Advance Your Legal Career Without Leaving Eswatini
Accreditation status: This programme has been developed by LUE in accordance with Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) Programme Approval Standards and is being submitted to ESHEC for accreditation. Prospective applicants should confirm the current accreditation status of this programme with LUE’s Admissions Office before enrolling.
LUE’s Master of Laws (LLM) is Eswatini’s first locally available postgraduate legal qualification — a 1.5-year programme combining advanced coursework in constitutional law, human rights, commercial and banking law, intellectual property and international trade law with a substantial dissertation.
Master of Laws
1.5 Years | 3 Semesters
180 credits (60 credits per semester)
Level 9
Full-Time, Campus Learning
10 modules
A 45-credit Dissertation, examined with an external examiner
Until now, Emaswati LLB graduates seeking postgraduate legal training have had to study abroad, at significant personal cost.
Benchmarked directly against leading regional LLM programmes (University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town), so your qualification is recognised.
Specialised coverage of commercial, corporate, banking/finance and intellectual-property law relevant to Eswatini’s growing economy.
A genuine research LLM: a 45-credit dissertation examined with an external examiner, not just coursework.
Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Comparative Constitutional Law, and International Human Rights Law.
Commercial and Corporate Law, Banking and Finance Law, Intellectual Property Law, and International Trade and Investment Law.
Law and Development in the SADC Region examines legal-sector reform and regional integration specific to Eswatini’s context.
180 credits over 1.5 years (3 semesters): two semesters of advanced coursework, followed by dissertation research and writing.
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Legal Research and Writing | 15 cr. |
| Jurisprudence and Legal Theory | 15 cr. |
| Comparative Constitutional Law | 15 cr. |
| International Human Rights Law | 15 cr. |
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Commercial and Corporate Law | 15 cr. |
| Banking and Finance Law | 15 cr. |
| Intellectual Property Law | 15 cr. |
| International Trade and Investment Law | 15 cr. |
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Law and Development in the SADC Region | 15 cr. |
| LLM Dissertation | 45 cr. |
Full Course Learning Outcomes, weekly teaching schedules and reading lists for every module are available in LUE’s Detailed Course Outlines for this programme, available on request from the Admissions Office.
LLM graduates are prepared for advanced legal practice and beyond:
International qualifications are accepted subject to LUE’s equivalency assessment and Eswatini Qualifications Authority (EQA) confirmation. Mature applicants without the standard qualifications may apply via LUE’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. All applicants remain subject to LUE’s Admissions Committee decision, which may apply additional selection criteria where places are limited.
Applications are considered by LUE’s Admissions Committee, and successful applicants receive a formal offer of a place, conditional upon final confirmation of qualifications and, where applicable, ESHEC accreditation status at the time of enrolment.
Every module is assessed using LUE’s standardised, criterion-referenced rubrics, moderated internally and, for capstone/thesis/dissertation components, externally examined. Marks are converted to a letter grade and grade point on LUE’s institution-wide scale:
| Percentage Mark | Letter Grade | Grade Point | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | A+ | 4.00 | Exceptional |
| 70–79 | A | 4.00 | Excellent |
| 60–69 | B | 3.00 | Very Good |
| 50–59 | C | 2.00 | Good |
| 45–49 | D | 1.00 | Pass |
| 0–44 | F | 0.00 | Fail |
| Classification | Weighted Average |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 70% and above |
| Merit | 60% – 69% |
| Pass | 50% – 59% |
The Master of Laws is a 1.5-year, full-time degree delivered on campus over 3 semesters. Each semester carries 60 credits, for a total of 180 credits across 10 modules at ESQF Level 9.
An LLB degree (or equivalent professional law qualification) with an average of at least 60% across final-year modules.
International qualifications are accepted subject to LUE’s equivalency assessment and Eswatini Qualifications Authority (EQA) confirmation.
Admitted attorneys/advocates whose LLB average falls below 60% may be considered on the strength of subsequent professional experience.
Mature applicants without the standard qualifications may apply via LUE’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. All applicants remain subject to LUE’s Admissions Committee decision, which may apply additional selection criteria where places are limited.
This programme has been developed by LUE in accordance with Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) Programme Approval Standards and is being submitted to ESHEC for accreditation. Prospective applicants should confirm the current accreditation status of this programme with LUE’s Admissions Office before enrolling.
Yes. This is a genuine research LLM: two semesters of advanced coursework are followed by a 45-credit LLM Dissertation in Semester 3, examined with an external examiner, alongside Law and Development in the SADC Region.
LLM graduates are prepared for advanced legal practice and beyond:
Every module is assessed using LUE’s standardised, criterion-referenced rubrics, moderated internally and, for capstone/thesis/dissertation components, externally examined. Marks are converted to a letter grade and grade point on LUE’s institution-wide scale. The award is classified as Distinction (a weighted average of 70% and above), Merit (60% – 69%) or Pass (50% – 59%).
Applications are considered by LUE’s Admissions Committee, and successful applicants receive a formal offer of a place, conditional upon final confirmation of qualifications and, where applicable, ESHEC accreditation status at the time of enrolment.
Have a question about this programme? Send us your details and the LUE Admissions Office will get back to you.
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Faculty overview, programmes and the Dean’s message.
Contact the LUE Admissions Office for the application form and to confirm programme details before you apply.
