Law MRes

Enhance your capacity to undertake independent, high-quality legal research while strengthening your ability to engage with broader debates in social justice, legal rights and governance. You will propose a thesis on a legal topic of your choice either within a distinct area of law or across disciplines working closely with active legal scholars or practitioners to complete your project.

You will advance your knowledge of research methods and enhance your research skills. Identify, interpret and apply different research methodologies as they relate to your project and more broadly. This prepares you to write an extended thesis which demonstrates independent, novel research based on your critical engagement with discipline-specific research methodologies. 

You will also demonstrate your ability to communicate evidence-based arguments and engage with academic and research communities.

As part of York Business School and the Research School at York St John University you will engage with interdisciplinary and practice-oriented perspectives on law. This allows you to explore the intersections between law, policy, and society, and embeds you within wider academic and professional networks. You’ll be encouraged to contribute to the School’s active research environment attending seminars, workshops, and symposia that connect theory and practice. We collaborate with a range of external partners who may help shape or inform your research,  and professional organisations involved in justice, equality, and policy reform. Our vibrant postgraduate research community regularly hosts research events, debates, and collaborative projects. You can develop your academic voice and professional network by presenting and discussing your work within these forums.

How you will study

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:

• 2 compulsory modules
• 1 year long thesis project

Modules

Teaching and learning

Our teaching is founded in active research development and designed to help you become a legal scholar familiar with advanced research methods, doctrinal analysis and contemporary approaches to legal inquiry. You will learn through:

• Workshops
• Seminars
• 1 to 1 supervision
• Lectures
• Debates
• Discussion forums

You will also work with legal researchers on a range of topics from human rights and social justice to constitutional reform.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of methods including portfolios and research reports.

Your thesis is the core assessment on the course. It is a 20,000 word project based on a topic designed by you and agreed with your supervisor. You will receive formative feedback on project planning, research design and writing. Your supervisor will meet with you regularly to other guidance. 

Qualifications

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2026 - 2027 entry

The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is:

• £7,200 for full time study
• £3,600 per year for part time study

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2026 - 2027 entry

The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is:

• £11,800 for 1 year of full time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could Law MRes take you?

After this course, you could pursue a career in Law or use your transferable skills to find a profession in another field. You will have an advantage when applying for a range of jobs, including:

• PhD student
• Research assistant or research fellow
• Paralegal
• Compliance officer
• Governance officer
• Policy analyst
• Civil service
• Human rights officer
• Public affairs consultant
• Social justice advocate

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £8,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2019)

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.

Alumni stories

Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.