Law (Thesis) (LL.M.) (45 credits)

Offered by: Law (Faculty of Law)
Degree: Master of Laws
Program credit weight: 45

Program Description

The 45-credit LL.M. program, thesis option, is a research-intensive graduate program focused on developing research interests into a thesis project under the supervision of a faculty member. Graduate level courses on theoretical and methodological approaches to legal writing complement the research work and thesis completion process, and courses in specific areas of knowledge related to the candidate's research interests complete the program's credit requirements.

LL.M. candidates may be associated with the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, the Quebec Research Centre of Private and Comparative Law, the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, or one of the specialized Research Chairs at the Faculty of Law. For more information, see our Website: https://mcgill.ca/law/grad-studies/masters-programs.

Candidates must remain in residence for three terms for which full-time fees will be charged. The third term, usually devoted to thesis research, may be taken the Summer of the first year. If the thesis is not completed in this time, students must register for additional sessions as needed. All degree requirements must be completed within a maximum of three years of the date of first registration.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Thesis Courses (30 credits)

As part of the course Master's Thesis 1, a thesis candidate must provide a protocol to his or her supervisor setting out details as to the thesis topic, the deadlines for the completion of the various thesis courses and the schedule of meetings with the thesis supervisor. Modifications to the protocol must be made in writing and submitted to the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).

Required Courses (9 credits)

Complementary Courses (6 credits)

The remaining 6 credits (or fewer if more credits are earned for the Master's Thesis) are chosen from among Faculty offerings at the 500 and 600 level.

Additional Thesis Courses

With the approval of the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), students may take up to an additional 3 credits of thesis courses by completing one or both of: