Mar 14, 2025  
University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026 
    
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University of Alberta Calendar 2025-2026

Master of Laws

Program Requirements

The LLM may be completed as a thesis-based or a course-based program. Either may be subsequently used as a qualification for application to the PhD program. Successful completion of either the thesis-based or course-based LLM program, however, does not guarantee admission to the doctoral program. Students wishing to go on to a PhD program must make formal application.

Students must declare which program they intend to follow at the beginning of their graduate studies. Any students wishing to change their program must seek the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

On an exceptional basis, students enrolled in the Faculty’s LLM program may apply to the Graduate Studies Committee, Faculty of Law, to bypass the LLM requirement and enrol as a candidate for the PhD degree.

Thesis-based LLM

Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 units in coursework and a thesis

Coursework

Two 3-unit graduate-level courses

Courses may include:

  • Graduate courses in other faculties with the approval of their supervisor and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law, after consideration of the candidate’s needs and experience and the availability of courses

Thesis

  • Registration in 900-level THES. Candidates must successfully defend a thesis of approximately 80 to 100 pages (20,000 to 25,000 words) in length, inclusive of footnotes or endnotes, on a topic selected in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor and with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.

Course-based LLM

Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 units in coursework including a 3-unit major research paper.

Coursework

Six 3-unit graduate-level courses

Courses are to be determined in consultation with the student and their Academic Advisor and with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.

Coursework may include:

  • Graduate courses in other faculties with the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law, after consideration of the candidate’s needs and experience and the availability of courses

Major Research Paper

Students complete a major research paper, of approximately 40 to 60 pages (10,000 to 15,000 words) in length, inclusive of footnotes or endnotes, the topic to be approved by the course instructor and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies), Faculty of Law.

Ethics Requirement

All students must meet the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement  through the completion of INT D 710  (for both master’s and doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.

Professional Development Requirement

Students in the thesis-based LLM program must satisfy the GPS Professional Development Requirement . Students in the course-based LLM program fulfill the GPS Professional Development Requirement through their program.

Residence Requirement

All thesis-based candidates must complete at least one academic year (i.e., Fall and Winter Terms) in residence at the University.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the LLM will vary according to the previous education and experience of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of 12 months of study is normally required.

The maximum time to complete the thesis-based LLM program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is four years.

The maximum time to complete the course-based LLM program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.