International and Comparative Law | University of Aberdeen

Course summary

Our LLM International and Comparative Law at Aberdeen offers a range of courses in both public and private international law, which enable you to develop your expertise in your chosen area. The courses allow you to undertake advanced study of international law and the contemporary challenges it engages.

Our LLM International and Comparative Law will provide you with an advanced knowledge of general public and private international law, both of which are vital subjects for pursuing a career in international organisations, international courts and tribunals, and international legal practice, among others.

The programme aims to sharpen your ability to critically gauge how international law needs to adapt to a fast-changing world and how it should respond to current international crises.

This programme was designed in consultation with a range of external practitioners and academics within the field of International Law as well as teaching staff from the University. This additional input ensures that the programme is aligned to industry competencies and needs which, in turn, will improve your career prospects.

Modules

Course Modules

The LLM International and Comparative Law allows you to study international law at an advanced level, preparing you well for an international legal career. Our focus is on developing your ability to think critically about the current problems faced by the world, and how international law affects these issues. To allow you to develop these skills, you will undertake three compulsory courses:
International Law: A Time of Challenges; Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship; LLM Dissertation.

The remaining credits are gained from a diverse range of optional courses available to you. You may choose from courses such as international intellectual property law, international criminal law, the politics of human rights, and the law of the WTO.

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Entry requirements

Normally, a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Law will be required to be accepted onto this programme. Relevant practical experience in a related field will also be beneficial.

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6.5	Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 6.0 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)	90	TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 21 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818
PTE Academic	62	Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online test is not accepted.
Institution's Own Test		Academic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for 1 year). Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course.
Cambridge English Advanced	C	Overall - 176 with: Listening - 162 or above; Reading - 162 or above; Speaking - 162 or above; Writing - 169 or above.

To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fee information is not yet published for entry in Academic Year 2027/2028. For guidance, the fees on the University Online Prospectus website are for 2026/27.

Sponsorship information

Aberdeen Alumni Discount - PG

This scholarship is available for students registered for online programmes and on-campus programmes delivered at our Aberdeen campus.

A special ‘loyalty discount’ of 20% off the cost of any element of self funded graduate study is available to University of Aberdeen graduates who wish to undertake further study at the University of Aberdeen. The discount applies to a range of taught graduate programmes (Masters, Diploma, Certificate and Short Course), and the year one of a full time research programme (years one and two for part time research students). It is available to both UK/EU and International students.

Please see Eligibility at the link provided.

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/69