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United States Fall 2026 LLM intake: the application (via LSAC LLM) typically closes in autumn/early winter; scholarship consideration is part of admission — check law.columbia.edu

Columbia Law School LLM Scholarship

Columbia Law School, part of Ivy League Columbia University in New York, runs one of the world's most prestigious one-year LLM programs for international lawyers. Columbia offers a limited number of LLM scholarships awarded on a combination of merit and demonstrated financial need; most are partial awards toward the substantial LLM tuition, and full or near-full awards are rare and highly selective. We are honest that the LLM is largely a self-funded degree for most students, with scholarships reducing — not usually eliminating — the cost. For Sri Lankan applicants (typically Attorneys-at-Law or strong LLB graduates from Colombo, the Open University, or recognised foreign law degrees), Columbia is elite and very competitive: a first-class or high upper-second law degree, strong references, and a clear professional/academic purpose are the realistic baseline. Confirm the current scholarship process, whether a separate financial-aid form is needed, and the LLM deadline on the Columbia Law admissions pages, as policies change each year.

Columbia Law School

University-funded

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Value

Partial scholarship (full awards rare)

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Program

One-year LLM

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Basis

Merit + demonstrated need

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Strong Law Degree

A first law degree (LLB or equivalent), ideally first-class or high upper-second, from a recognised institution. Sri Lankan Attorneys-at-Law and strong LLB graduates from Colombo, the Open University, or recognised foreign law programs are the typical applicants; admission is very competitive.

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Professional / Academic Purpose

Columbia looks for a clear reason for the LLM — practice, scholarship, judiciary, or policy goals. Strong references from professors, senior counsel, or judges, and a focused personal statement, materially affect both admission and scholarship.

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Demonstrated Need (for need-based component)

Scholarships factor in demonstrated financial need alongside merit. To be considered for need-based support you typically complete a financial-aid statement detailing resources — confirm the current requirement with Columbia Law.

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English Proficiency

TOEFL/IELTS is required where prior study was not in English. Sri Lankan applicants whose law degree was taught in English may qualify for a waiver — confirm Columbia Law's current LLM policy.

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Apply via LSAC LLM Credential Assembly

Submit your Columbia LLM application through the LSAC LLM system with transcripts, law-degree evidence, references, personal statement, and English scores (if required), by the LLM deadline.

Request scholarship / financial-aid consideration

Indicate your interest in scholarship support and complete any financial-aid statement Columbia requires for need-based consideration. Scholarship review is part of the admission process.

Admission and scholarship decision

Columbia Law assesses applicants on merit and need and offers a limited number of partial (occasionally larger) LLM scholarships alongside admission decisions.

Accept and apply for the US student visa

Accept your offer and scholarship, receive your I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, then apply for the F-1 visa at the US Embassy in Colombo, showing funding net of your scholarship.

Why Columbia Law School?

Columbia Law is a top-ranked US law school in New York City, with unrivalled access to international law firms, the UN, and global finance, and an LLM cohort drawn from leading lawyers worldwide. Its brand and New York network are exceptional for internationally minded Sri Lankan lawyers.