NLUD-SOAS Joint LL.M./M.A. in Environmental Justice in South Asia Program

The LLM/MA Environmental Justice in South Asia is an innovative 1-year course located in the Global North and the Global South to explore critical environmental and climate change issues from the South-North perspective while also providing students a rich learning opportunity to engage and learn directly from field exposure.

It provides a unique and transformative learning experience, which graduates of the course can bring to careers in research, policy studies and international non-governmental and governmental organizations. The course incorporates a core taught component, a clinical component and a dissertation.

During the course, students will:

• have the opportunity to undertake a programme aimed at exploring issues of environmental justice through the lens of South Asia;
• be jointly admitted to both institutions and have access to resources from both SOAS and NLUD throughout the programme;
• travel to the UK and India as part of the programme, with the first term spent at SOAS on campus and the second term spent at NLUD on campus, followed by a dissertation.

The programme provides a unique specialisation in one of the most rapidly developing areas of law with special reference to South Asia. It offers students an option to study environmental law and its application and relevance to a broad range of areas with special reference to South Asia. The programme provides an opportunity to students to and apply learn tools of research methodology unique to environmental law along with an exposure to the field through a clinical component.

The course aims to build the student potential for growth both personally and professionally and it provides a route to further study through a PhD. On course completion, students will be equipped with research skills, exposure to the global South and North, while obtaining the necessary skills for career progression.

Upon completion of the programme, students will be jointly awarded a LLM/MA by both SOAS and NLUD.

To be awarded the LLM/MA, students must take modules to a total value of 180 SOAS credits / 120 NLUD credits. This will include a mix of compulsory courses, electives courses and a dissertation. Please note that not all modules listed will be available every year.

The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which are optional electives.

In SOAS (September to January), you will take three compulsory modules (each worth 15 SOAS credits /10 NLUD credits):

• Foundations of Environmental Justice with reference to South Asia (15PLAH094)
• International environmental law and policy with reference to South Asia (15PLAH095)
• Research Methods (15PECC040)

AND one of the guided optional modules below delivered by SOAS (worth 15 SOAS credits /10 NLUD credits):

• Alternatives to Sustainable Development: Rights of Nature and Harmony with Nature (PLAH076)
• Civil society, social movements and the development process (15PDSH001)
• Law and the biodiversity crisis (PLAH074)
• Water Justice: Rights, Access and Movements (PLAH044)

At  NLUD (February to June), you will take the following four compulsory modules delivered by NLUD (each 10 NLUD credits /15 SOAS credits):

• Environmental Law and Policy in India (15PLAH093)
• Natural Resources Law and Policy in South Asia (15PLAH096)
• Quantitative Research Methods & Environmental Justice Clinic (15PLAH097)
• Climate Justice and Climate Law: South-North Perspectives (15PLAH092).

The final part of the course is a 12,000 word dissertation (worth 60 SOAS credits/40 NLUD credits) on a topic related to environmental justice. The module can be undertaken at SOAS or NLUD or remotely

SOAS is ranked in the UK top 20 (QS World University Rankings 2023).

We are ranked 6th in the UK for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2023).

Our research publications have been rated first in the UK – and our School of Law rated sixth in the UK – in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

National Law University Delhi is ranked 2nd in the Law Category, in the 2023 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings.

Established in 2008, NLUD has become one of the leading institutions of legal education and impact-driven research in India.

It is accredited with CGPA of 3.10 on four point scale at ‘A’ grade valid up to April 2028, awarded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

This programme contains mandatory stay in the UK and in India. To be able to undertake the programme, students must successfully obtain a visitor visa for the UK prior to starting the programme and a student visa for India before the start of teaching in Delhi in February. Please ensure to check the visa requirements and your eligibility for a visa for both the UK and India before applying to this programme. Neither SOAS nor NLUD can accept liability for failure of a student to obtain valid UK and Indian visas for the programme.

Please see SOAS visas and immigration for more information on applying for a UK visitor visa and the NLUD Visa page and the Ministry of Home Affairs, India for an Indian student visa.

You will be in London from September to January and in Delhi from February to June. You can spend the rest of the time devoted to drafting your dissertation in the country of your choice.

The starting point is in September and the programme lasts 12 months

The joint degree is offered in a combination of in-person and online courses. You will spend one term in person in London at SOAS, one term in person in Delhi at NLUD and you will take an online summer school on climate justice.

Graduates of this programme will leave with a solid grounding in environmental law and justice as civic minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to making their communities and societies more sustainable.

They will have a thorough understanding of the legal dimensions underlying the environment and will be valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and a regional South Asian and global perspective.

Students will need to meet all the following entry requirements:

For the MA: A 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in a relevant Social Sciences subject for students other than India. For students applying from India and holding a BA/BSc/BCom from India, students need to have completed an integrated four-year degree programme to be eligible for the course.

For the LLM: A 2:2 LLB (or international equivalent). Students wishing to apply for the LLM Programme must have successfully completed an LLB. If you have a lower degree classification, your application may be considered if you can present a strong case, either through relevant work experience, other legal qualifications, or a strong supporting statement. References are not required but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

You can find further information either on the SOAS page devoted to the joint degree on this link or on the NLUD page devoted to the joint degree on this link.

All students need to apply via SOAS only for this programme. For details on how to apply to SOAS, see our How to apply pages. In addition,  Please see our international entry requirements and English language requirements for further details.

You can contact Prof. Roopa Madhav at NLUD at [email protected] or Prof. Philippe Cullet at SOAS at [email protected].