I am considering pursuing an LL.M. abroad after completing my law degree, but I am finding it difficult to decide which universities I should realistically target. Most of the universities that are commonly discussed have extremely competitive admissions and I don’t want to limit my applications only to institutions where the chances of admission are very low.
At the same time I don’t want to choose a university simply because it is easier to get into. I would like to find universities that have a good reputation strong faculty and academic exposure and can provide useful international exposure and career opportunities after the LL.M.
Could you suggest some good international universities or LL.M. programmes that students should consider which are comparatively less competitive than the very top universities but still offer good academic and career opportunities?
For an LL.M. applicant who wants quality without limiting applications to Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, or Columbia, the best strategy is a balanced portfolio: a few ambitious choices, several strong realistic options, and a few safer programmes. “Less competitive” should not mean weak; it should mean programmes where a sound academic record, clear specialisation, strong references, and a well-written statement can make the application genuinely viable. The following institutions have established law faculties, broad international classrooms, credible academic reputations, and useful professional networks. They are not “easy admissions,” but are generally more realistic than the very small group of ultra-selective global brands:
Region
Universities / programmes worth considering
Particularly suitable for
United Kingdom
King’s College London; Queen Mary University of London; University of Edinburgh; University of Bristol; University of Nottingham; University of Warwick; University of Manchester; University of Leeds; University of Glasgow
Commercial law, arbitration, IP, technology, human rights, public international law, criminal justice
Europe
Leiden University; University of Amsterdam; Erasmus University Rotterdam; Tilburg University; Maastricht University; KU Leuven; University of Geneva; Graduate Institute Geneva, University of Ghent (Belgium)
International law, trade, human rights, EU law, international criminal law, arbitration
Singapore / Asia
National University of Singapore; Singapore Management University; University of Hong Kong; Chinese University of Hong Kong
Cross-border business, arbitration, finance, technology, Asia-facing practice
Australia
Australian National University; University of Melbourne; UNSW Sydney; Monash University; University of Sydney
Public law, international law, climate and environmental law, technology regulation, Asia-Pacific practice
Canada
University of British Columbia; Osgoode Hall Law School (York University); McGill University; University of Ottawa.
Human rights, constitutional/public law, technology, indigenous law, comparative and international law
United States
Georgetown; UC Berkeley; UCLA; University of Michigan; University of Virginia; Northwestern; Cornell; Boston University; George Washington University, NYU
International business, arbitration, IP, technology, public policy, US-law exposure
