Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Y | Y | N | N |
Course overview
- Pursue an international law MA that does not require a first degree in law.
- Explore future careers in government agencies, the armed forces, international organisations, NGOs, law firms and multinational corporations.
- Develop the critical skills required to analyse legal issues surrounding armed conflicts, terrorism, modern warfare, security of international investments and transactions, and security of intellectual property.
Open days
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.
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £16,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,500 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £8,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,750
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
Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme
The Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.
Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship
The University of Manchester is proud to offer scholarship awards to exceptional international students.
Manchester Master's Bursary
The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study and allocates 75 awards of £4,000 each year.
Postgraduate loans for master's students
If you're coming to Manchester this year to begin postgraduate study, you could qualify for a loan from the UK government.
For more information on our awards, see fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 306 5500
- pg-law@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/law/
- School/Faculty
-
See: School Subjects
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 classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, 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
Pre-Sessional English Courses
We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may 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.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive the course may close before the advertised deadline and as such, early application is advised.
If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
The MA in Security and International Law course offers the benefits of a specialist master's without the requirement of an undergraduate law degree.
You will gain advanced knowledge in the main areas of international security and the UN system, and the tools necessary to understand the issues surrounding armed conflicts, terrorism, modern warfare, and the security of international transactions and intellectual property.
Aims
The MA in Security and International Law course is designed for those who seek to acquire a recognised expertise in the main areas of security and international law and become generalist in international security and the UN system.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be all-rounders and have knowledge and understanding of the rules, systems, techniques, practices, dynamics and discourses by virtue of which international security discourse develops.
The course gives you the necessary research skills to autonomously continue to expand, sharpen and update their knowledge of international organisation and the UN system after the completion of the course.
Special features
This course endeavours to offer the strongest students the opportunity of an internship with a renowned law firm or international organisation.
Teaching and learning
The course is based on small-group, seminar-style teaching by our research-active teaching staff as well as invited external experts.
This master's degree is offered part time to allow those with a professional occupation to follow the course.
Coursework and assessment
The assessment method of each individual course unit is listed in the course unit description on the website. You must also submit two research papers for the MA degree (one research paper submitted in April, and one submitted in September).
Course unit details
You will be doing 180 credits in total, 120 of which will be taught course units and the remaining 60 credits in the form of two research papers (30 credits each).
Course units are worth 15 or 30 credits each. You will be required to select course units to a total of 120 credits, and so must choose a minimum of four course units or a maximum of eight course units.
The course has a compulsory research component, in which you must submit two research papers of 7,000-8,000 words each (each worth 30 credits). The taught element of the degree course will total 120 credits and the research element will total 60 credits, therefore 180 credits for the MA. The first research paper must be within the area of a semester one course unit that you have chosen, and the second research paper within the area of a semester one or semester two course unit you have taken.
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.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of International Law | LAWS70431 | 30 | Mandatory |
| International Law and Security | LAWS70451 | 30 | Mandatory |
| MA Research Paper One | LAWS70901 | 30 | Mandatory |
| MA Research Paper Two | LAWS70902 | 30 | Mandatory |
| International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law | LAWS61082 | 30 | Optional |
| Global Environmental and Climate Change Law | LAWS70442 | 30 | Optional |
| International Courts and Tribunals | LAWS70462 | 30 | Optional |
| International Investment Law | LAWS72042 | 30 | Optional |
| International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Law | LAWS77082 | 30 | Optional |
Scholarships and bursaries
The School is offering a number of awards for students applying for master's study. To find out more please visit our master's funding opportunity search page .
What our students say
Facilities
At The University of Manchester Law School, you are supported by the first-class resources you would expect of a top law school.
In addition to the networked study spaces at the Williamson Building, you can access The University of Manchester Library , which houses a substantial collection of law books and periodicals, as well as texts to support all the degrees we offer.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
This is a specialised master's offering you training for a range of legal careers in government agencies, the armed forces, international organisations, NGOs, law firms and multinational corporations.