Environmental Law and Sustainable Development

Why study LLM Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at SOAS?

• We are ranked in the UK top 20 (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• We are ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Our research publications have been rated first in the UK - and our School of Law rated sixth in the UK - in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

We also offer courses focusing more specifically on the resource dimension of environmental law. At SOAS, we take a broad view of the subject matter and our Law and Natural Resources course addresses a broad variety of natural resources beyond the traditional focus on oil and gas, and does so in particular in terms of the livelihoods and human rights consequences of natural resource use.

As students on the LLM in environmental law, you will be invited to become student members of the LEDC, providing you an opportunity to become involved and engage with the SOAS research community and actors in the field, which includes many scholars in different departments and inter-disciplinary centres, such as the Centre for Development, Environment and Policyand the Centre for Water and Development.

Who should apply?

The programme is ideal for LLB graduates or legal professionals with an interest in the theory and practice of environmental law and related fields, particularly as they relate to the global South.

After you graduate, you will join graduates from the LLM at SOAS, many of whom are now working as environmental lawyers, in environmental NGOs and consultancies, in government, in policy work at the national or international level (UN or other) or in academia (please also see the ‘employment’ tab on this page).

Please note that the LLM is restricted to applicants who hold an UK law degree or international equivalent. If you do not hold a law degree apply for a master’s degree in law at SOAS.