Health Law LLM
1 year, full-time or flexible (up to 5 years) if studying one/two modules at a time
Explore topical legal, ethical and moral dilemmas that go to the heart of how we live and die, with a focus on addressing inequalities in health. Study full-time or one/two modules at a time. Flexible study allows you to build up credits gradually and complete the Health Law LLM at your own pace.
Course information
UK fee £10,950
International fee £18,950
Taught by Leicester Law School
Course administrators
Professor Liz Wicks, liz.wicks@le.ac.uk
Professor Jose Miola, j.miola@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
This course is about health law, broadly defined, and the inequalities that can manifest themselves within it. It addresses some of the most topical ethical dilemmas facing society:
- What is the state’s responsibility for the health of its citizens?
- How should the law regulate new reproductive technologies?
- Who should decide whether a seriously ill baby lives or dies?
- Should we able to choose an assisted death?
- Does the law do enough to protect health in the workplace?
- Should doctors be allowed to use experimental treatment?
These are just a few examples of the questions we will be exploring on this course. Two core modules on health law will introduce you to the law’s involvement in regulating health and health care, while modules on inequalities in health, and human rights and health care are also compulsory to reflect the rights and equality focus of this degree. You can then choose optional modules to reflect your interests such as clinical negligence, mental health law, employment law, or bioethics.
The interface between health and law will be of interest to those from both a legal background and a health care background. Our degree will offer the opportunity for lawyers, medics, nurses and others to share ideas and learn from other disciplines. The course is taught by leading researchers on health law and there will be opportunities to attend guest lectures and seminars organised by the Centre for Rights and Equality in Health Law. The course's development within a research centre offers distinctive connections with ongoing research projects, doctoral students and a thriving research environment focused on health and the law.
Your research skills will be developed with a core module on a research topic in health law, which is a distinctive way in which we aim to support your research development and will provide support for the dissertation element of the course, alongside skills seminars, and expert supervision for a final dissertation.
This degree is for you if you are interested in a focused medical law programme as well as having broader interests in health generally, and the issues of human rights, ethics and inequalities. It offers a core focus on traditional medical law but one supplemented by inclusion of modules reflecting human rights law, bioethics, and employment law as well as issues of topical importance and relevant to health care policy and litigation. Thus, the course addresses issues of high importance in the interaction between health, the law and public policy which - as COVID has demonstrated - is of critical importance due to public health and fiscal implications.
This postgraduate qualification can also be taken by students studying for an undergraduate medical degree as an intercalated LLM (iLLM).
Individual modules - accreditation of prior learning towards the Health Law LLM
Each module available for individual study is a 15-credit core or optional module on our Health Law LLM. You can study and pay for one or two modules at a time and can choose from all modules, except the dissertation. You must complete each module within six months and must successfully complete Health Law 1 before starting Health Law 2.
Credits achieved on individual modules can be used as accreditation of prior learning (APL) if you decide to join the full Health Law LLM degree. You must complete the number of core modules and optional modules that are required for that programme when you start the LLM. This currently requires five core modules and three optional modules.
APL allows you to use individual modules to reduce the amount you need to study on the LLM in Health Law, by a maximum of 120 credits. The degree also requires completion of a 60-credit dissertation. APL is also available towards an award of PGDip or PGCert if you complete sufficient credits.
Restrictions apply to the period in which you must complete the LLM depending on the amount of APL that is permitted. Contact law@le.ac.uk for more details.
Applying to intercalate
If you are a Leicester medical student wishing to apply to intercalate then you should follow the local application process as described in the process map on Blackboard. Intercalating students from other medical schools should apply via the relevant link below.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
A good second-class or first-class degree or an equivalent degree in an appropriate discipline.
Relevant professional experience post-graduation is given due credit in considering entry requirements.
We also welcome applicants with a Medical Sciences background and will examine all applications on a case-by-case basis.
Intercalating medical students
You will need to have completed year 3 or 4 of your medical course, and be in the 9th decile or above of your degree. External candidates require a permission to intercalate letter from their current medical school. Learn more about intercalated degrees.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with 6.0 in writing and nothing less than 5.5. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- LLM: £10,950
- Per individual module: £1,000
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place for the full LLM option. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- LLM: £18,950
- Per individual module: £1,740
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place for the full LLM option. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our Law Fair is held annually and attracts over 40 law firms and other graduate employers.
Two dedicated law careers tutors are on hand to discuss career options, upcoming opportunities and give advice about different firms.
We host a wide range of external speakers every year, representing the whole legal profession.
You get the chance to develop your legal skills during the course:
- The Legal Advice Clinic allows you to advise non-law students on legal issues (with support from academics and local solicitors).
- The ‘LEGAL WEEK’ is an informal student-staff discussion group, which runs every two weeks and contemporary issues with legal implications are discussed. ‘LEGAL WEEK’ allows interaction, fruitful exchange of ideas and improves current awareness.
- Your professional competencies can be enhanced by getting involved with the debating, client interviewing, negotiating and mooting activities, organised by the Student Law Society.
Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals, including:
- provides students with advanced, specialised training in health law
- builds transferable skills and broadens career options
- for prospective lawyers, it will be particularly helpful if planning a legal career within clinical negligence
- for those working in health-related fields including medicine and nursing, it will develop a more specialised understanding of the legal context of their work
- can also be used as a stepping stone to a PhD in a related field.
Course structure
Core modules
Core modules
- Health Law I
- Human Rights and Health Care Law
- Inequalities and Health
- Health Law II
- Research Topic in Health Law
Plus your Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
Then choose two option modules from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester
Analysis by the Times Higher Education judged 100% of our research to be ‘internationally excellent’ in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
Classes are run by leading academics in small seminar groups, with a focus on enriching class debate and scholarly thought, and on developing excellence in legal research.
Our LLM students are invited to attend guest lectures and seminars organised by the Centre for Rights and Equality in Health Law, enabling participation in the School’s research activities .
This LLM is taught by specialist staff from the Centre for Rights and Equality in Health Law based at the Law School.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught mainly through interactive seminars where you will test your understanding by engaging in critical discussion of the topics with your fellow students. Before each seminar you will research the answers to a set of questions and come prepared to discuss your ideas and findings.
You will have seven two-hour seminars per 15 credit taught module. There are also online lectures in the Health in the Workplace optional module. You will also have full access to our support services, as well as our virtual learning environment 'Blackboard' which offers a wide range of study support material.
There will be a range of assessments including research papers, scenario/problem questions, and video presentations. The Research Topic module will offer preparation for the final dissertation which will be an extended exploration of a topic of the student’s choice within the broad field of health law.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Health Law | Qualification LLM | Duration 1 year, full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Health Law I (core module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Human Rights and Health Care Law (core module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Inequalities and Health (core module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Mental Health Law (optional module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Bioethics (optional module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Health Law II (core module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates January each year |
Availability
Our online application system is currently unavailable. Find out more. |
Course Research Topic in Health Law (core module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates January each year |
Availability
Our online application system is currently unavailable. Find out more. |
Course Advanced Clinic Negligence (optional module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates January each year |
Availability
Our online application system is currently unavailable. Find out more. |
Course Autonomy, Capacity and Consent (optional module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates January each year |
Availability
Our online application system is currently unavailable. Find out more. |
Course Health in the Workplace (optional module) | Qualification Short course - one module | Duration Up to 6 months | Start Dates January each year |
Availability
Our online application system is currently unavailable. Find out more. |