Student Handbook 2023/24

Specialised Programmes with a compulsory Dissertation

• Competition Law 
• European Law 
• Human Rights Law
• Public International Law 
• Tax Law and International Tax
• Environmental Law 
• Shipping Law 
• Immigration Law
• Criminal Justice
• Insurance Law
• Energy and Natural Resources Law

The above programmes have a 30 credit compulsory dissertation requirement. This has to be written in the legal field of your programme of registration. 

Module selection Process

The requirement for a Master’s degree (LLM) is 180 credits.

Within each Programme, you have a range modules you can choose but if the module includes a 30 credit compulsory dissertation it is a requirement for you to take it.

Your 30 credit compulsory dissertation will be preselected.

A further 150 credits of taught modules will need to be taken. 

90 credits minimum must be taken from approved modules within your programme. Applicable taught modules are identified in the remaining 60 taught credits required can also be taken from your programme approved module list or can be taken from the full list of available modules this year i.e. from ANY LLM programme although certain modules may have restrictions. (We refer to this as your free choice element.) 

We STRONGLY recommend that you select one of your taught modules in an area that directly relates to your proposed dissertation topic.  This will act as a supporting mechanism and involve you in the teaching of legal issues directly relating to your proposed topic.

Specialised Programmes with an ELECTIVE Dissertation

On the following programmes you can elect to do a 30 credit dissertation OR opt for a fully taught degree.

• Laws (General LLM)
• Banking and Finance Law 
• Commercial and Corporate Law 
• Comparative and International Dispute Resolution 
• Intellectual Property Law 
• International Economic law 
• International Business Law 
• Technology Media and Telecommunications

Students choosing to complete an elective dissertation note that this has to be written in the legal field of your programme of registration. 

The dissertation topic in a General LLM can be in any legal area as long as other dissertation regulations are carefully considered.

Module selection – elective dissertation

The requirement for a Master’s degree (LLM) is 180 credits.

If you choose a 30 credit elective dissertation then a further 150 credits of taught modules will need to be taken. 

90 credits minimum must be taken from approved modules within your programme. Applicable taught modules are identified in the Module and Programme Description book. The remaining 60 taught credits required can also be taken from your programme approved module list or can be taken from the full list of available modules this year.

We STRONGLY recommend that you select one of your taught modules in an area that directly relates to your proposed dissertation topic. This will act as a supporting mechanism and involve you in the teaching of legal issues directly relating to your proposed topic.  This is particularly important for students on the Laws programme.