School of Law

Prospective Students

Duration
2 years full time/3-5 years part time

Aims
The Master in Legal Science (MLegSc) is designed for graduates in a discipline other than Law who wish to obtain a Law degree for professional practice or in aid of other career goals. It replaces the Bachelor of Legal Science (BLegSc) which the School of Law has offered since 1995. As a Masters course the level of study will involve a significant uplift on BLegSc and a higher pass mark of 50% for each module and the dissertation.

Entrance Requirements
Applicants must normally have a good upper second class honours degree in their primary degree. Applicants may apply in the year they expect to graduate in their primary degree, in which case admission to the course will be conditional upon performance in the primary degree.

Organisation of the MLegSc Programme
The MLegSc is offered on a modular basis. It may be completed in two years of full time study or spread over a maximum of five years part time study. To complete the degree a total of 300 CATS points must be obtained. Twelve modules counting for 20 CATS points each must be taken and a dissertation counting for 60 CATS must also be completed. The structure of the degree (taken on a full time basis) is as follows:

Year 1: Semester One
Introduction to Law
Contract Law
Criminal Law

Year 1: Semester Two
Constitutional Law
Foundations of European Union Law
Introduction to Property Law

Year 2: Semester One
Land Law
Evidence
Advanced Research Skills

Year 2: Semester Two
Torts
Equity
Substantive European Union Law

Dissertation: summer vacation after second year

Assessment
All modules are assessed by way of a mixture of coursework assignments and traditional examinations, with an emphasis placed upon the former. The dissertation should be of length not exceeding 20,000 words and be submitted in September of the student's final year.

Classification
As a Masters degree MLegSc will not be formally classified. Where degree class is relevant, e.g. for admission to the Institute of Professional Legal Studies , the candidate's average mark will apply. To obtain the weighting given to an Institute applicant with a 2:1 a candidate would need an average mark of at least 60%.

Closing Date for Applications
The closing date for applications to this course is 30th June 2008.  Late applications may still be considered if places are still available.