Law - International Justice

The LLM programme in International Justice provides students with critical insights into the field of international justice. It focuses, in particular, on issues of human rights, equality, and social inclusion in the context of international law. It provides insights into how the international legal order works, and how it seeks to protect vulnerable groups, including minorities, migrants, and people with disabilities. It critiques the applicable legal regimes, and illustrates how these systems operate in practice.



Teaching is delivered by means of small class lectures, in-class simulations, workshops, and master classes. In addition to the modules, The School works with leading academics and practitioners who provide seminars in various fields of law throughout the academic year.



We partner with leading international law firms such as Matheson and A&L Goodbody on several initiatives. We also offer students the opportunity to apply for our Postgraduate Placement module, which gives successful applicants the chance to work part-time for one semester at one of our partner organisations. We have partnerships with a broad range of organisations across the public and private sector, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Penal Reform Trust, Forsa, PrivacyEngine, and Alcohol Action Ireland.

The International Justice programme allows students to choose from a range of postgraduate law modules with a focus on human rights and justice.



Students must complete 90 credits in total – 50 credits from the optional modules, plus the compulsory module Public International Law (10 credits). Students must also complete the compulsory Professional Development (5 credits) and Dissertation (25 credits) modules.



Students should register for 30 credits of optional modules in each semester.



Not all modules offered will run every year, offerings are dependent upon demand and other potential constraints. Please note that some modules will have prerequisites attached to them.



Students can elect to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma instead of an LLM, if they find that they are unable to complete the Dissertation.



Please see Course Web Page link above for module details.

Applicants must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree (NFQ Level 8) (or equivalent) with a minimum of a second-class honours, grade 2 (2:2) in law or a cognate discipline in the humanities, or social/political sciences (including but not limited to business, finance, economics, international relations, sociology, etc).



Applicants who do not hold a primary degree but have relevant experience may apply via Maynooth University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process for Non-Standard Entrants. Eligible candidates may be invited to interview. Please click here.



English Language requirements:

Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. Please be advised criteria may differ for EU and Non-EU applicants.

Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

Closing Date : 14 August 2026

MH64J: 1 year full-time

MH65J: 2 years part-time

Graduates of our postgraduate programmes have secured roles at a variety of organisations including leading law firms such as Mathesons and A&L Goodbody, commercial organisations such as AIB, public bodies such as the NSAI and the Department of Justice, and non-governmental organisations such as the Peter McVerry Trust and the Organization for Women and Children. Our graduates have also successfully pursued PhD studies in a range of fields.



The School of Law and Criminology supports the career development and employability prospects of our postgraduate students though a range of teaching and extracurricular opportunities.