Aberystwyth University
Department of Law and Criminology

Overview
The Department of Law and Criminology at Aberystwyth University has a long history of teaching law; it is the oldest law school in Wales and one of the oldest in the United Kingdom. The Department is housed in the spacious and modern Hugh Owen Building, which is centrally located on the University campus overlooking the town of Aberystwyth.

It is self-contained, with lecture theatres and the purpose-built Law Library less than a minute’s walk from each other. The Library contains around 42,000 volumes, large collections of British and European materials, significant holdings in international law, and an increasing range of high-quality electronic information resources. These are complemented by the vast resources of the nearby National Library of Wales, which, as a copyright library, receives copies of all books published in the UK.

The Department provides dedicated working spaces for the exclusive use of postgraduates, as well as a Postgraduate Room where students can meet and work outside the Library. Facilities include a number of networked PCs, all of which are situated in the Department and within easy access of the Law Library.

All members of the academic staff are actively engaged in research and publishing in their areas of expertise. The Department is also home to a specialist research centre, the Centre for Welsh Legal Affairs.

Programmes
LLM by research
Graduates in law or related subjects, as well as those with professional or vocational qualifications, can undertake research for an LLM on either a full- or part-time basis, under the expert guidance of a member of the Department’s staff. A candidate will have to complete a thesis of around 50,000 words. The normal period of study is 12 months full time or two years part time.

Taught LLM
The Department offers the following taught LLMs:

• LLM in Information Technology Law
• LLM in International Business Law.

The taught LLM has been carefully designed to provide students with the opportunity to combine instruction and examination in specialist subjects of their choice with the completion of a piece of research into a topic of special interest. The courses are open to graduates from the UK or overseas, and also to those with relevant professional qualifications and experience. 

These taught courses involve attendance at a series of special small-group postgraduate seminars in each of the modules chosen. The emphasis is on active student participation through student presentations, discussion and group work. Students are assessed in each module (by assessed coursework and oral presentation). Following the successful completion of the taught element, students are required to submit a dissertation.

The normal period of full-time study is 12 months, with attendance at the taught element between September and May and completion of the dissertation in the period June to September. Should they wish to do so, students may take an additional six months to complete the dissertation.

Distance learning LLM
The Department currently offers the following LLM courses through distance learning:

• LLM in Environmental Law and Management
• LLM in Information Technology Law
• LLM in International Business Law.

All courses are multidisciplinary and suitable for people of many backgrounds. They are very flexible, allowing students to study at their own pace. Normally, the courses take three to five years to complete. 

It is also possible to study individual modules, rather than enrolling on the full course, and build a degree that way. Details of fees are available on request.

LLM in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law by distance learning
From January 2009, an LLM in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law will be introduced. This will offer courses in human rights broadly defined at the national and international levels, and is aimed in particular at those working in government, NGOs and other organisations who wish to acquire specialist expertise, but cannot take a year out from their jobs.

Contact
Department of Law and Criminology
Aberystwyth University
Hugh Owen Building
Penglais, Aberystwyth
Ceredigion SY23 3DY 

T +44 (0)1970 622712
F +44 (0)1970 622729
E law-enquiries@aber.ac.uk
W www.aber.ac.uk/law