Programme Specification for the 2017/8 academic year
LLM Master of Laws
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | LLM Master of Laws | Programme code | PTL1LAWLAW11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time Part Time |
Academic year | 2017/8 |
| Campus(es) | Programme start date | 09/2014 | |
| NQF Level | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The LLM at Exeter offers an exciting opportunity to study a range of legal topics in depth, taught by the leading academics in their fields. You will study four taught modules worth 30 credits each, and then write a dissertation worth 60 credits. There is a wide range of modules, covering the most important areas of law, and you may study any four in order to obtain a general LLM. In addition, the modules are grouped into specific areas of study, and by taking at least three modules from any one group you may obtain an LLM in any one of the following pathways: Insurance Law, International Law, Conflict and Security; Finance Law; Intellectual Property Law; Maritime Law; International Commercial Law; European Law; International Human Rights Law. The dissertation can be in any area of law of your choosing, although if you seek to obtain one of the specific LLM pathways listed above, the dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study. For each of the specialisms you will do at least three 30 credit modules plus a dissertation in you specialist area.. To qualify for a badged LLM, you must take at least three 30 credit designated modules plus another module, which can be from the LLM general list or from another discipline outside of Law, and the dissertation must be linked to the area of study.
Overview of specialisms:
Insurance Law
This specialism has been specifically developed to allow you to construct a programme appropriate to insurance law. The programme is designed for those with a special interest in the wide field of insurance law. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include general principles of insurance, consumer insurance, marine insurance, reinsurance, EU motor insurance and financial regulations.
International Law, Conflict and Security
This LLM combines two clusters of related modules, the operational law cluster and the rule of law cluster. It offers an exciting opportunity to study a range of international law topics in depth, taught by the leading academics in their fields. You will study four taught modules worth 30 credits each, and then write a dissertation worth 60 credits in an international law topic. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include international law of armed conflict, international law of military operations, international human rights law, the European Convention of Human Rights, International refugee law, international criminal law, international law of cyber operations, the use of force in international conflicts, advanced questions of the law of armed conflicts, post-conflicts governance rule of law and justice and the law of international organisations. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study.
Finance Law
The field of finance law is a fascinating one in itself. It enables you to analyse issues of commercial law which will be important in their future practice of commercial law or in relation to the development of law in frontier areas like finance in the wake of the 2007-09 crisis.
You will study EU and UK financial regulation, including the rules and principles of the substantive law which are essential to the practice of law in financial markets. The pathway will also cover some of the key commercial issues relating to legal practice in financial markets in the wake of the financial crisis.
While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples of modules for the pathway might include the law of finance (Securities Law, Derivatives Law, Law on Financial Crime, and Finance Law and Regulation, together with International Banking Law topics). This will enable students to study EU and UK financial regulation. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study.
Intellectual Property Law
This LLM allows you to study in depth the substantive areas of law which make up the field of intellectual property law. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include competition law, copyright, trade mark law, patents and consumer protection. Much of the law is derived from EU measures, and the modules are taught from both a domestic and EU perspective. The dissertation must be related to any of these topics.
Maritime Law
This LLM is designed specifically for students who wish to study shipping and international trade law in detail. The modules are particularly suited to you if you intend to pursue careers in chartering, trade and marine insurance (including Protection and Indemnity Clubs). English law is widely adopted in other jurisdictions, so a study of English law is particularly important While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include carriage of goods by sea, international trade, marine insurance and oil and gas. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study.
International Commercial Law
This LLM provides a wide range of options. Our faculty includes some of the most respected international names in the field, including the authors of leading practitioner and student texts and editors of important journals. You may focus on banking and financial law, corporate law or general commercial law. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include international trade, international banking law, international arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, world trade law, corporate social responsibility: globalisation, regulation and law, human rights and international business policy, oil and gas, trademarks, carriage of goods by sea, marine insurance and consumer protection. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study.
European Law
This specialism is designed to give you the opportunity to study the constitutional issues which arise from the concept of the European Union, including law making and the relationship between the EU and Member States. We provide modules which examine the substantive law of the EU and the way in which that law has been implemented in English law. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include competition law, consumer protection, corporate law and governance, trademarks, copyright law, EU motor insurance, environmental and energy law, European Convention on Human rights and patent and design law. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study
International Human Rights Law
This specialism has been specifically developed to allow you to construct a programme appropriate to private practice or public employment in the field of international human rights law. An important element of the programme is a study trip to Geneva to gain first-hand experience of the work of the United Nations. During the trip you will have the opportunity to attend committee sessions, joining the delegation, NGOs and committee members in the committee chambers. While the precise modules available may vary from year to year, typical examples modules for the pathway might include human rights and international business policy, international law of armed conflict, European convention on human rights, international criminal law, international migration and the law. The dissertation must be related to the relevant area of study.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
1. To provide you with a thorough knowledge of key issues arising in your field of study across national and jurisdictional borders.
2. To enable you to extend, both in level and in substance, your undergraduate legal knowledge so that it includes transnational and international material and to apply this in a transnational context.
3. To enable you to identify, locate and critically appraise legal materials from a multi-jurisdictional perspective and connect these to problems arising in your chosen field of study.
4. To enable you to assimilate extensive documentary legal and non-legal materials; to extract from them the material points, and to make judgments autonomously as to their relevance.
5. To enable you to apply principles and legal rules in the chosen field of study to solve and analyse practical problems in an international context
6. To encourage you to reason logically, supporting the process with authority.
7. To provide you with the necessary intellectual and practical legal skills, such as analysis, problem-solving and legal reasoning, to enable you independently to achieve an understanding of any branch of your chosen field of study even if you have not previously studied it.
8. To provide you with the opportunity to enhance and develop your writing skills by completing a dissertation, and your oral skills by presenting seminar papers.
9. To prepare you for employment in private practice, corporate or public employment by developing your transferable and problem-based learning skills.
4. Programme Structure
Your LLM programme is a 1 year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 1 ‘Stage’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year. The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Programme and Module Structure
The LLM is delivered over three terms and is University-based throughout this time. The taught components of the degree are delivered over the first and second terms leaving the third term and most of the summer to research, write and submit your dissertation. During the programme you will be required to study taught modules totalling 120 credits and complete a 60 credit Dissertation Module.
120 Credits taken from a pool of 30 Credit Optional Modules
You may choose any four 30 credit modules, two in each of the first and second terms. It is also possible for you to obtain an LLM in Insurance Law; International Law, Conflict and Security; Finance Law; Intellectual Property Law; Maritime Law; International Commercial Law; European Law; International Human Rights Law. By choosing at least three modules from designated groups of modules. The final module may be another Law module, or it may be any 30 credit module available within SSIS or beyond, with the approval of the Programme Director.
To qualify for a general LLM, you must take four 30 credit modules (at least three of which must be LLM modules but one can be taken from a discipline outside of Law) and write a dissertation worth 60 credits. To qualify for a badged LLM, you must take at least three 30 credit designated modules plus another module, which can be from the LLM general list or from another discipline outside of Law, and the dissertation must be linked to the area of study.
Plus 60 Credit Dissertation Module (LAWM640) (to qualify for a badged LLM the Dissertation must be linked to chosen pathway (Insurance Law; International Law, Conflict and Security; Finance Law; Intellectual Property Law; Maritime Law; International Commercial Law; European Law; International Human Rights Law.)
Under exceptional circumstances you may exit this programme with an Interim Award - either a Postgraduate Certificate in Law (90 Credits) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (120 credits).
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College web site
You may take option modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module. Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the College web site.
http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/law/postgraduate/modules/
You may take Elective Modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module. The fourth character of any module signifies its NQF level, according to the following scheme:
| Fourth Character of Module Code | NQF Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 6 |
| M | 7 |
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
To qualify for a badged LLM the Dissertation must be linked to chosen pathway (Insurance Law, International Law, conflict and security, Finance law, Intellectual Property Law; Maritime Law; International Commercial Law; European Law; and international Human Rights Law.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWM640 | Dissertation | 60 | Yes |
Optional Modules
To qualify for a general LLM, you must take four 30 credit modules (at least three of which must be LLM modules but one can be taken from a discipline outside of Law) and write a dissertation worth 60 credits. To qualify for a badged LLM, you must take at least three 30 credit designated modules plus another module, which can be from the LLM general list or from another discipline outside of Law, and the dissertation must be linked to the area of study.
The list of LLM optional modules is available at the following webpage: http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/law/postgraduate/modules/
All modules fit into the general category. The LLM pathways are: Insurance Law; International Law, Conflict and Security; Finance Law; Intellectual Property Law; Maritime Law; International Commercial Law; European Law; International Human Rights Law). The module choice information issued to new incoming students will indicate which modules fit into these categories. All modules are 30 Credit modules and are condonable.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law PGT Modules 2017-8 | |||
| LAWM044 | Trademarks | 30 | No |
| LAWM067 | Carriage of Goods by Sea | 30 | No |
| LAWM072 | International Trade | 30 | No |
| LAWM075 | Copyright Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM079 | Marine Insurance | 30 | No |
| LAWM080 | International Banking Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM084 | International Commercial Arbitration | 30 | No |
| LAWM087 | Competition Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM089 | Consumer Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM097 | The International Law of Armed Conflict | 30 | No |
| LAWM100 | Mergers and Acquisitions | 30 | No |
| LAWM101 | Patent and Design Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM105 | Corporate Law and Governance | 30 | No |
| LAWM107 | EU Motor Insurance | 30 | No |
| LAWM670 | European Convention On Human Rights | 30 | No |
| LAWM671 | International Human Rights Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM683 | International Criminal Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM711 | Environmental and Energy Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM714 | Oil and Gas | 30 | No |
| LAWM715 | International Migration and the Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM037 | The Use of Force in International Law | 15 | No |
| LAWM038 | The International Law of Military Operations | 15 | No |
| LAWM081 | International Investment Law and Arbitration | 30 | No |
| LAWM094 | Human Dignity and Human Rights in the EU | 30 | No |
| LAWM103 | World Trade Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM112 | Finance Law and Regulation | 30 | No |
| LAWM114 | Post-Conflict Governance, Rule of Law and Justice | 30 | No |
| LAWM115 | Advanced Questions of the Law of Armed Conflict | 30 | No |
| LAWM116 | The International Law of Cyber Operations | 30 | No |
| LAWM117 | The Law of International Organisations | 15 | No |
| LAWM119 | Consumer Insurance Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM120 | General Principles of Insurance Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM121 | International Commercial Litigation | 30 | No |
| LAWM125 | Reinsurance Law | 30 | No |
| LAWM716 | The International Law of Military Operations | 30 | No |
| Total Credits for Stage 1 | 180 |
|---|
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of key elements of English, EU and international law. | Seminars, library tuition, essays, dissertation. | The assessment of each 30 credit module is a matter for the module leader, and may be by essay, examination or combination of both. It is anticipated that most modules will be assessed by essay, but individual module leaders may take a different approach. The assessments are designed to take account of each of the ILOs. |
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Identify, locate, retrieve and evaluate legal and other information in paper, electronic and on-line form. | Seminar papers: presentations: essays: word processing and other IT. | Coursework and presentation (formative assessment): assessed essays and dissertation, providing evidence in writing of your skills, knowledge and capacity to evaluate critically and independently. |
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
14. Manage time effectively and prioritise tasks by working to strict deadlines. | Transferable skills, particularly word processing and other IT skills, are developed in seminars. Additional teaching in research methodology is provided for in the context of the dissertation. | A distinctive feature of the programme is its emphasis on research-based assessment methods (essays and dissertations). The programme involves participants in both independent study and group work in the form of seminar discussions and presentations. As the students originate from widely disparate jurisdictions, you will learn in a comparative perspective. |
7. Programme Regulations
University Regulations on the number of credits to be taken and at what level for each stage of the programme can be found in the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
Progression
Condonement is the process that allows you to be awarded credit (and so progress to the next stage or, in the final stage, receive an award), despite failing to achieve a pass mark at a first attempt. You are not entitled to reassessment in condoned credit. Regulations on condonement can be found in the Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding for Taught Programmes.
Assessment and Awards
For undergraduate degrees assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. Details of the weightings for each year of all programme lengths can be found in the Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding for Taught Programmes.
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes and the classification of awards can be found in the Handbook for Assessment, Progression and Awarding for Taught Programmes.
You can also read details of Generic Marking Criteria.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Personal and Academic Tutoring
It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you with individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support fo the duration of your programme, and this support extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
Information on the College Personal Tutoring system, library provision, ELE resources and access to College support services can be found on the College webpages for current students.
Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)
SSLCs enable students and staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Learning Resources
The University Library maintains its principal collections in the main library buildings on the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, together with a number of specialist collections in certain Colleges. The total Library collection comprises over a million volumes and 3000 current periodical subscriptions.
IT Services
A wide range of IT services are provided throughout the Exeter campuses, including open-access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Helpdesks are maintained on the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, while most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.
Student Support Services
The University provides many support services including health and wellbeing, multifaith chaplaincy, family support, the Students' Guild and international student support.
10. Admissions Criteria
All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.
Candidates for undergraduate programmes must satisfy the undergraduate admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
12. Indicators of Quality and Standards
Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).
13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards
The University and its constituent Colleges draw on a range of data to review the quality of education provision. The College documents the performance in each of its tuaght programmes, against a range of criteria on an annual basis through the Annual Student Experience Review (ASER).
Subject areas are reviewed every five years through a College Academic Audit scheme that includes external contributions.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
College of Social Sciences and International Studies (CSSIS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
LLM Master of Laws
19. UCAS Code
C02X
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
[Honours] Law
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 01/04/2014 |
Date of last revision | 14/3/17 |
|---|