Lawyers and academics teach you law and how to think like a lawyer. Located in London, the world’s biggest centre for English law, there are countless opportunities to gain work experience.
The conversion course is for non-law graduates aiming for a career in law. It covers key legal topics which are foundational to eventual professional practice. There are two alternative routes, both of which can lead to the additional award of LLM in Legal Studies. An experienced team of practitioners and academics guide you through the course in a supportive and collaborative way. You have the chance to apply for work experience at LSBU’s Legal Advice Clinic. We run an outstanding programme of career talks by law firms and barristers, ex students and others who will inform and inspire you on career choices.
The course will help students who are undecided about which legal profession to make an informed decision.
ModeFull-time LLM | Duration1 year | Start dateSeptember | Application code5192 | Application method Law Central Applications Board |
ModePart-time LLM | Duration2 years | Start dateSeptember | Application code5195 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
ModeFull-time PgDip | Duration1 year | Start dateSeptember | Application code5191 | Application method Law Central Applications Board |
ModePart-time PgDip | Duration2 years | Start dateSeptember | Application code5194 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
Select country here:
£10490
Tuition fees for home students
£16900
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
UK fee: £3496.67 | International fee: £5633.33 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5194 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £6993.34 |
International: £11266.66 |
UK fee: £3496.67 | International fee: £5633.33 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5195 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £10490 |
International: £16900 |
UK fee: £3496.67 | International fee: £5633.33 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5194 | Session code: 2PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £6993.34 |
International: £11266.66 |
UK fee: £6993.33 | International fee: £11266.67 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5195 | Session code: 2PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £10490 |
International: £16900 |
UK fee: £6993.33 | International fee: £11266.67 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5191 | Session code: 1FS00 |
UK fee: £10490 | International fee: £16900 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5192 | Session code: 1FS00 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
Mode Full-time LLM | Duration 1 year | Start date September | Application code 5192 | Application method Law Central Applications Board |
Mode Part-time LLM | Duration 2 years | Start date September | Application code 5195 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Mode Full-time PgDip | Duration 1 year | Start date September | Application code 5191 | Application method Law Central Applications Board |
Mode Part-time PgDip | Duration 2 years | Start date September | Application code 5194 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
For information about the CPE and the Academic Stage of training to become a lawyer, visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority page.
You should also be aware of proposed changes to qualification as a solicitor that will come into effect in Autumn 2021.
You'll be given a reading list at the start of the course. In the meantime you may want to read generally about the practice of law or the legal system: Glanville Williams' Learning the Law is a good introduction (be sure to check it is the latest edition).
The following websites are useful for students to also review: Guardian Law student guide section, The Student Lawyer, and Legal Cheek.
You could search the internet for advice and tips to develop skills to write with clarity and simplicity. The President of the Supreme Court wrote to fellow judges on the need and benefits for clear writing. Though he was primarily addressing judges, his advice applies to all who would be lawyers.
Route 1: Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies incorporating the CPE. The PG Diploma can be topped up to an LLM by undertaking a 15,000 dissertation in the following academic year.
Route 2: LLM in Legal Studies incorporating the CPE. This course is based upon Route 1 with a dissertation module added. This route is intensive and demanding as students study for the taught modules alongside work on the 15,000 dissertation which is completed over the summer period for submission in September.
Key Features | PG Dip Legal Studies Route | LLM Legal Studies Route |
---|---|---|
Length of course |
9 month (FT) 2 years (PT) |
12 months (FT) 2 years (PT) |
Dates |
September - June (with resit period in August) | September - September |
Includes CPE | Yes | Yes |
Number of CPE modules | 8 plus ELS (entry into legal studies) introduction | 8 plus ELS (entry into legal studies) introduction |
Includes dissertation | No | Yes - but subject to completing successfully all taught modules |
Top-up | Can enrol for dissertation in September following successful completion of PG Dip to top-up to LLM | N/a |
Cost | Please see fees and funding tab | Please see fees and funding tab |
Eligible for postgraduate loan | No | Yes |
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
This course can lead to a variety of careers in law. It meets the first requirement, for the academic component, for qualification to the Bar for intending barristers. It provides a foundation for students who later intend to prepare for the Solicitors Qualification Exam (SQE) for those intending to qualify down that route. Both the PG Dip and the LLM award are nationally recognised qualifications which represent high level legal knowledge and skills attained on the course. The LLM is also an internationally recognised qualification representing in addition to attainment of legal knowledge and skills, research accomplishment in a specialised area based upon dissertation work.
Please see these links for training requirements for the Bar and for the solicitor profession.
This course can lead to one of many careers in law from a professional qualification as solicitor or barrister to a wide variety of careers in both public and private sectors.
While our graduates may go on to join professional courses leading to qualification as a solicitor or barrister, the PgDip is also useful for numerous jobs that value skills in analysis, clear communication, efficient organisation and reasoned persuasion.
Time and experience on this course will also help students who wish to take steps towards a legal career but are undecided about the direction they wish to go.
Routes to the LLM require you to complete a supervised 15000 word dissertation. Please visit the Modules tab to see our comparative chart. Depending on the route you take, you will submit in September of the year you complete all the taught modules or in January of the following academic year following completion of the taught modules. Part-time mode may allow submission at a later point.
You are not required to attend class when researching and writing your dissertation and you'll therefore be able to enrol on post conversion courses starting the September after course completion of the taught modules.
LSBU Law has a strong tradition of supporting human rights and access to justice. This is reflected in the talks and events organized by the law school and visiting professors and lecturers, these include Imran Khan, one of the best-known human rights and criminal lawyers who represented the parents of Stephen Lawrence; Joel Bennathan, QC, Barrister whose work includes representing victims of torture and Sir Geoffrey Bindman, QC, one of the country's leading human rights lawyers.
Legal knowledge and skills are introduced and developed on this course. Delivery consists of a mixture of lectures, which are recorded, and smaller group meetings (seminars). Classes and learning is geared towards ensuring students are prepared for assessments and that they can succeed in them. This means that exam technique and problem solving approaches are introduced in seminars and space is given to practice. The course is well supported by online materials and resources, which can be accessed off-campus. All necessary learning material and resources are provided. At the end of the course students have a sound understanding of English law as well as an introduction to European law which provides a solid grasp of the structure and operation of the English legal system. This course fulfils the academic component for initial Bar training and provides a solid foundation for a preparatory course for the solicitor SQE.