Law degrees abroad
Law degrees are sought after by many international students with a legal career in mind. The completion of a law degree abroad doesn’t certify you to work in the legal profession, however it’s a great first step towards it.
If you want to qualify as a lawyer in a specific country, it is important to research the exact steps you need to take as the process varies.


Law program structure
In the US and Canada you must hold a bachelor’s degree before going on to study a postgraduate degree specifically in law, at Juris Doctor (J.D) degree level.
A bachelor’s degree in law will take you around three years to complete, which is the same as a liberal arts degree in the US.
A law master’s will then take an additional year to complete following a bachelor’s. However to study for a J.D in the USA will take as long as three years.
Types of law degrees
Across Europe, master’s (LLM) and bachelor’s (LLB) focusing on European Law are available at many universities. This focus on law is then relevant in member states of the EU.
Why study law abroad
A law degree shows a student’s ability to think critically, research, debate, and analyze. It also enables students to study a wide range of social science and humanity issues in one degree.
There are some added reasons to study law that come from the decision to study abroad:
- Undergraduate law degrees
Not all countries offer law degrees at a bachelor’s level
- Shorter degrees
Some countries, such as the UK, offer a bachelor’s of law (LLB) in as little as three years
- Improve your English
widen your career opportunities by improving your skills in one of the most widely spoken languages


Where to study law abroad
For many overseas students, the decision of where to study is led in part by their career goals. If you want to study for a degree in law simply because it interests you, then an undergraduate level may be all you want. However, if you are more career led you’ll have to consider the exact steps for achieving your goals.
Best countries to study law
Many English speaking countries are considered the best to study law in, because they have a long history based around UK ‘common law’. It provides an internationally renowned basis for a career in law relevant to many countries and areas.
Best universities to study law
There are particular universities around the world that are highly regarded for their law teaching. These universities usually have higher entry requirements and can be difficult to get into.
For Canada and the USA, law schools are the best option for studying for your J.D. The schools may be independent, or part of a larger university. They will often be accredited by an official law body, with specialist teaching staff and researchers.
How to study law abroad
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Law study abroad programs
Undergraduate and postgraduate level law degrees can be studied as a country-specific program, or many universities now offer international law programs. At all levels of study you can specialize in certain areas or types of law.
Common types of law to study include:
- Environmental law
- Business law
- Criminal law
- Family law
Law undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in law
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Law - BA/LLB University of the South Pacific, Fiji
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,427 USD
Fee in university's local currency 11,427 USD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Political Science - International Politics & Law - BA Louisiana State University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
28,700 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,700 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
-
Law (Pre) - BSc Northeastern University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
40,040 USD
Fee in university's local currency 40,040 USD
- Start date
- August
-
Law - LLB Technological University Dublin, Ireland
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,983 USD
Fee in university's local currency 11,500 EUR
- Start date
- September
-
Economics, Politics and Law - BA (Hons) (with foundation) Dublin City University, Ireland
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,239 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
Associate in law
-
Conservation Law Enforcement - ASc Mount Aloysius College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
21,870 USD
Fee in university's local currency 21,870 USD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Law Enforcement - AASc St. Charles Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
5,520 USD
Fee in university's local currency 5,520 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Law, Public Policy, and Society (for Transfer) - AA San Jose City College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
8,138 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,138 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Diploma in law
-
Law Clerk Advanced - OCADip Durham College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,938 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,945 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Justice Studies: Law Enforcement - Dip Bow Valley College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,891 USD
Fee in university's local currency 24,900 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Law Clerk - UGDip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,311 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD
- Start date
- January
Certificate in law
-
Law with Psychology - Cert University of Essex Online, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
8,714 USD
Fee in university's local currency 6,167 GBP
- Start date
- February, April, July, September, November
Pathway in law
-
Law with Finance (Foundation) - FD Leeds Beckett University, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,401 USD
Fee in university's local currency 10,900 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
Law graduate programs
Master's in law
-
Law - LLM University of Waikato, New Zealand
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
23,792 USD
Fee in university's local currency 32,040 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Law - LLM University of Nicosia, Cyprus
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
6,566 USD
Fee in university's local currency 5,400 EUR
- Start date
- February, June, September
-
Corporate and Financial Law - MSc Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
4,681 USD
Fee in university's local currency 3,850 EUR
- Start date
- September
-
Law, LLM - LLM University of Dayton, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,555 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,555 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
-
Law and Justice - MSc Central Washington University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
23,007 USD
Fee in university's local currency 23,007 USD
- Start date
- September, January
Doctorate in law
-
Law - PhD (with foundation) Maynooth University, Ireland
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 5 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,239 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,000 EUR
- Start date
- September, January, June
-
Law, Juris Doctorate - JD DePaul University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
24,320 USD
Fee in university's local currency 24,320 USD
- Start date
- January, March, September
-
Law - JD University of Saskatchewan, Canada
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
35,241 USD
Fee in university's local currency 44,116 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Law - JD Thompson Rivers University, Canada
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,046 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,080 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Law - PhD University of Nicosia, Cyprus
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
5,472 USD
Fee in university's local currency 4,500 EUR
- Start date
- February, June, September
Diploma in law
-
Law - PDip Technological University Dublin, Ireland
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,943 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
-
Law Clerk - OCDip Centennial College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,205 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,531 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Law Clerk - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 14 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,719 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,922 CAD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Law/CPE - GradDip Bournemouth University, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,956 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,000 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
International Business Law - PGDip University of Essex Online, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,572 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,482 GBP
- Start date
- January, April, July, October
Certificate in law
-
Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations - PGCert Durham College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,835 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,067 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
International Business Law - PGCert University of Essex Online, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 8 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
5,286 USD
Fee in university's local currency 3,741 GBP
- Start date
- January, April, July, October
-
Emerging Technologies and Law - PGCert RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,222 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,360 AUD
- Start date
- January, September
Pathway in law
-
Business, Management and Law, Pre-Masters - PGP Liverpool John Moores University, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 6 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,891 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,000 GBP
- Start date
- March, May
-
Law and Social Sciences, Pre-Master’s - PGP University of Liverpool, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
23,484 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,620 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Law and Social Sciences, Pre-Master’s - PGP University of Nottingham, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
26,112 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,480 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Business and Law, Pre-Master's Program - PGP University of Aberdeen, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 3 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,249 USD
Fee in university's local currency 11,500 GBP
- Start date
- June, September
-
Law and Social Sciences, Pre-Master’s - PGP University of Glasgow, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
26,112 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,480 GBP
- Start date
- September

Entry requirements to study law abroad
In some countries such as the UK, New Zealand and Australia, you can begin studying law straight after the end of secondary education, and this applies for study abroad students too. As it is a popular and demanding subject, academic entry requirements can be high.
The US and Canada don’t offer law programs at an undergraduate level unlike other English speaking countries. In the US and Canada all students are required to hold a bachelor’s degree before entry to law school to gain a J.D. degree. Your bachelor’s or major for applying to law school can usually be in any subject that interests you, but some subjects such a philosophy or history are more closely linked to law than others.
Future law careers
The UK offers one of the shortest paths to becoming a lawyer. Your undergraduate degree in law (LLB) will typically take three years, followed by a one year Legal Practice Course. You can then apply for a training contract with a law firm. This last stage of your training is typically two years.
Other careers that may stem from studying law include:
- Paralegal
- Barrister
- Detective
Having legal knowledge can also benefit a range of other career areas, including:
- Human resources
- Compliance
- Police
- Business
- Property
