University of Wales Swansea, Swansea - LLM/Postgraduate Courses

Postgraduate study at Swansea will enable you further develop your intellectual abilities, in a professional and cosmopolitan environment which attracts students from the Far East, Middle East, Asia, South East Asia, Africa and Europe. Whether your interests lie in our taught LLM programmes or research schemes, you will be guided in your studies by internationally recognised academics and practitioners who are specialists in their chosen fields.

The Department prides itself on its postgraduate teaching and research activities, which have recently been commended by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Individual staff research specialisms range across a wide spectrum of subject areas - from theoretical to empirical approaches and covering areas as diverse as Commerce, Crime, Human Rights, Family, Socio-Legal and the interdisciplinary study of Law.

To enhance the suite of courses available at Swansea, the university launched in September 2004, a full time Legal Practice Course and a Graduate Diploma in Law for non-law graduates.

Applied Criminal Justice and Criminology MA

This masters degree scheme is offered on a one year full-time or two years part-time basis, plus a dissertation to be completed within two years (full-time) or five years (part-time) of initial registration.

The course is likely to be of interest to a wide range of potential applicants including those with, or nearing completion of, a first degree who are seeking advanced study relevant to a career in the criminal justice system or related area, e.g. probation; youth offending team; the police or the prison service. It will also be relevant to others currently working in the criminal justice system who are interested in developing their knowledge and those wishing to gain a firm foundation for a higher research degree.

Entry Requirements:

Candidates normally are expected to hold (or shortly to achieve) a 2:1 honours degree, and mature age applicants (over 25) who do not hold degrees may also be admitted on age and relevant experience.

LLM Degrees

The range of LLM degrees give students the advantage of choice and specialism. For the student who does not wish to specialise there is available a general LLM postgraduate degree. All the programmes have been developed with the view of providing students with a sound and relevant body of information and understanding, thereby providing an effective springboard to a future career in legal practice or some other profession, or in education, industry, commerce, finance, shipping, international trade, insurance or arbitration.

Students may choose a specialist postgraduate degree in:-
· International Maritime Law
· International Trade Law
· International Commercial Law

Or a student may elect to take a general postgraduate LLM degree in Commercial and Maritime Law.

All the postgraduate degrees are modular, with students required to accumulate 180 credits to graduate. In appropriate circumstances a student may graduate with a commendation or distinction. Each programme is divided into Parts I and II. Part I is made up of 4 taught modules each weighted at 30 credits. Part II is composed of a 20,000 word dissertation which is weighted at 60 credits. The dissertation will customarily be researched and written up over the summer following the examination of the taught modules.

A student who successfully completes only Part I will be entitled to a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma. The assessment of the taught modules is by a combination of examination and a coursework element up to 50 per cent. The four taught modules are drawn from the lists set out below. The choice of the student and from which list the modules may be selected will depend on the precise specialist degree the student wishes to study for. The module lists are as follows for the specialist LLM degrees:

LLM (Commercial and Maritime Law)

A student studying the general postgraduate LLM degree may choose any four modules from the three specialist module lists. Outline descriptions of the modules taught are to be found elsewhere in the brochure. The list of modules outlined opposite will be offered in any academic year subject to student demand and departmental resources. With regard to the dissertation required under Part II of each postgraduate programme students are required to undertake research in an area which is related to the student’s degree programme.

Course contents:

Admiralty Law
The module examines the constitution, procedures and jurisdiction of specialist courts dealing with shipping claims; and particular subjects such as ship arrest, maritime liens, mortgages, collisions, salvage, towage, pilotage, limitation of liability, general average, passenger liabilities, sale and purchase contracts, safety at sea and the ISM code.

Marine Insurance
The module provides an analysis of the foundations and fundamental concepts relating to the insurance of ships, cargoes and freight. The law considered is predominantly English law, which is of international relevance. It represents the basis of the law followed in Commonwealth countries, the United States and in many other countries. The insurance forms and documents used on the London marine insurance market are also adopted in a large number of overseas insurance markets. Throughout the course the respective positions of assureds and underwriters are analysed, as also are the special features of the marine insurance contract, the risks covered and the concepts of causation, indemnity, subrogation, co-insurance and reinsurance.

Charterparties and Carriage of Goods by Sea
The charterparty represents the major contract under which ships are engaged for commercial purposes. The unit identifies and analyses the main categories of charterparty, namely the bareboat or demise charterparty, and time, voyage and hybrid charterparties. Also examined is the relationship between charterparties and negotiable bills of lading, for chartered ships frequently carry cargo in respect of which a bill of lading has been issued. Charterparty fraud is also addressed.

Marine Cargo Claims
Carriage of goods by sea is regulated by international conventions, with consequential harmonisation. The module traces and analyses this process, commencing with the Hague Rules and thereafter the Hague Visby Rules and the Hamburg Rules. These regimes occupy a central position in commercial shipping, for most cargo loss and damage claims will be governed by the provisions of one or the other of the international regimes. But the fact that the world has ended up with three, as distinct from one, international regimes produces numerous difficulties which will be explored.

Marine Environmental Law
Clean seas is a slogan most people would support and there is growing public concern at the endless stream of accidents which prejudice the oceans. The unit examines the various sources of marine pollution, the measures taken to avoid pollution and to put in place effective response mechanisms, and the compensation schemes that have emerged. Included within the focus of the unit are oil pollution from ships, the Hazardous and Noxious Substance Convention and how salvage law and practice has evolved to meet the environmental challenges.

International Trade Law
The module analyses the structure and operation of international sale contracts, especially CIF, CIP and FOB contracts, focusing on the respective obligations and rights of seller and buyers, questions of title and risk, and remedies for breach. Also examined are INCOTERMS promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), international sales under the Vienna Convention 1980 and commodity trading contracts. Emphasis is given to an examination of the relevant transport documentation, especially the bill of lading, the insurance of goods in transit, and the different legal mechanisms by which the law protects international buyers.

E-Commerce
The course examines the expanding role of e-commerce and the associated problems; how an effective legal framework can be established and effective encryption systems developed. The course identifies and discusses the conflict between e-commerce and governmental control, developing a comparative approach to the issue and looking at the approaches adopted in countries such as Singapore and the USA. Also examined is the application of existing legal principles to e-commerce, again adopting a comparative approach, analysing existing legal adaptations, their appropriateness and how such adaptations might be improved in the future.

Private International Law
Issues of private international pervade all aspects of international maritime and commercial affairs, for the subject determines how a court or arbitrator responds to the existence of a foreign element in litigation. The course will examine, in particular, issues of jurisdiction and arbitration agreements, the governing law of contracts, torts and restitution claims, and the enforcement of foreign judgements and arbitration awards. Students will also be introduced to the general principles of private international law

International Trade Law

Course contents:

The module analyses the structure and operation of international sale contracts, especially CIF, CIP and FOB contracts, focusing on the respective obligations and rights of seller and buyers, questions of title and risk, and remedies for breach. Also examined are INCOTERMS promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), international sales under the Vienna Convention 1980 and commodity trading contracts. Emphasis is given to an examination of the relevant transport documentation, especially the bill of lading, the insurance of goods in transit, and the different legal mechanisms by which the law protects international buyers.

Payments and Finance in International Trade
The course examines the different payment mechanisms that may be adopted by parties to discharge the payment obligations of international buyers of goods and services. These include cash payments, bills of exchange, documentary bills, collection systems and documentary credits. The methods that may be adopted to guarantee payment are also examined, for example surety, promissory notes and performance bonds. The different mechanisms are analysed and compared, their fundamental characteristics identified and their advantages and disadvantages considered.

International Economic Law
The course offers an analysis of the role of financial institutions, governments and business in relation to international finance, business and economics, and the mechanics of financial transactions. The content of the course may fluctuate, but will invariably focus on the interrelationships between payment systems and the international banking system; and also on the role and jurisprudence of international economic organisations such as the World Bank, IMF and the Word Trade Organisation (WTO). Other topics may include cross-border insolvencies, asset finance and security; and the economic principles underpinning the internal and external relations of the EU.

World Trade Law
The option focuses on the law and practice of the World Trade Organisation. The WTO is a new international institution, yet the early years of its case law has been described as the most important international jurisprudence is the history of mankind. The course covers the economic theories which explain the benefits of international trade. It then proceeds to examine the key agreements which seek to remove barriers to trade in the areas of goods, services and intellectual property rights.

International Commercial Law

Course contents:

Comparative Business Organisations
CBO covers the world of business through the medium of law and economics by looking at the choices entrepreneurs make in selecting the appropriate business vehicle for operations on the market. The participants in this process and the contributions they provide by way of capital, skills or labour must be assigned a value in the business and represent for the provider a method for accessing power and control. Choices in this process and in business generally feature highly in this course which also covers business finance generally and insolvency.

Transnational Asset Finance and Security
This Course considers the phenomenon of credit and security in the financing of commercial transactions involving moveable assets, as well as intellectual property rights. In particular, it will examine the concept of security and the legal and economic justifications for taking security. The issue of legal reform is considered in the UK and more widely within the EU. Model laws are identified, for example, the North American Personal Property Security legislation. The dilemma of ensuring priority for financiers of valuable assets moving between frontiers is identified. Financial instruments as mechanisms for raising funds and notably the securitisation of receivables will be examined.

European and International Intellectual Property Law
This module concentrates on European and international law aspects of intellectual property. It examines the various existing and proposed international and Community law instruments relating to intellectual property, such as the TRIPS agreement; Paris, Berne, Rome and Madrid Conventions, European Patents Convention, Biotechnology Directive, Community Patent Regulation, Software and Database Directives, Directive on Copyright in Information Society, and Trademark Directive and Regulation. Emphasis will also be placed on the impact of the free movement and competition provisions of the EC Treaty on intellectual property.

European Competition Law
This module is concerned with European competition law. It will examine the legal control of market power, restrictive agreements, and mergers. The interplay between intellectual property and competition regimes will also be analysed. The law will be placed in its economic, historical, and international context.

International Relations MA/MScEcon

Overview:

This well established and successful programme introduces you to the advanced study of International Relations by examining the historical evolution of the contemporary global system; security and foreign policy issues; and the various theories used to comprehend the relations between states and other political and economic bodies. Includes core modules Conceptual Issues in the Social Sciences; Generic Skills; and Approaches to International Relations. Options include Islam, Modernity and Political Dissent in the Contemporary Middle East; Globalisation; Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention and Global Justice: Moral Problems in I.R.; European Security; Security and strategy in South East Asia; The European Union – polity and policy; Violence, Conflict & Development; Governance & Development Policy; Civil Society and Development.

Detail of modules (I would keep all the following as “click” optional reading choices as there is a lot of text)

European Politics
Students following the European Politics programme take core modules entitled Includes core modules Conceptual Issues in the Social Sciences; Generic Skills and Democracy, Rights, Identity and Citizenship. The latter covers a number of major issues in contemporary politics and political theory, including: conceptions of civil society, democracy and the state; governance and legal orders; and competing conceptions of citizenship and community. Optional modules include The European Union – polity and policy; Devolution in Comparative Perspective; Politics in Contemporary Britain; Islam, Modernity and Political Dissent in the Contemporary Middle East; Globalisation; Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention and Global Justice: Moral Problems in I.R.; European Security;

Political Theory
Students following the Political Theory programme core modules entitled Includes core modules Conceptual Issues in the Social Sciences; Generic Skills and Democracy, Rights, Identity and Citizenship. The latter covers a number of major issues in contemporary politics and political theory, including: conceptions of civil society, democracy and the state; governance and legal orders; and competing conceptions of citizenship and community. Optional modules include: Approaches to Political Theory; Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention and Global Justice: Moral Problems in I.R.; Globalisation;

Approaches to Political Theory This option is designed to give students a grounding in the main currents of contemporary political theory. It examines a wide range of questions relating to the justification of political principles that have preoccupied many recent political theorists. Different approaches to normative and political reasoning will be developed, beginning with the 'Enlightenment project' and including varieties of contractarianism, communitarianism, feminism, analytical Marxism and postmodernism. Students will gain a thorough familiarity with the main issues and trends in current debates between liberalism and its critics.

Islam, Modernity and Political Dissent in the Contemporary Middle East This option examines the international relations of the Middle East, highlighting the regional dynamics which promote conflict and also co-operation between the states of the region, and the way in which these dynamics relate to the wider world and have such a significant impact on states beyond the region.

Globalisation (IR PT EP)The term globalisation has become a central concept throughout the social sciences in an astonishingly short period of time. This option is dedicated to making sense of this new addition to the lexicon. What explains the rapid rise of the term? To what historical processes does it refer, and does it improve our understanding of them? To what extent (if at all) does globalisation demand a transformation of social science theory? In the first section of the course these issues are explored through a survey of the major theories of globalisation. A second section focuses on the world economy, particularly on themes of economic interdependence and uneven development. Finally, the implications of economic globalisation for international politics are explored, with particular attention to theories of the contemporary inter-state system and to the debate over 'global governance'.

Human Rights, Humanitarian Intervention and Global Justice: Moral Problems in I.R. (PT IR EP) One cannot help but confront and utilise specific moral claims and principles when considering international politics. They underpin the aspirations of international law, the policies discharged in its name, and much of the criticism of the actual behaviour of states. This module will introduce students to the critical analysis of these moral arguments, taking up certain key problems - such as the foundation of universal human rights claims, the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention, and the moral significance of state sovereignty - and explore possible means of their resolution via discussion of key texts in the normative philosophy of international relations.

European Security (EP IR) The main aim of the module is to focus on a number of key issues in Cold War and Post-Cold War European Security. The first three seminars focus on themes from the military confrontation between NATO and the WTO during the Cold War period while the next two examine the contemporary structures of European security. The final two seminars explore the issues posed by the significance of Russia and the United States for European Security.

The European Union - polity and policy (EP IR) The aim of this option is to examine the internal and external policies, the policy making processes and the institutions of the EU. It also explores the interactions between the EU and its member states, and the implications of further "widening" (enlargement) of the EU, for Europe as a whole and for the future "deepening" of the integration processes within the EU. It examines what the development, structure and operation of EU policy-making tells us about the nature of the EU as a polity. The choice of policy areas and political/institutional processes will endeavour to accommodate the declared interests of the students taking the options and will therefore vary from year to year.

Devolution in Comparative Perspective This module will examine various ways of explaining and conceptualising the growing importance of devolved forms of governance in Western Europe, which contrasts with the distinct lack of enthusiasm for devolved governance in Central and Eastern Europe since the disintegration of Communist Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. The module will involve critical treatments of the doctrines of self-determination, multiculturalism and recognition of group rights and group difference, as well as minority nationalist demands for territorial autonomy, EU promotion of group rights, multi-level governance and a 'Europe of the Regions', and non-nationalist 'functional' arguments in favour of political decentralisation (e.g., devolution as a means of dispersing political power, increasing economic and administrative efficiency and bringing government 'closer to the people/citizen'). Particular attention will be given to Spain, the UK, Germany, Belgium, former/Communist Yugoslavia, Italy, France, the Russian Federation, the reconfiguration of states and territorial politics, the growing fragmentation ('Balkanisation') of European polities, and the underlying struggle between cosmopolitan universalism and communitarian particularism.

Security and strategy in South East Asia Southeast Asia not only suffers from many of the security problems that confront Third World states but, in the 1990s, it has begun to encounter many of the security problems that plague the developed world as well. The region thus offers a unique opportunity to examine modern security problems. The aim of the module is two-fold: first, to determine what the security issues of the Third World are and how the states of Southeast Asia have sought to solve them; second, to understand the reasons behind the rising tension amongst the members of ASEAN, and between ASEAN and China, and to determine whether the region's peacekeeping structures are adequate.

Politics in Contemporary Britain This option focuses on British politics since 1979. It considers Thatcherism, Europeanization, and changes in state development and then addresses areas of study chosen, in agreement with the students concerned, from the following: political ideology, elections, voting behaviour, the party system, the central machinery of government, interest groups and the policy process, the territorial constitution, centre-local relations and local politics, political economy, the welfare state and foreign policy.

Violence, Conflict & Development This module examines issues of violence and conflict, development, and reconstruction in the developing world. It explores the causes of violent conflict, the social impact of violence, and the relevance of understanding the underlying tensions that have led to conflict in designing appropriate responses. It looks at humanitarian interventions during periods of armed conflict, asking how development agencies have functioned, what problems they have faced in attempting to remain neutral, and how intervention affects ongoing insecurity. The module also considers reconstruction and reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict, and explores how the relief-development continuum has played out in the conflict zone.

Governance & Development Policy This module looks at development policy as a systematic objective of governance in modern day nation-states. It examines the changing context of politics and policy-making in developing countries and at the context in which development policy is conceived and implemented. It looks at the institutional actors that conceive and implement development policy and at the content of modern-day development policy.

Civil Society and Development This module examines the concept of civil society and efforts by donors to promote its expansion in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It then examines the role of civil society organisations in the development process. The emphasis is on non-governmental organisations but the course also looks at the activities of community-based organisations, trade unions and other representative associations.

M.Sc.(Econ) in Social Research

A master's degree course in Social Research provides advanced training in the range of research methods used in the social sciences. The programme is designed for those following, or intending to pursue careers in public administration, social services and other public services as well as for those seeking an academic foundation for advanced research in the social sciences. Common modules develop practical research skills, methodological expertise, familiarity with examples of good practice in contemporary research and knowledge of theoretical issues relevant across the spectrum of social science disciplines. Elective modules and a dissertation provide for specialisation in the various disciplines. This course has been granted ESRC recognition for Research Training.

The MSc Econ in Social Research consists of a taught portion of six 20-point modules and a 60-point individual supervised dissertation. Formal teaching takes place on one day of the week (Mondays) only.

Semester One Modules:

Research and Study Skills
This module provides students with the necessary generic skills to undertake research successfully. It includes topics on organisation and time management; handling relationships with supervisors and research personnel (informants, gatekeepers, etc.); use of bibliographic sources; conduct of a literature search; use of the internet; communicating research results via mass media; making oral presentations; writing skills; and writing for different audiences and purposes. It involves extensive directed practical work to identify areas of weakness and develop the necessary skills for effective research.

Data Collection in Context
This module provides an overview of the principal methods of data collection used in social research, including: observation, participant observation, ethnographic interviews, structured interviews, focus groups, life histories, documents and official statistics, visual methods, and autobiography. The implications, strengths and weaknesses of each method are considered and these considerations are contextualised by examination of case studies.

Ethics and Philosophy of Social Research
This module familiarises students with the ethical guidelines that the social disciplines have developed for the conduct of social research. It includes extended discussion of issues such as informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, copyright and ownership of data and makes extensive use of specific case material (both real and hypothetical) to present ethical issues. The module also provides a framework for understanding the philosophical bases of social research and their implications for theory construction, research design and methodology. It explores the political context and uses of research.

Semester Two Modules:

Qualitative Research Methods
This module will increase and deepen students’ understanding of and facility with qualitative research methods and particularly to develop their facility in the analysis of qualitative data. It will discuss the theoretical and epistemological arguments for the use of qualitative research as a basis for social knowledge, as well as criticisms of these arguments. The module will include a thorough hands-on grounding in one of the more widely used computer software packages for the analysis of qualitative date. Students will also be introduced to more specialised qualitative methods, including discourse analysis, media analysis, network analysis and web-based research. Students will be given practical experience of deploying these methods in a range of situations by means of exercises within and beyond the classroom.

Quantitative Research Methods
This module will further enhance students' understanding of and facility with quantitative research methods, in particular the social survey, practical hands-on experience with SPSS, and the interpretation and presentation of statistical data. It will consider theoretical and epistemological arguments for and against the use of quantitative research as a basis for social knowledge. It will demonstrate and give the students practical experience of the development of a research project based upon survey research, including the design of the research instruments, sampling, piloting, administration, data organisation into SPSS and analysis of statistical output. Students will gain both technical skills in applying this form of research and critical facility in evaluating research based on quantitative methods.

Conceptual Issues in the Theory and Practice of the Social Sciences
For details, see above.