A Master of Laws (LLM) fosters intellectual growth, which defines your expertise and enhances your career prospects.
For information including admission requirements, degree regulations, fees, and application procedures, please visit:
Master of Laws qualification webpage
The Master of Laws is a research degree that may be commenced at any time of the year and undertaken full-time or part-time. The degree requires completion of a supervised thesis of approximately 45,000 words (around 150 pages).
Programme milestones
Full-time LLM candidates are expected to complete the degree in 12 months. To support progress, candidates complete a series of milestones during their enrolment:
First three months
- A written piece of approximately 5,000 words demonstrating progress in the research
- A detailed thesis outline setting out the research aims, methodology, timetable, and proposed structure of the thesis
Six to eight months
- Presentation of the research to Faculty staff and postgraduate students. This provides an opportunity to develop presentation skills and receive feedback on work in progress
Twelve months
- Submission of the completed thesis
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency. Please note that the English language requirements for entry to the LLM are higher than the standard University of Otago requirements.
Programmes with higher English language requirements
Distance study
Domestic students may undertake the LLM by distance, subject to approval. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with their supervisor throughout their candidature and to give an in-person research seminar on their work to the Faculty during their studies.
Expression of interest
Before applying, prospective students are strongly encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest form. This allows the Faculty of Law to assess whether appropriate supervision is available for the proposed programme of study.
If the proposed topic is a good fit with the Faculty's supervision capacity and expertise, applicants will be invited to submit a formal application through the University's application process.
Preparing your research proposal (PDF)