LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law
The LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law is designed to provide you with specialist knowledge of the legal issues and techniques related to environmental protection and the management of natural resources, with a focus on climate change.

During your studies you’ll evaluate the historic and on-going development of international, European and national law for environmental protection, exploring the inter-relations between these different levels of law making.
You will develop the skills required to analyse the activity of international and supranational legal and political institutions, national governments and domestic courts, NGOs and businesses in the private sector, which are working in environmental protection and natural resources management.
You may also have the opportunity to take environment-related courses from other University of Edinburgh schools, including the School of Social and Political Science and the School of GeoSciences, and Edinburgh University Business School.
Environmental Law is a dynamic, fast-developing and globally important area of law that requires not only specialist legal knowledge but also understanding of underpinning political, economic and scientific issues.
Our LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law has been designed to address demand for this specialist knowledge and to serve as a gateway to employment and research opportunities in environmental law, protection and regulation.
The programme is designed for recent law graduates seeking a career in this field and law professionals or anyone working in an environmental field who would like to enhance their knowledge in this field to help further their existing career.
Many of our graduates go on to make a difference in exciting and relevant roles for organisations and businesses all over the world. Here are just a handful of examples:
- Sustainable Development Advisor, Royal Dutch Shell, The Hague
- Transatlantic Fellow, the Ecologic Institute, Berlin
- Foreign Services Officer, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Intern, Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Bonn
- Research Assistant on Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Overseas Development Institute, London
Edinburgh offers a thriving network of climate and environmental researchers and postgraduate students working and studying across many disciplines including: law, political science, geoscience, and development studies.
Not only will you have access to the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, Scotland's hub for low carbon innovation, and the Global Environment and Society Academy, a multidisciplinary network that brings together researchers committed to addressing global environmental challenges, but you'll benefit from Edinburgh Law School's respected team of international climate and environment law specialists.
Find out more about the Global Environment and Society Academy
Find out more about the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
There are regular opportunities to engage with leading ‘climate practitioners’ through the years. These sessions vary - some are co-taught seminars, others are professional development sessions, yet others are public lectures. All are tailored to the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law programme, and the Director is very happy to discuss your own interests in this respect early in the year so we can organise additional sessions if at all possible.
In partnership with Brodies LLP we also run an annual series of Environmental Law Seminars during the academic year, which we encourage you to attend. You can view past lectures by visiting our video channel on the University's media hopper platform.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law please don't hesitate to contact us.
We offer a wide range of subjects across environmental and climate change law from an international perspective, as well as options from other disciplines. This enables you to tailor the programme to meet your specific interests.
This programme can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years subject to visa restrictions. It offers a wide range of subjects that deal with various aspects of private law from a comparative perspective, with the possibility of choosing additional courses so as to enable you to tailor the LLM to meet your specific interests.
The programme consists of 180 credits, comprising taught courses worth 120 credits (60 credits per semester) and a 10,000 word dissertation worth 60 credits. Full programme details for the 2024-24 academic year are available on the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study website.
Courses listed below are scheduled for the 2023/24 academic year.
Depending on demand, space on specific courses may be limited.
You must take these courses.
International Environmental Law (40 credits, full-year)
This course explores the institutions, rules, and principles concerning the protection of the environment at the international level. The course is designed as an introductory course in order to develop students¿ knowledge of the key sources of international environmental law, their understanding of some of the most important treaties in this field, and an awareness of the challenges associated with the development and enforcement of international environmental law.
International Climate Change Law (20 credits)
This course has two parts. The first explores the central international legal architecture addressing climate change, namely the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), its Kyoto Protocol (1997), and the Paris Agreement (2015). The second part of the course critically explores select advanced issues within the climate regime, analysing these issues in transnational and interdisciplinary framings.
You must select between 20 and 40 credits of the following courses:
- Climate Change Litigation: Practice and Theory(20 credits)
This course explores and critiques the emergent phenomenon of climate litigation, and the attendant regulatory regimes of major emitters. The jurisdictional scope of the course will be global, certainly well beyond the Anglo-American world which dominates the literature. There will be three major parts to the course: (1) theoretical approaches to activist litigation in general and climate litigation in particular, including typologies; (2) sectoral studies, i.e. coal, financial services and corporate accountability; and (3) jurisdictional analyses, in particular, China, US, EU, and India. Students should contact the course organiser if they have particular interests which are not covered by the above there may be scope for inclusion. - International Ocean Governance and the Protection of the Marine Environment (20 credits)
The course provides an introduction to the fundamental pillars of the modern law of the sea, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the key institutions, processes and actors involved in international ocean governance. It aims to identify opportunities for developing effective and integrated policies for the sustainable development of the seas, as well the challenges and barriers associated therewith. - Transnational waste law and circular economy (20 credits)
Circular Economy policies impact trade and global supply chains, requiring transnational coordination across jurisdictions. The course will therefore review the rules and institutions regulating the production, the reduction, the (re)distribution, and reintegration of wastes into global circuits. To illustrate the transition to the Circular Economy, students will be introduced to a series of case studies on 'among others' fast fashion and recyclable textiles, the global plastics trade, intellectual property and the right to repair, and the regulation of orbital space debris. Among other sources of law, attention will be given to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, China¿s 14th Five Year plan, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Sustainable Products Initiative, the UK Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, and Net Zero Scotland.
You may be able to select between 0 and 40 credits from courses outside of the Law School depending on availability and with the express permission of the Programme Director.
- Participation in Policy and Planning (20 credits)
- Values and the Environment (20 credits)
- Understanding Environment and Development (20 credits)
- Sustainable Marine Development (20 credits)
- Marine Ecosystems and Policies (20 credits)
- Global Environment: Key Issues (20 credits)
Full programme details are available on the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study website.
You will have the option to take between 0 and 40 credits of courses from different subject areas offered by the Law School, depending on availability and with the express permission of the Programme Director. Depending on demand, space on courses may be limited.
Full programme details, including core and optional courses is available on the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study website.
Having successfully completed 120 credit points of courses within the LLM, you will be ready to move onto a single piece of independent and in-depth research. The 10,000 word dissertation allows you to focus on a preferred topic from within the field of environmental and climate change law, normally based on a subject you have studied in one of your courses during the programme.
You will be assigned an academic dissertation supervisor who will provide you with support and guidance while you prepare and write your dissertation.
The dissertation is a challenging but rewarding endeavour, asking you to demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the relevant literature and an ability to engage critically with a range of sources, drawing on the skills and knowledge you have developed during the course of the programme. Students are encouraged to show originality and evidence of independent thinking, whether in terms of the material used, or the manner in which it is presented.
The dissertation is written in the summer months (April to August) after the taught courses are successfully completed.
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law please don't hesitate to contact us.
Staff teaching on the core courses of the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law for 2023-24 are experts in their field and are actively involved in cutting-edge research in various areas of international, environmental and climate change law.
Dr Michael Hennessy Picard - Programme Director 2023-24
Michael Hennessy Picard holds a PhD in Law from the University of Quebec in Montreal, for which he was awarded two Best Thesis Prizes by the Quebec Society of Law Professors and the Quebec Society of International Law. Before joining the Edinburgh Law School, Michael was a research fellow at the McGill Law Faculty, Harvard Law School’s Institute for Global Law & Policy, and University College London.
Navraj’s research and teaching address legal responses to climate change, with a focus on public and constitutional law. Current research projects include the:
- ‘hidden’ places and spaces of climate litigation
- climate implications of export credit agencies and their regulation
- nature of intellectual property rights in the context of climate mitigation.
These research and practices areas come together in the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change, integrating cutting edge legal thinking with climate research in cognate disciplines including business and geosciences.
Craig is an Honorary Fellow at Edinburgh Law School.
Tracy-Lynn in an Honorary Professor at University of Edinburgh during the 2023-24 academic year.
James Harrison joined the School of Law as a member of academic staff in July 2007. He holds law degrees from the University of Edinburgh (PhD, LLM) and the University of East Anglia (LLB). James teaches on a number of international law courses, including specialist courses in the international law of the sea, international environmental law, and international law for the protection of the marine environment. His research interests span these areas, considering how the legal rules evolve and interact, as well as examining how international law and policy influences the domestic legal framework. He also has a particular interest in the contribution of international courts and tribunals to the development of international law. James is an Annual Case Review Editor (International Environmental Law) for the Journal of Environmental Law.
The staff teaching on this programme are subject to change for 2023-24. Staff listed as on sabbatical will not be available to teach for the duration of their sabbatical.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law please don't hesitate to contact us.
Find out what it's like to study for an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at Edinburgh Law School from our current and former students.
Aaron studied the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law in the academic year 2021-22, graduating in 2022.
"My name’s Aaron, I’m Canadian-born and have lived in the United States most of my life. Prior to coming to Edinburgh, I studied Philosophy at Reed College and then worked there as an Assistant Dean of Admission. I attended the University of Edinburgh Law School’s LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law through a study abroad partnership with The University of Texas School of Law. As such, Edinburgh’s LLM Programme served jointly as the third year of my JD education in the US.

In my prior work and studies, I came to recognise that major global environmental issues, like climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity collapse, are deeply international in nature. For this reason, I knew Edinburgh’s specialist degree would help me achieve a much deeper level of understanding. This is exactly what I received.
My favourite elements of my time in Edinburgh revolve around my classmates. Hailing from all over the world and multiple disciplinary backgrounds, I made friends who care immensely about the fate of our planet and doing something meaningful about it. Together, we marched in Glasgow during the COP26 conference (the primary conference surrounding the UN’s climate change efforts). Outside of class, we attended book talks in Edinburgh’s many bookstores; climbed Ben Lomond together; helped clean one of Edinburgh’s beaches; and explored the Isle of Skye. Today, I know that, whenever I need them, my classmates are a call away from helping me answer policy, scientific, or legal questions. The program also helped me secure a position at an American law firm working in environmental law, climate change, and energy transitions. "
MacKenzie, from the USA, studied for an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law in the 2019/20 academic year, graduating in 2020. In this video she talks about her experience of studying for an LLM at Edinburgh Law School, life in Edinburgh, completing her studies during the Covid-19 pandemic and her plans for the future.
Tulyada graduated from Edinburgh Law School's LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law programme in 2019.
Louise talks about her experience of studying for the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at Edinburgh Law School.
Cecilia Alvarado Villarreal graduated from Edinburgh Law School's LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law programme in 2014.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law please don't hesitate to contact us.
Please note that the information provided is for entry in the 2024-25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ.
This programme can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years subject to visa restrictions.
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. This is particularly important for applicants who may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test, for overseas students who may need time to satisfy necessary visa requirements and/or to apply for University accommodation.
Apply nowWe require a minimum 2:1 honours degree from a UK university, or its international equivalent, in law. We may also consider a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a social science subject. Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.
Supporting your application
- Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
- Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
- Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.
International qualifications
You can check whether your degree qualification is equivalent to the minimum standard before applying.
Students from China
This degree is Band A.
Find out more about our postgraduate entry requirements for students from China
Postgraduate study in the field of law requires a thorough, complex and demanding knowledge of English, so we ask that the communication skills of all students are at the same minimum standard.
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 (at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other module)
- TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 25 in writing and 23 in each other module)
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 (at least 185 in writing and 176 in in all other components)
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components
- PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online: 70 overall with at least 70 in the writing component and 62 in each other component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The UK Government's website provides a list of majority English speaking countries.
View the UKVI list of majority English speaking countries
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or equivalent, that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.
Approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
View approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries
Your application may not be successful if you do not currently satisfy any of these requirements; alternatively, you may be offered a place conditional on your reaching the satisfactory standard by the time you start the degree.
Find out more about the University's English language requirements
Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes
We also accept satisfactory completion of our English for Academic Purposes programme as meeting our English language requirements. You must complete the programme no more than two years and one month before the start date of the degree you are applying to study.
Find out more about the University's Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes
English language support
The University runs a series of programmes for English Language Education, including a pre-sessional English Language Programme intended to strengthen your English Language skills before you start your programme of study.
Find out more about English language support offered by the University
Deadlines for applicants applying to study the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law in 2024-25 are provided in the table below.
Round | Application deadline | Decisions by |
---|---|---|
1 | 13 November 2023 | 14 December 2023 |
2 | 04 January 2024 | 20 February 2024 |
3 | 04 March 2024 | 29 April 2024 |
4 | 01 May 2024 | 25 June 2024 |
5 | 21 June 2024 | 17 July 2024 |
We monitor application numbers carefully to ensure we are able to accommodate all those who receive offers. It may therefore be necessary to close a programme earlier than the published deadline and if this is the case we will place a four-week warning notice on the relevant programme page.
Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 18 August 2024.
Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.
Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following documentation with your application:
- You will need to submit a personal statement of around 500 words, outlining your academic history and relevant experience. Guidance on writing your personal statement.
- Degree certificates showing award of degree
- Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes (please upload the full transcript showing results from all years of study)
- A reference in support of your application. The reference should be academic and dated no earlier than one year from the start of study on the LLM programme
- Evidence of English language proficiency, if required
If you are currently studying for your degree or you are not in a possession of an English test result you may still apply to the programme. Please note that it is your responsibility to submit the necessary documents.
Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.
Students at this University must not undertake any other concurrent credit bearing studies in this (or in any other) institution, unless the College has granted permission. The College must be satisfied that any additional credit-bearing studies will not restrict the student’s ability to complete their existing programme of study. Students will not be permitted to undertake concurrent degree programmes in any circumstances.
If you are studying at this or another institution just prior to the start of your postgraduate studies you must have finished these studies before the start of the programme to which you have an offer.
After your application has been submitted you will be able to track its progress through the University's applicant hub.
Application processing times will vary, however the admissions team will endeavour to process your application within four to six weeks of submission. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.
You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:
- You may be offered a place unconditionally
- You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.
Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 18 August 2024. - Your application may be unsuccessful. If your application has not been successful, you can request feedback from us or refer to our guidance for unsuccessful applicants, which explains some of the common reasons we why we reach this decision.
View the University's guidance for unsuccessful applicants
Deferring your offer
We do not normally offer deferrals, however, we may be able to make a very limited number of offers for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances.
If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,500 (within 28 days of receiving your offer) to secure your place on the programme.
The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.
Contact us
If you have any questions about applying to the LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law please don't hesitate to contact us.