Masters Degrees (Employment Law)

This Advanced Diploma in Professional Development in Employment Law and Practice is an executive-level course that provides a University Diploma, delivered in London via weekend and evening study and supported by distance learning. It is specifically designed for those at middle management in the HR industry who are involved in employment law and practice in the UK and/or international markets who wish to develop their understanding of employment law and practice as they engage with employment law projects.

More about this course

This course addresses key issues in the field of employment law and practice, including an understanding of the legal framework relating to employee relations and human resource management and enables students to confidently handle and analyse legal materials. The course will enable participants to analyse developments in employment law, including EC law, and be able to identify appropriate sources to enable them to keep abreast of developments; identify problems and issues which arise in employee relations and human resource management, and apply the legal principles to those situations and advise on appropriate legal action to be taken in the workplace.

The course is delivered by experts in the field of employment law.
This course enhances participants’ practical work experience and their career prospects through the requirement to engage in the production of an employment law work-based project proposal. This presents an extremely valuable opportunity to engage in real-world practical research, framed by academic thinking, thus developing participants’ competencies in a business environment.

This course also offers the opportunity to engage with an Employment Tribunal site visit and experts from the employment law field who will be involved in class-based delivery of teaching and learning.

The first module entitled Employment Law and Practice (BL7106) aims to provide learners with an understanding of this complex area of law and of the importance of law and legal developments in the employment field. It will enable learners to keep abreast of legal developments and to critically analyse the law and evaluate the implications for employment practice.

It will be assessed by coursework that integrates and ensures coverage of the module’s learning outcomes The module is assessed by 100% coursework. It consists of two pieces of written coursework weighted 75% and 25%.

The second module entitled Developing a Project Proposal for Employment Law and Practice will be assessed by two pieces of coursework. The first will comprise a research proposal (approx. 1,000 words) to be submitted on-line in week 5. The second assessment will comprise an Employment Law and Practice project proposal and reflection (approx. 4,000 words). This will be submitted on-line in week 15.

Modular structure

The course comprises two 20 credit modules set at level 7. In summary: Module 1 is delivered as a face-to-face delivery one evening a week for 1 semester(+ 15 hours for scheduled assessment); module 2 is delivered as 3 full days face-to-face tuition + 1 day of field trip + 1 day of cohort project tutoring by distance learning (+ 15 hours for scheduled assessment) = 45 hours per module.

The first module is entitled Employment Law and Practice (BL7106) and the module aims to provide learners with an understanding of this complex area of law and of the importance of law and legal developments in the employment field. It will enable learners to keep abreast of legal developments and to critically analyse the law and evaluate the implications for employment practice.

The second module is entitled Developing a Project Proposal for Employment Law and Practice. Its face-to-face content and site visit are also delivered at the beginning of the course (in the first semester of study) as part of the block delivery in London with three days devoted to tuition and one day for an Employment Tribunal visit. Students then continue their tuition remotely via distance-learning cohort tutorials during their second semester of study with one day’s remote cohort tutoring provided to support their project proposal development.

After the course

This course is aimed at middle management professionals and technical specialists who are already working in the HR industry who have an interest in employment law.

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Our LLM Employment Law and Practice degree provides in-depth, current knowledge and skills in employment and labour law.

The course is focused on equipping you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective, highly functioning employment law specialists. The course content is designed to give you an in-depth view of relevant employment law, within the UK perspective, and develop your core legal and professional skills. It is the only UK Employment Law LLM to give students an optional ADR stream.

The course is delivered fully online (except for one optional module, which requires attendance at an on campus workshop), and can be studied either full-time or on a part-time basis. It gives you flexibility in location and when, within a week, you study.

Visit the website http://www.rgu.ac.uk/law/law-study-options/postgraduate/employment-law-and-practice-llm-distance-learning

Course detail

If you are new to studying law, the Law for Employment module is there to help you learn key legal concepts and structures necessary for understanding and applying employment law. This allows those without a recent LLB to be in a position to tackle the more advanced employment law modules later in the course. At the same time, those who have a recent law degree, or who are legal practitioners, will benefit from the choice to refresh their memory, by taking this module, or take another optional mediation module.

The course structure allows not only for flexibility in when, during a week, you study but also what you actually study, with the taking of up to three optional modules, thereby allowing you to tailor the course to your interests and needs.

The course starts in September each year but students can also choose to join the course in January. Students that start in January simply slot into the course at the start of Semester 2. While it is preferable to start in September and complete the Law for Employment and Employment Contracts & Rights modules first, the modules are all able to be taken on a standalone basis; there is no prerequisite to take these modules before any others.

Format

The course is taught fully online by dedicated employment law experts through CampusMoodle the University's virtual learning environment (VLE). There is no requirement to personally attend the university at any point during the course. CampusMoodle is an interactive and supportive VLE allowing you to study at the time and place that suits you.

Online learning is learner centred, enabling the student to take responsibility for their own learning through both individual study and active participation in the group learning activities. You will have the opportunity to interact with tutors and fellow students from around the world. Online chat, feedback and discussion groups are a key part of the learning experience, alongside dedicated tutor guidance

For each topic covered, detailed written materials and suggested reading are available and downloadable on CampusMoodle. Online chat, feedback and group discussion groups are a key part of the learning experience, alongside dedicated tutor guidance.

Online Learning

Our supported distance learning mode of delivery allows you to study online from any location and is designed to fit in around your work commitments. You will be taught and supported by experienced industry professionals who will recreate the same challenging interactive format of the on-campus courses for those studying at a distance.

Our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle offers students flexibility of where and when they can study, offering full and open access to tutors and other class members. Students have the benefit of being part of a group of learners with the invaluable opportunity to participate in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. The online campus provides students with lectures and course materials and it also includes:
•Virtual tutorials
•Live chat
•Discussion forums - student and tutor led
•Up-to-date web technology for delivery methods
•User friendly material
•Access to our online library

As online learners, students are part of a 'virtual cohort' and the communication and interaction amongst members of the cohort is a significant aspect of the learning process.

Careers

A Masters qualification is key to career advancement and professional confidence and is a highly regarded asset in any professional or academic sector. This course will enhance your knowledge and ability, professional standing and employability within the employment law field.

Our graduates are employed worldwide in all sectors - in oil and gas, industrial, governmental, private companies, in the legal professions and self-employed. There are also good prospects for further academic research in the employment law field.

How to apply

To find out how to apply, use the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline

Funding

For information on funding, including loans, scholarships and Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) please click the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/financial-support/uk-students/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-students/

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About the course

This is a career-enhancing course that equips graduates to enter legal and other work that involves employment issues. Designed for professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and organisations, the course is particularly suitable for lawyers, human resource (HR) professionals, company secretaries, owner-managers and those with HR responsibilities.
•Informa
This course is delivered in partnership with Informa Professional Academy, an organisation dedicated to working with leading academic bodies to provide high-calibre and well respected distance learning postgraduate courses
•Develop your own personal pathway
This course combines one core module with a diverse range of optional modules
•Study at your own pace
Enjoy flexible distance learning, with the option to exit at one of several points with a postgraduate award
•Differentiate yourself in the job market
Gain a competitive edge by increasing your knowledge of employment law
•Boost your employability
Improve your career and employability options in a globalised job market

Course modules:

Employment Law in Context in the UK and EU – the aim of this module is provide a concise overview of current employment law to underpin the optional modules. Lawyers approach the subject of employment law as a legal discipline but their expertise is enhanced if they have an appreciation of the wider context within which employment law fits. The manager also needs to obtain knowledge of employment law to be equip him or her for modern HR management.

You will also select elective modules which might include:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Civil Liberties in the Workplace

• Collective Labour Law

• US Labour Law

• Equal Opportunities in the Workplace

• Health and Safety Law

• Individual Employment Law

• Negotiated Study

• People Management within Organisations

Dissertation
You must also undertake a dissertation, providing an invaluable opportunity to work in depth on a particular aspect of the law. You will need to apply and enhance your technical knowledge and critical awareness in a subject of your choice. In order to obtain the LLM in Employment Law and Practice your dissertation must have an employment law theme.

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current.

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About the course

This is a career-enhancing course that equips graduates to enter legal and other work that involves employment issues. Designed for professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and organisations, the course is particularly suitable for lawyers, human resource (HR) professionals, company secretaries, owner-managers and those with HR responsibilities.
•Informa
This course is delivered in partnership with Informa Professional Academy, an organisation dedicated to working with leading academic bodies to provide high-calibre and well respected distance learning postgraduate courses
•Develop your own personal pathway
This course combines one core module with a diverse range of optional modules
•Study at your own pace
Enjoy flexible distance learning, with the option to exit at one of several points with a postgraduate award
•Differentiate yourself in the job market
Gain a competitive edge by increasing your knowledge of employment law
•Boost your employability
Improve your career and employability options in a globalised job market

Course Modules

Employment Law in Context in the UK and EU – the aim of this module is provide a concise overview of current employment law to underpin the optional modules. Lawyers approach the subject of employment law as a legal discipline but their expertise is enhanced if they have an appreciation of the wider context within which employment law fits. The manager also needs to obtain knowledge of employment law to be equip him or her for modern HR management.

You will also select elective modules which might include:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Civil Liberties in the Workplace

• Collective Labour Law

• US Labour Law

• Equal Opportunities in the Workplace

• Health and Safety Law

• Individual Employment Law

• Negotiated Study

• People Management within Organisations

Dissertation
You must also undertake a dissertation, providing an invaluable opportunity to work in depth on a particular aspect of the law. You will need to apply and enhance your technical knowledge and critical awareness in a subject of your choice. In order to obtain the LLM in Employment Law and Practice your dissertation must have an employment law theme.

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current

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Are you looking to take your knowledge of employment law to the next level? This PGCert course provides knowledge and skills that are directly relevant to the practical employment issues faced by lawyers, HR managers, personnel officers and all those involved in staffing.

The course is the first of three stages of the LLM Employment Law in Practice. On completion, you’ll be ready to apply for the postgraduate diploma (PGDip) and then, once you have the diploma, for the LLM.

For the PGCert you’ll study three modules that have been developed in consultation with HR professionals and solicitors. Topics include employment relationships and how to terminate them as well as legal research and study skills at postgraduate level.

The distance learning mode offers a high level of flexibility, allowing you to undertake postgraduate study while also pursuing a career. Supported by the latest technology, you’ll enjoy being part of a collaborative learning community as you continue your professional development.

Please note, optional module choices will be grouped and will run in designated blocks, meaning some module combinations will not be possible. Although every effort is made to ensure that these modules are offered, there may be occasions, for example due to staff sabbaticals, where a module may not be offered or module running order may change.

Learn From The Best

Northumbria has built up an enviable reputation for practical, innovative LLM courses. The combination of teaching excellence and practical relevance ensures that standards remain consistently high. We’re committed to postgraduate studies that will enhance your professional career.

The majority of our tutors are qualified solicitors or barristers, with considerable experience of legal practice. We have expertise in a range of areas, including an international reputation in the fields of evidence and criminal justice studies.

The quality of our teaching has been recognised through a variety of awards and nominations. These include Law Teacher of the Year Award, the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Award, and Northern Law Awards.

Teaching And Assessment

This is a distance learning course and you’ll learn through expertly written learning materials that help you engage with topics in interactive ways. Like other master’s courses there is a significant element of independent learning and self-motivated reflection.

The pace of the course is controlled to make it easier for you to balance work, study and life commitments. Each module includes an optional study day at the University. If you’re unable to attend, you can still watch the recording that will be made available through the eLearning Portal.

We encourage online communities to flourish among all those taking the course, ensuring that you can interact with fellow students. Further support on academic matters is provided by a Personal Tutor who is available to you throughout the course.

Assessment methods are designed to give you feedback as well as to monitor your level of achievement. You can expect both your tutors and your peers to provide useful comments and feedback throughout the course.

Learning Environment

As a distance learner you’ll have full access to our eLearning Portal, ‘Blackboard Learn’, which includes web conferencing, study notes, discussion boards, virtual classrooms and communities. Blackboard Learn brings together all aspects of course management as well as assessment and feedback. You can contact tutors in other ways too, including by email and telephone.

You’ll also have online access to Northumbria’s library, which has half a million electronic books that you can read whenever or wherever you need them. Our library was ranked #2 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for 2015 and, since 2010, it has been accredited by the UK Government for Customer Service Excellence.

Our specialist Law Practice Library contains practitioner materials as well as a wide variety of journals and law reports. The range and depth of resources reflects our position as the largest law school in the North East region.

Research-Rich Learning

Northumbria’s strong research ethos is an essential aspect of how you will develop as a critical, reflective and independent thinker. As a postgraduate student you’ll develop your research skills to a new and higher level.

Our academics are at the cutting edge of current legal issues, which will enhance your learning experience. They’ll discuss their own research as it relates to the topics you’ll study, and make use of opportunities to involve you in up-to-date enquiry-based learning.

Our research interests include employment law, information rights, international human rights, gender and sexuality, law and development, and sport law. Northumbria University is particularly known for our work in criminal justice.

Give Your Career An Edge

By continuing your professional development, this PGCert will give you an edge in your career. You can extend this edge by progressing to the PGDip stage, for which you can apply on completion of this course.

The distance learning mode means that you can learn as you earn and make a direct connection between your studies and your day-to-day work. The topics in the modules are designed to be immediately relevant to issues that you’re likely to face in the workplace.

When it comes to applying for promotions and considering your career plan, our Careers and Employment Service can help. The Service offers a range of resources as well as support that’s available online and on a one-to-one basis.

Your Future

At the end of the course the logical next step is to enrol on the PGDip Employment Law in Practice followed by the LLM Employment Law in Practice. This will ensure you complete the master’s qualification.

Many of our students are already working as HR professionals, legal practitioners and other professionals who are required to provide advice on the application of employment law. Their qualifications (PGCert / PGDip / LLM) help them stand out from others within today’s competitive jobs market.

As you progress towards your LLM you’ll increasingly build up the transferable skills that employers expect from a master’s graduate from Northumbria University. These include the ability to tackle complex issues through conceptualisation and undertaking research, the ability to contribute to new processes and knowledge, and the ability to formulate balanced judgements when considering incomplete or ambiguous data.

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Employment law is a highly marketable specialism within the field, both for lawyers and for professionals from corporate functions such as human resource management. This LLM provides an in-depth coverage of recruitment, termination and discrimination law with options in EU law, corporate governance and responsibility and international human rights.
The Law department has two professors of Employment Law with national reputations who lead this course.

- Open to non-law graduates, provided they take the short 'Introduction to Law' course during induction week
- Innovative programme designed to develop your skills in summarising, synthesing and presenting complex legal material and arguments
- Specialist teaching by Professors who are international experts in Employment Law, and augmented by expertise of our highly-regarded Human Resource Management Department
- Students engage actively and participate in various hands on exercises and activities, working closely with teaching staff and tutors
- Students have opportunities to focus on issues of particular interest to them both in the taught modules and through an extended dissertation.

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This course is designed to provide a thorough grounding in employment law for lawyers and HR practitioners. The aim is to equip those participating with a clear and comprehensive technical understanding, while at all times remembering that employment law should be seen as part of the real world of work.

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This degree is designed for anyone seeking to study employment law in detail. It is an excellent choice for those working or intending to work in the area of employment law, whether as lawyers, human resources professionals, advice workers or union officials.

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Course Outline

This degree will provide you with a thorough understanding of the legal basis of individual and collective employment relations. It is especially suited to you if you want to develop your professional interest in UK employment law and its development.

The course will provide you with an in-depth working knowledge of the United Kingdom and European Union legislation and case law in the employment sphere. It is divided into four broad subject areas: individual employment relations; equality at work; termination of employment and individual dispute resolution; and key themes in employment law. Within these four areas you will critically analyse the scope and limitation of the law in relation to discrimination, gain a deeper understanding of the legal regulation of termination of employment, the role of collective bargaining and employee participation in the workplace and consider the effect of human rights and international labour law on the employment relationship.

Studying by distance learning allows you to fit your work around your existing employment and family commitments. You will be provided with support from our expert academic staff combined with the opportunity to meet tutors and colleagues face-to-face during our teaching weekends. During these weekends you will have the opportunity to participate in case studies, discussions, role-play and other exercises.

If you have any questions about this course, join us for a live online chat with academic tutors and admissions staff.

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Law is a fast-changing and increasingly complex area that impacts on most aspects of professional, commercial and regulatory work. This programme provides students with analytical and reflective skills and expertise in law. It provides a learning experience which will enable students to develop their academic ability and enhance their performance in employment and further develop their career opportunities. It provides the successful candidate with a recognised postgraduate qualification in law.

The LLM Employment Law is available to students from both a legal and non-legal background. Our students have typically been law graduates, employment lawyers in private practice and public bodies, Human Resources professionals, trade union officials and all those who need a firm grasp of the legal aspects of employment.

Students from a non-law background take Foundations of Law. Core modules are in Collective Labour Law, Security in Employment and Equality at Work. Options are available in Employment Law in Practice, Privacy & Confidentiality or from a wide range of LLM modules covering business law, environmental law, human rights, ICT law, International law and medical law. There is training in advanced legal research and the culmination of the programme is a 15,000 word dissertation.

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In contemporary society, the world of human resource management and employment law has expanded significantly in recent years. The taught content incorporates a critical examination of the changing ideas within human resource management, the nature of the employer-employee relationship within employment relations, the employment contract and associated issues such as appointment and dismissal. The award also explores legal issues such as management of the employee within the context of discipline and conduct, performance, stress at work as well as traditional areas such termination, redundancy and the role of the Employment Tribunal.

This award is being offered as a blended learning course with a combination of face to face learning which will be supported by the use of online resources via a virtual learning environment.

This award is particularly suited to graduates seeking a specialist route to enter the field of human resource management and employment law. The course will provide a starting point for those seeking elements of CIPD accreditation and provides expertise for those seeking to work within the sectors of human resource management, mediation and arbitration, recruitment and personnel management, trade union roles and others who need specialist legal knowledge and understanding within this area.

Course content

Students initially complete a 15 credit core module in Research Methods which is delivered in a condensed session at the commencement of the award in September. Students will then study a number of 15 credit modules which include the following indicative content:
-Human resource management in a contemporary world
-The nature of employment relations
-The socio-legal context of the employer-employee relationship
-Recruitment and talent management
-The nature of the employment contract
-Management of the employee in the context of conduct and disclipline, performance management and stress at work
-Termination of employment including restructure and redundancy
-Human resource management and equality and diversity
-Management of employee benefits and rights including parental rights and flexible working

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Law is a fast-changing and increasingly complex area that impacts on most aspects of professional, commercial and regulatory work. This programme provides students with analytical and reflective skills and expertise in law. It provides a learning experience which will enable students to develop their academic ability and enhance their performance in employment and further develop their career opportunities. It provides the successful candidate with a recognised postgraduate qualification in law.

The LLM in Employment Law by distance/open learning is available to students from both a legal and non-legal background.

Students from a non-law background take Foundations of Law. Students with a law background take an additional option instead of Foundations of Law. All students take substantive law modules in Equality at Work and Collective Labour Law. A range of options is offered including Security of Employment and Privacy and Confidentiality of Information of which students must take either one or two. There is training in advanced legal research and the culmination of the programme is a 15,000 word dissertation.

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Overview

In:
Industrial Relations
or
Industrial Relations & HRM
or
Industrial Relations & Employment Law
or
European Industrial Relations & HRM

Keele Management School has been delivering high quality part-time distance-learning courses for over 20 years. We continue to offer lifelong learning opportunities to trade unionists, managers, and anyone else involved, or interested, in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management (HRM).

Staff are active teachers and researchers within their specialist fields and are experienced adult educators. Most of our students have a practical knowledge of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management.

Part-time courses take 18 months for the PgD, and a further 6 months for the MA. Direct enrolment on to the MA normally requires a second class honours degree. However, applicants with professional qualifications or equivalent experience may also be accepted, subject to interview.

See the website https://www.keele.ac.uk/pgtcourses/industrialrelationsandemploymentlaw/

Course Aims

Our part-time courses are suitable for those in full-time employment and are flexible enough to allow completion by students from anywhere in the UK.

Our courses explore key issues such as:
- Theoretical approaches to the employment relationship
- Collective bargaining and trade union organisation
- Performance and reward management systems
- HRM and approaches to labour management

Course Content

The Masters courses are delivered through a taught part consisting of eight 15 credit modules (totaling 120 credits) and one 60 credit dissertation. Students who successfully complete only the taught modules will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma. The part-time courses start in September each year and are designed to be taken over eighteen months (Postgraduate Diploma) or two years (MA).

The courses are designed to be both practicable and accessible to those in full-time employment who want to build on their own experience to gain an academic qualification. Our part-time Masters courses are therefore available by distance learning with residential study periods at Keele, and extensive learning support. They are flexible enough to allow completion by students anywhere in the UK, Ireland, or Europe, and from any occupation.

- Dissertation
The dissertation is 15,000-20,000 words. Where applicable, students are encouraged to undertake research connected with their current or previous industrial relations or HRM experience. Students are required to produce a written research proposal, material is supplied on research methods, and all students are allocated a supervisor.

Teaching & Assessment

- Teaching delivery:
The Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) course is delivered through six residentials at Keele over both years of study supported by distance learning study packs, electronic resources and a dedicated personal tutor for the core part of the course. Each student does eight essay assignments.

Students who register for the MA (or progress from the PgD to the MA) attend two further residentials in year 2 and write a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words. Where applicable, students are encouraged to undertake research connected with their current or previous industrial relations or HRM experience. Material is supplied on research methods, and all students are allocated a supervisor.

Residentials are held in September, January, April and June of each academic year.

- Assessment:
Each module on the taught part of the course is assessed through an essay, with a pass mark of 50%. For those taking the Masters course there is a research methods essay and a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words.

Additional Costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course.

Find information on Scholarships here - http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/

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The Kent LLM (and associated Diploma programme) allows you to broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of law by specialising in one or more different areas.

This specialisation allows international law and international relations to inform each other. It covers the general methods, scope and theories of international law, international humanitarian law and international relations. It provides a detailed understanding of the role, potential and limitations of public international law in international affairs. Its interdisciplinary approach is particularly suited to those involved with, or hoping to work for, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, foreign affairs departments and international law firms.

Students studying International Law with International Relations are encouraged to participate in the activities of the Centre for Critical International Law (CeCIL) at Kent. These include workshops, trips to international courts and tribunals, and guest lecture series.

Students taking this specialisation can choose to spend one term at our Canterbury campus and one at our Brussels centre (returning to their primary location to complete the dissertation) under our split-site option for this programme. The split site option is charged at a different rate. Please see under Fees below for more information.

Studying for a Master's in Law (LLM) at Kent means having the certainty of gaining an LLM in a specialist area of Law. The Kent LLM gives you the freedom to leave your choice of specialism open until after you arrive, your specialism being determined by the modules you choose.

Think Kent: International Law with International Relations

There is no universally agreed precise legal, technical or political definition of either the boundaries separating airspace from outer space or of the term ‘outer space’ itself. Yet two separate legal regimes exist for the regulation of these two environments. In this lecture, Dr Gbenga Oduntan, Senior Lecturer in International Commercial Law at the University of Kent, critiques the leading theories that have been postulated to solve this problem, and proposes an original solution regarding the spatial demarcation boundary point issue in air and space law.

About Kent Law School

Kent Law School (KLS) is the UK's leading critical law school. A cosmopolitan centre of world-class critical legal research, it offers a supportive and intellectually stimulating place to study postgraduate taught and research degrees.

In addition to learning the detail of the law, students at Kent are taught to think about the law with regard to its history, development and relationship with wider society. This approach allows students to fully understand the law. Our critical approach not only makes the study of law more interesting, it helps to develop crucial skills and abilities required for a career in legal practice.

Our programmes are open to non-law graduates with an appropriate academic or professional background who wish to develop an advanced understanding of law in their field. You study within a close-knit, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment, working closely with academic staff.

National ratings

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, research by Kent Law School was ranked 8th in the UK for research intensity. We were also ranked 7th for research power and in the top 20 for research output, research quality and research impact.

An impressive 99% of our research was judged to be of international quality and the School’s environment was judged to be conducive to supporting the development of world-leading research.

Course structure

You can tailor your studies to your particular needs and interests to obtain an LLM or Diploma in a single specialisation, in two specialisations jointly, or by choosing a broad range of modules in different areas of law to obtain a general LLM or Diploma in Law.

Your choice of specialisation will be shaped by the modules you take and your dissertation topic. The double specialisation International Law with International Relations is slightly different to the other LLM Specialisations offered at the Kent Law School. International Relations is a ‘minor’ stream which is only available when combined with the International Law ‘major’ stream. For the award of a degree titled ‘Master of Laws in International Law with International Relations’ you should study at least three modules from the International Law stream together with your dissertation. You must then choose two modules from the International Relations ‘minor’ stream. The remaining module can be chosen from any of the other law modules offered on the LLM.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of this specialisation stream. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation and student demand. Most specialisation streams will require you to study a combination of subject specialisation modules and modules from other specialisation streams so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.

LW814 Public International Law

LW844 Legal Aspects of Contemporary International Problems

LW906 International Environmental Law – Legal Foundations

LW843 International Human Rights Law

LW846 International Criminal Law

LW884 International Environmental Law – Substantive Legal Aspects

LW886 Transnational Criminal Law

LW922 Labour Rights in a Global Economy

LW925 Cultural Heritage Law

Assessment

The postgraduate programmes offered within the Law School are usually taught in seminar format. Students on the Diploma and LLM programmes study three modules in each of the autumn and spring terms. The modules normally are assessed by a 4-5,000-word essay. Students undertaking an LLM degree must write a dissertation of 15-20,000 words.

Programme aims

This programme aims to provide:

1. LLM: The opportunity to develop (a) expert knowledge and a sophisticated understanding of particular areas of law; (b) advanced research, writing and oral communication skills of general value to postgraduate employment.
PGDip: The opportunity to develop (a) expert knowledge and a sophisticated understanding of particular areas of law; (b) written and oral communication skills of general value to postgraduate employment.

2. LLM: A sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the institutional structures, key principles of law and policy and influential ideas, theories, assumptions and paradigms of particular areas of law.
PGDip: A sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the institutional structures, key principles of law and policy and influential ideas, theories, assumptions and paradigms of the subjects studied.

3. LLM & PGDip: A degree of specialisation in areas of law and policy chosen from the LLM option streams available and an opportunity for students to engage with academic work at the frontiers of scholarship.

4. LLM & PGDip: A critical awareness of the operation of law and policy, particularly in contexts that are perceived to be controversial or in a state of evolution.

5. LLM: The skills to undertake supervised research on an agreed topic in their specialisation and to encourage the production of original, evaluative analysis that meets high standards of scholarship.

6. LLM & PGDip: Critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied to a wide range of contexts.

7. LLM & PGDip: The skills of academic legal research and writing.

8. LLM: A sophisticated grounding in research methods.

Careers

Employability is a key focus throughout the University and at Kent Law School you have the support of a dedicated Employability and Career Development Officer together with a broad choice of work placement opportunities, employability events and careers talks. Details of graduate internship schemes with NGOs, charities and other professional organisations are made available to postgraduate students via the School’s Employability Blog.

Law graduates have gone on to careers in finance, international commerce, government and law or have joined, or started, an NGO or charity.

Kent has an excellent record for postgraduate employment: over 94% of our postgraduate students who graduated in 2013 found a job or further study opportunity within six months.

Information about the internship programme for LLM students can be found on the Kent Law School Employability blog - http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/klsemployability/postgraduates/llm-internships/

Learn more about Kent

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Law is a fast-changing and increasingly complex area that impacts on most aspects of professional, commercial and regulatory work. This programme provides students with analytical and reflective skills and expertise in law. It provides a learning experience which will enable students to develop their academic ability and enhance their performance in employment and further develop their career opportunities. It provides the successful candidate with a recognised postgraduate qualification in law.

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