Course description
LLM (Master of Laws) / PGDip / PGCert
International law in the broadest sense is concerned not only with inter-state relations, but also with relations between states, individuals, international organisations and other non-state actors. It encompasses issues relating to the recognition of states, war, peace, the role of international organisations and liability for international crimes as well as questions relating to the regulation of international trade, investment and international financial institutions among others.
The LLM in International Law provides students with the opportunity to combine the study of disparate aspects of international law and explore how they relate to each other. The compulsory module in international law offered in Semester 1 provides a general introduction to the theoretical basis and main aspects of public international law particularly issues relating to the recognition of states and state responsibility, the law of treaties, international institutional law and the judicial settlement of international disputes. In Semester 2 students are able to choose from the complete range of options available on the LLM programmes.
Course content
Students studying for the LLM/PG Dip in International Law are required to complete the double compulsory module in International Law (40 credits) and the single compulsory module in Advanced Legal Research Methods (20 credits) during the first semester.
In Semester 2 you can choose any three of the following options (20 credits each, totalling 60 master's-level credits):*
* International Trade Law
* International Banking Law
* International Investment Law
* International Human Rights Law
* International Criminal Law
* International Humanitarian Law
* International Refugees and Migrants
* International Intellectual Property Law
* European Union Law (taught in Semester 1)
* GATT Law
* Trade, Human Rights and Labour Standards
* International Capital Markets Regulation
* International Commercial Arbitration
* International Environmental Law
* Independent Study Module
* International Labour Law
In addition, students studying for the LLM in International Law are required to complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic related to any of the modules available on the programme as agreed with the dissertation module leader. Full-time students will normally begin preliminary work on the dissertation in Semester 1 and formalise the topic and structure of the dissertation in Semester 2. The main work on the dissertation will normally take place from June to mid-August.
Students who complete at least 60 credits over the taught elements of the programme are eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in International Law.
*Note that availability of options may vary from year to year.
Teaching, learning and assessment
A wide diversity of teaching methods are employed throughout the LLM programmes in order to provide a high-quality learning experience. These include lectures, seminar discussions, individual and small group tutorials, case studies, and group and individual presentations. Particular emphasis is placed on skills training, with opportunities provided to acquire and practice legal reasoning as well as research and IT skills.
Opportunities are also provided for extra-curricular activities such as the LLM student conference and the annual trip arranged for students to visit a range of international tribunals in The Hague. Assessment methods include coursework assessments and individual and group presentation assessments.
Quality
The Law Department gained grade 4 rating in the last Research Assessment Exercise.
All the members of the LLM course team are active researchers and encourage students to become involved in their respective areas of research by teaching specialist modules in which they have expertise and by supervising dissertations in their specialist subjects.
