Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Medical Law and Ethics (Online Learning) LLM

Awards: LLM

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Online learning

Funding opportunities

The University of Edinburgh's world-class LLM in Medical Law and Ethics helped me grow tremendously as a lawyer and personally.

Daniel Schönberger LLM in Medical Law and Ethics by online learning, 2018
Daniel Schönberger               LLM in Medical Law and Ethics by online learning, 2018

This programme draws on the expertise and tradition of Edinburgh to deliver an internationally-focused, interdisciplinary programme that combines flexible learning with the most up-to-date teaching on all of the important issues affecting medicine, law and ethics today.

Medical law is a fascinating field of study as advances in medical research and new technologies shift the boundaries of medicine. New health issues are emerging and patient rights are increasingly taking centre stage. New and complex medico-legal dilemmas arise in clinical practice, in the realities of human health, and in the relationships between patients and healthcare professionals.

The programme enables you to explore the international and interdisciplinary dimensions of medical law and ethics. You will have opportunities to examine healthcare policy and the regulation of medicine in different parts of the world. You will also evaluate responses to technology and debate possible futures for medical law.

Applications are welcomed from legal professionals and healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, and from all those with an interest in this area.

Our online learning programmes are delivered entirely online via a virtual learning environment. Learning and teaching happen ‘asynchronously’. This means that you have the flexibility to log in at times and in places convenient to you, contribute your views and respond to others, and still maintain a sense of community with your fellow students across time zones.

To be awarded LLM Medical Law and Ethics you must successfully complete six courses, five of which must be core courses, and a 10,000-word dissertation during your chosen duration of study.

During your studies you will also have the opportunity to study up to two courses from different subject areas such as information technology law or international commercial law.

Please note the available choice of courses in any given year may change.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
LLMMedical Law and Ethics1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMMedical Law and Ethics3 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMMedical Law and Ethics20 MonthsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMMedical Law and Ethics2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMMedical Law and Ethics32 MonthsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

Having studied the programme, you will emerge with an understanding of medico-legal issues not just in the legal context, but with a sound grounding in ethics, social and theoretical contexts.

This programme is suitable to prepare students for advanced research.

Graduates of our online distance learning programmes progress to a range of careers in Law and related legal fields, including work in local and international firms, government legal departments, other public institutions, international organisations and in academia.

The programmes are also an ideal platform for advanced research.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A minimum UK 2:1 honours degree from a UK university, or its international equivalent, in law.

We also consider candidates with a degree in a related discipline, such as medicine, which includes relevant prior study.

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 application

Relevant 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.

Students from China

This degree is Band A.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • 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): total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 70 in writing and 62 in all other components.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also 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:

We 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).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Deposit

If you receive an unconditional offer of admission, you will be asked to pay a deposit within 28 days to secure your place on the programme.

The deposit required is:

  • £1,000

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
LLMMedical Law and Ethics1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
LLMMedical Law and Ethics3 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMMedical Law and Ethics20 MonthsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMMedical Law and Ethics2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMMedical Law and Ethics32 MonthsPart-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Edinburgh Law School Online Learning Office
  • Old College
  • South Bridge
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9YL
Programme start dates Application deadlines
9 September 2024 30 June 2024
6 January 2025 3 November 2024

We monitor application numbers carefully to ensure we are able to accommodate all those who receive offers. It may therefore be necessary to close a programme earlier than the published deadlines. If this is the case we will place a four week warning notice on this page.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Edinburgh Law School Online Learning Office
  • Old College
  • South Bridge
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9YL