LL.M Regulations

DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS (LL.M.)

1. Award of the Degree of LL.M.

The Degree of LL.M. is a postgraduate degree which can be obtained by fulltime or part-time coursework, in which the candidates attend the prescribed courses in the Faculty of Law, and satisfactorily complete such written work and/or pass such written examinations as are required by the Faculty. Fulltime coursework requires attendance for three terms, while part-time coursework requires attendance for six terms.

2. Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the LL.M., candidates must be approved by the Faculty of Law. An interview may form part of the selection process. Applications will be considered from those candidates who satisfy one or other of the following prerequisites:

(a) Candidates who hold, or expect to hold by the term of entry a degree in law, which the Faculty normally requires to have been awarded with Second Class Honours, Grade I or its equivalent.

(b) Candidates who hold, or expect to hold by the term of entry, an interdisciplinary degree which includes a substantial law component, and in which they have attained a Second Class Honours (Grade I) standard or its equivalent.

(c) Candidates who hold a degree other than a law degree, in which they have obtained Second Class Honours Grade I standard, or equivalent, and who are qualified legal practitioners.

(d) Exceptionally, non-law graduates with Second Class Honours Grade One who have such other educational and/or professional experience in Law or in Human Rights as, in the opinion of the Faculty of Law, qualifies them to read for the LL.M.

(e) In exceptional circumstances, graduates whose grade at primary degree is below H.2.1 standard but who can demonstrate other appropriate academic accomplishments may be considered.

Students should note that the LLM course is instructed in English. The University requires that students are able to effectively engage in English in order to successfully complete the course (all exams are in the English language). Therefore, prospective students (not being native English speakers) are required to undertake an English language course before undertaking the LLM. The required scores are: IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL (paper-based): 580; TOEFL (computer-based): 240; and TOEFL (internet-based): 92.  

3. Regulations

3.1 Candidates for the LLM must pursue a course of full-time study of not less than one academic year. Candidates may not simultaneously pursue any other degree course during this period. A limited number of students may be allowed to pursue their studies on a part-time basis over two academic years.

3.2 Candidates are required to attend the prescribed courses in the Faculty of Law in accordance with the requirements of each course.

3.3 Courses may be of year-long or semester duration, and are organised into modules which carry a credit unit weighting or value reflecting the extent and difficulty of the course concerned.

3.4 LL.M. candidates may, with the permission of the Faculty of Law, spend a period or periods pursuing research and/or courses at other universities or Law Schools for academic credit.

3.5 Courses may be examined entirely by means of written assignments to be submitted at dates as specified by the lecturers concerned. The Dissertation must be submitted by the date as specified by the Human Rights Centre.

3.6 In order to be eligible for the award of the LL.M. degree, a candidate must present a dissertation of 20,000 to 25,000 words (30 credits), take the Introduction to International Human Rights Law course (15 credits) and complete such additional course modules from the list of courses offered in any particular year so as to accumulate a minimum of 90 credits. Normally, a course given over one semester will be awarded with 15 credits, and a course given over one-half semester will be awarded with 7.5 credits.

3.7 Candidates who are registered to take the programme on a part-time basis shall in the first year present for the course in Introduction to International Human Rights Law and further course(s) to a minimum of 15 ECTS amounting to 30 ECTS in total for the year. In the Second Year courses to a total of 30 ECTS must be taken and the dissertation (30 ECTS) presented.

3.8 Subject to 3.6 above, course modules must be chosen from the subject schedule below which is subject to change on an annual basis. Not all courses may be available in a particular year.

Obligatory Subjects

Code Subject ECTS

• LW451 Introduction to International Human Rights Law 15
• LW450 Dissertation 30

Optional Subjects

Code Subject ECTS

• LW457 International Criminal Law and the Protection of Human Rights 15
• LW458 International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights 15
• LW466 European Convention on Human Rights 15
• LW467 Minority Rights and Self Determination 15
• LW468 Capital Punishment 15
• LW469 International Peace Support Operations 15
• LW470 Conflict and Post Conflict Studies 15
• LW481 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 15
• LW482 The African and Inter-American Regional Systems of Protecting Human Rights 15
• LW494 Refugee Protection: Refugees and Asylum Seekers (A) 15
• LW495 Rights of the Child (A) 15
• LW416 Contemporary Issues in Human Rights I 15
• LW453 Regional Systems: The Council of Europe 7.5
• LW454 Regional Systems: The European Union 7.5
• LW455 Minority Rights 7.5
• LW459 International Labour Standards 7.5
• LW456 Gender and Human Rights 7.5
• LW460 Refugee Protection: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 7.5
• LW461 Disability and International Law 7.5
• LW462 Self-Determination and Autonomy Regimes 7.5
• LW463 Human Rights and States of Emergency 7.5
• LW464 Rights of the Child 7.5
• LW465 Conflict Studies 7.5
• LW471 International Humanitarian Law 7.5
• LW472 International Organisations 7.5
• LW473 International Relations 7.5
• LW474 European Union and Human Rights 7.5
• LW480 Abolition of the Death Penalty 7.5
• LW417 Contemporary Issues in Human Rights II 7.5

3.9 In the event that courses in excess of the graduation requirement of 90 credits are presented for examination, the best scores will be counted for honours purposes.

3.10 All subjects must be passed individually. A candidate who fails a single subject may, at the discretion of the Faculty of Law, re-present in that subject.

3.11 Honours are awarded in accordance with the following standards: First Class Honours, an aggregate of 70%; Second Class Honours, Grade I, an aggregate of 60%; Second Class Honours, Grade II, an aggregate of 50%. A pass is 40%.

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility