excellent opportunity for you to engage with current research and to get to know academics and postgraduate researchers in a more informal setting.

Each of the research centres organises a number of seminars and symposia throughout the year, which are open to all postgraduate students. The Law School also holds a number of annual lectures given by leading scholars and members of the judiciary.

As a postgraduate student you are actively encouraged to attend and to participate in these events.

Find out more about the range of events at Edinburgh Law School

If you have any questions about the LLM in Law please don't hesitate to contact us.

[email protected]

Proposed new programme

We would like to hear your views on a potential new postgraduate opportunity in Transnational Law. Please fill out our short survey.

Take survey

This programme can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years subject to visa restrictions.

It offers a wide range of subjects across many legal fields from European, International and comparative perspectives. It is genuinely flexible enabling you to tailor the LLM to meet your specific interests.

The programme consists of 180 credits, comprising taught courses worth 120 credits (60 credits per semester) and a 10,000 word dissertation worth 60 credits.

To ensure a programme of general interest there are no mandatory courses, however you may only select a certain number of credits (60 per semester) from particular fields. This is indicated in the course options list below. Full programme details for the 2024-25 academic year including detailed course descriptions are available on the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study website. 

View 2024-25 programme information for the LLM in Law

Please note that the courses listed below are scheduled for the 2024-25 academic year and are provided for illustrative purposes.

Depending on demand, space on specific courses may be limited.

You can select between 0 and 40 credits from the following courses:

• Company Law (40 credits, full-year course) 
• Comparative Corporate Governance (20 credits)
• Corporation Law and Economics (20 credits)
• International Commercial Arbitration (20 credits)
• The Law of International Trade (20 credits)
• Contract Law in Europe (20 credits)
• Applied Corporate Law (20 credits)
• Priniciples of Commerical Law (20 credits)
• Sustainability in Food Supply Chains: Law and Policy (20 credits)

View full programme information for the LLM in Law

• Sexual Offending and the Law (20 credits)
• General Principles of Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Current Issues in Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Criminal Justice and Penal Process (20 credits)
• Police and Policing (20 credits)
• Theoretical Criminology (20 credits)
• Mental Health and Crime (20 credits)
• Surveillance and Security (20 credits)
• Global Crime and Insecurity (20 credits)
• Responding to Global Crime and Insecurity (20 credits)
• Cybercrime and Cyber Security (20 credits)
• Prisons and Places of Confinement (20 credits)
• Criminological Research Methods (20 credits)
• Applied Criminological Research Methods (20 credits)
• EU Competition Law (40 credits, full-year course)
• EU External Economic Relations Law (20 credits)
• EU Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Citizenship in Europe (20 credits)
• EU Immigration and Asylum Law (20 credits)
• The Values of the European Union: A Legal Perspective ( 20 credits)
• Judicial Protection in the European Union: A Comparative Framework (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law 1: Copyright and Related Rights (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law 2: Industrial Property (20 credits)
• The legal challenges of information technologies (20 credits)
• Information: Control and Power (20 credits)
• International and European Media Law (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property and Human Rights (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law, Innovation and Creativity (20 credits)
• Robotics, AI and the Law (20 credits)
• E-Governance, Digital Change and Democratisation (10 credits)
• Human-Computer Interaction and Governance (10 credits)
• Space Law (20 credits)
• Advanced Issues in Registered Trade Mark Law (20 credits)
• Software and the law (20 credits)
• EU Data Protection Law (GDPR) (20 credits)
• International Intellectual Property Law (20 credits)
• Fundamental Issues in International Law (40 credits)
• International Environmental Law (40 credits)
• International Investment Law (20 credits)
• Inter-state Conflict and Humanitarian Law (20 credits)
• International Climate Change Law (20 credits)
• International Human Rights Law (20 credits)
• WTO Law 1 (20 credits)
• International Ocean Governance and the Protection of the Marine Environment (40 credits)
• Law and Development (20 credits)
• Economic and Social Rights (20 credits)
• Legal Decision Making (20 credits)
• Reasoning with Precedent (20 credits)
• The Rule of Law (20 credits)
• Advanced Legal Reasoning (20 credits) 
• Reasoning Using Civilian Authority (20 credits)
• Fundamental Issues in Medical Jurisprudence (20 credits)
• Contemporary Issues in Medical Jurisprudence (20 credits)
• Fundamentals in Bioethics (20 credits)
• Mental Health Law (20 credits)
• Reproduction and the Law (10 credits)
• Shaping and Regulating Modern Healthcare (10 credits)
• Clinical Negligence and the Law (10 credits)

You can select between 0 and 60 credits from the following courses:

• International Private Law: Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments (20 credits)
• Delict and Tort (20 credits)
• Comparative Property Law (20 credits)
• Insolvency Law (20 credits)
• Trusts across the Common Law World (20 credits)
• Child Law in Comparative Perspectives (20 credits)
• Comparative Statutory Interpretation (20 credits)
• The Anatomy of Public Law (20 credits)
• Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (20 credits)
• Human Rights Law in Europe (20 credits)
• Advanced Comparative Constitutional Law (20 credits)
• Global South Actors in International Relations and International Law, 1945-present (20 credits)
• Conflict and Peaceful Transition in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (20 credits) 
• Working in Conflict-Affected Areas: Understand, Cooperate and Protect (20 credits)

Having successfully completed 120 credit points of courses within the LLM, you will be ready to move onto a single piece of independent and in-depth research. The 10,000 word dissertation allows you to focus on a preferred topic based on a subject you have studied in one of your courses during the programme.

You will be assigned an academic dissertation supervisor who will provide you with support and guidance while you prepare and write your dissertation.

The dissertation is a challenging but rewarding endeavour, asking you to demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the relevant literature and an ability to engage critically with a range of sources, drawing on the skills and knowledge you have developed during the course of the programme. Students are encouraged to show originality and evidence of independent thinking, whether in terms of the material used, or the manner in which it is presented.

The dissertation is written in the summer months (April to August) after the taught courses are successfully completed.

We cannot guarantee that all courses will run each year, and will provide adequate notice of any changes to the programme structure and courses.

Academic staff teaching on courses on the LLM in Law in 2024-25 are experts in their field and are actively involved in cutting-edge research in their area of expertise.

Dr Simone Lamont-Black - Programme Director 2024-25

Dr Simone Lamont-Black is Senior Lecturer in International Trade Law, at the University of Edinburgh. She trained and practiced law in Germany as Rechtsanwältin before moving to the UK. She holds her Doctorate from Augsburg University (summa cum laude). Simone's teaching spans across a range of topics in international commercial law, including international sale of goods and transport law, commercial private international law, international commercial arbitration and dispute resolution methods.

Find out more

Depending on the courses you choose to study, you will be taught by staff from a range of different subject areas in the Law School.

• Criminal Law and Evidence
• IP, Media and Technology Law
• Legal History
• Legal Theory
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Public International Law

The staff teaching on this programme are subject to change for the 2024-25 academic year.

Find out what it's like to study for an LLM in Law at Edinburgh Law School from our current and former students.

Marlene, Germany

My name’s Marlene, I’m German and have a background in EU-level digital policy-making. After working for several years after my undergraduate degree, I chose Edinburgh Law School to complete my education. While my undergraduate degree was mainly law, I also took interdisciplinary courses in politics and economics. The faculty is open to such backgrounds, which I think is forward-thinking. Many universities still treat legal education as siloed from other disciplines, which it isn’t in real life.

For someone with an interdisciplinary background like mine, the General Law LLM stream was perfect. I was effectively able to custom-design an LLM, drawing from courses across the Law School, and tailor everything to my specific goals. While other LLM streams also have freedom in choosing some courses, what sets the General stream apart is that we have no mandatory courses, and truly have free choice.

I also participated in the University’s team for the Willem C. Vis Moot, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time in Edinburgh. It was really challenging to balance with my regular course load, but complementary in improving my oral advocacy skills.

I loved Edinburgh. It’s big enough to feel like a city and offer you anything you need, but small enough that everything is in your reach. The university attracts incredibly interesting people, and I made friends for life.

Marlene studied the LLM in Law in the academic year 2019-20, graduating in 2020.

"Due to the huge range of courses, the LLM in Law offered me a tailor-made way to pursue my various legal interests. Without being restricted to a particular area of law, I had the chance to set up my individual curriculum consisting of civil and criminal law classes.

I really enjoyed the seminar-style teaching in small groups. As most of my courses had a comparative approach, it was more like learning from each other than only from the lecturer.

Discussing legal topics and problems with my fellow classmates from various legal backgrounds was a highly enriching experience. Sometimes the teachers only had to trigger a discussion which then developed itself and only stopped because the seminar-time ran out.

Working with the teaching-staff was also a great experience. The lecturers were all very approachable, student friendly and willing to help.This was particularly visible when I was writing my dissertation. Through out all meetings my supervisor tried to show me ways to improve my work. It was the first time in my academic career that I received such an extensive and smooth supervision.

Not being stuck in one specific programme had another positive effect. As almost all General LLM students had chosen completely different combinations of courses, I met new people in every single class. I really felt like I was part of one big LLM family and not just one small programme. As a result, I made new friends not only from all over the world but also from a wide range of legal subject areas. Thus, I think the LLM in Law is the most diverse programme of all LLM programmes at Edinburgh University."

Nils studied the LLM in Law in the academic year 2016-17, graduating in 2017.

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are now open.

Please note that the information provided is for entry in the 2025-26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. 

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.  We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible; this is particularly important for applicants who may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test, for overseas students who may need time to satisfy necessary visa requirements and/or to apply for University accommodation.

We require a minimum 2:1 honours degree from a UK university, or its international equivalent, in law. We may also consider a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a social science subject, however a solid foundation in law (evidenced through prior study or substantial work experience) is essential for this programme. 

In evaluating your application for postgraduate study, greater emphasis may be placed upon results of prior learning in subjects relevant to the intended degree programme.

Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.

Supporting your application:

• Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
• Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
• Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.

International qualifications

You can check whether your degree qualification is equivalent to the minimum standard before applying.

Check your degree

Students from China

This degree is Band A.

Find out more about our postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

Postgraduate study in the field of law requires a thorough, complex and demanding knowledge of English, so we ask that the communication skills of all students are at the same minimum standard.

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

If you have already met our English language entry requirements for your programme at the time you apply, your application may be considered more competitive in selection than applications where you still need to take an English language test. 

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

Two year expiry

• IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI and IELTS Academic Online : total 7.0 (at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other module)
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 (at least 25 in writing and 23 in each other module)
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 73 in writing and 65 in all other components. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT (Global and Digital): 8 overall with at least 8 in the writing component and 7 in each other component

Three and a half year expiry

• C1 Advanced, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) : 185 (at least 185 in writing and at least 176 in the other modules)
• C2 Proficiency, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) : 185 (at least 185 in writing and at least 176 in the other modules)

Your English language qualification must be no more than two years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins, unless you are using CAE/CPE, in which case it must be no more than three and a half years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, that has been taught and assessed in English, either:

• In a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).

UKVI Majority English speaking countries

• On our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

Approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the start of the month in which your programme of study begins.

Full details of the University's English language requirements are available on the University's website

Visit the University's English language requirements web page to find out more

Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes

We also accept satisfactory completion of our English for Academic Purposes programme as meeting our English language requirements. You must complete the programme no more than two years and one month before the start date of the degree you are applying to study.

Find out more about the University's Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes

Your application may not be successful if you do not currently satisfy any of these requirements; alternatively, you may be offered a place conditional on your reaching the satisfactory standard by the time you start the degree.

English language support

The University runs a series of programmes for English Language Education, including a pre-sessional English Language Programme intended to strengthen your English Language skills before you start your programme of study.

Find out more about English language support offered by the University

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we may make offers to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts. English language documentation can be submitted later but if you have already met the English language entry requirements for your programme at the time of application, your application may be considered more competitive in selection than applications where an English language test still needs to be taken.

Selection deadlines

Deadlines for UK/Scotland fee status

After round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open only to applicants who are eligible for the UK/Scotland fee rate, including the EU/EEA Pre-settled Scotland fee status. Applications will remain open no later than 30 June 2025 and may close earlier than this if the programme becomes full, so we strongly recommend you apply as soon as possible.

If you apply with another fee status after 29 May 2025, your application will be rejected.

Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 15 August 2025.

*Corrected from 20 June 2025

Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.

Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following documentation with your application:

• You will need to submit a personal statement of around 500 words, outlining your academic history and relevant experience.  Guidance on writing your personal statement .
• Degree certificates showing award of degree.
• Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes (please upload the full transcript showing results from all years of study). If you haven’t yet graduated, you may be asked to upload an interim transcript for any degrees that you are currently studying.
• A reference in support of your application. The reference should be academic and dated no earlier than one year from the start of study on the LLM programme. Reference requirements
• Evidence of English language proficiency, if required.

If you are currently studying for your degree or you are not in a possession of an English test result you may still apply to the programme. Please note that it is your responsibility to submit the necessary documents.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

View full detailed application guidance

Students at this University must not undertake any other concurrent credit bearing studies in this (or in any other) institution, unless the College has granted permission. The College must be satisfied that any additional credit-bearing studies will not restrict the student’s ability to complete their existing programme of study. Students will not be permitted to undertake concurrent degree programmes in any circumstances.

If you are studying at this or another institution just prior to the start of your postgraduate studies you must have finished these studies before the start of the programme to which you have an offer.

After your application has been submitted you will be able to track its progress through the University's applicant hub.

Application processing times will vary, however the admissions team will endeavour to process your application within four to six weeks of submission. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.

You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:

• You may be offered a place unconditionally
• You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.  Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 15 August 2025.
• Your application may be unsuccessful. If your application has not been successful, you can request feedback from us or refer to our guidance for unsuccessful applicants, which explains some of the common reasons we why we reach this decision. View the University's guidance for unsuccessful applicants

Deferring your offer

We do not normally offer deferrals, however, we may be able to make a very limited number of offers for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances.

View full guidance on deferral requests

If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,500 (within 28 days of receiving your offer) to secure your place on the programme.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits

The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.

University of Edinburgh admissions terms and conditions

If you have any questions about applying to the LLM in Law please don't hesitate to contact us.

Key information

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LLM in Law by online learning