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Masters Programmes

UCD Sutherland School of Law offers a wide range of graduate degrees including Taught Masters, Research Masters, and Doctorates. In addition to six LLM programmes, we offer four Masters degrees which are suitable for graduates in disciplines other than law: 

Scroll down this page for brochures for each of our ten Taught Masters programmes.

On our (opens in a new window)YouTube Channel you will find a series of webinars relating to graduate study including (opens in a new window)this webinar featuring three graduates speaking about the Masters in Common Law, LLM in Criminology & Criminal Justice and LLM in Intellectual Property & Information Technology. For an insight into the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice this video from graduate, Ciara Molloy gives a very good overiew of the programme.

MSc in Environmental & Climate Law - 

Programme start dates: January and September.

This exciting new MSc in Environmental & Climate Law is suitable for law and non-law graduates. It is designed to equip graduates to work in the fields of climate and environmental law/policy, internationally or in Ireland, as a practising lawyer, legal adviser, policy maker, advocate, researcher, consultant or academic.

LLM by Research:

Coming to UCD Law School creates the possibility of expert supervision by leadingresearchersof high international standing in a wide variety of fields. These include European Union law, Commercial law, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Constitutional and Administrative law, Governance, Human Rights, Employment law, Environmental law, Intellectual Property law, Legal History and Private law.

Duration: 2 years full-time

Starting September & January

Fees 2023/24 FT €6,790.00 EU* *Fees correct at the time of publishing.

Apply Now

Individuals who wish to be considered for enrolment in UCD Law School’s LLM byResearchprogramme are asked to prepare aresearchproposal.

This should include:

  1. a statement of there search question the candidate proposes to examine;
  2. an outline of the proposed methodology (in other words, an outline of how the applicant proposes to go about their research); and
  3. a short literature review. (The idea of this is to place there search within the current state of knowledge in the field in question. It should include a short, indicative, bibliography of works in the field)

There is no maximum length for aresearchproposal. Normally, it would be at least three or four pages long. Please note that students who wish to work with a particular academic are advised to state this in their communications.

Please note that you can make your formal application to enrol as an LLM byResearchstudent online through the online UCD application process, athttp://www.ucd.ie/apply/

However, in order to help and encourage prospective applicants, the School of Law offers you the option of sending us a draft of yourresearchproposal, before you make your formal application. The School of Law Admissions Committee will review your draftresearchproposal and provide you with feedback. Academic transcripts and a CV should be emailed along with theresearchproposal. You can then take that feedback into account in making your final application. Further, if a draftresearchproposal is sent to us, we can also tell you in advance whether there actually is supervisory capacity within the Law School for your proposed programme ofresearchand we can also identify a prospective supervisor. Once you receive your feedback, you can make any advised revisions to the proposedresearchproposal, gather all the relevant documentation, and make your formal application through the online UCD application process. Draft proposals, academic transcripts and CV’s should be addressed to(opens in a new window)phdlaw@ucd.ie

The contact for the LLM by research is: Niamh McCabe.

Email: (opens in a new window)niamh.mccabe@ucd.ie

Phone: +353-1-1716 4111

What are the admissions requirements?

Applications are invited from graduates with a degree (normally of a first class or very high 2.1 standard or equivalent). The degree should be either (a) in law or (b) in an inter-disciplinary degree in which law was a major component. Exemption from these requirements may be given to those with significant, relevant, practical experience. Such applicants should state clearly in their application why they feel their qualifications/experiences are appropriate for admission to the programme. English Language Requirements for the LLM inResearchProgramme

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must submit satisfactory evidence of competence in written and spoken English, i.e. overall IELTS 7.5 (including a minimum of 7 in all bands) or a score of 109 overall in the TOEFL iBT, 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening. The test results must be less than 2 years old.
  • International applicants should visit the UCD Global website (www.ucd.ie/international) for information regarding our campus, location of UCD, visa information, registration and orientation.

Please note that admission to the programme is at the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Scholarships and Grants:

There are a numbers of scholarships/bursaries available to study Masters programmes in UCD Sutherland School of Law. The closing date to apply is 31st May, all who apply prior to that date are eligible to be included. In addition to School and University scholarships, we are grateful to the following donors who fund two of these generous scholarships: the families of Doreen FitzGerald Caprani and James Healy.  See more information here. UCD Global also offers a series of scholarships to international students - details here.

Undergraduates who are eligible for government SUSI funding should note that their fees for graduate study may also be covered under the scheme. To check your eligibility please see the SUSI eligibility indicator tool available at this (opens in a new window)weblink.

Ten UCD Law Masters Degrees:

Click on each icon below for further details of the particular programme and how you can apply. A brochure for each programme can also be downloaded from the links below each icon. 

UCD Sutherland School of Law

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.