Course summary
This innovative degree blends advanced-level teaching and research in intellectual property and information law with practical and professional skills training to provide you with a valuable basis for a successful career in this field. Carefully coordinated to align with the competencies required for today's international job market, the professional skills programme provides new insights into the ever-evolving realities of professional and commercial life, placing graduates in very strong positions to gain opportunities and flourish in them. Designed by our academics and expert practitioners, this combined input will enable you to gain unique insights into this area and will advance your understanding of the factors that influence it. This programme provides a challenging and stimulating base for careers in innovation, creativity and information technology. In this constantly evolving field, this dynamic programme focuses on areas such art, literature, brands, media, cultural heritage, health, food, agriculture, new technologies, data and artificial intelligence. The programme responds to contemporary developments and empowers graduates to flourish, shape and lead in the legal profession, international policy making, industry, journalism and civil society, amongst others. The Professional Skills path will continue the advanced-level research led teaching and also deliver practical and professional skills training to provide you with a valuable basis for a successful career in this exciting, challenging and wide-ranging global space. All Professional Skills courses begin with one week’s intensive practical training in negotiation, communication and presentation skills. For the next two weeks, the International Intellectual Property and Information Law cohort then focus on an evolving scenario across the innovation and information space, designed to reflect the realities of professional life. Our well qualified international staff and guests from academia, industry, policy making, public engagement and the legal profession take an integrated perspective on points which can arise, and we also visit local innovators. This experience will provide you with a solid platform in which to advise and engage in litigation, fund raising, product development and commercialisation, advocacy and activism and policy leadership and challenge. There are individual and group oral assessments during the teaching in June and individual and group written assessments in July and August. You will be offered choices of assessment path content; however, a key strength of the programme is that all students gain knowledge and expertise across the diverse range of issues which can arise in professional life in this field.
Modules
At the University of Aberdeen, you will benefit from a very personal approach to teaching. At the Law School, class sizes are kept small, so that you will have access to teaching staff whenever you need. The University adopts a range of teaching methods to ensure that you learn in a way that suits your learning style. Even when studying independently, you will benefit from having regular contact with your course coordinator and other members of the teaching staff.
Assessment method
By course work, by written examination, or by a combination of these, as prescribed for each course.
How to apply
International applicants
When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country and to arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs. In addition, it is important to check all immigration requirements regularly and before travelling, as they can change. Students without the necessary visa will be refused entry to the UK. You should allow plenty of time to organise your visa and ensure you are aware of all your responsibilities under the terms and conditions of your visa. Please note that the advice provided via the University is the Student Visa category of the UK's Points Based Immigration Scheme. For further information, please visit the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.
Entry requirements
Normally, a 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in Law will be required to be accepted onto this programme. Relevant practical experience in a related field will also be beneficial.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 6.0 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 90 | TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 21 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818 |
| PTE Academic | 62 | Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online test is not accepted. |
| Institution's Own Test | Academic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for 1 year). Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course. | |
| Cambridge English Advanced | C | Overall - 176 with: Listening - 162 or above; Reading - 162 or above; Speaking - 162 or above; Writing - 169 or above. |
To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.
Please use the checklist at the following webpage to determine how you can meet our English language requirements:
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £13184 | Year 1 |
| EU | £27000 | Year 1 |
| England | £13184 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £13184 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £13184 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £13184 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £27000 | Year 1 |
| International | £27000 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
Tuition fees given are at the full-time rate. The part-time fee rate for taught postgraduate programmes is 50% of the relevant full-time fee rate.
Sponsorship information
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships: www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/. The University of Aberdeen provides an Alumni Discount Scheme: The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen.
Provider information
University of Aberdeen
Directorate of External Relations
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX