Law and Political Economy (LLM/MSC)

The new LLM/MSc Law and Political Economy at Birkbeck was launched in direct response to the resurgence of interest in political economy. With a focus on law, this timely programme studies the links between economy, crime and punishment, as well as the relationship between property, trade, law and regulation.

Taught by internationally renowned experts from across the fields of law, business and politics, LLM/MSc Law and Political Economy gives you the opportunity to analyse political economy issues from different disciplinary perspectives and to evaluate complex theories and debates on the topic. You will also receive training in critical research methods, before undertaking a supervised independent research project on a topic of your choice.

The programme is ideal if you wish to advance your career, or develop a new career path in law and criminal justice in the public, private or non-governmental sector. It also provides a strong foundation for PhD research in the area.

• Birkbeck is a hub of expertise on political economy, and Birkbeck School of Law has a strong tradition of political economy research across its departments of Law and Criminology.
• Our academic staff are international authorities in their respective fields. The School of Law is one of the top 10 Law departments for research intensity in the UK and one of the top three in London. Its research environment has been judged to be highly conducive to producing excellence in research.
• You will benefit from our School of Law’s vibrant annual cycle of inspiring expert-led public lectures and conferences, in which School and cross-School research centres and institutes - such as the Birkbeck Centre for Political Economy and Institutional Studies (CPEIS) - play a key role.
• Our city centre campus is in Bloomsbury WC1, a lively student-centred place that's home to a number of universities and other colleges of the University of London, and you will be able to take advantage of their rich research collections as well as that of Birkbeck Library, which has a strong collection in critical, theoretical and interdisciplinary legal studies, including access to key specialist journals and an extensive range of online materials.

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

We will review every postgraduate application to Birkbeck on its individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Graduates may use the degree to advance their existing career or to help them change or develop a new career path in, for example, policy development, practice and analysis, from within organisations across public, private and non-governmental sectors, including local and national government bodies, law enforcement and justice agencies, think-tanks, media outlets and universities.