Course summary
A Master of Laws (LLM) in Medical Law and Ethics is a postgraduate degree designed for law and non-law graduates to enhance their academic legal knowledge. This internationally recognised Master’s is ideal if you have a qualification in medicine or ambitions of working in medical liability. It will give you the skills to progress within the medical industry and can open up pathways to careers in medico-legal areas such as expert witnesses or clinical governance; legal specialist in clinical negligence, personal injury, mental health law and Court of Protection; bioethics governance; enhanced health and care professional careers; healthcare management; policy advisor; regulation and more. This course starts with an introduction to medical law and ethics, and medical law research. You’ll then consider the patient’s right to consent or to refuse medical treatment (protected by human rights law and common law). This will be examined in relation to competent and incompetent patients. You will continue by examining the beginnings of life including assisted conception, controlling fertility and abortion, followed by end of life including the right to die, euthanasia and assisted suicide. The course will also cover examination of mental health, medical negligence (including the impact on the NHS), and organ donation, including the body as property and confidentiality. Whether you want to progress within a firm specialising in medical law or simply want to know more about how medical law works in practice, this programme will provide you with the knowledge to help you achieve your ambitions. When you study the LLM Medical Law and Ethics degree with us you will:
- Be taught by our expert lecturers, including subject matter specialists, former and current practitioners, and research and teaching focused academics.
- Benefit from strategic partnerships with firms, regulators and accreditation bodies, which inform our programme development.
- Improve your employability by gaining important transferable skills and mapping your career with our careers team.
- Strengthen your network - connect with other students, faculty and industry professionals on an international scale, and seek out opportunities for future placements and job opportunities.
- Get ahead of the competition - gain in-depth knowledge of your topic of interest and become a subject expert, which will provide you with a competitive edge in the job market.
- Enjoy flexibility - We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. That’s why we offer a wide range of study modes (full-time, part-time, on campus, online) across our courses to provide you with the greatest choice and flexibility you need to succeed in your studies.
- Prepare for the future of Legal Technology – study modules in legal technology and gain insight into this emerging area of law.
Modules
Terms 1 & 2 (full-time) or 1-4 (part-time): In addition to a general induction to the programme, there is a two-week induction covering the Key Principles of the English Legal System. This is compulsory for non-law students, but also open to students wanting a refresher in the fundamentals of the law of England and Wales. This would be useful for any student who has taken a considerable break from legal education. Compulsory modules include: Medical Law and Ethics Research Methods Training to help you prepare for your dissertation You may then choose three* modules from our elective module guide running at your location of study. *All optional modules are subject to availability and may change from time to time. Not all modules may be available in all terms. Only modules running at the location of study will be available to choose. Term 3 (full-time) or 5 & 6 (part-time): Dissertation in Medical Law and Ethics
Assessment method
Modules are assessed by a three hour unseen written examination or 4,500 word coursework assignment. All assessments are conducted online. The dissertation module will be assessed by submission of a thesis (15,000 words), and provides an opportunity for sustained, in-depth and intensive investigation into, and reflection upon, a specialist area of Medical Law and Ethics.
How to apply
International applicants
To find out more about how we support our international students, please visit our website.
Entry requirements
Students should possess a UK bachelors degree in any subject at 2:2 or above, or an equivalent qualification. A compulsory two week induction is required for all students, unless they can evidence the successful completion of either: an LLB or equivalent; or a minimum of 3 legal modules, worth at least 80 QCFcredits that must include; English Legal System Contract Law Law of Tort English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: An English language level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
2025/26 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2025) - For Domestic students in London: £14,000, and Outside London: £12,400. For International (non-domestic) students in London: £19,050, and Outside London: £17,700. Online students: £12,400.
All fees above include a deposit amount of £250.
Sponsorship information
We can help support your course fees with our scholarships and bursaries and funding options. For more information please visit our postgraduate scholarships page: https://www.law.ac.uk/study/scholarships-bursaries/
Provider information
The University of Law
2 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8HQ