Intellectual Property Law LLM
Awards: LLM
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Intellectual Property Law
The LLM in IP Law has brilliant lecturers, wonderfully designed courses, stimulating 'intellectual' discussions, and students from all around the world.
This programme is designed to equip you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of intellectual property law and policy within a domestic (UK), regional (European) and international setting.
It will facilitate learning of both substantive intellectual property law, and the place and role of intellectual property, not just in its legal context but also in its social, ethical, cultural and commercial contexts.
The core courses will cover substantive law on all major intellectual property rights including:
- patents
- copyright
- trademarks
- designs
- common law protection of intellectual property rights
Courses also provide a critical understanding of topical issues and a broad range of perspectives on intellectual property law, practice and policy.
You must complete 180 credits of study - 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses (of which a minimum of 80 credits must be taken from a list of core courses in intellectual property).
Courses will be led by members of the Law School academic community, who are leaders in their field.
You are expected to prepare in advance by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed.
For the dissertation you will have a supervisor from whom you can expect guidance and support, but the purpose of the dissertation is to allow you to independently design and conduct a piece of research and analysis.
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LLM | Intellectual Property Law | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
LLM | Intellectual Property Law | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
The subjects of the degree are intended to equip you with both an advanced knowledge of substantive intellectual property law and of the place and role of intellectual property within a domestic, regional and international context, laying a foundation for a specialised dissertation.
By the end of your studies for this degree, you will have acquired a high level of knowledge in the field of intellectual property law, a sophisticated awareness of the problems in the area and of the differing approaches to their solution.
Having studied the programme, you will emerge with an understanding of intellectual property law, not just in its legal but also social, ethical, cultural and commercial contexts.
During your study you will have access to the results of innovative cross-cutting research of the highest quality. The programme is suitable to prepare you for advanced research.
This programme provides excellent preparation for anyone seeking to work in intellectual property in a legal, business, industry, policy or academic setting, or who wishes to advance their knowledge in the field.
Recent graduates have entered legal practice as specialists in intellectual property law, and are also working in a range of areas such as the creative industries, information technology and life sciences.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in law.
We may also consider candidates with a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a non-law subject if they can demonstrate prior high-level study or experience of intellectual property topics.
In evaluating your application for postgraduate study, greater emphasis may be placed upon results of prior learning in subjects relevant to the intended degree programme.
Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.
Supporting your application
Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.
Students from China
This degree is Band A.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 73 in writing and 65 in all other components. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 8 in writing and 7 in all other components.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Deposit
If you receive an unconditional offer of admission, you will be asked to pay a deposit of £1,500 within 28 days or by the start of the orientation period, whichever is sooner, to secure your place on the programme.
Find out more about tuition fee deposits:
Living costs
You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LLM | Intellectual Property Law | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
LLM | Intellectual Property Law | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2386
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Old College
- South Bridge
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9YL
- Programme: Intellectual Property Law
- School: Law
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
LLM Intellectual Property Law - 1 Year (Full-time)
LLM Intellectual Property Law - 2 Years (Part-time)
Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.
Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we may make offers to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.
We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.
Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts. English language documentation can be submitted later but if you have already met the English language entry requirements for your programme at the time of application, your application may be considered more competitive in selection than applications where an English language test still needs to be taken.
Selection deadlines
Round | Application deadline | Places awarded |
---|---|---|
1 | 13 January 2025 | 17 April 2025 |
2 | 29 May 2025 | 30 June 2025 |
Deadlines for UK/Scotland fee status
After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open only to applicants who are eligible for the UK/Scotland fee rate, including the EU/EEA Pre-settled Scotland fee status. Applications will remain open no later than 30 June 2025 and may close earlier than this if the programme becomes full, so we strongly recommend you apply as soon as possible.
If you apply with another fee status after 29 May 2025, your application will be rejected.
(Revised 18 October 2024 to add application deadlines and selection process information)
You must submit one reference with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2386
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Edinburgh Law School Postgraduate Office
- Old College
- South Bridge
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9YL
- Programme: Intellectual Property Law
- School: Law
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences