The University of Exeter is an exciting and lively place to study Law; and there are opportunities to study at our campus in Exeter, or our campus near Falmouth in Cornwall. The School enjoys an excellent reputation for the quality of both our research and our graduates. Moreover, we offer an excellent student experience; in the 2008 National Student Survey the School was ranked third in the UK for learning and resources in Law.
The School celebrated 80 years of teaching Law in 2005. Over the years, we have acquired a longstanding international reputation in the fields of Commercial, European and International Law with expertise in both common-law and civil-law jurisdictions. The School currently consists of some 600 undergraduates, 100 postgraduates and around 35 teaching staff across two campuses. Academics, visiting lecturers and students from across the world are attracted to the School and over the last five years we have welcomed students from over 70 countries.
All members of teaching staff in the Law School engage in original research and scholarship, so you will be taught or supervised by academics who are experts in their field. This leading research feeds directly into our programmes, ensuring that your learning is informed by the latest theories and legal thinking. High-profile figures from both the British and overseas judiciaries, as well as members of the European Commission, visit the School to give lectures on topical subjects.
The School on both campuses enjoys extremely good relations with members of the legal profession, regionally, nationally and internationally. As well as our established reputation in the teaching of English Law, our research strengths in international and European Law have led to the development of innovative taught degrees in European Law, International Business Law, International and Comparative Public Law, and International Human Rights Law. The School was a founding member of the European Law Faculties’ Association (ELFA) and has an established Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) at the Streatham Campus in Exeter. The prestigious series of Hamlyn lectures have been held at the University and the annual Bracton and Lasok lectures attract eminent speakers, including EU commissioners, politicians and judges. We retain strong links with our alumni, many of whom occupy senior positions in the legal field, and with whom postgraduates have opportunities to network.
Academic strengths
We offer seven, one-year taught master's programmes. The method of teaching for these master's programmes is by small seminar groups and assessment is by long essay and dissertation, on occasion supplemented by oral examination. The LLM programmes are designed to give you the flexibility to tailor your study to meet your needs, by allowing you to choose up to a third of your modules from another of our LLM programmes. Our MRes in Socio-Legal Research is ESRC recognised.
LLM International Business Law
This programme provides an in-depth understanding of the legal problems that arise in the conduct of business across national frontiers; and of the characteristic types of legal solutions adopted. It has been developed to allow you to construct a programme appropriate to private practice, corporate or public employment in the fields of international business transactions and international trade.
LLM International Business Law and Management
From 2009, the School is intending to provide a new pathway that will enable you to study 60 credits of modules on subjects relating to Management in the University of Exeter Business School. In addition to taking 60 credits of modules in International Business Law, you will be required to write your dissertation on an appropriate subject supervised by a member of staff in the School of Law.
LLM International and Comparative Public Law
This programme considers Public Law within a rigorous comparative context from a variety of perspectives, including international organisations, European institutions, human rights, civil liberties and refugees. It investigates how different national systems cope with similar Public Law problems yet arrive at different solutions, and it offers an opportunity to address these problems and issues at various levels. The degree provides a unique qualification for anyone interested in pursuing a career in public service in both the national and international sectors or in non-governmental organisations.
LLM International Human Rights Law
This programme provides an in-depth understanding of the current legal issues that arise with respect to the protection of human rights at the domestic, regional and international levels; and of the characteristic types of legal solutions adopted at all these different levels. It has been developed to allow you to construct a programme appropriate to private practice, corporate or public employment in the field of international human rights law, including international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
LLM European Law
One of the first of its kind in Europe, this programme has an established international reputation. Following the various Treaty amendments and rounds of accessions, the European Union has seen a burgeoning of legislative and judicial activity. Unprecedented challenges and opportunities are therefore available to lawyers, whether they intend working in private practice, commerce and industry, government legal service or the Union itself. This programme aims to develop the expertise for employment in any of the many areas for which those trained in European Union law are in great demand. It would be well-suited, for example, for those working or wishing to work in the areas of law and policy in the new countries of the EU.
LLM European Law and Management
From 2009, the School is intending to provide a new pathway that will enable you to study 60 credits of modules on subjects relating to Management in the University of Exeter Business School. In addition to taking 60 credits of modules in European Law, you will be required to write your dissertation on an appropriate subject supervised by a member of staff in the School of Law.
MRes in Socio-Legal Research
This ESRC-recognised research training master’s programme provides rigorous training in socio-legal research skills to enable you to carry out doctoral-level research using legal and socio-legal methodology or, alternatively, to embark on a career as a specialist socio-legal researcher.
PhD by Dissertation
The Law PhD involves a period of study of three years (four years if you are a part-time student) under the supervision of a teaching member of the School, culminating in a dissertation of not more than 100,000 words and an oral examination. The subject of your research is chosen by you, subject to the approval of the Senate. Members of the School of Law have a wide range of research interests and there exists expertise in most mainstream legal topics; see below for details.
MPhil by Dissertation
The MPhil involves a period of study of normally two academic years, under a supervisor from the School, in an approved legal topic of your choice; culminating in a dissertation of not more than 60,000 words. Information is available about the research areas of current students at www.exeter.ac.uk/law/research/studentabstracts. As part of the application for admission all MPhil and PhD students must prepare a research proposal outlining their proposed area of study. The aim of the proposal is to determine your area of research interest so you can be matched with an appropriate supervisor.
MA by Research in Law
This is a 12-month, full-time programme (24 months, part time). You will present an original thesis of a maximum 40,000 words and asked to defend this thesis in a oral ‘viva voce examination’. You will be supervised by a member of staff with expertise appropriate to your chosen area of study. You will receive training via the ‘Approaches to Research in Law’ 15-credit module and you’ll have the opportunity to take any of the existing 15-credit LLM modules, or the specialist modules on our MRes Socio-Legal Research.
The School currently has expertise within a wide range of subject areas as listed below. Individual members of staff will be happy to discuss specific proposals with you including projects that may have an international or comparative approach. For further details of specific staff interests please see the staff profiles on the School website: www.exeter.ac.uk/law/staff
- Commercial Law
- Company Law
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Consumer Law
- Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
- Criminal Law and Evidence
- Employment Law
- Environmental Law
- Ethics and Law
- European Law
- Family Law
- French Law
- German Law
- Human Rights
- Intellectual Property
- International Trade Law
- International Criminal Law
- Law and Language
- Law, Literature and Philosophy
- Legal History
- Legal Philosophy, Legal Theory and Socio-Legal Theory
- Legal Translation
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Obligations, Tort and Contract Law
- Personal Property, Real Property, Equity and Trusts
- Public International Law
- Regulation of New Technologies and Biotechnology Law
Career prospects
A Law degree from the University of Exeter will equip you with a wide range of skills suitable, for a career as a practicing lawyer, and for application in the wider world of international relations, finance, administration and commerce. The Careers and Employment Service organises an annual Law Fair at the Streatham Campus for students wishing to pursue a legal career and employs a careers advisor dedicated to the needs of international postgraduates. In addition, students on both campuses benefit from the excellent links the School has with the legal profession in the region. We have a superb reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market.
Funding opportunities
The School of Law offers a number of scholarships each year to postgraduate students and is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). In 2009 the following School of Law scholarships are available to those reading for the MPhil or PhD in Law:
- two PhD studentships to include full UK/EU fees plus £5,000 maintenance a year. This award includes a requirement for 80 hours of teaching activity a year in a core subject of the LLB degree programme, remunerated at an hourly rate. UK/EU and International students may apply.
- the Clifford Parker Memorial Scholarship for applicants to the School’s PhD programme, to include full UK/EU fees plus £5,000 maintenance a year. This award provides the opportunity to engage in up to 80 hours of teaching activity a year. UK/EU and International students may apply
- two PhD bursaries, one to include full UK/EU fees, and one to include full international fees
- four full fee bursaries for applicants to the School’s research Masters programmes, namely the MRes in Socio Legal Studies (UK) and MA by Research (UK/EU/International).
Further information on the funding opportunities available from the School and the University can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/scholarships
For further information please visit our Law School website www.exeter.ac.uk/law/postgraduate
