Admissions are open to graduates (and graduands) with an upper honours second class degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) in a non-law subject or in which law was not a minor. These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested .
Applications for the programme will be made through the University’s on-line application system. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, early application is advised as the course is frequently over subscribed.
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit satisfactory evidence of competence in written and spoken English, i.e. overall IELTS 6.5 (including a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and writing parts and no part below 6.0) or 90 in the TOEFL iBT (with a minimum of 22 (reading) and 24 (writing) and no part below 20.) The test results must be less than 2 years old.
Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information
http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/
The School encourages all applicants whose first language is not English to attend the pre-sessional English programme offered by the UCD Applied Language Centre, details of which are available at
International applicants should visit the UCD International Office website (
This is an intensive two-year programme which will prepare you to do the following on completion of your studies: Demonstrate specialised, detailed knowledge and understanding of the legal systems of Ireland and of the European Union. Apply your knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to your specific work or vocation in the field of law. Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, considering the importance of legal arguments in public policy debates, in an accessible and intelligible manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Research and interpret the relevant data from a variety of sources, both legal and factual, to inform judgments on problems within the major branches of law. Identify, in the field of legal scholarship, the relevant sources of law and commentary upon an analysis of it and to frame your own original legal arguments. Make your own judgments, including the capacity to reflect on relevant political, social, economic, historical, or ethical issues associated with law. Realise those learning skills that are necessary for you to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy. The Masters in Common Law offers you the relevant recognitions as part of the process of becoming a barrister or solicitor in Ireland. The depth of legal knowledge provided also offers graduates the possibility to pursue careers as in-house counsel in the commercial world. This degree is an excellent foundation for individuals wishing to qualify as solicitors in Ireland. Full details of the required Law Society Exams (FE-1) required to achieve this qualification are available on the society's The Honorable Society of King’s Inns is the Irish ‘Inn of Court’, training and admitting legal professionals who wish to be awarded the degree of Barrister–at–Law necessary to be called to the Bar by the Chief Justice of Ireland. In order to be accepted by Kings Inn's, it is essential to have studied . The UCD Masters in Common Law is one of the Kings Inn’s approved degrees and offers graduates a pathway on the route to qualification as a barrister. Masters in Common Law students are encouraged to attend the many careers events that take place on campus throughout the year. In particular, the UCD Law Fair in October offers an unrivalled opportunity to engage with future employers, including domestic and international law firms and other employers such as the Department of Foreign Affairs. Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information. Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.