Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Innovation, Technology and the Law (Online Learning) LLM

Awards: LLM

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Online learning

Funding opportunities

I pursued the degree online and found it to work perfectly with my busy schedule. I was able to continue to work and live in Australia with my family without the expense of moving to the UK.

Bernard Wong LLM in Innovation, Technology and the Law, 2018
Bernard Wong                LLM in Innovation, Technology and the Law, 2018

This unique and internationally-focused LLM programme explores how the law responds to, regulates and promotes new and emerging technologies.

Innovative technologies and convergence in technologies are causing unprecedented societal change. New legal issues are arising, and new regulatory responses emerging. The law can help – or hinder – society’s ability to reap the optimal rewards from technological development.

Across the programme, you will study different modes of regulation – the law, the markets, the technology itself – and critically analyse the advantages and disadvantages of each. The potential of technology to support legal and judicial processes is also examined.

This LLM will enable you to develop an advanced knowledge of domains where law engages with technology, awareness of the problems in the area and understanding of the differing approaches to their solution.

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 Innovation, Technology & the Law 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.

Our broad range of courses covers the areas of information technology law and medical law. During your studies you may also have the opportunity to study one course from our range of commercial law courses.

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
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law20 MonthsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law3 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law32 MonthsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

By the end of your studies you should have acquired a high level of knowledge in the field of law and technology, a sophisticated awareness of the problems in the area and of the differing approaches to their solution.

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 UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in law.

We will also consider candidates with a degree in a related discipline 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 of £1,000 within 28 days or by the start of the orientation period, whichever is sooner, to secure your place on the programme.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law20 MonthsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law3 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
LLMInnovation, Technology and the Law32 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