Climate Law & Justice LLM
Applications for this programme will open in October 2025.
The LLM in Climate Law & Justice offers an interdisciplinary approach to tackling the legal dimensions of climate and social crises. You will explore how law interacts with climate change, inequality, and global governance across international, regional, and national levels, with a focus on the Global South. The programme combines critical reflection and practical skills to prepare future leaders in climate justice and legal transformation.
- Academic contact: mingzhe.zhu@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
- LLM: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
Why this programme
- This LLM integrates climate law with social and environmental justice, offering practical and policy-oriented insight into how legal change can support just transitions. We invite you to think critically, engage deeply, and create law as part of the solution.
- Benefit from world-class teaching delivered by leading academics of diverse professional, cultural, and disciplinary backgrounds. The University of Glasgow’s interdisciplinary environment allows you to combine legal studies with sustainable finance, energy systems, and international politics.
- The city of Glasgow, with its strong legacy in climate action and role as host of COP26, offers a rich setting for engagement with policy makers, NGOs, and professional networks. This metropolitan city further provides an international and multicultural environment that fosters comparative legal learning and cross-cultural dialogue on global climate governance.
- You will have access to our excellent facilities including the dedicated School of Law library. Our main University Library also contains our extensive collection of legal materials and official publications.
- Law at Glasgow is ranked 3rd in the UK by the Good University Guide 2025 and 8th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2026.
- Watch: Masters of Laws (LLM) programme overview
Programme structure
You will take six courses and submit a dissertation as falling within the area. Courses are delivered through a blend of lectures and seminar-style teaching.
You are required to take three core courses and three optional courses. One optional course can be chosen from other courses within the School of Law's LLM portfolio. Please note, enrolment on courses is subject to availability and timetabling.
For the dissertation, you can choose between a written dissertation or a collaborative dissertation research project with a partner organisation. Please note, the collaborative dissertation option is subject to availability.
Core courses
- Law and Just Energy Transition
- Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
- Climate Change Law and Governance
Optional courses
- Corporate Social Responsibility & the Law
- Finance & Social Justice Project
- International Human Rights Law
- International Law and International Economic Governance
- Law & International Development
- Law and Sustainable Finance
Dissertation
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
By the end of the programme, you will be prepared to take leading roles in climate litigation, policy advisory, or further doctoral research, with employers ranging from law firms to UN agencies and environmental organisations.
The programme builds strong skills in climate governance, legal advocacy, and interdisciplinary analysis, supported by practical engagement with policymakers and communities.
A global perspective is embedded throughout the programme, including attention to legal challenges and solutions relevant to the regional and local realities.
Find out more about career paths and opportunities in the field of international law.
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Law.
We may also consider a 2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in politics, international relations, economics, environmental science, geology, energy engineering, or other relevant subject areas.
While we welcome applicants from non-legal backgrounds, it is important to note that this LLM remains a law-focused degree.
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme
TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)
- 96 overall with Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 59; Speaking 59; Writing 74
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 185 overall, no subtest less than 176
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- 8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Password Skills Plus
- 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Trinity College Tests
- Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
- Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- One reference letter on headed paper
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.
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