International Trade Law

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Academic Year of Entry: 2015/16 - 2016/17 - 2017/18 - 2018/19 - 2019/20 - 2020/21 - 2021/22 - 2022/23 - 2023/24
Course overview
(LLM) Master of Laws
International Trade Law
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Masters
Part-time
None
LLM M10224
28/11/2012

Details

Professional accreditation

None

Admission criteria

A degree with an overall 2:1.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 except for 6.0 in writing

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2015/16

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 LW601-7-AP-CO International Trade Finance Law Compulsory 30 Compulsory Compulsory
02 LW602-7-AP-CO International Sales Contracts and Carriage of Goods Compulsory 30 Compulsory Compulsory
03 LW617-7-FY-CO Foundation Essay for International Trade Law Compulsory 0

Year 2 - 2016/17

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 LW600-7-FY-CO Dissertation: LLM International Trade Law Core 60 Optional
02 ITL option(s) from list Optional 30 Optional
03 Law option(s) from list Optional 30 Optional

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

Provide students with an advanced conceptual understanding of the methods, techniques and legal principles regarding international trade law that is informed by insight based on scholarship at the forefront of the discipline.

Set international trade law in its business and global contexts.

Develop critical, analytical and research skills, and transferable skills.

Enable students to understand the application of EU law in solving concrete legal problems.

Produce graduates capable of working in the field of international trade law as lawyers, operational officers, legal advisers or researchers with governments and international and business organizations, and as academics.

Produce graduates who can conduct independent research and construct coherent, well written papers.

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

A1: The fundamental doctrines and principles of business law as they pertain to the international trade of goods and services.

A2: Demonstrate and exercise independence of thought.

A3: The methods and techniques of implementing international trade law

A4: How international trade law is applied in various judicial and practical situations.

A5: Some areas of international trade law in some depth.

Learning methods

A1-A5 are acquired through large group interactive classes, which encourage dialogue between the students and teacher and between the students, and through seminars which allow for dynamic interaction based on directed, pre-set reading.

Students are expected undertake independent research for courses and, in particular, the course essays and dissertation.

A5 is in particular acquired through independent research for the dissertation.

Assessment methods

Testing the knowledge-base for A1 - A5 is through course essays and the dissertation.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

B1: Identify accurately the issue(s) which require researching.

B2: Apply relevant primary and secondary legal sources.

B3: Reason critically, identify, analyse, and solve complex problems, even in the absence of complete data.

B4: Recognise, rank and collate items and issues in terms of relevance and importance.

B5: Produce a comprehensive, coherent and sophisticated synthesis of relevant doctrinal and policy issues in relation to a topic.

B6: Critically evaluate the merits of particular arguments and advanced scholarship in the field.

B7: Present and make a reasoned choice between alternative solutions or methodologies and, where necessary, propose new hypotheses.

B8: Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgments in the absence of complete data, and communicate the conclusions clearly.

B9: Demonstrate and exercise originality of thought in the application of knowledge.

Learning methods

Skills B1-B9 are obtained and developed through seminars and large group interactive classes where there is an emphasis on group discussion and analysis of case material and problems (hypothetical and actual).

All skills are complemented by the course essays and the dissertation.

Assessment methods

Skills B1 - B8 will be assessed through course essays and the dissertation.

B9 will be assessed by the dissertation.

C: Practical skills

C1: Identify, select and retrieve up-to-date legal information, using both paper and electronic sources.

C2: Identify, select and retrieve non-legal information pertinent to issues of international trade law, using both paper and electronic sources.

C3: Use and apply legal terminology and legal concepts, not only in legal settings, but to applied problems, actual or hypothetical.

C4: Plan and undertake tasks in and beyond complex areas of law that have already been studied; and plan and autonomously undertake independent research in areas of law not previously studied.

Learning methods

Skills C1 and C2 are developed through preparation for case studies and the large group interactive classes, and through research for the course essays and dissertation.

Skills C3 and C4 are developed through seminars by way of the medium of problem solving and group discussion.

Skill C4 is particularly developed through the course essays and dissertation.

In addition to traditional research methods, students are expected to use the internet, LEXIS and WESTLAW when researching their assessed work in order to find primary and secondary sources, either in on-line or paper format.

Assessment methods

Skills C1 - C4 are assessed through the course essays and the dissertation.

D: Key skills

D1: A student should be able to: (D1A) Work with the English language proficiently in relation to matters of international trade law; (D1B) Present knowledge or an argument in a clear, coherent and relevant manner; (D1C) Analyse materials pertaining to international trade law that are complex and technical

D2: A student should be able to: (D2A) Produce a word-processed essay and other text in an appropriate form; (D2B) Use the worldwide web, e-mail, and also some electronic information retrieval systems.

D3: A student should be able to: (D3) Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, use, present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form.

D4: A student should be able to: (D4A) Analyse a complex set of facts, where necessary in unpredictable situations, and apply relevant international trade law thereto. (D4B) From first principles, devise from existing international trade law a means by which to facilitate trade in a sphere where there has been none previously

D6: A student should be able: (D6A) To reflect on his or her own learning, and to seek and make use of feedback. (D6B) To appreciate when s/he does not know enough and needs to undertake further research.

Learning methods

Skills D1-D6 are acquired through seminars and case studies where students debate legal issues and problems, course essays and the dissertation.

Skills D1 - D4 and D6 will be learnt through writing course essays and through the consequent feedback, and the dissertation.

Assessment methods

Skills D1 - D4 and D6 are assessed through course essays and the dissertation.


Note

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Contact

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.