LLM in the USA or the UK: how much does it cost?

After obtaining their Licence or Master’s degree in Law, more and more French students are undertaking an LLM program in the United States or England. Internationalizing your career as a lawyer or jurist, enriching your CV in the hope of joining a prestigious law firm or major corporation, acquiring a specialization in a specific area…

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By Adam Girsault

Updated on August 8, 2024

Le droit à l'étranger

After obtaining their Licence or Master’s degree in Law, more and more French students are undertaking an LLM program in the United States or England. Internationalizing your career as a lawyer or jurist, enriching your CV in the hope of joining a prestigious law firm or major corporation, acquiring a specialization in a specific area of law… these are just some of the reasons why students are taking an LLM course abroad. While American and British law schools are renowned for their academic excellence, they are also renowned for the sometimes expensive LLM programs they offer. LLMLLM costs: USA vs. UK Taking an LLM in the USA or the UK comes at a price. But British law school tuition fees are in no way comparable to those of their counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic. In fact, the average cost of an LLM program in the U.S. is around $60,000 (approx. €53,000), compared with around £16,000  (approx. €18550) in England for a full-time course, and almost £8,000 (approx. €9,275) for a part-time LLM program. The cost of LLM programs varies according to the student’s nationality (European or foreign), as well as the LLM formula selected: full-time, over one year, or part-time, over two years. Here are some examples of tuition fees for an LLM in the United States:

Harvard Columbia NYU Yale University of Chicago
Tuition/year  65 000 $ (57 520 €) 67 000 $ (59 290 €)     63 000 $ (55 750€)     64 000 $ (56 635€)   64 000 $ (56 635€)

Some examples of tuition fees to expect for an LLM in England:

LSE UCL King’s College >Queen Mary Oxford Cambridge
Part-time tuition fees  £8,004 (9 270€) £11,664 (13 500€)   £8,060(9 330€)£12,240(14 170€) £8,250 (9 550€) £12,750 (14 760€) £7,550 (8 740€) £11,075 (12 820€)    Not available Not available
Full-time tuition–EU students-international students £16,008 (18 530€) £23,328 (27 010€) £16,130 (18 675€) £24,450 (28 310€)  

£16,500 (19 100€) £25,500 (29 520€)

£15,100 (17 480€)    £22,150 (25 645€) £22,600 (26 165€) £34,145 (39 530€) £16,320 (18 895€) £29,220 (33 830€)

In addition to tuition fees, there are other ancillary costs: food, accommodation, travel, supplies, outings and leisure activities, insurance, etc. averaging  $30,000 (€26,550) for a single student, or much more for a married student with dependent children. Most English and American law schools are open about tuition fees, and remind prospective students that there will be additional fees on top of the cost of the academic year. On the Harvard Law School website, for example, we learn that in addition to the $65,875 (€58,300) tuition fee, students must budget around $33,000 (€29,200) to cover all ancillary expenses (housing, health insurance, supplies and other personal expenses) throughout their year of LLM study.Our experts’ advice

  • Be realistic

Before embarking on the great adventure of expatriation, try to draw up a provisional budget. to find out whether you can afford the expenses you’ll be facing. This will also help you decide which university to attend. The cost of living in London or Oxford, for example, is much higher than in Warwick or Bath.

  • Share your costs

If you’re looking to rent private accommodation, why not opt for a shared apartment ? This will enable you to share the rent and bills (water, electricity, heating, etc.) according to the number of flatmates.

  • Never leave home without your student card!

As a student, however, you are entitled to some special treatment, and can benefit from attractive discounts that will lighten your daily expenses somewhat. In the UK, the he student card is a real joker: with free admission to museums, savings on cinema tickets, reduced-price menus at restaurants and discounts on public transport, you won’t be able to do without your student card.

  • Seize every opportunity!

You should also know that in the UK, particularly in London, certain events (shows, cinemas, concerts) are free. All you have to do is keep an eye out for the latest information to take advantage of these zero-expense outings. If you’re looking for free or low-cost outings in London, don’t hesitate to consult the LondonistFree&Cheap section, the platform Visitlondon or the website Visitbritain who offer very attractive deals for small budgets.

If you would like to start your Bachelor’s studies in England, don’t hesitate! not to call on our team of experts in international admission. Together, we’ll find the UK university best suited to your profile and career ambitions. We also offer a personalized coaching including: invaluable help in preparing your admission file, preparation for standardized tests, training for admission orals… If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us today.Your Dream School, your partner in success.

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Adam Girsault Author
About Adam Girsault

With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam has over 10 years of experience in education and student mentoring. Passionate about helping students achieve their academic dreams, he co-founded Your Dream School to guide students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.

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