Master of Laws (LLM)

The LLM programme is dynamic in meeting the society and the world’s needs. It provides students with the opportunities to learn the professional skills and legal knowledge necessary to serve the needs of modern society. The programme design allows students to choose stream focus and tailor their course selection for their own career goals. The streams that CityUHK School of Law offers include International Economic Law Stream, Corporate and Financial Law Stream, Intellectual Property and Technology Law Stream, Common Law Stream, Chinese and Comparative Law Stream, and General Stream.

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Graduate legal education forms a crucial pillar of our Law School here at City University of Hong Kong. Every year, we welcome a global cohort of students, drawn to the opportunity to gain an Asian perspective on law while immersing themselves in the vibrancy of Hong Kong, one of the world's most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities. I earnestly invite you to consider joining us for a rewarding year of master's study at CityUHK Law.

Prof He Tianxiang
LLM Programme Director

Programme Information

Programme brochure
Streams	International Economic Law Stream Corporate and Financial Law Stream Intellectual Property and Technology Law Stream Common Law Stream Chinese and Comparative Law Stream General Stream Maritime and Transportation Law Stream
Joint master's programme and co-operation with overseas universities	CityUHK School of Law operates collaborative programmes with Aix-Marseille University, University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Université de Fribourg. Selected students will study at these partner universities and obtain one postgraduate degree from CityUHK and one from the partner university, where the designated study-loads at the institutions are successfully discharged. Aix-Marseille University (AMU) Université de Fribourg (UF) University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1)
LLM Chinese judges	CityUHK School of Law also collaborates with the National Judges College and the Supreme People’s Court of the PRC to provide advanced legal education to Chinese judges. A number of Chinese judges are selected to study in the LLM programme at CityUHK.
Medium of instruction	English
Mode of programme	The programme can normally be completed in 1 year for full-time study mode and 2 years for part-time study mode. The maximum study period for full-time students is 2.5 years and 5 years for part-time students. Classes are held during daytime. Classes may be offered in weekday evenings / on Saturdays in special cases. CityUHK School of Law does not guarantee to offer weekday evening or weekend classes to LLM students enrolled in the combined mode or part-time mode.
Bridging course	All students with their LLB obtained from non-common law jurisdictions admitted to any of the above streams are required to attend an intensive course, LW6102E Introduction to Common Law System and Methodology, in the latter half of August. Students have to apply for their student visa and exit permit, if applicable, in advance so that they will be able to attend the course at CityUHK. LLM students who are not undertaking a full year of study at CityUHK can be exempted from taking the course subject to approval by CityUHK School of Law. Those who cannot attend the course due to exceptional circumstances will need to take a replacement course subject to approval by CityUHK School of Law.
Residence Requirement	In order to uphold the quality of students’ LLM experience, a residence requirement will be imposed on all LLM students starting from 2022/2023 academic year. Students are required to live in Hong Kong throughout the year of full-time LLM study, apart from short breaks taken between semesters. Under special circumstances, the LLM Programme can exercise discretion on students’ obligation to fulfill the residence requirement with justifications.
Award requirements	Students who complete the respective stream requirement of four required courses/electives, obtain a total of 24 credit units, and achieve a CGPA of 2.0 or above will receive the degree of Master of Laws (LLM).

Admission

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LLM Programme Promotion Video
Application deadlines for 2025 entry	30 April 2025 (for non-local applications) 30 June 2025 (for local applications)
Entrance requirements	To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements and the following programme-specific entrance requirements:* • holding an honours degree in law or equivalent qualification; or • having been admitted for professional practice of law in Hong Kong or other jurisdictions ; or • having obtained either a Common Professional Examination (CPE) of the United Kingdom or Hong Kong with satisfactory results, provided that a second class honours degree has also been obtained; or • having obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Hong Kong Law or Master of Arts/Laws in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution; or • (applicable to applicants for Maritime and Transportation Law Stream): holding an university degree in law with good academic performance; applicants with a non-law university degree (or equivalent) and significant experience in shipping evidenced by at least 3-year employment in shipping or transportation industry. To be eligible for admission, applicants must also meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement (for applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English only) as follows:^ • a minimum total score of 88 (internet-based test) in TOEFL ; or • an overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS ; or • a score of 520 in Chinese mainland's College English Test (CET) Band 6; or • other equivalent qualifications. The LLM Programme do not accept the scores of English tests of 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', 'TOEFL MyBest Score', 'IELTS Indicator', 'IELTS One Skill Retake' and 'IELTS Online". * An applicant who holds a legal qualification from a common law jurisdiction will not be eligible to enrol in the Common Law Stream. An applicant who holds a LLB degree from Mainland China will not be eligible to enrol in the Chinese and Comparative Law stream. ^ TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their TOEFL / IELTS test results obtained within the two years preceding the commencement of the University's application period. For CET-6 scores, the validity period is three years.
Courses on offer in 2024/25	Please click here to view the LLM courses currently on offer in 2024/25.
Tuition fees	The tuition fee for 2025 intake is HK$7,400 per credit. The minimum number of credits required to complete the programme is 24.
Scholarships for 2025/26	LLM Scholarship for International Students One scholarship in the amount of HK$250,000 shall be granted each year, aiming at promoting diversity and attracting outstanding overseas students. Applications are considered alongside with the LLM applications on a rolling basis. Applicants do not have to apply separately. LLM Admission Scholarships A maximum of 3 scholarships, each to the value of HK$30,000 are available. The number of scholarships and the allocation of scholarships each year are left entirely at the discretion of the Law School. Applications are considered alongside with the LLM applications on a rolling basis. Applicants do not have to apply separately.
Financial assistance	The Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (NLS) provides financial assistance to the LLM students who meet the eligibility requirements of the scheme. For details of other eligibility requirements of NLS, please visit http://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/postsecondary/enls/overviewhtm. Meanwhile, the LLM course LW6126E Dispute Resolution in Theory and Practice is included in the list of reimbursable courses for Continuing Education Fund (CEF) purposes. Details of CEF are available from https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef/tc/index.htm.

Student Testimony

The journey to study a LLM is nevertheless full of tears and swears, fortunately I have gained a fruitful experience in tasting the bittersweet of the LLM programme at CityUHK. I sincerely wish to express my gratitude to all the professors who have been assisting us without hesitation throughout the whole year. The support from CityUHK is genuinely precious and beneficial.

NG Ching Wai

LLM General Stream Graduate 2024

Learning and discussing with professors and classmates are my most precious experiences; the journey of learning at CityUHK will forever inspire me to be a professional and impartial legal practitioner.

LIN Ye

LLM Common Law Stream Graduate 2024

As a student of CityUHK School of Law can be the precious memory of my life. Despite the charm of Hong Kong itself, CityUHK provided not only the wonderful learning experiences but also the platform which enables us accessible to real‐world practice, including but not limited to diversified lectures, law firm workshops.

GONG Siyi

LLM Corporate and Financial Law Stream Graduate 2024

The LLM Programme not only enriches my academic experiences, but also allows me to engage with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Professors in this Programme are responsible and are willing to share their valuable experiences, from which I’ve benefited a lot. And now, I am closer to my dream.

TANG Xin

LLM Corporate and Financial Law Stream Graduate 2024

I deeply appreciate having encountered professors who are not only highly professional but also friendly and helpful. Under their guidance, I have developed a fresh and broader perspective on legal issues. The critical and creative thinking instilled through the classes will serve as invaluable assets throughout my life's journey.

YANG Chen

LLM International Economic Law Stream Graduate 2024

The programme has numerous experts in different areas of law. Teachers here are enthusiastic about teaching, which helped me enrich my academic knowledge and develop my legal mindset. I feel so grateful and honoured to study here and what I gained here will benefit my future career as well as my life.

ZHOU Yifan

Corporate and Financial Law Stream Graduate 2023

Being a graduate of CityU LLB and PCLL, I chose to return to this beautiful and cosy campus to attend the LLM programme with committed professors and caring School of Law staff members. I now feel much more prepared to enter the legal workfield where the competition is keener than ever.

YU Wai Yan Ryan

General Stream Graduate 2023

The CityU LLM experience expanded my understanding of law and society, improved my research skills and introduced me to two important aspects of legal study: the comparative method and the social scientific method. It is this LLM experience that enlightened me to pursue an academic career.

LI Zeming

General Stream Graduate 2023

Whether you are here to learn something different from your home jurisdiction, or you just want to experience legal education in Hong Kong, you should not miss this programme. With CityU LLM, you can be yourself and learn anything you want to know about common law practice in Hong Kong. Professors are always willing to share practical knowledge and help us analyze common law cases.

ZHENG Yudi

Common Law Stream Graduate 2023

FAQ

What GPA do I need in order to be admitted into the LLM programme?

There is no minimum GPA requirement. However, admission to the LLM programme is mainly based on academic merit. Other relevant factors such as working experiences and extra-curricular activities will also be taken into consideration.

What are the English proficiency requirements of the LLM programme?

For the English proficiency requirements, we accept:

a minimum total score of 88 (internet-based test) in TOEFL; or
an overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS; or
a score of 520 in Chinese mainland’s College English Test (CET) Band 6; or
other equivalent qualifications.

TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their TOEFL / IELTS test results obtained within the two years preceding the commencement of the University’s application period. For CET-6 scores, the validity period is three years.
We will consider other English test results. However, applicants must provide proof to show the result is equivalent to the above English tests.

What is the intake target of the LLM programme?

The intake target of our LLM programme is 170 (all streams included).

Will there be interviews?

Admission will be based primarily on the demonstrated performance in your academic studies, although we will also take into account any personal statements you make and any academic or professional references you provide. Interviews may be arranged if they are considered necessary in individual cases. You should not assume that your application has been unsuccessful simply because you have not been invited for an interview.

Would 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', 'TOEFL MyBest Score', 'IELTS Indicator' 'IELTS One Skill Retake' and 'IELTS Online' be accepted?

These English tests would not be accepted.

Does LLM require recommendation letters?

It is not a must for LLM applicants to provide reference letters. However, they are welcome to include the letters in their applications if they consider these helpful to their applications.
There is no specific requirement for the content of the reference letter as long as the referee is giving a faithful illustration of the applicant's strengths.

Am I eligible to apply for LLM if I do not have an LLB?

We will consider applicants with an LLB degree or those who have a legal professional qualification to practise.

Can I defer my LLM offer to the subsequent year?

Deferred admission is normally not considered. You may apply for the programme again in mid-September of the subsequent year.

For how long does the LLM programme last?

The LLM programme is a combined-mode programme. Local students can study in a combined mode, i.e., they can attend full-time (12-18 credit units per semester) or part-time (no more than 11 credit units per semester) in different semesters without seeking approval from the University. For non-local students, they will be admitted to either full-time or part-time studies. Non-local students must maintain the required credit load for their full-time or part-time studies and any changes will require approval from the University.

Are there any loans or scholarships available?

The University does not make student loans or otherwise to cover the costs of tuition fees for either local or overseas students. Students who wish to apply for the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (NLS) may browse the homepage of the Student Financial Assistance Agency at https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/ or contact the Agency's hotlines at (852) 2150 6222 or (852) 2150 6223 for eligibility and application procedures. Relevant information can also be accessed through University's Student Development Services (SDS) at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sds/web/index_main.shtml
The LLM Scholarship for International Students and LLM Admission Scholarships
Applications are considered alongside with their LLM applications on a rolling basis. Applicants do not have to apply separately.

Can I apply for exemption / credit transfer?

The general policy is not to grant any exemptions, as this is a specialised programme.
Students can apply for credit transfer for their academic work completed. At least 70% of the credit units required for an award of the University must be earned by the successful completion of courses required by the LLM programme. Students should not take the courses for which transfer credits have been granted. For further details on credit transfer, please visit https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sgs/student/masters/records/credittransfer

Is accommodation available for non-local students?

Students should be prepared to arrange their own accommodation, as on-campus accommodation is usually not available due to limited space. For assistance in locating information on off-campus accommodation, see “Off-campus Accommodation” at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/sro/htm/e_off-campus.htm

What are the differences between a JD and an LLM?

The JD programme is intended for people who are interested in pursuing studies in the law and are already graduates in a non-law discipline. The LLM programme is generally for people who hold a law degree, except for LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution which is for people with any university degree.
The JD degree is recognised for the purpose of applying for entry into the PCLL programme, provided the student has completed all courses required for PCLL admission. The LLM programme is not recognised for this purpose.

Can I change to other stream during my LLM study?

Please be advised that LLM students are only allowed to change their stream once unless there are exceptional circumstances. Therefore, you are reminded to thoroughly consider your situation before making a request for changing streams.

If I had a LLB degree from Mainland China, can I apply for the Chinese and Comparative Law Stream?

Applicants who hold a LLB degree from Mainland China will not be eligible to enrol in the Chinese and Comparative Law Stream. However, they can study other streams of the LLM programme.

If I had a law degree from a common law jurisdiction, can I apply for the Common Law Stream?

Applicants who hold a legal qualification from a common law jurisdiction will not be eligible to enrol in the Common Law Stream. Please also note that students who have taken a contract law course at undergraduate level or above at CityUHK or other institutions in a common law jurisdiction are not allowed to take LW6164E Law of Contract and LW6165E Law of Tort. However, they can study other streams of the LLM programme.

Does your programme offer classes during evening or weekend?

For local students, their study mode can be combined or full-time mode. The maximum study periods are 5 years and 2.5 years respectively. Classes are held during daytime. Classes may be offered in weekday evenings / on Saturdays in special cases. CityUHK School of Law does not guarantee to offer weekday evening or weekend classes to LLM students enrolled in the combined mode or part-time mode.

Any joint degrees or overseas exchange opportunities?

The LLM programme offers joint master's and collaborative programmes with Europe-Asia Research Institute of Aix-Marseille University and University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in France, and Université de Fribourg in Switzerland. Please refer to “Programme Information” for more details. LLM students can also join the exchange programme offered by LLM or CityUHK School of Law. Details are available at https://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/current-students/overseas-study-opportunities/student-exchange-programmes.

Does LLM offer internship?

We support our students to take up study/curriculum-related internship. The duration of the internship should not exceed one-third of an academic year.
Please note the permission of undertaking internship is subject to approval by the Immigration Department. If you find an internship (which should be study/curriculum-related), we shall issue a support letter for you. Please let us have the following information:

a copy of your No Objection Letter (NOL) from the Immigration Department;
a copy of your internship agreement, which should include the duration of internship, working hours, allowance (if any);
contact person and telephone of the company; and
a written statement stating that you would take full responsibility to manage your full-time study.

Am I allowed to take JD / LLMArbDR courses during my LLM study?

The ceiling on the number of JD and/or LLMArbDR credit units that students are allowed to earn is 9.
Common Law Stream students are not allowed to take G-LEAP courses (namely LW5641 and LW5664).
If the contents of a JD and/or LLMArbDR course and an LLM course are similar, students will be allowed to take the LLM course only.
LLM students will not receive credit or be allowed to enrol in co-taught JD/ LLB courses under any circumstances (for 2020 cohort and thereafter).
If a student requests to take a course under the JD and/or LLMArbDR programmes and he/she has previously completed a similar course in a common law jurisdiction, he/she will not be allowed to take the course.
A list of JD and/or LLMArbDR courses that are open to LLM students will be announced at the beginning of a semester.
The grades obtained in the approved JD and/or LLMArbDR courses will be counted in determining students’ LLM award classifications.

What are the graduation requirements?

Students who have successfully completed a minimum of 24 credit units, fulfilled the stream requirements and achieved a CGPA of 2.85 or above (applicable to students admitted from Semester A, 2022/23 to Summer Term 2024) or achieved a CGPA of 2.00 or above (applicable to students admitted before Semester A, 2022/23 and in Semester A 2024/25 and thereafter) will obtain an LLM degree.

What are the career prospects for LLM graduates?

The LLM programme has hundreds of graduates working locally and worldwide, including the United States, France, Italy, Germany, China and Singapore. In Hong Kong alone, our graduates are working in governmental offices, law firms, non-governmental organisations and corporations. Our alumni network offers the potential of enriching your educational and professional opportunities.

Whom shall I contact for enquiries?

For Admissions Enquiries:
Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies
4/F, Fong Yun Wah Building
83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3442 5588
Fax: (852) 3442 0187
E-mail: tpadmit@cityu.edu.hk

For General Enquiries:
LLM Programme
School of Law
City University of Hong Kong
83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3442 8008
Fax: (852) 3442 0190
E-mail: lwllm@cityu.edu.hk
Website: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/

Programme Leaflet