About This Course
Passionate about human rights and global issues and wanting to go on and develop your careers as lawyers on the international stage?
Within the LLM International Human Rights and International Criminal Law, our world-leading expertise across human rights, international criminal law, public international law, are brought together to help students hone their knowledge and passion, providing a unique specialism in the fields of human rights and the adjudication of international criminal and humanitarian law and international climate change and environmental law at the global level of application.
Why choose Bangor to study this LLM course?
- Exciting range of modules that examine contemporary and global issues of concern, including International Human Rights Law, International Climate Change Law and Policy, International Law of the Sea, and Business and Human Rights.
- The law staff at Bangor are active academic lawyers engaged in a wide range of exciting research. This research, which investigates matters of concern and importance in our global society, informs and enriches their teaching and interactions with students.
- Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to find meaningful employment where you can make a difference, be this as a activist, journalist, campaigner or policy officer working for non-governmental organisations, governments or international bodies such as the UN.
- Dedicated Law Library on campus which houses specialist collections, law reports, journals, and specialist Master's level monographs and texts.
- A replica courtroom on campus, with state-of-the-art specialist audio-visual equipment (for facilitating personal reflective development, as well as international moot court competitions remotely, via video link).
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
There are four compulsory modules on this course: Legal Research Methods, International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law and the dissertation.
Additionally, students select two optional modules from topic areas such as:
- Public International Law
- International Climate Change Law and Policy
- Cultural Heritage in International Law
- Contemporary Issues in International Environmental Law
- Comparative International Criminal Justice
- Business Law and Human Rights
Some of the more commercial and crime options are also available if students wish to complement their human rights studies with a trade or criminal justice angle. These include topics such as:
- Global Trade Law
- Transnational Crime
In choosing optional modules, students must ensure they have a balance of modules across the semesters. Students will be offered advice on optional module selection by their Personal Tutors.
Programmes and modules are constantly updated and reviewed. As with most academic programmes, please remember that it is possible that specific modules or programmes may not be offered in any particular year, because a member of staff is on study leave, for instance, or too few students opt for it. Bangor Law School reserves the right to vary or withdraw any course or module.
How will I learn?
Teaching on the LLM programme is mostly seminar-based. Lecturers lead each seminar through a overview presentation of the topic under consideration. Students are then invited to participate through a range of activities, including groups discussions that focus on the challenges and concerns within the topic under review. To prepare students for each seminar, a reading list is provided in advance with the most up-to-date and relevant academic articles and cases.
The aim of each seminar is to create a positive and encouraging learning environment. We appreciate that individuals have different learning styles and also come from different backgrounds. Some students will have studied law at undergraduate level, others join us from other related disciplines. Additionally, we attract both national and international students, as well as students from the world of legal practice who wish to develop new specialisms. Our methods of teaching and studying values this diversity which greatly enriches our learning environment and seminar discussions.
Teaching will be in English. However, in line with the University’s Welsh language policy, students who so wish may be examined and present essays, coursework and dissertations through the medium of Welsh.
Entry Requirements
We accept applications from graduates of LLB (Single and Joint Honours) and related subjects such as Accountancy, Finance, Banking and Management Studies, Politics, International Relations and the Social Sciences. For LLB graduates and those with a related degree, we normally require a minimum of a 2(ii) degree from an approved University. Applications with degrees in unrelated disciplines will be considered on a case by case basis for students with degrees in other subjects. Alternatively, possession of a suitable professional qualification or relevant practical experience may be accepted. In general, all applicants are judged on their individual merits. Work experience and other factors are also taken into consideration.
We have many years’ experience of making offers of entry based on qualifications awarded worldwide and we welcome applications from international students. Entry will require a qualification deemed to be equivalent in level to the UK bachelor degree. For further advice and guidance about your qualification, please contact the International Admissions Officer.
International applicants are normally required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. The minimum English language requirements will normally be:
- IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each individual component score
- Pearson PTE: a score of 62 (with no element lower than 58)
- Cambridge English Test – Advanced: 176 (with no element lower than 169)
Careers
The LLM in International Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law opens up exciting career paths in law and in many other rewarding areas where you can make a difference to people's lives and the planet.
You may wish to use the knowledge and skills you acquire in a specifically legal career, for example to work in the public sector as a government lawyer, or in the private sector, specialising in human rights law.
If you don’t want to practise as a solicitor or barrister, you may still wish to work in an area where your legal training and knowledge would be advantageous and where you can work to make a positive difference. Many non-governmental organisations (charities) require people with legal backgrounds to work as policy officers, campaigners and advice workers. International organisations, such as the United Nations and regional human rights bodies, offer tremendous opportunities to those who are looking for an international career.
Additionally, you may find that, having studied for this Masters, you are attracted to a career as an academic lawyer working in the university sector. In this case, you may wish to consider the options for undertaking a PhD in your preferred specialised area of law once you graduate.
Throughout the year, the law staff will offer careers advice and are available to discuss and advise on your various options. Additionally, the University’s Skills and Employability Service can provide you with essential information to allow you to make key decisions about your future.
