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Legal Practice Top-up (distance learning) LLM

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  • Level of study:
    Professional
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
  • Start date:
    September 2026/ January 2027/ April 2027
  • Duration:
    From 4 - 24 months
  • Attendance:
    Part-time
  • Course delivery:
    Online
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Information for 2026

About this course

Nottingham Law School provides an LLM (Masters in Law) award through distance learning to “top-up” professional legal qualifications or experience.

The LLM Legal Practice DL is available to individuals who have either undertaken and passed the UK Legal Practice Course (LPC), the Barristers Training Course (BTC), their precursors, equivalent professional certifications in non-UK jurisdictions, or the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme certification (QLTS).

The course will also count Acquired Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), which in this case must be no less than 2 years verified professional experience as a qualified legal professional which can account for two-thirds of the LLM.  Students will then 'top up' these credit points with a dissertation or article, studied and completed by distance learning, to gain the LLM degree. APEL accreditation is awarded solely at the discretion of the Course Leader.

  • Benefit from our excellent reputation

    Celebrating our 60th anniversary, we're one of the UK's largest and most established law schools.

  • Seamless online pathway to your LLM

    This 100% online course lets you top-up to an LLM at your own pace, whether you’re in full-time practice or looking to enhance your expertise. Study when it suits you, from anywhere in the world.

  • Comprehensive resources and support

    Benefit from NTU's extensive online resources, including legal databases and digital libraries, which are accessible to distance learners. These resources support your research and academic development throughout the course.

This course is equivalent to 600 hours of study and includes a manageable assessment task of either a traditional dissertation or the production of a focused article of high quality. Please note that this is course is fully delivered online. The expectation is for students to be autonomous and motivated in the way that they work and to access supervision when they need it.

This course is designed to allow completion of the top-up element over a recommended one-year period, with an option to continue for a further year. This would allow students to undertake study immediately following the completion of the LPC or BPTC and complete the course quickly, but also offers more flexible time frames for completing the self-study module while already in professional practice working full-time.

Those who have successfully completed the LPC and BPTC (or their equivalent) at any time are eligible for admission, as are those with equivalent legal practice qualifications in foreign jurisdictions, and those who have been certified by the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS). Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) may also be accredited at the sole discretion of the Course Leader for those who can verifiably demonstrate at least two years of professional legal practice experience.

The course will be extremely attractive to practitioners as it also satisfies CPD requirements.

Module information

A standard full-time LLM course is made up of 180 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

Students will complete an online induction at the beginning of the course, then choose between:

  • A dissertation
  • An article of publishable quality

Online induction

The induction materials are online presentations that cover the nature of the course, guidance on legal academic writing and methods, and available online resources.

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

How you're taught

Personalised guidance on research methods and legal writing is provided as part of the supervision process. Support is also available on the course learning room in online lectures, presentations, and through ample guidance in the course handbook on the online learning room.

The dissertation is 12,000 words in length. As an alternative to the dissertation, students can produce an article of high quality of around 7,000 words. This is of shorter length as it is focused on a particular point of practice or law.

In line with our existing LLM courses, students have a wide discretion in the selection of their dissertation topic, subject to the capacity of the Law School to provide expert academic supervision.

Please note that choosing a niche legal area or law solely from a non-UK/EU jurisdiction may mean that you are asked to amend your project idea so that it meets our staff expertise or that you are assigned a supervisor with broad rather than specific knowledge of your chosen topic area. All our supervisors are capable of advising on legal academic research and writing and can help you to structure your project, regardless of the topic you have chosen.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.

Find out more about the University Language Programme.

Research-informed teaching

By daring to think differently our research is tackling real-world issues. The subjects you will study with us are informed by our research so you can be sure your knowledge will be cutting-edge in your field. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) - the UK's system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities - we’re proud that 100% of NTU's Law submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry requirements

UK students

  • Applicants should have successfully completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), the SQE (1 & 2) or the Barristers Training Course (BTC), their precursors, or equivalent.
  • Applications from members of other legal professions will also be considered with proof of a professional qualification.
  • Applicants with Accredited Prior Experiential Learning of at least two years of verifiable legal professional experience (a form will be provided upon request).
  • Applications by legal professionals from other jurisdictions with non-UK legal professional qualifications equivalent to the LPC or BTC or verifiable APEL.
  • Applicants who have been certified by the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

We specify these minimum entry requirements, but we will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course.

International students

  • Applicants should have successfully completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), the SQE (1 & 2) or the Barristers Training Course (BTC), their precursors, or equivalent.
  • Applications from members of other legal professions will also be considered with proof of a professional qualification.
  • Applicants with Accredited Prior Experiential Learning of at least two years of verifiable legal professional experience (a form will be provided upon request).
  • Applications by legal professionals from other jurisdictions with non-UK legal professional qualifications equivalent to the LPC or BTC or verifiable APEL.
  • Applicants who have been certified by the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

We specify these minimum entry requirements, but we will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.
  • £2,600 per year

Students will only be required to pay this fee in year 1.  No fees are payable in year 2.

VAT may be payable on these fees.

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £2,600 per year

Students will only be required to pay this fee in year 1.  No fees are payable in year 2.

VAT may be payable on these fees.

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Careers and employability

This course will demonstrate your academic ability and showcase your knowledge of more specialised aspects of legal practice.

  • Employability Promise

    Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

  • NTU Enterprise

    If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

Applying

UK students

If you're interested in joining us in September, applications for this course will open via the application portal from the previous September.

Postgraduate research

If you’re applying for postgraduate research please visit our Research pages for information about our research areas and how to make your application.

Application guidance

For a step-by-step guide on making an application to the University please visit our how to apply page.

Apply now

International students

If you're interested in joining us in September, applications for this course will open via the application portal from the previous September.

Postgraduate research

If you’re applying for postgraduate research please visit our Research pages for information about our research areas and how to make your application.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply now

Personal statement guidance

When you apply to NTU, we’ll ask you to submit a personal statement – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

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