Intellectual Property Law (Taught)

Gain detailed knowledge and skills in intellectual property rights law, management and policy to embark on an exciting career at the forefront of innovation and development.
As the pace of change accelerates, intellectual property experts are crucial for guarding the rights of creators and companies, and for ensuring consumer protection.
Explore traditional intellectual property topics such as industrial property, artistic works, and brands, as well as emerging policy areas including the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.
You’ll explore international norms and institutions related to intellectual property and consider the broader social and economic implications. You’ll be able to tailor your course to your specialism too – across areas as diverse as health, culture, education, technology, innovation, and economic development.
Global in nature, the programme also reflects the growing importance of international developments in intellectual property and confronts the surrounding controversies. These include the relationships between intellectual property and human rights norms, access to knowledge, new technologies and economic development.
Leeds is a centre for legal research excellence and benefits from close ties with industry and our global alumni network. Our teaching is informed by cutting-edge thinking and delivered by experts in the field. And all this means you’ll be set up for career success across law firms, corporate legal teams, government or academia.

Student profile: Yunuo Lu
“The University of Leeds has some of the best teaching facilities in the world, and my teachers have a wealth of academic research in the field of intellectual property law."
Yunuo Lu, Intellectual Property Law LLM

Why study at Leeds

• Practical teaching linked to the profession: The renowned Centre for Business Law and Practice is known for its strong expert and industry connections that directly inform your teaching.

• Learn from expert academics: Our internationally recognised researchers and qualified legal professionals provide valuable critical evaluation and insights into the real world application of global property law.

• Flexible, bespoke module options: Tailor your studies across international intellectual property law fields in line with your interests and specialism.

• Gain up-to-the-minute legal insight: Experience regular professional speaker events, conferences, and seminars.

• Diverse campus community: Join students and staff from over 130 countries.

• Dedicated employability officers: Benefit from personalised career support for the legal profession.

• Be supported to succeed: Benefit from small tutorial groups and regular one-to-one meetings with academic staff to ask questions and discuss your work.

• Graduate from one of the universities most targeted by the UK’s top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2026).

Rankings and awards
Top 20 in the UK for Law, The Complete University Guide 2026
Top 15 in the UK for Law, The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
86th in the world, QS World Rankings 2026

Where this degree could take you
Recent graduates have gone on to work in a range of sectors and professions, including:

• academia

• technology

• government services

• creative industries

• law firms

• charities

• intellectual property specialists

• intergovernmental organisations

• non-governmental organisations

Career support
Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years by the UK's leading employers, The Graduate Market 2026, High Fliers Research
At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.
Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

Visit our website for the latest information on which modules we offer. https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/f379/intellectual-property-law-llm

Assessment is undertaken by a variety of methods but typically involves the writing of an essay at the end of each module. We assess the dissertation through your submission of a written piece of work of up to 10,000 words.