Intellectual Property Law LLM Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Law Year of entry: 2027 Study options Mode of study On campus Part-time LLM | 2 years | Start date: September 2027 Full-time LLM | 1 year | Start date: September 2027 Key facts School Edinburgh Law School College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Programme website Intellectual Property Law Study location Old College Apply now 17 to 19 November 2026: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Browse sessions and register Overview About the degree programme This programme is designed to equip you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of intellectual property law and policy within a domestic (UK), regional (European) and international setting.During your studies you will have the opportunity to undertake in-depth study of a range of contemporary issues through our taught core courses in intellectual property law, and develop further critical understanding and research skills through a dissertation on an intellectual property issue of your choice.The programme will expose you to a broad range of perspectives on intellectual property law, practice, and policy. It covers substantive law on all major intellectual property rights, including copyright, trade marks, designs, patents, and common law protection of intellectual property rights. It examines these rights within the international intellectual property treaty framework and system. It also evaluates the place and role of these rights by exploring a range of contemporary issues across diverse contexts, such as emerging technologies, innovation, commerce, and fundamental rights, that shape and inform modern intellectual property law and policy. Study options This programme can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years subject to visa restrictions. Programme rankings 16th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings: Law 202515th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Law and Legal Studies Programme benefits The subjects of the degree are intended to equip you with both an advanced knowledge of substantive intellectual property law and of the place and role of intellectual property within a domestic, regional and international context, laying a foundation for a specialised dissertation.By the end of your studies for this degree, you will have acquired a high level of knowledge in the field of intellectual property law, a sophisticated awareness of the problems in the area and of the differing approaches to their solution.At Edinburgh, we take an interdisciplinary approach and having studied the LLM in Intellectual Property Law programme, you will emerge with an understanding of intellectual property rights, not just in its legal but also social, ethical, cultural and commercial contexts.During your study you will have access to the results of innovative cross-cutting research of the highest quality. The programme is suitable to prepare you for advanced research. Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Part-time LLM Intellectual Property Law (2 years) tuition fees Full-time LLM Intellectual Property Law (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay some of your tuition fees in advance as a deposit. This deposit is required to secure your offer. If you fail to pay your deposit by the stated deadline, your offer may be withdrawn.The deposit for this programme is £1,500.How and when to pay the deposit Costs Additional programme costs There are no additional programme costs. Accommodation and living costs You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.For 2026-2027, we estimate that it will cost an average of £18,504 each year (£1,542 each month) to live in Edinburgh as a postgraduate.The exact amount you spend will depend on different factors, especially the accommodation you choose.Living costs: estimates explained Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Edinburgh Law School offers a range of scholarships for our on-campus LLM programmes. Edinburgh Law School funding opportunities Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in law.We may also consider candidates with a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a non-law subject if they can demonstrate prior high-level study or experience of intellectual property topics.In evaluating your application for postgraduate study, greater emphasis may be placed upon results of prior learning in subjects relevant to the intended degree programme.Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.Supporting your applicationRelevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme. International equivalent qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region - Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon The Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Haiti Honduras Hong Kong-SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kosovo Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau-SAR China Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands, The New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pacific Islands Pakistan Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam West Indies and Caribbean Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe My country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language test (restrictions apply)a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)certain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 5.0 in writing and 4.5 in all other components. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 8 in writing and 7 in all other components. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 155 in writing and 145 in all other components. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Oxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study You must complete 180 credits of study – 60 credits are taken in the compulsory dissertation and the remaining 120 credits are taken in taught courses.Courses offered in the 2026-27 academic year can be found below. Compulsory courses Core coursesYou must select between 80 and 120 credits from the following courses:Intellectual Property Law 1: Copyright and Related Rights (20 credits)Intellectual Property Law 2: Industrial Property (20 credits)Intellectual Property and Human Rights (20 credits)Advanced Issues in Patent Law and Policy (20 credits)Advanced Issues in Registered Trade Mark Law (20 credits)Intellectual Property and Development (20 credits)Competition Law, Intellectual Property and the Innovation Economy (20 credits)International Intellectual Property Law (20 credits) Option courses Option courses from the Law SchoolPolice and Policing (20 credits)The legal challenges of information technologies (20 credits)International Commercial Arbitration (20 credits)Comparative Corporate Governance (20 credits)International and European Media Law (20 credits)Robotics, AI and the Law (20 credits)The Law of International Trade (20 credits)Cybercrime and Cyber Security (20 credits)Comparative Statutory Interpretation (20 credits)Software and the law (20 credits)Fundamentals of Legal Argument (20 credits)The Law of Integration: understanding the EU Legal System (20 credits)Energy Transition and the International Economic Legal Order: Governance, Challenges and Innovations (20 credits)Hardware and the Law: intellectual property, safety, sustainability and sovereignty for tech devices (20 credits)Introduction to Health Law (20 credits)WTO and International Trade Law 1 (20 credits)The State of Criminal Justice: Law, Politics and Policy (20 credits)E-governance and Digital Human Rights (20 credits) Full details of the programme structure and course options are available on the Law School's website.View programme structure and course options Disclaimer Courses shown above are scheduled to run in the 2026-27 academic year and are subject to change in future academic years. Courses for the 2027-28 academic year will be confirmed by May 2027.Due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year. Teaching and assessment Teaching Most of our postgraduate courses are taught by way of two-hour interactive seminars. These normally take place weekly over the course of each semester.You are expected to actively participate in discussions and to prepare for classes in advance by reading the materials that have been assigned in advance of the seminar. Questions for reflection and discussion, or other exercises, will be provided. Preparing effectively will allow you to engage fully and make the most of your seminars.You may also learn through lectures, class debates, individual presentations, or group exercises, depending on the subject being studied. Assessment Our postgraduate courses use a range of assessment formats, including: essaysreportsoral presentationsclass participationThese assessments are designed to help you develop writing, analytical, and legal research skills that will be essential in professional life after completion of your degree.Courses at postgraduate level are not assessed through written exams. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Where you will study Study location The Law School is based in the historic building of Old College. Law has been taught here for over 300 years, and with the highest courts in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament minutes away, it is ideally placed for students studying law.Old College was built between 1789 and 1827, with the iconic dome added later in 1887. In 2019 after an ambitious refurbishment project, the building was transformed into a 21st century campus for the School, reflective of our world-class teaching and research, while preserving the history of Old College. Academic facilities Teaching and study spacesDesigned for the way you study, our facilities include spacious seminar rooms, and dedicated student social and study spaces providing plenty of options for individual or group work.Classes will take place across a range of buildings in the University’s central campus including the Law School.The Law Library Edinburgh Law School is proud to house one of the largest Law Libraries in the UK and Europe. The Law Library saw one of the biggest changes as part of the School’s refurbishment project. It now occupies the entire northwest corner of Old College and boasts spectacular study and reading spaces such as the Senate Room. Social spaces The heart of the Law School features an open social space with a modern and bright cafe providing a space for students to meet. There is also a dedicated social space for postgraduate students on the lower level.Find out more about Edinburgh Law School Careers and further study Career opportunities This programme provides excellent preparation for anyone seeking to work in intellectual property in a legal, business, industry, policy or academic setting, or who wishes to advance their knowledge in the field.Recent graduates have entered legal practice as specialists in intellectual property law, and are also working in a range of areas such as the creative industries, information technology and life sciences.The University of Edinburgh is a part of the European Patent Office (EPO) Young Professionals Programme, which presents a particularly fantastic opportunity for eligible Intellectual Property Law LLM graduates to turn legal learning into an international career. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 13 September 2027 30 June 2027 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible and at least one month prior to the programme start date so that we have sufficient time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. We aim to issue decisions within 6-8 weeks of receiving your completed application. During peak times it may take us slightly longer to issue your decision but please be assured we will confirm a decision as soon as we can. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.ReferencesYou do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme - LLM Intellectual Property Law (2 years) LLM Intellectual Property Law (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh What our students say My year was the perfect mix between enjoying student life in a wonderful city and learning more about IP law from a UK, European and global perspective. Friederike LLM in Intellectual Property Law graduate, 2025 Our community During your studies you will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities, groups and societies alongside your studies.Mooting OpportunitiesEdinburgh Law School has a number of mooting teams and regularly takes part in mooting competitions.Mooting at Edinburgh Law SchoolEdinburgh Law School Student SocietiesThere are a number of societies at Edinburgh Law School covering a wide range of subjects and interests across the study of law.Edinburgh Law School Student SocietiesUniversity Societies and ClubsOur societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and active wellbeing facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries If you have any questions about the LLM in Intellectual Property Law please don't hesitate to contact us.futurestudents@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 650 2386
