Master of Laws (LLM)

The 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. All are fluent in English, and many are fluent in other languages.

The programme also provides students with maximum flexibility in developing their legal interests and expertise in a friendly, engaging and international environment.

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, in any case, no more than five courses from each of the LLM specialist programmes. Individual areas of law include:-

- Admiralty and Shipping
- Commercial, Corporate and Financial Law
- Human Rights and Public Law
- Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law
- International and Comparative 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 programme, applicants shall:

(a) comply with the General Regulations and the Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Curricula; and

(b)(i) 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

(b)(ii) have obtained 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 concerning IELTS and TOEFL:

TOEFL (Paper-based Test): Minimum Requirement* - A score of 593 or above
TOEFL (Internet-based Test): Minimum Requirement* - A score of 97 or above
IELTS: Minimum Requirement*- Band 7 or above with no subtest below 6.5

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

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

The application deadlines for the September 2023 intake are as follows:-
- Main Round: 12:00 noon (UTC+08:00) on 28th December 2022 (Wednesday)
- Clearing Round: 12:00 noon (UTC+08:00) on 28th February 2023 (Tuesday)

Please submit your application at Click Here