LL.M. Program

LL.M. FAQs

Keep reading to find answers to frequently asked questions as well as helpful information on how to apply, the financial aid process, and other resources. If you have additional questions, we invite you to join an information session or send us an email.

LL.M. FAQs
Section Contents

Your Guide to the Vanderbilt LL.M.

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Before you Apply

  • Am I eligible to apply to the LL.M.?

    Eligible candidates must hold a degree in law, Bachelor’s or Master’s with 3 years of study, from an institution outside the United States. Correspondence course degrees or degrees earned online will not be considered for admission to the LL.M. program.

  • What application fee waivers are available?

    All LL.M. information session event attendees receive a fee waiver post-event. Sign up for an upcoming info session here.

    Alternatively, you may request a waiver of the application fee from the admissions committee. Email your LSAC account number, your TOEFL score (if applicable), and your resume to llm.program@law.vanderbilt.edu for consideration.

  • Do you offer spring admission / a two-year LL.M.?

    The length of Vanderbilt’s LL.M. program is 9 months, one academic year. Applicants apply for fall entry. There is no spring admission. We do not offer a two-year LL.M. degree.

  • How do I apply?

    All applicants are required to apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) using the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) which includes: 1) the Vanderbilt Law School Electronic Application, 2) the LSAC Document Assembly Service, and 3) the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service. We cannot accept documents sent by email.

    For more detailed information on how to apply, check out our LL.M. admissions requirements or our guide to the Vanderbilt LL.M. below. 

  • Do you offer conditional admission?

    No, we do not offer conditional admission.

  • What is the difference between J.D. & LL.M.?

    The J.D. degree is intended for candidates who wish to work in the U.S. after graduation. The J.D. degree qualifies graduates to sit for a bar exam in any state in the U.S. Although some students who earn the LL.M. degree work in the U.S., not all states allow graduates of LL.M. programs to sit for bar exams.

English Proficiency Requirements

  • What are Vanderbilt’s English language test requirements?

    Proficiency in English is a prerequisite for the LL.M. program. If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Duolingo English Test (DET). We also accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.

    We review all scores in all categories from all TOEFL, IELTS, or DET tests reported. We do not accept the TOEFL MyBest Score or Essentials score reports.

    Applicants whose native language is not English who have earned an undergraduate law degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction for all courses may request a waiver of this requirement. Requests should be submitted via email to llm.program@law.vanderbilt.edu.

    Please note that non-native English speaking graduate students are tested separately from the native English speakers in course exams, and extra time on exams may be granted. Students receiving a waiver of the TOEFL/IELTS requirement during the admission process will be exempt from this accommodation and may not receive extra time on exams.

  • What if English is the official language of my country?

    If English is the official language of an your country, an English proficiency test is not required. This requirement will be waived from your application checklist when you apply.

  • Do you have a minimum TOEFL/IELTS/DET score?

    We do not have a minimum score requirement. Typically, admitted students have a TOEFL score of 100 or higher, an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher, or a DET score of 115 or higher.

    The Admissions Committee may request an interview to further evaluate English proficiency. The Admissions Committee may request an interview for candidates whose scores are below these thresholds.

  • My score is low. How else can I demonstrate my English proficiency?

    Another option that can be helpful in demonstrating your English proficiency to the Admissions Committee is the optional video statement. Instructions for submitting the video will be in your Vanderbilt Applicant Portal, which you will gain access to after you’ve submitted your application.

  • What is the Summer English for Legal Purposes Course (SELP)?

    We offer an intensive Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP) course. This intensive 80-hour program is designed to provide incoming LL.M. students with the language and academic skills needed to succeed in the demanding LL.M. program at Vanderbilt University Law School. Vanderbilt LL.M. students report that they found the SELP program extremely beneficial in preparing to start the LL.M. program. Learn more about the Vanderbilt Summer English for Legal Purposes Course.

Financing your LL.M.

  • Does Vanderbilt offer scholarships?

    Vanderbilt Law School awards merit-based scholarships to LL.M. students each year. Recipients are identified during the selection process and notified after admission to the program. All admitted candidates are considered for scholarship awards. There is no application form required in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Vanderbilt offers a significant number of scholarships.

    When awarding scholarships, the Scholarship Committee considers the following:

    • Previous legal experience
    • Academic work
    • Research experience
    • Letters of reference
    • Writing samples (for thesis track applicants only)
    • Proficiency in the English language

    If awarded a scholarship, half will be applied to your fall bill and the remaining half will be applied to the spring semester bill. 

    The LL.M. application deadline is April 30. However, scholarship decisions are made earlier. Applicants who complete their applications by February 1 receive consideration for scholarships during the first round of scholarship decisions. For this reason, we encourage you to apply by February 1, if possible, in order to be considered for a scholarship with the first round of decisions. Scholarships are awarded throughout the application cycle.

  • Does Vanderbilt offer full-tuition scholarships?

    Full scholarships are not available. All admitted candidates are considered for merit-based scholarships. There is no application required for the scholarship consideration. You may write a brief letter to the admissions committee requesting that you be considered for a scholarship and explaining your qualifications. Because the scholarships do not cover the entire cost of tuition, it is helpful to mention in your letter if you have funding of your own to supplement the scholarship. You may upload this information as an addendum to your personal statement when you submit your application through LSAC.

  • Are loans available?

    Prodigy Finance offers a loan for LL.M. students studying in the U.S. and accepts loan applications from Vanderbilt LL.M. students. Several current students used this loan to help finance their LL.M. study at Vanderbilt.

    For information on the Prodigy loan for international LL.M. students, please visit the website here.

  • What is the cost of tuition?

    At Vanderbilt, we are committed to controlling tuition costs, providing scholarship assistance, and offering strategies and tools for students managing expenses, debt, and personal finances.

    The cost of tuition for the current 2025-2026 academic year is $76,440. Learn more about the estimated cost of attendance for LL.M.'s here.

  • Is there a deposit?

    To accept an offer of admission, admitted students are asked to pay a non-refundable $1,000 seat deposit. This amount is credited toward the fall semester bill.

  • Can I work during the LL.M. year?

    Some LL.M. students may work in the library or as research assistants during their LL.M. year. However, this is arranged only after arrival on campus and an interview, and these positions cannot be guaranteed. Most students do not work during their studies.

Inside the LL.M. Program

  • What courses are offered to LL.M. students?

    Vanderbilt offers three LL.M. degree program options: Course Track, Law and Business Track and Thesis Track. The course track allows you the flexibility to select your courses based on your interests and career goals. The Law & Business Track offers intensive training in corporate law, securities regulation, finance, accounting, and the principles of corporate governance. Explore other popular areas of focus for LL.M. students here.

    Students in all three tracks are able to enroll in courses required to qualify to sit for the New York bar exam.

    The track indicate on your application is not binding, and you may change your track at any time before classes begin. If you enroll at Vanderbilt, you may speak with an academic advisor after your arrival, before classes begin, and make your final decision.

    LL.M. students study alongside J.D. students and choose from a broad array of courses.

    Please note that courses change each semester based on faculty availability, trends, and students’ interest.

  • Does Vanderbilt have externships for credit?

    At present, the program does not include externships for credit. All credits are earned in the classroom.

  • Where do LL.M. students live?

    All graduate students live off campus. Admitted students receive a student published guide advising on apartments near campus that have been popular with law students. The admissions staff also provides advice to incoming students regarding apartments.

    Many current LL.M. students live at The Broadview at Vanderbilt. Located just steps from the Vanderbilt University campus in the heart of midtown Nashville, The Broadview at Vanderbilt invites graduate and professional students into a community of collaboration and elevated living space. The Broadview at Vanderbilt offers studio and one- and two-bedroom apartment homes with features such as a fully-equipped kitchen with granite countertops, upgraded appliances, hardwood-inspired floors, and washer/dryer. The Broadview at Vanderbilt also has several on-site amenities, from a 24-hour fitness and wellness center, an on-site coffee shop and grocery store, multiple collaboration and study spaces, to an outdoor BBQ area and media room.

    Apartment recommendations from students and alumni are provided to admitted candidates on the website for entering LL.M.s.

  • What is the LL.M. to J.D. transfer process?

    Vanderbilt LL.M. students are eligible to apply to transfer to the J.D. program. The LSAT is not required. The admissions committee considers academic performance in the LL.M. program and letters of recommendation from Vanderbilt professors when evaluating applications to transfer to the J.D. program. The number of students who transfer from the LL.M. program to the J.D. program varies each year.

    If you are accepted into the J.D. program as a transfer student, you will be eligible to apply credits obtained in pursuit of your LL.M. degree toward the J.D. degree requirements and may earn the J.D. degree with two additional years of study. The LL.M. degree will not be awarded to students who transfer to the J.D. program.

Post-graduate Opportunities

  • Will an LL.M. from Vanderbilt allow me to take a U.S. bar exam?

    Eligibility to sit for a particular state bar exam varies from state to state. Completion of the LL.M. degree in and of itself does not guarantee eligibility to take a bar examination. 

    Many Vanderbilt LL.M. students sit for state bar exams, typically New York, after graduation each year. Although we provide support, LL.M. students should familiarize themselves with the requirements of the bar exam they wish to take.

    Vanderbilt offers the courses required to qualify for the New York bar. Learn more about the courses required and the courses Vanderbilt offers to meet the New York Bar Exam requirement.

  • Can LL.M. students who wish to take New York Bar fulfill the pro bono requirement?

    Yes, Vanderbilt offers support to students interested in fulfilling the pro bono requirement during the LL.M. year. The Assistant Dean of Public Interest will explain full details during orientation. Students may engage in community legal education through one of the student Legal Aid Society’s pro bono projects.

    Read further information regarding opportunities for community service at Vanderbilt.