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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Master of Laws
In this LLM, you’ll explore how law responds to complex modern challenges while examining contemporary legal issues within wider social, political and ethical contexts. You’ll analyse legal sources, investigate key debates and develop advanced research skills. A substantial dissertation enables you to focus on a topic aligned with your professional interests or career goals. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your critical thinking, legal analysis and project planning skills. By the end, you’ll have the expertise and confidence to contribute to legal or policy work, progress into specialist roles, or prepare for doctoral study.
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You'll study three compulsory 60-credit modules.

ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Exploring modern legal issues (W811)
Explore modern legal issues across areas including business, human rights, and technology while developing critical thinking, independent research, and key academic and employability skills.
Next start date: 31 Oct 2026
See full description
6031 Oct 2026
Investigating law in context (W812) – planned for November 2027
60Nov 2027
Legal dissertation (W813) – planned for November 2028
60Nov 2028

By studying the Master of Laws, you’ll:
You’ll study through online learning with expert tutor support and structured resources.
You’ll be awarded a Master of Laws upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters LLM (Open) after your name.
Your masters degree may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.
You’ll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You’ll study the Master of Laws part-time, completing 60 credits per year over a three-year period. Typically, this translates to 16–20 hours of study per week.
The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.
You must complete the Master of Laws within seven years.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
You are expected to have an honours degree (in any subject) awarded by a recognised UK university or equivalent. Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details.
Credit transfer is not available for November 2026 registrations as some of the curriculum is currently in development. If you would like to begin your studies in November 2026, we will start accepting credit transfer applications from March 2027.
You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£12,450*
Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.
There are some additional costs that aren’t included.
Further information is available in the module descriptions.
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
Learn more about postgraduate loans and our other funding options below.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.
You may be eligible for:
This LLM is designed for both law and non-law graduates. It supports those seeking to deepen their understanding of law in context, including graduates of LLB programmes in England and Wales, as well as those with legal qualifications from other jurisdictions.
The qualification may be particularly relevant if you’re interested in legal practice, considering future doctoral study, or working in law-related fields such as policy, advocacy, public administration or campaigning, where a strong understanding of law and its societal role is increasingly important.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice, including: online forums, a website, interview simulation and vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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