Master's Degree in Legal Research - Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)

About the Program

The Faculty of Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) is offering a one-year master’s degree program in Legal Research (MIJ-UAM). Students at this program can acquire a deep knowledge of Law and internalize methodological guidelines with which to understand and explain the ultimate reasons and latent connections of meaning in any legal system.

The MIJ can be taken independently or in an integrated way with the Master's Degree in Access to the Profession of Lawyer of the UAM, through the double-degree program of Master's Degree in Access to the Profession of Lawyer and Master's Degree in Legal Research. This second option integrates into two academic courses the specialization and legal practice with the methodology for deepening the analysis of Law.

The degree objectives are met by integrating into: 

• a single program specialization subjects in various legal branches (The specialization subjects are freely selectable from an extensive list ordered by fields of knowledge), 
• specific subjects on research methodology (The two subjects of methodology for legal research are compulsory and are articulated through nine specific seminars on legal argumentation, economic analysis of law, comparative law, etc., which will be taught by specialists in these matters), and 
• the writing of a Master's Thesis (TFM) on which to project specialized knowledge and methodologies acquired in the rest of the program (The TFM is a full research project, which may well be the beginning of a doctoral thesis).

Admission Requirements

The Master in Legal Research is aimed at three main groups of students:

• In the first place, new graduates who intend to practice law -for which they must first take the Master's Degree in Access to the Profession of Law- and, at the same time, want to acquire the methodological training necessary for the preparation of a doctoral thesis or acquire legal analysis skills.
• Secondly, the MIJ-UAM is aimed at graduates, both Spanish and from other countries, who do not need to take the Master's Degree in Access to the Legal Profession but want to update or increase their legal knowledge, even with a view to the preparation of a doctoral thesis.
• Third, the Master is aimed at those graduates with a clear teaching and research vocation who want specific training to prepare a doctoral thesis.

Specific access and admission requirements

• Be in possession of the title of Law Degree or Law Graduate or equivalent in the case of degrees issued by foreign centers.
• A minimum level of English B2 (it will be accredited through certification of level courses or level tests).
• In the case of students whose mother tongue is not Spanish, a minimum level of B2 will be required.

Course Structure

The Master's Degree in Legal Research from the Autonomous University of Madrid consists of 60 ECTS credits and is structured in three modules designed to provide students with investigative skills in the field of legal sciences, while at the same time reinforcing their specialization in a specific field of Law through a wide range of specific subjects that allow the student to personalize a specialization itinerary.

• The first module of the Master, which is compulsory (18 ECTS), is intended to offer students research training that allows them to know different methodologies for the analysis of Law and to face the study of advanced legal problems.
• In the second module (18 ECTS), students can choose between the optional subjects of the postgraduate offer in Legal Sciences to customize a specialization itinerary.
• Finally, the third module (24 ECTS) is destined for the elaboration of a Master's Thesis by means of the elaboration of a project and advanced research work in which the different methodologies for the analysis of the Law will be combined with the specialization chosen by the student.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for students registered at the Master’s in Legal Research program are as follows:

• Spanish and residents: $3,096
• Non-resident/ non-community members: $5,746

Scholarships

UAM offers the Promotion of Research in Master's Studies grants for students starting or pursuing official Master's degrees at the UAM aimed at carrying out a doctoral thesis, consisting of the exemption of 100% of the amount of the Tuition fees and grants for an amount of $453 per month for 11 months.