This programme is designed to equip students with a general yet comprehensive education in a range of areas within International Law. The course will enable students to master the basic principles of the discipline and explore advanced level theories, as well as understand the many traditional and contemporary challenges in International Law. They will have a wide range of International Law options to choose from, and may therefore acquire broad as opposed to specialised knowledge.   

Through carefully designed course work and varied teaching approaches, students will acquire the intellectual open-ness, technical expertise and critical thinking abilities that are necessary for effectiveness in a globalising world. The programme will equip students to respond effectively to the wide range of intellectual and professional challenges facing contemporary International Lawyers. The LLM in International Law will equip them to deal with both case work and policy making.

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities for graduates of the programme will include work with international law firms, international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, World Trade Organisation and European Union, international courts and tribunals, ‘think tanks’ and research centres, non-governmental organisations and government (eg. Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs). Having taken one of our programmes, there will, of course, also be possibilities for academically inclined students to pursue careers in teaching and research.

Structure

Part 1: Taught modules are undertaken in the period of September to June and will involve the study of 120 credits.

Teaching will mostly be seminar based which will promote group and individual interaction, which also ensures that every individual student is encouraged to contribute to discussions. Seminar based teaching enables lecturers and students to discuss issues and investigate topics in greater depth, develops critical thinking and solution based learning skills in students, whilst also allowing the course teachers to monitor closely each individual’s progress. Emphasis will be placed on the use of virtual learning through the mechanism of the Blackboard computer assisted learning system and databases such as Westlaw and LexisNexis. Throughout all modules comparative elements with other legal systems will be emphasised.

Part 2: the dissertation is valued at 60 credits and is undertaken during the period of June to September, on successful completion of part 1. The Dissertation of approximately 20,000 words in length, and will focus on a legal topic reflecting students’ specialised interests and may be on an area either related to taught modules or a commercially related topic outside those studied in the Part One taught modules.

Teaching will be in English, however according to the University’s Welsh Language policy, students who so wish may be examined and present essays, coursework and dissertations through the medium of Welsh.