Financial support for international students

Figuring out how you're going to fund an LLM is difficult, and it only gets more confusing if you're an international student. There are options out there however, so it's not impossible. You'll have to keep in mind that generally tuitions fees for international students tend to be higher than those for home students – in some cases even twice as much.

Government postgraduate loans

Very recently the government announced that it would begin funding postgraduate loans. You can borrow up to £10,000 to pay for tuition fees and living costs. You'll be happy to hear that the only are LLMs eligible for the loan; you'll be even happier to hear that these loans are not just available for students from the UK, but also for EU nationals. You could also be eligible if you're the child of a Swiss or Turkish worker or a refugee or relative of one.

The loans have to be paid back and will accrue interest, however, and it's likely that the £10,000 won't be enough to cover your fees and all of your living expenses. These loans are making master's courses significantly more accessible to all, and are a very viable option for international students.

Chevening scholarships

If you're from outside of the EU, or just don't fancy getting yourself into a massive amount of debt, there are other options available. One of these is a Chevening scholarship, a scheme provided by the UK government in order to attract high-achieving students from across the world. A Chevening scholarship will cover your tuition fees as well as providing a basic monthly stipend on which to live.

To be eligible for a Chevening scholarship, you must have a 2:1 undergraduate degree, or the equivalent award in your country. You must also have a reasonable about of work experience, the hours of which must add up to 2,800. This is calculated by assuming working full-time would be a total of 35 hours per week for 40 weeks a year. These hours can be accumulated in whichever way you prefer, either full-time in one year, or part-time, or through multiple internships or voluntary work.

To receive the scholarship, you must apply to three different courses. These can be the same subject or at the same university. You must receive an unconditional offer from at least one of these courses. Your course must also be full-time; the scholarships are not available for part-time or distance courses. Your course also can only last for a year.

Your level of English will be assessed, and you cannot receive the scholarship if you have already received UK government funding for your undergraduate degree. You also cannot have British or dual British citizenship.

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowships Plan

There are also scholarships available for developing Commonwealth countries, which allow Commonwealth citizens or refugees who hold a 2:1 degree to complete a master's degree at selected UK universities. The scholarship provides airfare to and from your home country to the UK, tuition fees and a living allowance.

University scholarships

Some law schools will offer scholarships or bursaries to help with tuition fees, usually for students continuing at the institution after completing an undergraduate degree, or for students with a high academic record. You'll need to check the eligibility and requirements on individual law school websites.