School of Law

You can choose between studying for a LLM, a Diploma or a Certificate in European Law, and you can study any programme on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Course structure

Full-time

The LLM requires twelve months of full time study, or twenty-four months of part-time study. We require full-time students to study four compulsory modules (60M credits) in semester one (September to January), and four optional modules (60M credits) in semester two (February to May) with the dissertation module (60M) to complete during the summer months (until end of August).

Part-time

Part-time students study four compulsory modules (60M credits) and two optional modules (30M credits) in the first year, and two optional modules and the dissertation in the second year.

Diploma and certificate

Diploma students study the same taught modules as the LLM students but do not write the dissertation.

Certificate students take only the 60M credits of compulsory modules.

The choice of optional modules may vary from year to year.

Credit system

We grade our modules by credit points. The usual system at Leeds, and other UK universities, expects each student to invest roughly ten hours of time for each credit point. This time includes self-directed studies and attending lectures and seminars.

The European Credit Transfer System uses fewer credits, as a student is expected to invest thirty hours of overall time for one credit point. This LLM programme requires 180 UK credits (sixty credits ECTS) in total in one year, sixty UK credits (twenty credits ECTS system) each for compulsory modules, optional modules and the dissertation module.

Compulsory modules: 60 UK/20 credits ECTS system

The following modules will comprise fifteen UK credits (five credits in the ECTS system) each. The teaching methods are discursive, including five seminars with active participation by students, and an appropriate amount of independent study. Assessment is by essay.

• LAW5435M EU Internal Market and Competition Law (advanced)
• LAW5310M EU Social Law (advanced) - co-requisite with LAW5435M
• LAW5495M Transnational Economic Relations and European Economic Integration
• LAW5381M Comparative Legal Traditions and Globalisation

Optional modules: 60 UK/20 credits ECTS system

Each of these modules will comprise fifteen UK credits (five credits in the ECTS system). Most modules will offer five seminars, and require an appropriate amount of independent study. Most assessment is by essay and presentation in the seminars.

• LAW5370M EU Environmental Law
• LAW5345M EU Discrimination Law
• LAW5375M EU Agricultural Law
• LAW5645M Law of Foreign Investment
• LAW5495M Transnational economic relations and private lawmaking

Dissertation module: 60 UK/20 credits ECTS system

As a special feature of the programme, this module directs students towards producing a biannual journal where you can publish parts of your dissertation.

In addition to being allocated a personal supervisor for your dissertation, we also offer students practical training in research methods by analysing papers that have been considered fit for publication. This will enhance your ability to produce publishable work in your LLM dissertation.