Application Deadlines
May 2025 intake | September 2025 intake | |
---|---|---|
Applications Open | July 1, 2024 | September 1, 2024 |
Application Submission Deadline | November 1, 2024 | February 1, 2025 |
Document Submission Deadline | November 15, 2024 | February 15, 2025 |
Letter of Reference Deadline (Received/Uploaded) | November 15, 2024 | February 15, 2025 |
Application submission includes payment of all application fees and formal submission of the application. Applicants can still upload required documents to the application file through the deadline listed above. The letter of reference deadline is when references must be received by the graduate program; this is not a postmark date.
Program Start Date
- Students with a common law degree can start in May or September.
- Students without formal common law training must start in May. The May start date allows time for the completion of foundational courses in Canadian law. These courses are required before the advanced graduate or upper-year J.D. courses offered in September.
How to Apply Online
1. Review the minimum program requirements to ensure you qualify
Each program may have slightly different requirements. Please review the LL.M. CL program requirements.
2. Complete the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies online application form and upload your supporting documents
When applying, be sure to choose "Law, L.L.M.C.L." as the program.
You must submit all supporting documents (through the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies system in step 2) before your application will be reviewed and considered. Please see below for a detailed explanation of each document.
3. Pay your application fee and submit application
A non-refundable $110.00 CAD (domestic applicants) or $168.25 CAD (international applicants) application fee (MasterCard or Visa only) must be paid for your application to be processed.
4. After you submit your application
Applications are reviewed after the closing deadline.
To check the status of your application and to provide any new information or updated documentation required, please log in to My Applications.
My Applications is also where you can find Information about your references and the status of your reference requests.
Please note: you will only be able to upload documents after submitting your application as long as the program's document deadline (which is different from the application deadline) has not passed. You will receive an email from the Graduate Program as soon as a decision is available. If you receive an offer of admission, it will include a deadline to accept your offer.
Documents You Will Need To Upload
In step 2 above, you will need to upload the following supporting documents:
1. Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Provide details of your education, academic awards, relevant work experience, relevant volunteer experience, publications, conference presentations, etc.
2. Scans of Official Transcripts
Scan and upload PDF copies of all post-secondary official transcripts to your application. All copies must include the marking guide from the corresponding university. We only accept scans of an official transcript. In-progress official transcripts are acceptable for your application.
Only PDF files are accepted for your application. Image files and/or transcripts downloaded from your university’s student portal are NOT acceptable. Submissions that don’t meet the proper format will be marked as incomplete.
You are not required to submit hard copies of your transcripts unless you are made an offer of admission. Further instructions will follow.
Please find more detailed instructions for uploading scanned copies of official transcripts for Canadian credentials and International credentials. Note some of the following documents requirements:
- For transcripts and degree certificates not in English: You must upload scanned versions of English language translations of all transcripts and degree certificates completed by a certified translator. For degrees from China, official original and English language translations of degree certificates are required in addition to transcripts.
- Every post secondary institution must be entered individually in your academic history, and have an official transcript from that institution. Exchange programs or transfer credits must have their own academic history and transcript from the institution. Notations on other transcripts are not acceptable.
- For transcripts longer than one page, please combine the entire transcript in one file. Do not upload each page as a separate document.
- If your institution offers secure electronic delivery of official transcripts, please contact us for further instructions: professionalprograms@allard.ubc.ca. Please continue completing the rest of your application, including submitting the application and paying the application fee.
- Please note that an e-transcript is downloaded via a link to a secure site. It is NOT an email attachment of any kind, even if sent from an authority at the issuing institution.
3. Three References
The Graduate Program requires 3 letters of reference. At least 1 of the 3 should be from an academic referee who is able to speak to your abilities as a student. If it has been more than 5 years since you graduated, you may submit three professional letters of reference.
Your references can be uploaded after you submit your application up until the document deadline.
Detailed information regarding reference requirements and instructions can be found on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage and our own Informational Guide for Referees that you can give to your referees.
Notes for reference submissions:
- Please ensure valid and correct email addresses for each of your referees. Your referees will only receive reference instructions after you officially submit your application with the application fee.
- We strongly recommend providing a referee’s institution or company email address to allow them to submit an e-reference directly to our application system. Referees with email addresses from free email providers (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) will not be able to submit electronic references. They will need to mail us a hard copy letter and/or form in a sealed envelope signed across the seal that is received by the Graduate Program by the referee deadline.
- Please confirm with your referee before you submit their contact information to ensure they will have enough time to submit the reference within the deadline.
4. Statement of Intent
Applicants are required to upload a Statement of Intent, approximately 500 words in length. The Graduate Committee is interested in understanding your reasons for applying to this program.
Your statement should describe:
- What makes you well suited to the LL.M. CL program — skills, interests, relevant professional experience, and your professional goals
- Features of your application that distinguish you from other applicants
- Additional information that has not been highlighted in your application that you would like the Graduate Committee to consider
5. English Language Proficiency Test Results
All applicants are required to provide an English language proficiency result that meets our minimum requirements unless the applicant has completed a degree program (equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher) from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction in the entire institution (and not just the degree program).
Test scores are valid for 24 months from the test date.
Applicants must request their official scores be sent electronically to UBC for Graduate Admissions. Please be sure to include your test scores and data in the application. If you take your English language test results are received after you've submitted your application, please contact the program with your test id number and other information to link your results to the application.
Please refer to the Eligibility section for our English proficiency requirements.
6. Immigration Documents
Permanent residents must upload a clear scanned copy of their Permanent Resident Card (front and back) to their application. Please do not send hard copy original documents to the Graduate Program staff.