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Objectives
From its inception, the European project has grown and become increasingly complicated and increasingly important to the legal culture of the United Kingdom. Yet, debates about the European Union, the impact of its laws and its constitution continue to abound, and reform proposals and the variety of legislative programmes pursued from Europe mean that European law remains a fascinating and challenging area of academic study. This programme will enable you to understand and evaluate these contemporary debates in European public law. Particular areas of study include the increasingly involved relationship between European and national legal systems, the nature, form and function of the European institutional structures and how substantive European law regulates relationships between individuals and the state. The subjects offered allow you to examine both the major constitutional questions of European law, as well as to look in detail at areas of particular European legislative and judicial activity.
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Entry requirements
The programme will appeal to students whose interest in European law is academic and theoretical as well as to those who have spent time in legal practice and who wish to enhance their grasp of this complicated but critical legal system. Given the status of Europe as a global economic power, this programme may also appeal to graduate lawyers from outside the European Union.
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Academic title
LLM in European Law
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Course description
LLM in European Law Module overview
You will take four optional modules, at least two of which must be chosen from the European Law module list. You may choose to study up to two modules from other subject areas within Law. In addition you will complete a dissertation in a topic related to European law.
EC Environmental Policy and Law
The significance of European law to the regulation of pollution within the United Kingdom is growing. Furthermore, Europe has taken a leading role in the control and minimisation of global pollution. This module addresses the impact of the European Union on national environmental protection and undertakes a critical analysis of the developing principles of European environmental law, such as sustainable development and the 'Polluter Pays' principle.
Law and Policy of EU External Trade
One of the major consequences of the European internal market is that Europe has taken a key role in the development of international discussions about global trade. Disputes between Europe and states outside the European Union are not infrequent and have been resolved by a series of complicated trade agreements. The objective of this module is to provide students with a sound introduction to the EU law governing trade and international economics. Students on this module will examine, in particular, the impact of the World Trade Organization.
EC Employment Law and Social Policy
The promotion of the free movement of peoples among the European Union states has led to a need to harmonise the protection of employment rights between member states. Given the differing social and political expectations of EU states, this development and harmonisation has created a fascinating network of rules and principles. Students on this module will be equipped to engage in analysis and discussion of the resulting general principles and policy objectives of the resulting laws protecting individual and collective employment law developed within the European Community.
European Public Law
This module addresses the law relating to the function and power of the institutions of the European Union and debates about the development of a European constitution. At the heart of the debates about Europe lie issues concerning the way in which the European project is constituted and the function and nature of its institutions. Undertaking this module, students will develop a critical perspective on these issues, gaining a profound understanding of the law and institutions of the European Union. You will address and debate key principles such as subsidiarity, proportionality and the accountability of EU institutions with a view to understanding how Europe works and how it may develop in future.
Typical entry requirements
Applicants should normally possess a good first degree (First or Second class or equivalent) awarded by a UK university or recognised overseas institution. In addition, students whose first language is not English will be expected to have achieved a minimum of IELTS 6.5.
Programme length
12 months full-time, 24 months part-time
