10Feb
PostgraduateCourse summary
This course provides an opportunity to develop an advanced knowledge of corporate law. There is a (compulsory) foundation course providing a solid grounding in the subject. Having completed your choice of taught modules, you will then undertake an extended dissertation on a corporate law topic of your choice, supervised by a member of staff with expertise in their chosen subject area. Teaching is by a mixture of lectures and smaller, student-led, seminar or tutorial groups. The dissertation is pursued by independent research with individual supervision. Students attending the course are drawn from a broad range of countries, and their previous academic or professional experiences enrich the course. The School is host to the Durham Institute of Commercial and Corporate Law, and you are encouraged to participate in its many activities. The Library has extensive holdings of corporate law materials.
Modules
You must study modules in Fundamentals and Advanced Issues in Corporate Law. You must also choose a number of additional taught modules, from a large body of optional modules. Finally, a dissertation must be completed, on a topic chosen by you in consultation with your allotted supervisor. Core modules: Fundamentals of Corporate Law; Advanced Issues in Corporate Law; Applied Research Methods in Law; Dissertation (of 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 words). Examples of optional modules: You will also study and be assessed in modules from the following list to the value of (when added to the core modules chosen above) at least 120 credits: Comparative Corporate Governance; Corporate Compliance; Corporations in an EU Context; Introduction to Corporate Governance; Introduction to Corporate Insolvency Law; Introduction to Intellectual Property Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; International and Comparative Corporate Insolvency Law; International Tax Law; Takeover Regulation in the EU; Advanced Issues in International Economic Law; Advanced Issues of Intellectual Property Law; EU Competition Law; Introduction to EU Law; Advanced Law of Obligations; Law of Oil and Gas Contracts; International Trade Law & Policy; Cross Border Commercial Litigation; Electronic Commerce.
Assessment method
This course involves both taught modules and a substantial dissertation component. Taught modules are delivered by a mixture of lectures and seminars. Although most lectures do encourage student participation, they are used primarily to introduce chosen topics, identify relevant concepts, and introduce you to the main debates and ideas relevant to the chosen topic. They give you a framework of knowledge that you can then develop, and reflect on, through your own reading and study. Seminars are smaller-sized, student-led classes. You are expected to carry out reading prior to classes, and are usually set questions or problems to which to apply the knowledge you have developed. Through class discussion, or the presentation of papers, you are given the opportunity to test and refine your knowledge and understanding, in a relaxed and supportive environment. The number of contact hours in each module will reflect that module’s credit weighting. 15-credit modules will have, in total, 15 contact hours (of either lectures or seminars); 30-credit modules will have 30 contact hours. You must accumulate, in total, between 90 and 120 credits of taught modules for the course (depending upon the length of your dissertation). In addition to taught modules, you must produce a dissertation of between 10,000 and 20,000 words. This is intended to be the product of your own independent research. Each student is allocated a dissertation supervisor, and will have a series of (usually four) one-to-one meetings with their supervisor over the course of the academic year. Finally, all taught postgraduates on this course, are encouraged to attend the various events, including guest lectures and seminars, organised through the School’s research centres, including the Institute for Commercial and Corporate Law, and Durham European Law Institute.
How to apply
International applicants
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Entry requirements
A good 2:1 degree (or its equivalent) in law, or in a degree in which law is a major component.
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £12750 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £12750 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £12750 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £12750 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £12750 | Year 1 |
| EU | £26900 | Year 1 |
| International | £26900 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £26900 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Sponsorship information
For further information see the course listing.
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE