Master of Laws (LLM)

The Master of Laws (LLM) programme at HKU Law is a highly competitive course for those who have already received outstanding results while studying for their first law degree at top universities worldwide. Many come to the programme already with exceptional legal experience and postgraduate degrees. The programme also provides students with maximum flexibility in developing their legal interests and expertise in a friendly, engaging and international environment.

Admitted candidates can pursue a specialised LLM degree by completing a series of modules towards a specific area of law. Candidates have an alternative option to select from a wide range of modules for a general award. Specialisations are available in the following fields:
• Competition Law and Policy^ (Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry)
• Medical Ethics and Law^

^Open to non-law graduates, i.e., achieving your LLM without a prior Law degree.

Students must complete 72 credits, including a capstone experience, following the regulations and syllabuses for this programme. Students may also choose courses from the individual areas of law below and courses from our LLM specialist programmes in any given academic year.

Candidates who opted for a general award may also select a range of modules in the following areas of law:
• Admiralty and Shipping
• Commercial, Corporate and Financial Law
• Competition Law and Policy (Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry)
• Human Rights and Public Law
• Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law
• International and Comparative Law
• Medical Ethics and Law
• PRC Law

Please refer to the Regulations and Syllabus of your respective intake for more details.

Remark: Not all courses will be offered in any given year. You may also refer to the course schedule per academic year for actual classes available.

To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Laws, a candidate:
(a) shall comply with the General Regulations and the Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Curricula;

(b) shall either:
(1) hold the degree of Bachelor of Laws with at least second-class honours of this University; or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(2) obtain either the Common Professional Examination of England and Wales or the Common Professional Examination Certificate of this University provided that in either case the candidate has also obtained a degree with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; and

(c) for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the University English language requirement applicable to higher degrees as prescribed under General Regulation G2(b).

The Faculty has its specific requirements with regard to IELTS and TOEFL tests*:
- IELTS (Academic): An overall band of 7.0 or above with no subtest below 6.5
- TOEFL (Paper-based Test): A score of 593 or above
- TOEFL (Internet-based Test): A score of 97 or above

*The Faculty accepts the TOEFL/IELTS score report as valid when obtained within two years of the application deadline.

To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Laws (with specialisation in Medical Ethics and Law, Competition Law and Policy^), a candidate:
(a) shall comply with the General Regulations and the Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Curricula;

(b) shall either:
(1) hold the degree of Bachelor of Laws with at least second-class honours of this University; or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(2) obtain either the Common Professional Examination of England and Wales or the Common Professional Examination Certificate of this University provided that in either case the candidate has also obtained a degree with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or

(3) hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than law with at least second class honours of this University, or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose, and have at least two years of relevant experience or professional qualifications; and

(c) for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the University English language requirement applicable to higher degrees as prescribed under General Regulation G2(b).

The Faculty has its specific requirements with regard to IELTS and TOEFL tests*:
- IELTS (Academic): An overall band of 7.0 or above with no subtest below 6.5
- TOEFL (Paper-based Test): A score of 593 or above
- TOEFL (Internet-based Test): A score of 97 or above

*The Faculty accepts the TOEFL/IELTS score report as valid when obtained within two years of the application deadline.

^Subject to the University’s approval for 2024 Entry

“The LLM programme at HKU is an unrivalled opportunity to develop relevant, practical skills for the evolving Asian legal market. In my time in the programme I was able to take a diverse curriculum, including courses in business and corporate finance, Hong Kong constitutional and human rights law, technology law, and PRC law, all taught by experienced practitioners from business and legal backgrounds. For an aspiring American lawyer with an interest in Asia it was a truly unique experience, and I’m sure the impact on my career will be palpable in the coming years.”

Mr. Judd Abramson (from the US, UPenn JD, HKU LLM 2012), Associate, The Law Firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, USA.

“The LLM at HKU is about diversity. I had the opportunity to choose from an extremely wide range of courses, be that human rights, intellectual property law, arbitration, or international economic and financial law. The LLM programme has allowed me to explore legal fields previously unbeknown to me as well as to deepen my knowledge of areas I was already familiar with – and all this in one of the world’s most fascinating jurisdictions: Hong Kong is deeply rooted in the common law tradition, yet its laws and culture have been and will continue to be influenced greatly by Mainland China and the rest of the world. This diversity is ever-present in the daily life on campus, too, where scholars and students from all legal traditions and from every corner of the world come and work together, and one can be sure to not just acquire valuable legal skills, but also form friendships for life.”

Ms. Michelle Kalt (from Switzerland, LLM 2014), Legal Intern with the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“The LLM programme at HKU provides an excellent foundation for aspiring legal scholars. Those passionate about the law are given the opportunity to learn and contribute to a range of specialist areas: from International Humanitarian Law to PRC Law, with a great deal in-between. Teaching is of the highest quality, with local and international academics nurturing legal scholarship with patience, care and skill. Yet the greatest achievement of the LLM at HKU is its multi-dimensional focus: critical legal analysis is not limited to issues raised in Hong Kong and China but across Asia, Europe and the United States. In sum, the LLM broadens the scope and depth of a candidate’s legal knowledge to an unprecedented level – which is ultimately what every lawyer, whether in academia or in practice, truly desires.”

Mr. Justin Ismail (from Hong Kong; Oxford BA, HKU LLM 2014)

“The LLM programme at the University of Hong Kong has unique features. It offers a great opportunity to learn about the most relevant current legal issues both in Asia and internationally. If you take into consideration the increasing importance that Asia, especially China, has gained in the world economy, being able to understand the major challenges that the region is facing and its global implications is a significant asset for any international lawyer. Besides, living in Hong Kong is an outstanding experience since it is one of the most dynamic and prosperous cities in the world. Not only can you learn about Asia, but you can also live it. That is why the LLM programme at HKU is highly recommendable.”

Mr. Juan Ignacio Stampalija (LLM 2012), Assistant Professor of Law, Universidad Austral School of Law, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“The law keeps on changing everyday. Good command of legal theory and awareness of its contemporary development are important for every legal practitioner. The LLM programme of HKU offers a great variety of courses for practitioners to pick and choose according to their professional needs and provides them an excellent opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge.”

Mr. Lewis Law (LLM 2013), Senior Government Counsel in the Civil Division, Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Master of Laws with Specialisation in MEDICAL ETHICS AND LAW: Information Session for September 2024 Intake

HKU Law offers a Medical Ethics and Law Specialisation in the Master of Laws (LLM) programme. The specialisation is open to both (1) holders of non-law degrees with at least 2 years of relevant experience or professional qualifications and (2) holders of law degrees. For details on the admission requirements, please see https://llm.law.hku.hk/llm/ under "Admission requirements".

The specialisation is designed as an integrated interdisciplinary course of study that addresses contentious issues of great importance affecting the health, law and business sectors. It aims at empowering students with knowledge about the big ethical and legal questions of medicine and health. The specialisation, with modules taught by experts from the HKU Centre for Medical Ethics and Law (CMEL), offers healthcare professionals, lawyers, policymakers, and scientists, among others, insights to deal with ethical, legal and policy challenges confronting healthcare and the public health system.

Key Courses of the Medical Ethics and Law Specialisation
[IMPORTANT NOTE: The following is subject to approval to be granted by the University. It is possible for some of the courses below not to be offered in any given year.]

(Compulsory) LLAW6272 Medical Law and Ethics
(Compulsory) LLAW6274 The Beginning and End of Life
LLAW6291 Mental Disability and the Law
LLAW6318 Public Health Ethics and Law
LLAW6054 9-credit Dissertation

Details of Information Session
Date: 20 February 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (GMT +8)
Mode: Hybrid (Physical and Zoom)
Venue: Kai Chong Tong Communication Resources Centre, 1/F, Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

The September 2024 Intake - Information Session recording is now available!

Master of Laws with Specialisation in Competition Law and Policy (“CLP”) - Information Session for September 2024 Intake

HKU Law plans to offer a specialisation in Competition Law and Policy in the Master of Laws (LLM) programme for its September 2024 intake. The proposed specialisation is open to both (1) holders of non-law degrees with at least 2 years of relevant experience or professional qualifications and (2) holders of law degrees.

The new specialization (subject to university approval) will leverage the Faculty’s long-standing strength and course offerings in competition law, with staff members who are leading competition law scholars in the region. With competition law being one of the fastest growing areas of law in Asia, the specialization will help fulfil needs for postgraduate education in competition law (taught in English) in the East Asian region.

Date: 22 February 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (GMT +8)
Venue: Live Zoom Session

The September 2024 Intake - Information Session recording is now available!

For 2024-2025 Intake
- Main Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 5 January 2024 (Friday)
- Clearing Round: 12:00 PM (GMT+8), 29 February 2024 (Thursday)
- Clearing Round (for Specialisations only): 12:00 PM (GMT +8), 28 March 2024 (Thursday)
- Interested applicants should submit their application at https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/programme-list
- Applications maybe processed on a rolling basis, and hence early applications are strongly encouraged.

Programme-related Enquiries
✉ lawpgs@hku.hk