2017/2018

THE DEGREE OF LLM

NFQ Level 9, Major Award

The Degree of LLM is examined either by a dissertation and prescribed assessments and examinations (Taught) or alternatively, by a major thesis (Research).


The LLM (Taught) is a full-time programme running for 12 months or a part-time programme running for 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme. A full-time candidate may not, during the currency of the LLM (Taught), simultaneously pursue any other form of education, training or employment, without the advance permission of the School of Law.

Candidates must be approved by the School of Law and must normally:
(a) hold a Law Degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1
or
(b) have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate to undertake the LLM (Taught) Degree
or
(c) have passed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law offered by the School of Law at University College Cork.

The number of places available in any given year is dependent on resources and all qualified candidates may not be admitted.

Exemptions - Professional Diplomas
Candidates in the possession of professional diplomas relevant to the LLM may on application make a request for exemption from up to 20 credits of elective modules.  This request will be considered by the Programme Director and the Chair of the Postgraduate Committee and decisions regarding exemptions will be made on the basis of the relevance of the professional diploma to the programme. Exemption forms are available from the School of Law. The Programme Director and the Chair of the Postgraduate Committee will also allocate the distribution of exemptions in line with the programme requirements and reflecting a workload balance over the duration of the degree.

Full-time
Students take 90 credits in total including LW6538 LLM (Taught) Dissertation (30 credits) and 60 credits from the list of elective modules.

Part-time:
Year 1: Students take 40 credits from the list of elective modules.
Year 2: Students take 50 credits including LW6538 LLM (Taught) Dissertation (30 credits) and 20 credits from the list of elective modules.

Core Module
LW6538 LLM (Taught) Dissertation (30 credits)

Elective Modules
(It may be that not all modules will be offered each year):
LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)
LW6529 Information Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6530 Constitutional Law in Comparative Context (10 credits)
LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10 credits)
LW6541 Electronic Commerce Law (10 credits)
LW6544 Criminology (10 credits)
LW6545 Penology (10 credits)
LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)
LW6549 International Children's Rights (10 credits)
LW6550 International Criminal Law (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6563* Child Law in Practice (10 credits)
LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)
LW6572 Contemporary Issues in International Law (10 credits)
LW6574 Intellectual Property and Internet Regulation (10 credits)
LW6578 Consumer Rights: Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6579 Law of Secured Lending (5 credits)
LW6580 Environmental Law in Practice (5 credits)
LW6581 Method in Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6584 International Refugee Law (5 credits)
LW6588 Enforcement and Sanctions in Antitrust Law (5 credits)
LW6589
Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (5 credits)
LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)
LW6603 Legal Regulation of Cohabitation and Emerging Family Forms (5 credits)
LW6605 European Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Rescue (10 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6609 Mental Health Law (5 credits)
LW6612
IT Law Clinic (5 credits)
LW6617 International Biodiversity and Ecosystems Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6618 Climate Change Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6622
Sale, Insurance and Carriage of Goods by Sea (5 credits)
LW6623 Global Maritime Security (5 credits)
LW6626 Law of Ship Finance (5 credits)
LW6627 International Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6628 Marine Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6629 Natural Resources Law (5 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered each year and/or other options may become available. Undergraduate Modules:
In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 10 credits from the list of undergraduate modules available for the LLB Degree

* LW6563 - there is a quota of 20 students for this module. Preference will be given to students from the LLM (Child and Family Law) and any remaining places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.


Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2017/2018.

Presentation of Dissertation/Submission Dates:
The dissertation must be submitted for examination at the Winter Board, on a date in September to be specified by the School of Law at the commencement of the programme.

Exit award: Postgraduate Diploma in Law (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Upon successful completion of modules to the value of 60 credits, registered LLM students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Law.

Programme Learning Outcomes for LLM (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Law (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:


The LLM (Research) is a full-time programme running for 12 months or a part-time programme running for 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme. In either case, such studies or research must be under such direction and supervision as may be approved by the School of Law. A full-time candidate may not, during the currency of the studies or research, simultaneously pursue any other form of education, training or employment, save with the advance permission of the School.

It is possible to register for an LLM (Research) in September, January, April or July of each year, therefore applications are accepted throughout the academic year, but note candidates are advised to contact the School of Law.

Entry Requirements
Candidates must be approved by the School of Law, following the recommendation of the Head of School after consultation with the School of Law Graduate Studies Committee and must normally:
(a) hold the BCL (Hons) Degree of the National University of Ireland with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1;
or
(b) have obtained the Degree of LLB with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 following a programme of studies for that degree in University College Cork;
or
(c) have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate to undertake the prescribed programme of research or advanced studies.

The number of places available in any given year is dependent on resources and all qualified candidates may not be admitted. Candidates will not be permitted to follow the LLM (Research) unless, in the opinion of the School, they possess an appropriate capacity for research and have submitted a detailed research proposal in an area in which the School can offer suitable supervision.

A candidate must complete a major thesis (90 credits). This must be of such quality and depth as to reflect the fact that it is the product of full time research and writing of one year's duration from the date of first registration (or two years part-time research and writing from the date of first registration). The major thesis will normally comprise approximately 40,000 words, excluding reasonable footnotes. A candidate may be required to submit to an oral or written examination on the matter of such thesis. Candidates may take the 5 credit module LW6004 Research Methods in Law for audit described under the heading Modules for Postgraduate Training.

Presentation of LLM (Research) Thesis/Submission Dates
Candidate must submit his/her thesis in line with the general university requirements, information on which is available here.

Programme Learning Outcomes for LLM (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:


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