Applying for the General LL.M.

Applying for

• The General LL.M. Program

An admissions committee at our main campus evaluates applications for our General LL.M. degree program. A separate application is required for formal admission into this program regardless of whether the student has already been admitted to the Law Program in Tokyo.

General LL.M. Program Application

Because the LL.M. application process may take several months or because a student may first wish to explore a course or two, we encourage students interested in applying to our General LL.M. program to apply first to our pre-LL.M. program.

Nevertheless, for applicants who prefer to enter the LL.M. program directly, or for applicants who must register as a full-time student to support a student visa, it is possible to apply to the General LL.M. program without being admittted as a pre-LLM student. Applications must be completed online through the main campus website

• Online Application Form for General LL.M. application
  (commencing in Tokyo)

• Online Application Form for General LL.M. application
  (commencing in Philadelphia)

Please click the above link and create a user account. You will be asked to complete an online application form and to submit the materials described below. If you have questions or require assistance with your LL.M. application materials, please contact our Tokyo office.

General LL.M. Application Materials

In addition to completing the online application form, applicants must submit the following materials. Of these 1) TOEFL/IELTS Report and 2) Transcripts and Degree Verification must be submitted directly from the issuing institutions. For other materials, applicants will be requested to upload them to the online application form.

*If you have already submitted these application materials as part of your application to the pre-LL.M., Certificate or Audit programs, please contact our Tokyo office.

1. TOEFL or IELTS Report
   An official TOEFL or IELTS score is required of all non-native speakers of English, unless they possess an undergraduate law degree from an institution in which English is the primary language of instruction.
   
   For applicants who take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a score of at least 570 (paper-based exam), 230 (computer-based exam), or 88 (internet-based exam) points is required for admission consideration. Temple Law's TOEFL report code number is 2906-03. Applicants must arrange to have the testing agency send an official score report directly to Temple Law (Tokyo or Main Campus).
   
   For applicants who take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a minimum band score of 6.5 is necessary for admission, with no score below 6.0. Applicants must arrange to have the testing agency send an official score report directly to Temple Law (Tokyo or Main Campus).
   
   For applicants requesting a waiver, you must ensure that the academic transcripts you submit verify that your degree was obtained from an English-speaking institution. Waiver requests will be granted on a case by case basis.
   
2. Transcripts and Degree Verification
   Official transcripts (final grade reports or mark sheets) and certificates of law degree completion must be submitted directly to Temple Law (Tokyo or Main Campus). A certified English language translation must also accompany transcripts that are not issued in English. An acceptable official transcript is one that has been submitted directly to Temple Law from the issuing overseas university under seal in an envelope sealed by your university. Transcripts that have been opened and handled by the applicant are not considered acceptable. Applicants may also submit overseas transcripts through an academics credential evaluation service, such as World Evaluation Service (WES) or Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
3. Personal Statement
   A carefully worded personal statement must be provided. This statement should include any additional information you think might be helpful to the Admissions Committee concerning your personal history, professional interests, and abilities. The committee wants to know you as a person and as a professional.
4. Three Letters of Recommendation
   Students must submit three letters of reference, of which at least two must be from either law professors or legal employers well acquainted with your academic abilities or professional skills. Reference forms are available during the online application process and may be submitted online or by supplying a hard copy form.
5. Application Fee
   Payment of the US$50 application fee may be remitted directly to Temple Law by Visa, American Express, Master Card, Discover or echeck. This application fee is waived for current Temple Law Japan students.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for application vary depending on whether the student intends to commence study in Tokyo or Philadelphia.

Commencing in Tokyo

Deadline for applying to Tokyo differs by semester. Please see the on-line application site to confirm the deadline for General LL.M. program.

Having commenced study in Tokyo, students may then go to Philadelphia during the Fall or the Spring, or go to Philadelphia or Rome in the Summer. As some classes are only offered in one semester or the other, it is advisable to consult a schedule and plan in advance.

Commencing in Philadelphia

Students intending to commence study in Philadelphia must submit an application directly to the Law School in Philadelphia by March 15. At present, students intending to commence their studies in Philadelphia may do so in the Fall semester only.

Applicants from outside Japan

If you are interested in applying for the LL.M. program from outside of Japan, you will need to submit your application one month before the regular deadlines to allow additional time necessary to process a student visa.

For more details about student visas, please contact our Tokyo Office.