Content
The LLM in International Law consists of nine modules in total, including a dissertation of up to 15,000 words.
The option modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
Core modules
- International Law and Institutions (15 credits)
- Research Methods (15 credits).
Option modules
You can either choose five modules from this list, or four from this list plus one of the 15 credit option modules from any of the other LLM courses.
- Contemporary Research Project (15 credits)
- Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (15 credits)
- European Environmental Policy and Law (15 credits)
- Globalisation and the Law (15 credits)
- International Employment Law (15 credits)
- International Environmental Law (15 credits)
- International Human Rights Law (15 credits)
- International Humanitarian Law (15 credits)
- Natural Resources Law (15 credits)
- World Trade Organisation Law (15 credits).
Dissertation (60 credits):
You will need to write a 15,000 word dissertation. This needs to be an original piece of work. You can satisfy this requirement by:
- carrying out empirical work that has not been done before
- synthesising issues not put together before
- looking at topics that have not been looked at before by people in the discipline
- examining existing knowledge in an original way, or
- bringing new evidence to bear on an old issue.
You don't need to meet all of these criteria. Your dissertation topic must broadly relate to your LLM award.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Learning and Teaching
The flexible nature of the course allows you to study with us full or part time. The course involves both extensive independent research and discussion in the context of workshops, designed to encourage the development of your critical, analytical and reflective skills. You will be expected to prepare for each workshop and to participate actively in discussion with your tutors and peers.
You will also have access to course and module information through our online Blackboard system.
For more details see our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
Study time
Full-time attendance
The full-time course takes one year, with approximately six to nine contact hours a week. However, as independent study is fundamental to the course, the total study time should be around 36 hours a week.
Part-time attendance
The part-time route takes two years. You will usually have around four hours of contact with your tutors a week and you should spend between 12 and 18 hours a week studying independently.
Dedicated support
You will receive a high level of support both during your studies and after you have graduated. You will be allocated an LLM academic tutor to support you throughout the course. We also organise events to help you plan your career after the LLM.
Assessment
Taught modules on the LLM International Law course are assessed through a combination of written coursework assignments and oral presentations. The culmination of the course is a dissertation of up to 15,000 words, which constitutes an original contribution to the corpus of legal knowledge within an area of international law.
For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.