Professional Legal Practice, LLM

Our standard entry requirement is a 2:2 undergraduate degree in law or the successful completion of a Graduate Diploma in Law (or other equivalent post-graduate conversion course for non-law graduates), but each applicant will be assessed on an individual basis.

We are happy to consider applicants who have been out of education for a while, who have equivalent professional experience, or similar.

English language requirements - IELTS 6.5, with a minimum 6.0 in each component or an equivalent approved English Language test.

For students who fall short of only the English language requirement, we offer a range of pre-sessional training programmes that you may take before starting your degree programme.

We welcome applications from students from around the world and require evidence of previous study that is equivalent to the entry requirements.

You will be taught in both large-group and small-group settings. The large-group sessions are taught across the cohort as a whole. The small-group sessions are practical workshops designed to replicate the work of a trainee solicitor. These are largely based around group tasks involving instructions from a client or senior member of the legal team, leading to case and matter analysis, application of the law in order to assist in achieving client goals, and developing essential practice skills.

You may be asked to prepare a letter of advice to a client, an internal note to your supervising partner, to present arguments orally, or to draft legal documents as a result of the work done in the workshop setting. The workshop sessions will help to build your confidence and legal skills in a friendly, professional, and rewarding environment.

Assessments have been designed to assist you in developing your written and oral communication skills, your ability to research the law, and your practical application of the law in context.

You will sit a variety of assessments across the programme that have been designed to test knowledge, application and skills in authentic ways. Examples include:

• Written seen examinations
• Unseen examinations
• Open-book examinations
• Multiple choice question examinations
• Short-answer assessments
• Take-home assignments
• Writing a letter of advice
• Writing a memorandum
• Conducting ase analysis
• Drafting court documents
• Live advocacy
• Conducting a client interview

Some provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline to you what is available in Welsh.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh will be:

• a natural step for you if you have studied through the medium of Welsh at undergraduate level.
• a way of maximizing your chances of getting the best education.
• a way of receiving a high level of support as the study groups are smaller.
• a valuable addition to your CV and career development.

Our degrees are taught by industry experts, who have real-world experience; several of which are currently practicing as solicitors and barristers.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our School staff pages and by viewing the profiles of our staff associated with our professional legal courses and the Centre for Professional Legal Practice.

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Applicants who are eligible for a School bursary are not eligible to hold any other Swansea University awards. Applicants should give careful consideration as to whether a School or University bursary is more advantageous to them and decide accordingly.

Please note the current bursaries displayed are for the 23/24 academic year and are subject to change going forward.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Employability Support at the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law has a vibrant Employability programme which focuses on establishing links between our students and the legal professions and in developing your employability and transferrable skills.

We host networking events, invite a range of guest speakers, organise work placements and internships, assist with CV and application form writing and can help you prepare for interviews. We also deliver a programme of talks throughout the year designed to get you thinking about developing your profile from as early a stage as possible. 

The Faculty also has a dedicated Employability Team which provides support to you from the moment you join Swansea University. The team are on hand to help with a number of opportunities from Work Experience, Year in Industry, Graduate Roles and more.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

All full time applications should be made through the LawCABS website.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Contact Details

Make a postgraduate enquiry

International students contact our International Team

The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law also offers Inspiring Futures Scholarships for international (including EU) postgraduate (taught) students who have an offer to study at the School of Law.