LLM
When can you start this course? | Course code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
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You can also start this course in January |
Why choose this course?
- This new LLM offers you the ultimate in flexibility. Available for lawyers and non-lawyers, you can choose from over 25 modules to develop your knowledge and build a degree that's right for you, meeting your career aspirations, your research and personal interests.
- Modules are new and innovative, ranging from Business Crime through to International Commercial Arbitration and Environmental Crime. Practice what you learn on the Clinic module.
- We have a modern and contemporary approach to teaching law in a global context. You can tailor your coursework and assignments to different jurisdictions, so gaining a true international flavour of law.
- You'll be taught by our professional, experienced and knowledgeable teaching team, whose passion for their subjects and teaching incorporates their research interests and who regularly write and present in many areas of law.
- The highly supportive learning environment and professionalism of the team have made us one of the UK's top Law Schools for student satisfaction and success at postgraduate level.
- Enhance your career development. You can gain CPD points as you study each module.
- Study at a time and pace to suit you and your circumstances. You can study full time or part time - blended learning.
- Find out what it's like to study your LLM at Derby - watch the video
About the course
We've worked with the legal professions, judiciary, prosecution service and police to design the Derby LLM fit for the 21st century. It offers you unrivalled choice and opportunity and you have unique opportunities in both the way in which, and the focus of what, you learn. You have the maximum flexibility of study across the whole range of options, so you can design your future according to our interests and career aspirations.
The curriculum can be drawn on for wide ranging or specialist study. It provides unique learning opportunities to investigate areas that other courses simply do not offer. You will find subjects delivered with extraordinary passion and professionalism.
You will focus on some of the core aspects of knowledge in law, with many of the option modules also reflecting unique and distinctive areas of specialist knowledge. Choose from over 25 modules to develop your knowledge and design a degree that's right for you, meeting your career aspirations, your research and personal interests. Alternatively, after the Postgraduate Certificate stage, you can choose to follow one of the specialist named awards:
- LLM (Commercial Law)
- LLM (Corporate Law and Finance)
- LLM (Human Rights and Personal Freedom)
- LLM (Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law)
- LLM (International and Comparative Law)
- LLM (Transnational Criminal Law)
There's a real practical focus to studying the LLM at Derby. You will be taught in our lecture theatres and Courtrooms, in various styles that emphasise the practical application of your knowledge. You'll combine academic and theoretical knowledge with practical skills - and will also be prepared as an expert witness for your future career.
We're also one of the few universities in the UK where you can spend time in a professional organisation applying what you're learning. This gives you an unequalled opportunity to explore areas of personal interest in greater depth than is usually possible at this level of study.
Research is at the heart of this degree. From the start, through the Legal Scholarship module, you will be encouraged to develop your research, communication and independent learning techniques which will help you throughout your masters degree and also assist you with your personal and professional development. This module also provides a stepping stone for you if you wish to present your work at conferences, and includes sessions relating to getting your work published. The final Independent Studies module provides you with the opportunity to develop deep and specialist knowledge through scholarship. You will be supported throughout this module by a member of our law team who is an expert in the area you choose to research.
The highly supportive learning environment and professionalism of the team have made us one of the UK's top Law Schools for student satisfaction and success at postgraduate level.
For the professional looking at career development, you can follow this route to enhance your CPD points. You can also choose the pace of your studies so you can fit studying around your other commitments, studying full time or part time.
Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...
Your career
An LLM is considered essential for pursuit of an academic career but also is increasingly seen by employers as demonstrating specialism. This provides you with a genuine advantage when applying for positions within and beyond the legal sector.
The particular benefit of study on our 'flexible' LLM programme is that you can combine studies to provide unique specialisation in areas of law and criminal justice which can be brought together by the final dissertation
If you are currently in employment you have the opportunity for vocationally specific development. For example, if you're a manager working in construction and development you could study construction law, procurement law, trade and commercial law and complete with a dissertation that looks at the regulation of the construction industry.
In addition, in a turbulent world of work where people's roles evolve the flexibility of the programme means that it can adapt to your changing professional development needs.
The flexible LLM provides sufficient opportunity for specialisation to be a springboard for MPhil or PhD research in the School of Law and Criminology.
What our students say
"Studying the LLM at Derby has allowed me to study what I want, in the way I want it, at the pace I wanted to learn."
How you'll learn
You will learn in our fantastic law facilities which include two full size courtrooms. Take the video tour
You will learn alongside your peers, giving you the chance to collaborate with other talented people with a passion for the same kind of legal issues.
You will also work hard to acquire the independent research and writing skills that will enable you to put together strong legal arguments within the pieces of work that you submit.
Your lectures provide a solid foundation in the areas for study. Emphasis is placed on aiding research and guiding you in a way that stimulates your desire and interest to further explore the module area and specific topics.
Opportunity is provided through tutorials and discussion for you to explore topic areas and issues. Also, on an ongoing basis, you will be able to highlight study areas of particular interest.
Your tutors will acknowledge how study of a particular module in isolation serves to develop your knowledge and understanding in this area. Beyond this, the provision of the module in the context of the LLM pathway as a whole is acknowledged and account taken of the link and relationship with other modules you are studying.
How you're assessed
Types of assessment are wide ranging and include assignments, portfolio preparation, reports, case studies and online preparation of material. In many modules you can relate your assessment to different jurisdictions, so that your national law can be the focus of your award.
Assessment is integrated into learning and teaching for modules. A consistent loading of work, managed through the progressive development of work is scheduled in an inclusive and balanced way.
The final masters stage is assessed through the submission of your Independent Study or masters thesis. This will be on a specialist topic of your own choosing. You are supported in preparing this by your tutors here at Derby.
Anything else?
Unique modules
The University of Derby is unique in integrating practice based learning in to all of its LLM provision. This means in effect that regardless of the subject of study you have the opportunity to engage in relevant professional activity within the commercial or public sector.
The Clinic module supports and structures this practice based learning allowing you to gain credit towards your award.
Research
Our staff are actively engaged in research. Find out more
Our facilities
We are proud of our fantastic law facilities, with two full size courtrooms and an interviewing suite we have the perfect learning environment
Scholarships and funding
We have a number of bursaries and scholarships to help you with your fees. Find out more.
To enquire about the course
Please contact the programme leader, Chris Poole:
T: +44 (0) 1332 591896
E: j.c.poole@derby.ac.ukStart dates
If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:
- September 2012
- January 2013
If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:
- September 2012
- January 2013
Course code
MM1AEFees*
UK/EU students
- £495 per single module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total).
International students
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
Course length
- Full time: one year
- Part time: three years
Entry requirements
You will need: a good honours degree or relevant experienceif your first language is not English ...
