Gain essential in-depth knowledge and insight in your chosen area of law and understand the importance of legal rules as they are applied in the real world.
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A Master of Laws (LLM) in Medical Law and Ethics is a postgraduate degree designed for law and non-law graduates to enhance your 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 in the medical industry and can open up pathways to careers in Forensics, Medical Advice, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence, Health Law and more.
If you’re looking for a more flexible approach to your studies, why not consider our online study option?
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), 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:
Please note that, due to Home Office regulations, students who require a Student Route visa to study with us are not permitted to study online and can only choose face-to-face taught modules.
This document outlines the programme demands so you can assess your ability for the course.
Download the Programme Demands ➔
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:
You may then choose three from the list of elective modules* which includes modules such as:
View the elective module guide
*All elective modules are subject to availability.
Study LLM Medical Law and Ethics Online starting October 2023 or February 2024
You can also study this course online, allowing you to study full-time or part-time, as well as being able to study any modules that aren’t available at your chosen campus online.
The online version of this course covers the same content as the on campus version, while still offering you the same high level of professional tutor support. The only difference is that you can study when, where and how you want, over a variety of different course lengths.
With so many options for studying this course, you can be sure to find a start date and study option to suit your needs.
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.
The course has an innovatively flexible structure, with specific assessments that are conducive to effective learning.
The approach to learning and teaching on the Master of Laws programmes is predominantly learner-centred. Each taught module is divided into a number of Units which are presented using the Prepare, Engage, Consolidate approach.
Prepare: this represents all the work the student needs to complete before attending the relevant workshop. Traditional lecture content will be presented in short bite-sized segments of approximately 10 minutes to better engage the modern student. Guided independent research and reading will be expected as part of a student’s preparation.
Engage: this represents the interactive element of the Unit. This could be a face to face
workshop, a synchronous online workshop or an asynchronous online activity.
Consolidate: this represents the final part of the Unit and can be used by students to check their understanding of the Unit immediately after their Engage activity or as part of their revision for the module or both.
We care about your career, which is why we offer support with job applications and other work experience opportunities as soon as you accept your place.
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This course cannot be chosen to study alongside our Legal Practice Course (LPC). For more information on the choice of Master's to study alongside our LPC, please visit the LPC page.
Please note: Our Hong Kong courses are not yet open for applications. If you are interested in finding out more about studying in Hong Kong, please register your interest today.
2023/24 Course Fees (For courses starting on or after 1st July 2023)
Domestic students
London: £12,550
Outside of London: £11,350
Non-domestic students
London: £17,500
Outside of London: £15,100
Hong Kong students:
HKD $120,000
See the full fee schedule for our LLMs here.
By studying a Master's degree you could be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £1000 Academic Master's Alumni Discount.
We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
If you are an international student and are coming to the UK to study, then you must apply to the Home Office for a visa. In most cases you will need to obtain a Student Route visa. In order to apply for this visa you must be sponsored by an education provider which is licensed by the UK Home Office.
The Home Office has also introduced a Graduate Work visa which allows Graduates to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career in the UK for 2 years post completion of a UK degree. The Graduate route is an unsponsored visa, meaning students will not need a job offer to apply for this visa.
Please note that the University does not currently provide visa sponsorship to students for part-time study. We also cannot sponsor students for online courses due to Home Office regulations.