LLM Law - Health, Law and Society

  • LLM

Overview

The LLM in Health, Law, and Society is a distinctive master's programme that goes beyond traditional healthcare and medical law studies, examining health law, medical law, and ethics across societal and governmental sectors.

The programme has pioneered legal education, offering in-depth study of wide-ranging issues in relation to:

  • Health inequalities
  • Governance, public and global health law
  • Mental health law
  • Law and the body, including reproductive justice.

This programme is suited for those seeking careers in health law or medical law, regulation and policy, NGO work and research. You will develop crucial analytical, communication, and research skills valued by top employers.

Our programmes are well respected by leading law firms, with Bristol ranking within the top UK universities for employer reputation for law and legal studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). The University of Bristol is ranked 54th in the world and 9th in the UK for Law (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026).

We support the development of your legal research and writing skills throughout the course, from pre-arrival preparation and targeted support in Terms 1 and 2, to workshops, small group sessions and one-to-one meetings over the summer as you work on your dissertation.

Choosing a postgraduate law degree from the University of Bristol, ranked third in the UK for legal research excellence (THE analysis of REF 2021), means engaging in a rigorous, research-rich curriculum that will make you stand out to employers.

You will be challenged and inspired by our outstanding scholars who are part of the Law School's Centre for Health, Law and Society. Our academics enjoy international scholarly recognition for their research, as well as recognition by governmental, policy, professional regulatory, practitioner, and governance and advisory organisations. Students on the LLM are included in this lively academic community.

This programme is available as an intercalated degree for current undergraduate medicine, dentistry or veterinary students from the University of Bristol or other universities. Find out more about our intercalated degrees and eligibility criteria.

Programme structure

Our vibrant international community and diverse teaching methods enrich the LLM experience at the University of Bristol. You will engage with course materials and benefit from regular, in-depth interaction with tutors who are leaders in their fields, as well as with your peers, through a blend of lectures, seminars, bespoke skills workshops and structured independent learning.

Our wide range of optional units reflect the expertise of our globally renowned academics, allowing you to further specialise your degree. As part of this programme, you will take four units and undertake a dissertation project.

  • You will take two core units that provide a foundation in the key themes of the programme, currently these include: Health Inequalities, Law and Society; and Law, Governance and Health. This will ground your understanding of how law interacts with health systems, policy and social justice.
  • You will choose two optional units from a range of specialist and broader law subjects. Typically, these have included: Public and Global Health Law, and Health Law and the Body, as well as other law options covering topics such as Law, Gender and Sexuality; International Law and Human Rights; Digital Markets and Competition; Corporate Governance in a Global Context; and others.
  • You can choose between an innovative group dissertation pathway or an individual dissertation research project, allowing you to develop key employability skills such as teamwork, or individual project planning and management. You'll be supervised by an expert in the field and supported through a tailored programme of development activities to help you succeed in your chosen pathway.

Our assessments develop students' critical understanding of health law and medical law alongside applied engagement with law, policy and reform. Grounded in academic rigour, social justice and professional ethics, the programme emphasises real-world relevance, encouraging students to examine how law can both create challenges and contribute to meaningful solutions.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our LLM in Health, Law and Society.

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Law or a related discipline such as History, Philosophy, Policy Studies, Politics, Sociology.

Degrees in Health Care or Health Science subjects such as Dentistry, Health Care Administration, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A personal statement is required for Health Care or Health Science subjects.

The personal statement must address the following questions (200 words max per question):

  • What are your motivations for studying on this programme?
  • How has your previous study and/or work experience prepared you for this programme?
  • What do you hope to achieve by completing study on this programme?

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.

If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, or if your subject is not listed above, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:

  • evidence of significant (minimum of 12 months) relevant work experience in law, policy, healthcare, health administration/government, health advocacy (including reproductive rights and disability rights) or legal/policy research
  • a relevant postgraduate qualification.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

Home: full-time
£16,100 per year
Home: part-time (two years)
£8,050 per year
Overseas: full-time
£29,800 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and scholarships

Information about funding and scholarships can be found on the University of Bristol Law School fees and funding webpages.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Graduating from a world-leading university, ranked 57th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2027), opens doors to careers in a variety of sectors such as practising as a lawyer in a global law firm, third sector organisations, government roles and research.

You can expect to:

  • Develop and deepen your understanding of health, law, and society.
  • Build transferable skills.
  • Receive a springboard into a diverse range of careers.
  • Benefit from boosted prospects for those already working in related fields.
  • Begin your journey towards a career in research.

The LLM in Health, Law and Society opens doors to careers in law, health policy, and social impact. Alumni work with specialist regulators, NHS Trusts, national law firms, government and policy organisations, while others contribute to academia, charities and NGOs driving improvements in public health.

The University of Bristol Law School provides students with careers information and guidance, dedicated Law Employability support and access to mentoring schemes with alumni across the world. Explore our careers and employability webpages for more information about the support and opportunities we provide during your studies.

Read our Law student blogs to learn more about student life and the careers our graduates go on to after graduation.