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MA

MA Law (Conversion)

The application deadline for our January 2025 Part-time intake is Friday 3 January 2025 at 9:00am (UK time) and the application deadline for our January 2025 Full-time intake is Thursday 2 January 2025 at 11:59pm UK time. Apply Now

Join the largest community of postgraduate law conversion students*.

Our Master of Arts in Law conversion course is a specially designed postgraduate degree for non-law graduates who want to gain a general legal qualification at Master’s level. As an internationally recognised qualification, a Law Master’s is a great addition to your portfolio. With a strong level of support from the start, this course is a great introduction to law if you hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline. Successful completion of the MA Law (Conversion) qualifies you to progress on to study the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to become a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to become a barrister.

With our MA Law (Conversion) qualification, you will develop core legal skill and a solid understanding of the foundation areas of legal knowledge, alongside options for further specialist study. You will also gain a deeper understanding of law and legal reasoning and access to a broad range of careers.

*Central Applications Board (LawCAB) 2023

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Key Facts

Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline (or equivalent)

Course requirements ➔

Entry requirements

Next start date

January 2025

See all Start Dates

STUDY ONLINE

 

If you’re looking for a more flexible approach to your studies, why not consider our online study option?

 

Designed for non-law graduates who want to stand out to employers, study the law at Master’s level and gain an internationally recognised qualification.

Progress on to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK and explore an issue or development in law of your choice via your own Independent Research Project.

More law students have chosen The University of Law than any other UK university in 2023*.


* HESA 2022/23

Course Details

MA Law (Conversion)

Designed specifically for non-law graduates who want to gain a legal qualification at Master’s level, our MA Law (Conversion) gives you the opportunity to learn the practical legal skills of analysis and critical evaluation, alongside a range of transferable skills such as research and presentation skills, in a practical and interactive way. To ensure that you have a smooth transition from your previous non-law studies, we’ve designed this course to include a pre-course programme where you will be able to get support in learning about legal methods. This compulsory addition to the course means that you will be ready to get started on your legal studies as soon as the course begins.

Our structured course is delivered by qualified lawyers either face-to-face on campus or online. On completion of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to progress your studies to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK, whilst obtaining a Master’s award, which will be highly attractive to employers in a variety of disciplines. This course is the perfect choice if you wish to keep your career options open.

When you study the MA Law with us you will:

  • Be taught by subject matter experts, former and current practitioners and research and teaching focused academics
  • Focus on legal practice, not just theory
  • Benefit from strategic partnerships with firms, regulators and accreditation bodies
  • 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. 
  • Improve your employability by gaining important transferable skills and mapping your career with our careers team
  • We have a vast network in the legal industry and deliver training to 91 of the top 100 law firms, with exclusive relationships with 61 of the top UK law firms and many of the most prestigious US firms.

If you choose to progress onto study one of our SQE courses or BPC, you will also benefit from our excellent employment and pupillage rates:

  • 94% of postgraduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
  • 93% of BPC graduates in work were in highly skilled employment, including pupillage, 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.

Want to progress on to solicitor training, but not sure if this course is right for you? Download our free guide, An SQE Course for Everyone, to find your path to becoming a solicitor.

Important Information

Progression for full-time PgDL and MA Law (Conversion) students

Based on the projected end dates of our full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL) and Master of Arts in Law (MA Law Conversion) courses, find out if you are eligible to commence our Bar Practice Course (BPC)LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or SQE1 Preparation Course in January 2025.

Progression information - law conversion to SQE & BPC courses

Please note: If you require a visa to study in the UK and wish to progress on to one of our on-campus vocational courses, please refer to our UK visa requirements page for information about applying for a Student Route visa.

Course Structure

The Law & Constitution Module element requires 25 hours of pre-course study in English Legal System & Constitutional Law (including EU Law), through guided module units with all materials provided online.

The key areas that you’ll study over the course are:

• English Legal System & Constitutional Law (including EU Law)
• Tort Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Administrative Law and Human Rights
• Land Law
• Equity and Trusts
• Law of Organisations
• Skills & Behaviours (non-credit bearing)

Plus a Dissertation in Law Module (8,000 words) 60 credits

Course Start Dates

  • MA Law (Conversion)
    • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Egham (Royal Holloway), Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Reading
    • Part-time: London Bloomsbury, Manchester and Newcastle
    • Part-time Evening: London Bloomsbury
    • Part-time Weekend: London Bloomsbury and Manchester
  • MA Law (Conversion)
    • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading and Sheffield
    • Part-time Evening: London Bloomsbury and London Moorgate
    • Part-time Weekend: Birmingham, London Bloomsbury, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham
  • MA Law (Conversion)
    • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading and Sheffield
    • Part-time Evening: London Bloomsbury
    • Part-time Weekend: London Bloomsbury, Manchester and Newcastle

Online

Study MA Law (Conversion) Online starting January 2025, September 2025 or January 2026

University of Law campus

Get to know our lecturers

Hear from our lecturers about what makes law conversion a fascinating path to study leading to a fulfilling and dynamic career.

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Course requirements

Learn more about how the course is taught and how learning time is distributed by taking a look at our MA Law (Conversion) infographic. You can also look at the course demands document which shows the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments the course will involve.

Find out more ➔

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Law Conversion Courses

Start your legal journey

We offer a number of law conversion courses, which offer you a pathway to progress onto become a solicitor or barrister.

View our law conversion guide to make the best choice for you and your career.

Law Conversion Guide ➔

Will non-law graduates on the SQE pathway be required to complete a conversion course?

study online

Study Online

If you’re looking for the perfect combination of a flexible study programme to fit around your other commitments together with the benefit of our expertise, experience and employability focus, why not consider our online study option?

MA Law (Conversion) Online ➔

study online

Course Information

 

Application and booking deadlines vary by intake - take a look at our key application and enrolment deadline dates for more information.

With so many options for studying this course, you can be sure to find a start date and study option to suit your needs.

Calendar

 

This course is assessed through:

  • Single Best Answer Questions 
  • Online open book examination
  • Coursework
  • Oral presentation
  • 8000 word Dissertation in Law module
Student working from a text book

 

Each of our MA Law (Conversion) study options has its own structure, with different assessments to suit.

Students studying

Employability We Set You Up For Success

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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Fees and Applying

 

If you’d like to study full-time you can apply through the Central Applications Board (CAB). For part-time study you can apply directly with us.

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2024/25 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2024)

Domestic

  • London: £16,150
  • Outside London: £13,350

Non-Domestic

  • London: £18,750
  • Outside London: £15,800

See our full fee schedule for the MA Law (Conversion) here.

Discounts:

We are offering a £500 Postgraduate Award to students studying at Newcastle University and a £1,000 Postgraduate Award to students studying at our Nottingham Campus. Dependant on start date. Terms and conditions apply.

By studying a Master's degree you could be eligible for a Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan.

If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £500 General Alumni Discount.

We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever.

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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.

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