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LLM/PGDip/PGCert International Law

Join a highly-regarded law department and gain skills that will boost your employment prospects in fields such as academia, the legal profession and the corporate sector
Code
PGM195
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£11,000 (UK) *
£17,600 (INT) *
Course leader
Dr Alessandra M. De Tommaso
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Why choose LLM/PGDip/PGCert International Law at Middlesex?

This degree will enable you to specialise in subjects related to international law. You'll develop a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles of public international law, and advanced conceptual insights into the theories underpinning the legal status of international organisations and their role in the settlement of international disputes.

We are dedicated to providing students with the skills and abilities sought after by a wide range of employers, from legal firms and NGOs to domestic and international organisations.

Topics you'll cover include globalisation, the use of armed force, transnational trade, terrorism, governance and the regulation of ownership over territory

Middlesex University School of Law is truly international in its outlook, with our faculty comprising multilingual expert academics from across the globe.

Our academics are influential on the world stage and include business and human rights expert Dr Alessandra De Tommaso, and Professor of International Law William Schabas, who has worked with the United Nations.

What you will gain

Studying at Middlesex will enhance your professional development and horizons by refining your problem-solving skills in a transnational context through the acquisition of a critical understanding of international legal frameworks, institutions and practices, as well as the social and political context in which law operates.

The skills you will gain are transferable to a variety of professional sectors, including the legal profession, policymaking, the corporate sector, governmental bodies and academia.

You will learn from experts who are actively engaged in the theoretical and practical application of human rights around the world:

  • William Schabas, Professor of International Law, is a world leading expert on genocide and the death penalty and has served on numerous international bodies including the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and as the chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry into the Gaza war
  • Giulia Pecorella, Senior Lecture of Law, has published her monograph on the US and the crime of aggression and has additional research interests in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, international organisations and dispute resolution
  • Alessandra De Tommaso, Senior Lecturer in Law, has published her monograph on corporate liability and international criminal law, and is an expert in international criminal law and business and human rights

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Ranked 5th in the UK
    Our School of Law is ranked 5th in the UK for Law – Times Higher Education, Young University Ranking, 2023
  • We are an international university
    We're ranked 5th in the UK and 14th globally as “most international university” – Times Higher Education World University Ranking, 2023
  • Excellent reputation
    Top 2 university in the UK – Times Higher Education, Young Universities,  2022

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

You will be taught by leading experts in international law worldwide who represent different disciplines and legal traditions, this specialism opens the professional horizons of students to legal careers in any jurisdiction.

You will gain a specialised knowledge in subjects related to international law and contemporary concerns such as globalisation, the use of armed force, transnational trade, terrorism, governance and the regulation of ownership over territory.

There may also be internship opportunities in national and international organisations such as the United Nations or in the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre on campus.

Course structure

Here is a breakdown of the part-time and full-time options.

Full-time LLM (1 year, 180 credits)

Four core plus two optional modules are completed over terms one and two, with a Dissertation period in term three.

Part-time LLM (2 years, 180 credits)

Four core plus two optional modules are completed over four taught terms, plus a Dissertation period. Two modules in term one, two modules in term two, and two modules in the first term of the following academic year.

Full-time PG Diploma (1 year, 120 credits)

You will study four core modules plus two optional modules to be completed over terms one and two. Three modules will be taken in term one and three modules in term two

Part-time PG Diploma (2 years, 120 credits)

You will study four core modules plus two optional modules to be completed over three or four taught terms

In Year 1, you will study two modules in term one and two modules in term two.

In Year 2, you can choose to study:

  • Two modules in term one or
  • One module in term one and one module in term two or
  • Two modules in term two.

For all pathways, attendance may be required during the day and/or evening, depending on your choice of modules.

Modules

Each module is typically worth 20 credits, except the Dissertation and Work Integrated Learning modules which are worth 60 credits each. The Work Integrated Learning module may be chosen to replace the Dissertation with prior agreement.

Additional optional modules available in international politics, criminology and sociology

In addition to the law modules listed below, students can study one of the following modules from international politics, criminology and sociology either in term one or two.

Term one: Sustainable Development and Human Rights; Environmental Law and Governance; Migration Theories and Approaches.

Term two: Politics of Globalisation

  • Core modules

    • Foundations and Principles of International Law (20 Credits) - Compulsory

      Enable students to analyse, critically evaluate and provide authoritative commentary on how international law impacts international relations and contemporary concerns such as globalisation, the use of armed force, terrorism, poverty, governance and the regulation of ownership over territory.

    • International Organisations and International Dispute Resolution (20 Credits) - Compulsory

      Get advanced conceptual insights into the legal, political and structural issues that underpin dispute resolution within international organisations through a thematic focus on issues such as labour, trade, title to territory and international peace and security. You will learn to think strategically about different means of settlement of disputes and their applicability to existing or potential conflicts.

    • Law and Policy of the World Trade Organisation (20 Credits) - Compulsory

      This module is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of global trade regimes through an overview of globalisation and contemporary international economic relations; the regulation of international trade by the WTO; and the relationship between international trade, harmonisation of the law and trade-related issues.

    • Legal Research Skills (20 Credits) - Compulsory

      This module equips students with essential research skills necessary to complete a master's of law successfully, including the technical and conventional systems governing academic writing and the principles and practice followed in legal reasoning.

  • Plus one of the following:

    • Dissertation (60 Credits) - Optional

      The Dissertation module is taught in term two, and assessed by a 15,000-18,000 dissertation. Students demonstrate expert-level knowledge and advanced-level legal research skills by writing a dissertation paper, supported by a supervisor, on a topic proposed by the student and approved by the module leader, Dr Lughaidh Kerin.

      Eligible LLM students can replace this module with the Work Integrated Learning or Practicum in International Organisations module with prior approval.

      Due to the evolving situation as regards COVID19, this work placement module may be suspended in 2020-21. However, where possible, we are working in consultation with our professional partners to develop online work placements until it is safe to resume placements in person.

    • Work Integrated Learning (typical content) (60 Credits) - Optional

      The module aims to enable you to apply theoretical knowledge and research to anticipate and respond to challenges in a selected workplace experience. You can undertake this workplace experience as an internship that you negotiate yourself or in your current workplace or an existing voluntary role. It also aims to help you foster sustainable long term learning by requiring that you take responsibility for your own learning, design and negotiate learning goals and make informed judgments about your performance across the programme of study. The module will ask you to engage as active subjects in the assessment process, thus enhancing your capacity for transformative learning. By selecting a topic of interest grounded in your workplace experience you’ll be expected to demonstrate reflexivity, self-regulation and self-assessment in your journey towards personal and professional development.

  • Plus two optional modules from the list below

    • Business and Human Rights (20 Credits) - Optional

      The Bophal disaster, the tragedy of the Niger Delta and the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory are all examples of what appears to be systematic corporate human rights abuses which are not being adequately prevented or remedied. This module enables students to understand how the sub-discipline business and human rights challenges State-centred architecture of international human rights law and delves into the responsibility of non-state actors such as multinational corporations in the area of human rights. It also challenges the idea that only individuals can commit international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes looking into corporate criminal and civil liability for human rights violations.

    • European Human Rights Law and Practice (20 Credits) - Optional

      This module engages students with the legal, political and philosophical perspectives of the legal frameworks, institutions and remedies available to protect fundamental rights in Europe, both under the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

    • International Commercial Litigation and Arbitration (20 Credits) - Optional

      Gain the knowledge necessary to deal with contemporary and emerging challenges in the practise and management of transnational commercial disputes with a focus on the increasing use of arbitration for expediency and cost savings by medium and large-scale enterprises operating in multiple jurisdictions.

    • International Human Rights Law (20 Credits) - Optional

      Provides an in-depth understanding of the international human rights law framework under the United Nation organisations and ability to assess its efficacy engaging the complementary American, African and Asian regional systems of promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.

    • Law of the International Sale of Goods (20 Credits) - Optional

      This module presumes familiarity with the principles of contract law and extends these into the international arena in the field of international sale of goods. It deals with the English law governing trade in wet and dry commodities and international law, principally the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. It aims to enhance the student's ability to tackle the practical, policy and economic implications of legal regimes enabling trade and transactions between parties divided by or purposely straddling legal and geographic boundaries.

    • Migration: Theories & Approaches (20 Credits) - Optional

      In this module you will look at the relationship between migration, politics and policies from a comparative and European perspective. This relationship is both ‘top down’, with migration becoming an object of contention amongst political parties and migration policies being largely shaped by political divisions, and ‘bottom up’, with the growing presence of NGOs campaigning for migrant rights and migrant activism. First, you will be asked to comparatively examine migration policies, their regulatory role in the attempt to manage and control migratory flows, and how they have been affected by political debates over migration.

      Secondly, you will look at the growth of anti-immigration politics and how anti-migrant mobilisations have become a constant feature at European level, not only for marginal groups but also for mainstream government parties. During this part of the module you will also investigate the growing conflicts between migrants and natives over the uses of space and the distribution of welfare resources. Thirdly, you will look at different forms of migrant participation in the public sphere, from self-organised migrant protest around issues such as freedom of circulation, citizenship rights and labour rights to more institutionalised forms of participation through unions and NGOs.

    • Sustainable Development and Human Rights (20 Credits) - Optional

      This module will help you critically explore the key institutions and frameworks that govern human rights at the international level and of the international policy context that promotes sustainable development, to examine how the two interact. You will examine the notion of rights as competing, contested and co-opted and question their ability to function in crisis situations. It focuses on issues of inclusion/exclusion and reflects on how the rights and ‘development’ of three ‘marginalised groups’ have been promoted. You’ll focus in particular on indigenous peoples, the caste system and gender inequality. The aim of this part of your studies is to question if current legal approaches to human rights are sufficient to bring sustainable development to groups currently marginalised.

    • Postgraduate Legal Work Experience (0 Credits) - Optional

      Postgraduate Legal Work Experience is a non-credit bearing module and provides students with an opportunity to gain law-related work experience in a support role supervised by experienced legal advisors. An academic tutor and Middlesex University’s Employability Service will provide information and guidance on finding work experience, but students must also be pro-active in finding a suitable position.

To find out more about this course, please download the LLM/PGDip/PGCert International Law specification (PDF).

How you will learn

You will gain knowledge and understanding through combination of  stimulating  lectures, seminars and presentations. These are used to communicate core information, develop themes and ideas, and student participation through interactive exercises, while also providing opportunities for peer and self-assessment. You will also engage in intensive programmes of structured reading and research, and present your findings in both written and spoken form.

Skills training, particularly through our Legal Research Skills module, will equip you with the intellectual tools necessary for postgraduate work, including the identification of appropriate materials, critical and analytical reading, and both writing skills and conventions.

Learning and teaching on all modules is informed by a critical approach that encompasses relevant aspects of the ethical, social, professional, historical and cultural contexts within which the law operates. Ethics are specifically embedded in some modules and you will be provided with the opportunity to understand the ethical dimensions of your own research.

Those students accepted on the Work Integrated Learning modules will engage with decision-makers in our partner organisations and develop new skills in research, writing, IT and networking.

The course is delivered by our academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms. Our learning activities include lectures, presentations, webinars, 1-2-1 tutorials and group projects.

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Your personal tutor will support you with help and advice throughout your studies.

Where will you study?

Our Hendon campus, north London.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Contact hours per week

On-campus

6

Independent study

10

For placement, there may be additional hours.

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

In order to give you more authentic form of assessment, we have move away from exams and adopted an approach which reproduces the skills and tasks that are performed in the workplace. This commitment to professional alignment includes a varied mix of assessment styles such as: oral presentations, coursework, peer-marking, literature reviews and, where appropriate, a dissertation or report-writing.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
  • Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the LLM/PGDip/PGCert International Law support your career?

This course is ideal if you're seeking to work as an academic, practising solicitor/barrister, policy advisor or other supporting roles concerning international law in multiple jurisdictions.

This includes national governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, private firms, armed service or academia in a wide range of areas such as territorial disputes, armed conflict, human rights, maritime law, and commercial law.

You will be offered specialist advice by the course leader and other contributors to the course, including guidance on how to enter and pass the recruitment processes for national and international organisations.

Our team of world-renowned lecturers will provide the latest thinking and practice on legal issues. You'll benefit from their considerable network of contacts and connections within their sectors, notably for internship opportunities within international and domestic organisations, such as the United Nations, our on-campus litigation centre, the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), the Legal Advice Centre, and a range of local companies providing professional legal services.

Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.

95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study – Graduate Outcomes, 2022.

Career paths

Some of the organisations our graduates have worked for include national governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, private firms, armed services or academia in a wide range of areas such as territorial disputes, armed conflict, human rights or maritime and commercial law.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

  • The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 
  • A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

Global network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

As well as access to the University's Employability Service, students are offered specialist advice by the Programme Leader and other contributors to the programme, including guidance on how to enter and pass recruitment processes for national and international organisations. Students have access to the support services offered by the Clinical Legal Education programme and are invited to attend career-focused workshops, skills sessions and events. Visit the Clinical Legal Education site.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless otherwise stated.

UK students*

LLM

Full-time students: £11,000
Part-time students: £73 per credit
Part-time students: £37 per dissertation

PGCert

Full-time students: tbc

PGDip

Full-time students: tbc
Part-time students: tbc per taught credit
Part-time students: tbc per dissertation credit

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless otherwise stated.

International students*

LLM

Full-time students: £17,600
Part-time students: £117 per credit
Part-time students: £59 per dissertation credit

PGCert

Full-time students: tbc

PGDip

Full-time students: tbc

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

International students who require a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. If you are on any other visa for the duration of study, please contact our admissions team to discuss possibilities of studying on a part-time basis.

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Dr Alessandra M. De Tommaso
Lecturer in Law

Dr Alessandra M. De Tommaso joined Middlesex University in 2021 as a Lecturer in Law and is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Italian Bar Association. Alessandra’s research interests are in corporate criminal liability, international criminal law and business and human rights and she is currently focussing on the feasibility of holding corporations accountable for their involvement in international crimes and human rights abuses.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Other courses

Start: September 2024

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Code: PGM302

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