University of Glasgow
School of Law

Studying for an LLM at Glasgow School of Law
As a University of Glasgow postgraduate student, you will be part of a dynamic and ever-increasing community of students. In the School of Law, we are committed to offering you the best academic experience possible. We also pride ourselves on being a particularly supportive and friendly law school.

The School of Law has recently completed a review of postgraduate taught degrees. In addition to providing a more streamlined and dynamic LLM programme, the most significant change concerns the structure of taught courses. As from September 2008, LLM taught courses are to be studied over a period of 22 weeks as opposed to the current 12 weeks. This longer period for each course will enable non-UK graduates to adapt to unfamiliar teaching and self-learning methods before being examined, so that no assessed work will be required from the students before three months of study. As before, students may pursue the LLM programme over 12 months full time or 24 months part time.

A specifically tailored two-week induction programme at the beginning of the academic year offers non-UK students useful information and guidance not only on learning methods, skills and assessment processes, but also on non-academic aspects of living in the city and studying at the University of Glasgow. Social activities involving both staff and students are integrated into the programme.

In addition, the School is engaged in ongoing discussions with other departments in the Faculty for the provision of multidisciplinary, joint postgraduate degrees. For example, we now have a MSc in European Law and Politics and a MSc in Legal and Political Thought.

The LLM programmes
The LLM is a one-year full-time degree or a two-year part-time degree programme. As well as the general LLM, which offers a free choice of courses, the following specialist LLMs are available:

• LLM in Commercial Law
• LLM in International Competition Law and Policy
• LLM in International Law

The starting date for 2009 entry is September.

LLM in Commercial Law
As the European Single Market and global markets continue to develop, specialist lawyers in commercial law are increasingly in demand. New developments in e-commerce and a shift towards the global marketplace mean that new legal skills and knowledge are constantly required in many public and private sector jobs. Commercial law has been a strength at Glasgow for many years. The programme is lead by Professor Iain MacNeil, an expert in corporate governance.

Content: at least two from the following courses, plus other options to complete a full programme:

• Carriage of Goods by Sea
• Company Law
• Competition Law Enforcement
• Conflict Aspects of Commercial Law
• EC Trade Law
• Financial Regulation
• Intellectual Property Law
• International and Domestic Arbitration
• International Competition Law and Policy I
• International Competition Law and Policy II
• International Economic Law
• International Environmental law
• International Investment Law
• International Merger Control
• International Sale and Finance
• Law of Commercial Banking

LLM in International Competition Law and Policy
This LLM takes a truly international approach to competition law, examining in particular the law of the European Community and the United States, but considering also the international developments at the supranational levels and the law in other jurisdictions. We offer four competition law courses with wide international coverage, giving the choice to students to focus their entire LLM studies on competition law courses.

The School has expanded its strength in competition law in recent years. Today, the School’s strength in this area is formidable. The team is Professor Rosa Greaves, Professor Mark Furse and Dr Sandra Marco Colino. Professor Furse is the author of several key texts in the field and has recently published a new book: The Law of Merger Control in the EC and UK. He is currently writing a book on competition law in China.

Content: at least two from the following courses, plus other options to complete a full programme:

• Competition Law Enforcement
• EC Trade Law
• International Competition Law and Policy I
• International Competition Law and Policy II
• International Economic Law
• International Merger Control

LLM in International Law
A distinctive feature of this programme is the unique blend of courses that offer an in-depth analysis of international law topics while locating these within a wider legal context. The international law programme is taught by a team that truly understands international issues: it consists of staff from the UK, Canada and Uzbekistan.

Content: at least two from the following courses, plus other options to complete a full programme:

• European Human Rights Law
• Foundations of International Law (normally compulsory)
• Globalisation, Constitutionalism and Human Rights
• International Criminal law
• International Economic Law
• International Environmental Law
• International Investment Law
• United Nations Law

General LLM
The general LLM allows you to choose from the full range of master’s courses available at the School of Law. You have the opportunity to put together a programme of study that suits your own academic needs and which you may use to build on for future employment or academic specialisation. This allows for student flexibility in drawing on the academic and practical expertise available in the Law School.

Content: you will study four courses and a dissertation.

For details of courses available, see the programme entries for:

• LLM in Commercial Law
• LLM in International Competition Law & Policy
• LLM in International Law

Teaching and assessment
All LLM programmes are structured so as to require students to take four taught courses. The courses are normally assessed through the combination of coursework and an examination which takes place at the end of the second semester. Teaching is based on a seminar method and class sizes are limited to a maximum of 25 participants. Students are also required to write a supervised dissertation on an approved topic during the summer after the end of teaching and exams.

Entry requirements and English-language skills
Applicants must have a good (2:1 or equivalent) first degree in law or a degree with at least 50% of the credits in law, or a qualification as a legal professional in their state of origin. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in English: the minimum standard is British Council IELTS band 7.0, with no component less than 6.5, or a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test), 100 (internet-based test). Once admitted, students may be required to take a language class as part of their programme.

Fees and scholarships
The full-time fee for 2009 entry has not yet been finalised. However, the fee for 2008 entry was as follows:

• UK/EU nationals: £3,750
• Non-UK/EU nationals: £9,400*

*Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway: The School of Law offers a £2,500 reduction on the overseas fees charged to nationals of these countries who come to the University of Glasgow to study for an LLM degree.

The Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law was ranked 5 in the 2001 UK Government Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The RAE ranks the research publications of staff in UK law schools on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) There are over 40 members of academic staff within the School of Law. This team provides a substantial body of expertise and experience across all the major areas of law. Members of staff are actively engaged in both teaching and research and the School is committed to a policy of research-led teaching.

The City of Glasgow
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city with an international airport having direct daily flights to London airports, mainland Europe and to some non-European destinations.

Historically, it was a major industrial and commercial centre. In modern times, its economy is based primarily on the retail and service sectors, and it has established itself as a leading cultural centre, offering a wide range of classical and modern music, theatre and film on a year-round basis. Boasting three universities, Glasgow is an exciting and vibrant city, and it is within easy reach of the famous Scottish countryside!

Glasgow will also be the host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Contact
Ms S Holmes
School of Law
Stair Building
5–8 The Square
University of Glasgow
Glasgow G12 8QQ 

T +44 (0)141 330 6239
F +44 (0)141 330 4900
E S.Holmes@law.gla.ac.uk
W www.gla.ac.uk/law