Overview

Course overview

  • Study the LLM in Intellectual Property Law at one of Europe’s leading law schools, ranked in the UK top 10 for Law (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).
  • Develop expert knowledge and professional skills in intellectual property law, preparing you for roles in key sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, communications and technology.
  • Gain global perspective through comparative study of national and international Intellectual Property systems, with a focus on the legal, economic and philosophical forces shaping patent law and policy.
  • Graduate from one of the most targeted universities by top UK employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024) with the legal insight and global perspective to lead in law firms, corporations, NGOs and policy spaces.
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Alumni profiles - Robert Manning and Wei Yan

Open days

The University organises open days every year in June, September, and October.

These are an opportunity to find out about the course, meet students and staff, and tour the campus and facilities.

If you receive an offer, we will invite you to a visit day where you learn about the School, teaching and learning, study opportunities and student life.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
Postgraduate Taught Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 306 5500
Email
Website
https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/law/
School/Faculty overview

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent in Law. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in Law modules relevant to the course, including Public Law and Contract Law and achieve scores of 2.1 or above in relevant modules.  

When assessing your academic record, we consider the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

  • IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
  • TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

Priority will be given to applicants who have provided evidence of meeting these scores when making offers.

Further information on accepted language requirements can be found here .

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you will be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries

If you are a national of a   majority English-speaking country   (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our   country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • LLM (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £16,800
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £31,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For information on available scholarships please visit Master’s Fees and Funding

Application and selection

How to apply

Staged admissions

As there is a high demand for our courses we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application to avoid a delay in processing.

Applications for 2026 entry:

Stage 1:Application received by 7th December 2025 ; Application update by 20th February 2026

Stage 2:Application received by 1st March 2026 ; Application update by 1st May 2026

Stage 3:Application received by 3rd May 2026 ; Application update by 19th June 2026

Stage 4:Application received by 5th July 2026 ; Application update by 31st July 2026

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.

Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Please note:All places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,500 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability. The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

The LLM in Intellectual Property Law gives you an in-depth understanding of intellectual property and patent law in the context of modern business. Our expert academics will guide you through the economic, social, and philosophical dimensions of intellectual property law, encouraging critical analysis of current legal frameworks.

You will acquire advanced knowledge in intellectual property law and associated policies, learning about the national and international frameworks for granting, enforcing, and defending intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions.

Core and optional course units cover a broad spectrum of topics such as international economic law, corporate governance, financial services regulation, and human rights law, enabling you to customise your studies to your career aspirations.

Aims

On this course, you will:

  • develop your understanding of the law concerning intellectual property and patents in modern business.;
  • examine the economic, social and philosophical aspects of IP law development, advancing your knowledge in intellectual property law and concomitant policy.;
  • learn about national and international grant, enforcement and defence of intellectual property rights on a multi-jurisdictional basis.;
  • connect the wider profession to important industry sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, communications and information technology.

Special features

Strong partnerships

The Law School works with organisations beyond higher education – from leading NGOs to blue-chip companies – so your research tackles real-world issues. Recent projects have informed national healthcare guidelines and shaped police procedures in Norway, Australia and Brazil, giving you experience that resonates far outside the classroom.

Justice Hub

Our Justice Hub brings together students, staff and local practitioners to provide free, supervised legal advice to the community – giving you hands-on casework experience while making a positive social impact.

International impact

You learn from academics whose evidence is cited by bodies such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization and national governments. Their policy-shaping work feeds directly into seminars, ensuring the LLM stays aligned with the latest developments in international business and commercial law.

Teaching and learning

The LLM in Intellectual Property Law is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:

  • lectures;
  • workshops;
  • student-led presentations and debate;
  • group work;
  • individual research.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units are assessed by standard methods, either:

  • one unseen written examination;
  • one coursework essay;
  • or a combination of these two methods of assessment.

Course unit details

A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.

120 of these credits are made up of a mix of mandatory and optional course units. On the LLM in International Financial Law, there is one mandatory course unit:

International Financial Services Regulation (30 credits);

You will also choose additional optional course units to make up the remaining 90 credits from an approved list of commercial law options. Course units are typically worth 15 or 30 credits each, so you’ll choose between four and eight units in total depending on your selection.

Course units span a wide range of topics across the legal spectrum, such as:

  • international trade and corporate law;
  • financial services regulation;
  • European law
  • international economic law;
  • intellectual property law
  • human rights law;
  • corporate governance;
  • law and finance in emerging markets.

The availability of individual optional course units may be subject to change. Information sent to you in August will clearly set out the course units available for the upcoming academic year.

The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a 12,000-word dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen.

Your research will be supported by weekly research methodology lectures in both semesters, helping you sharpen your legal writing and research skills.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
LAWS70261 30 Mandatory
LAWS70271 30 Mandatory
LAWS70292 30 Mandatory
LAWS70990 60 Mandatory
LAWS50000 0 Optional
LAWS70082 30 Optional
LAWS77082 30 Optional

What our students say

Meet some of our postgraduate students studying for a master's in International Law, Healthcare Ethics and Law and Financial Law in Student Spotlights .

Facilities

You will be supported by the first-class resources you would expect of a top law school.  

In addition to the networked study spaces, you can access a specialist moot courtroom, enabling you to hone your debating skills in a realistic court setting.  

There is also The University of Manchester Library , which houses a substantial collection of law books and periodicals, including texts to support all the degrees we offer.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Manchester is the most targeted university by the UK’s top 100 employers (High Fliers 2024), giving you an outstanding platform to launch your career in intellectual property law.

This LLM equips you to thrive in professional roles across high-demand sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, communications, and technology, reflecting the evolving landscape of intellectual property.

With our extensive industry connections and dedicated employability support, you'll gain the practical skills and professional experience that employers value highly. Graduates from our law school have gone on to influential careers, including roles in prominent international law firms, corporate legal departments, and specialist intellectual property consultancies.

For those aiming for academia, you'll develop advanced research skills necessary for doctoral study and teaching careers.

The University has its own dedicated, award-winning Careers Service where you can benefit from tailored careers support, practice interviews, CV and application support, job listings for Manchester students, and much more. Better yet, you will have access to our Careers Service both during your course and for two years after you graduate, so we know you’re on the right path.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.