Law - Masters in Law

Overview

The Masters in Law (MLaw) is an accelerated two-year, full-time (or four-year part-time) postgraduate degree in law.



The programme provides students from diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to study the foundational law modules which are required for the academic stage of legal qualification. This means that the degree covers those subjects that are generally regarded as pre-requisites for professional legal studies.



Students planning to practice law in a particular jurisdiction should contact the appropriate regulator in that jurisdiction to confirm that the programme meets its requirements.



Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (2 years) or part-time (4 years) basis.



The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (240 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).



Compulsory Modules

The MLaw is offered on a modular basis. To complete the degree, a total of 300 CATS points must be obtained. Twelve modules (20 CATS each) must be taken and a dissertation (60 CATS) must be completed.

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.



Year 1

Core Modules

• European Constitutional Law (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Legal Methods and Skills (MLaw) (20 credits)

• EU Internal Market Law (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Criminal Law (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Administrative Law (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Constitutional Law in Context (MLaw) (20 credits)



Year 2

Core Modules

• Evidence (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Land Law (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Torts (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Equity (MLaw) (20 credits)

• Dissertation (MLegSc and MLaw) (60 credits)

• Company Law and Corporate Governance (20 credits)

• Contract Law (MLaw) (20 credits)



Optional Modules

• Dissertation in Practice (60 credits)

Graduate

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a discipline other than Law.



Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) OR hold a 2.2 Honours degree in a discipline other than Law (or equivalent qualifications acceptable to the University) together with 2 years’ relevant professional experience.



Admission under Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.



International Students

Please see International Student's link below.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 29th August 2025.



In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal.



Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

2 years (Full-time)

4 years (Part-time)



Contact Teaching Hours

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

6 (hours maximum)



In addition to teaching contact time, each student needs to be able to set aside 30-36 hours per week (around 10-12 hours for each of the three modules studied every semester) to do the essential reading, seminar preparation etc.

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects Introduction This Masters programme is designed for UK non-law graduates, and for law and non-law graduates from other countries who wish to acquire a thorough grounding in law. It is particularly attractive for those who wish to enter the legal profession, for whom it is an alternative to a graduate level CPE/GDL programme. By spreading study over two years of intensive postgraduate-level work, students gain a greater depth of understanding than is possible in one-year CPE programmes. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.