LLM European Legal Studies

The University of Bristol LLM offers a variety of possibilities to study law at an advanced level and the opportunity to specialise in particular areas. There are a number of specialist programmes enabling you to study a set of related units that, together, provide a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of those themes. Alternatively, you can opt for a broader and more general set of unit choices. In all cases, you are encouraged to explore at a deeper level your chosen areas of law and to see how those legal fields operate in different contexts, considering the relevant issues theoretically and practically and from a range of perspectives.

We offer an exciting and stimulating set of degree programmes, each of which prepares you for many different possible careers. If you have an interest in studying law at a level beyond your undergraduate degree and are seeking to enhance your analytical, research and legal writing skills, you will find Bristol’s LLM to be a challenging and rewarding experience.

We have a large and vibrant international community and University of Bristol LLM students benefit from small class sizes taught by world-leading experts.

This programme offers a range of units which give you the opportunity to study the internal workings of the European Union and the ever-increasing penetration of Community law into the national legal orders of the member states.

Programme structure

Part one

You may study four units from the following list, or three units from the following list with a further unit chosen from any of the other LLM programmes, or two units from the following and two from the LLM in International Law. Assessment is by examination and/or essay.

• Competition Law of the EU
• Constitutional and Substantive Law of the EU
• Environmental Law
• European Contract Law
• EU Trade Law
• European Human Rights Law
• International Commercial Litigation
• Legal Perspectives on Sustainability
• Migration Law and Policy - International, European and Human Rights Dimensions
• Migration and Work
• Public Contract Law 
• The Law and Policy of Mergers and Acquisitions

 Please note that unit choices are subject to change depending on staff availability.

Part two

In the spring term, you will choose a dissertation topic within the field of European Legal Studies for approval by the Law School. After passing part one of the programme, you start work on your dissertation for submission by September. You must pass both parts to obtain an LLM and may not proceed to part two until you have passed part one.