History and Philosophy of Law

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The LL.M (R) in History and Philosophy of Law builds on the Law Schools national and international reputation in the fields of Legal History and Philosophy of Law. Staff expertise in those fields is grounded in a long and illustrious tradition of historical and philosophical research that can be traced back to the Scottish Enlightenment.

The LL.M programme is designed to promote cross-fertilization between the fields of Legal History and Philosophy of Law, while allowing students to focus on the areas that interest them the most. Certain courses (such as Traditions of Legal Enquiry) expressly explore the relations between research in Legal History and research in Legal Philosophy, while others focus on more discrete areas of legal enquiry. Students are encouraged to choose (under the guidance of the programme director) optional courses and a dissertation topic that reflect their interests (see below).

Please note that you do not need to have a prior qualification in law to be eligible to apply for this programme.

Edinburgh is committed to providing a unique research student community in both Legal History and Philosophy of Law. Our research students in legal theory, for instance, run their own Legal Theory seminar series and reading group and the Centre for Legal History hosts a number of student and staff seminars.
Edinburgh offers the student a strong and active research community which fosters and encourages the development of researchers in Legal History and Philosophy of Law at all stages of their careers.

The LL.M (R) degree is a postgraduate degree of Master of Laws by Research. This programme may be completed by either full-time or part-time study.

In order to achieve the LL.M (R) in History and Philosophy of Law, you are required to complete 180 credits, which are broken down as follows:
(a) 100 credits for a 15 000 word Dissertation written under supervision
(b) 20 credits for the course on Traditions of Legal Inquiry (Compulsory - Semester 1)
(c) 20 credits for the course on Theories and Philosophies of Legal Research (Compulsory - Semester 1)
(d) 40 credits for two courses to be chosen from the following list (each 20 credits) (Semester 2)

* Law and the Enlightenment
* Legal Research Methods
* Rhetoric, Law and Literature
* The Anatomy of Private Law
* The Anatomy of Public Law
* The Canon Law of Marriage in Scotland, 1500 - 2006

Students might be allowed to take some or all of the 40 credits described in letter (d) from other courses offered by the School of Law or by other Schools within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, at the discretion of the programme director.
The LLM (R) in History and Philosophy of Law may be taken over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time; substantive course in Year 1, research courses plus dissertation in Year 2).

The minimum basic admission requirement for taught postgraduate degrees is an Upper Second Class honours degree (or better), or its international equivalent, in Law, Arts or Social Sciences.The majority of our applicants have studied law; applications from non-law students with relevant studies and experience will be considered, however, and further guidance on this as it applies to each of our programmes may be sought from the School.English language requirements * IELTS total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module) * TOEFL-iBT: Total 100 (at least 23 in each module) * Pearson Test of English: Total 67 (at least 61 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections * CPE Grade B; CAE Grade A English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL iBT® test: 100 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Edinburgh Law School will offer five Tercentenary Awards for Excellence across all the LLM and MSc Programmes in the School starting in 2012, including the LLM in Law. This award will provide funding of £1,000 towards tuition fees.

Accreditation

Edinburgh is committed to providing a unique research student community in both Legal History and Philosophy of Law. Our research students in legal theory, for instance, run their own Legal Theory seminar series and reading group and the Centre for Legal History hosts a number of student and staff seminars.