International Law | LLM | University of Lincoln

Welcome to LLM International Law

The LLM International Law programme enables students to develop an in-depth understanding of the law in relation to key international subjects. Students are encouraged to consider the role of the law in international affairs and to develop a critical understanding of how the law affects all aspects of international activity, from trade and prosecuting crimes, to the use of force in international relations, human rights, and protecting the environment.

Students can examine the role and relationships of international organisations and institutions such as the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and the European Union. The programme is informed by the latest debates and developments in international law and aims to engage students in real-world case studies and dilemmas.

The programme allows students to undertake a substantial dissertation, which is designed to enhance research skills through a detailed investigation in an area of their own choice.

Career and Personal Development

The LLM courses at Lincoln Law School are designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop a solid bedrock of knowledge and skills to pursue or further develop their careers, whether they be in legal practice, working in business or industry, working for governmental or international organisations, for non-governmental organisations, or in academia.

For those pursuing legal careers, there has been an increasing demand for lawyers with the necessary knowledge of international law and international business law to provide services to clients both in terms of transactional and litigation work. This is particularly true in the case of commercial law firms undertaking work for multinational corporations and those businesses involved in multi-jurisdictional transactions or disputes.

Similarly our LLM programmes aim to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills required to conduct transnational work within business and industry. An understanding of the legal issues at stake in terms of international economic law, international trade law, and international investment law provides a grounding for those pursuing careers in firms that either invest or operate in a number of different jurisdictions, or which have strong commercial relationships with investors or customers in other countries.

Many governmental and international organisations such as the United Nations require the expertise of those with backgrounds in international law and international business law. The Law School at Lincoln has a strong group of lawyers with a range of expertise in different aspects of international law and aims to provide a training ground in which lawyers seeking these types of careers can develop.

How You Study

Students will study a total of eight taught 15 credit modules. Teaching will be arranged in ten-week blocks for Certificate stage and Diploma stage respectively, with four modules studied at each stage.

Students will take two core modules and select six of the available optional modules.

An Introduction to Your Modules

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

Dissertation (International Law) 2023-24LAW9019MLevel 72023-24The Dissertation module comprises two elements: 1. Research methods (20%) The research methods element of the dissertation module comprises a total of four research training workshops (4 x 2hrs), two taking place in the Autumn term and two taking place in the Spring term. Students are assessed through a dissertation proposal. 2. The Dissertation (80%) The production of the dissertation itself provides the student with an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of investigative academic work on a chosen area of international law (public or private international law or international legal aspects of EU law and governance). In the dissertation the students may develop ideas encountered in the taught modules or with other issues relevant to international law. The completed dissertation should be an original and independent piece of work. It should, in the context of existing knowledge, demonstrate in-depth understanding, critical analysis and original thinking, as well as general academic and communication skills. Undertaking the necessary research and writing the dissertation can provide academic opportunities to apply the research skills and presentational techniques developed during the programme.CoreInternational Human Rights 2023-24LAW9011MLevel 72023-24The aim of this module is to provide an opportunity for students to develop a critical understanding of international human rights, and the way in which the concept of such rights is used to promote respect for certain standards and to protect the rights of individuals. The module will involve considering the role of international organisations (such as the United Nations); regional mechanisms (such as the European Convention on Human Rights); and the enforcement of international standards at the global, regional and domestic levels.CoreLLM International Law and World Order 2023-24LAW9034MLevel 72023-24The aim of this module is to introduce students to a dynamic area of law that has contemporary relevance in a rapidly changing world order. This module is focussed on the structure of international law. By examining theoretical and practical applications of International Law in both peaceful and non-peaceful contexts. The module will enable students to gain a critical understanding of the impact and operation of this area of law through applying what they have learned to contemporary issues.CoreAsylum, Migration and Human Trafficking 2023-24LAW9165MLevel 72023-24This module gives students a contextualized understanding of how intra- and international migration is regulated and the way in which such regulations affect the rights of migrants. The course discusses critically both the theory and practice of immigration and asylum law. By the end of the module, students are expected to understand the social, economic, legal and political nature of immigration law, the machinery of immigration control, the construction of British citizenship, the current state of European immigration law and free movement rights as well as theories of political and social emancipation in a critical context.OptionalEU Internal Market Law 2023-24LAW9012MLevel 72023-24This module is designed to introduce the basic principles of law and policy on the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital within the internal market of the European Union. Current developments in legislation and case law on freedom of movement of goods, persons and services in the European Union will, in turn, be evaluated; as will the limits of integration. The module will also seek to examine recent legislative developments in and the evolving concept of Union citizenship involving critical examination of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.OptionalInternational Business Law 2023-24LAW9008MLevel 72023-24The module will introduce students to the operations of international businesses and how their activities are influenced by legal frameworks. Students will be exposed to the legal and socio-economic factors that affect businesses that operate in the global marketplace. It commences by providing a primer on the nature of international businesses. Against this background, it expounds on the concept of globalisation and its link with international business. The course then focuses on the regulatory environment within which international businesses are developed and in which they operate. Proposed expansion strategies of businesses are also considered within the context of the local and global environment in which they operate.OptionalInternational Corporate Governance 2023-24LAW9013MLevel 72023-24This module aims to give students the opportunity to develop a thorough insight into the theoretical, legal, practical and ethical issues surrounding corporate governance and its influence on the management structure of modern companies. It will explore the relationships which exist between directors, shareholders, management, the company itself and other internal and external stakeholders. Students will have the chance to develop a firm understanding of the concept of corporate governance and the basic principles underlying the implementation of UK and international corporate governance codes.OptionalInternational Criminal Justice 2023-24LAW9015MLevel 72023-24This module provides the opportunity for students to develop a critical understanding of the idea of international criminal justice. The module aims to address the key issues and concepts in and policies underlying the enforcement of international criminal law considering the legal and political environment in which international criminal courts and tribunals operate. The principle focus will be the international crimes which come within the jurisdiction of the current international courts and tribunals that is war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture and analysing whether these institutions are effective for the pursuit of justice and peace within the international system.OptionalInternational Dispute Resolution 2023-24LAW9016MLevel 72023-24In this module students will be introduced to the different methods of international dispute resolution in both a public and private law context. This module explores the legal frameworks governing international dispute resolution along with both the political and legal context and concerns relating to them. The module will examine the principal approaches to the settlement of international disputes in public international law and will also introduce students to the increasingly important area of private international law. Students will gain an understanding of the nature of international disputes, both public and private, and the options for resolving them and how a chosen option might be informed by the type of dispute presented.OptionalInternational Economic and Investment Law 2023-24LAW9017MLevel 72023-24The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the principal legal frameworks that underpin the functioning of the international economy and international investment. As such students have the chance to analyse the legal architecture relating to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as international foreign investment and multinational corporations. The module therefore aims to provide a broad foundation for students critical understanding of the international economy and the ways that international economic and investment law can affect developing countries, human rights, and the environment.OptionalInternational Environmental Law 2023-24LAW9018MLevel 72023-24This module examines the development and operation of international environmental law, considering in particular the historical evolution of the law, the elaboration of multilateral environmental regimes and the increasing judicial attention given to environmental issues. The module will also consider the issue of responsibility and liability for harm from environmental degradation as it is tackled at the international level.OptionalLLM Corporate Social Responsibility 2023-24LAW9030MLevel 72023-24The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the debates surrounding it so that they are able to critically analyse the concept itself and its practical implications for companies, regulatory bodies and policy makers in a globalised environment. Students will also be introduced to the relevant areas of corporate law and practice to develop an understanding of the underlying reasons why CSR initiatives have become necessary. Finally, they will develop a critical understanding of the regulatory frameworks (both mandatory and voluntary) that exist to facilitate the implementation of CSR on national and international levels.OptionalLLM Law of Armed Conflict 2023-24LAW9036MLevel 72023-24This module introduces students to the development and current legal framework of the law of armed conflict from the laws of war to the more strongly humanitarian focus of the modern era. Students will apply their knowledge of legal principles to practical examples of conflicts, and the module will also explore areas of challenge for the current legal framework such as asymmetric warfare and non-State actors, and the development of new weapons.OptionalLLM Use of Force and International Law 2023-24LAW9037MLevel 72023-24The aim of this module is to examine the law on use of force, with particular focus on self-defence and intervention. The module will examine theoretical and practical applications of international law in this area and will enable students to gain a critical understanding of its impact and operation by applying legal principles to specific conflicts and interventions as case studies. The module has a key focus on controversial and contemporary issues such as self-defence against non-state actors, the unwilling and unable doctrine, and use of force in response to cyber-attacks, and it will engage in debates on the tensions between these and more traditional, established legal principles.OptionalThe EU as a Global Actor: EU External Relations Law 2023-24LAW9160MLevel 72023-24This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an insight into the international role of the European Union (EU) and its global presence in an increasing number of areas beyond the regulation of external trade. The module offers a critical and contextual analysis of the role of the EU as a global actor, which is subdivided into two main parts: the constitutional aspects of EU External Relations Law and substantive aspects of EU External Relations Law. The module covers the following policy areas: the EU Common Commercial Policy (CCP), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED), the role of the EU in global humanitarian and development action and EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).Optional

How you are assessed

Modules are mainly assessed by written assignments, however with some courses, modules may be assessed with student presentation. Students will also be expected to write a substantial dissertation. There are no written examinations.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.

Entry Requirements 2023-24

First or second class honours degree in International Law, International Relations, Social Sciences with Introduction to Law, Criminology, Political Sciences .

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

Fees and Funding

For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master's and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages.

Programme Fees

Programme-Specific Additional Costs

For each course, there may additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials, or equipment required. Some courses provide opportunities for students to undertake field work or field trips. Where these are compulsory, the cost for travel and accommodation will be covered by the University. Where these are optional, students will normally be required to cover their own transport, accommodation, and general living costs.

With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts. However, students may prefer to purchase some of these for themselves and will be responsible for this cost.

Dr Nicolas Kang-Riou - Senior Lecturer in Law / Programme Leader

My specialisation is mainly in international human rights law but also encompasses issues of international law including international organisations.

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Key Information

LLM International Law