Program Overview

LLM International Criminal Law

The LLM International Criminal Law provides students with a concentrated opportunity to study with leading experts with both practice-based and academic expertise in International Criminal Law. Students will study all facets of issues pertaining to achieving international justice and preventing impunity, across a wide range of specialist modules covering substantive and procedural aspects of international criminal law, and transnational criminal law.

Overview

• The field of International Criminal Law has been fundamentally transformed in recent decades with the establishment of the International Criminal Court, the creation of numerous ad hoc and specialised tribunals to address mass crimes in a variety of countries.
• As a student of the LLM International Criminal Law, you will have the opportunity to become technically capable in this area and to enhance your analytical, communication, and advocacy skills needed to operate effectively in the specialist field of International Criminal Law.
• You will learn about the different actors involved in international criminal law proceedings, and how they interact in the different phases of a case.

Our Expert Staff

• Our internationally diverse community of staff and students gives us a breadth of cross-cultural perspectives and insights into law and justice around the world.
• Dr Antonio Coco is the Co-Chair of the Journal of International Criminal Justice's Editorial Committee, and a member of the Expert Group on 'Mens Rea' for the research project 'Rethinking Secondary Liability for International Crimes' at the University of Amsterdam.
• Prof Carla Ferstman worked on justice system strengthening with the UN mission in Rwanda in the immediate aftermath of the 1994 genocide, on mass displacement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and more recently as a judge on the Aban People's Tribunal.
• Prof Geoff Gilbert is Sérgio Vieira de Mello Professor of International Human Rights & Humanitarian Law and an expert on refugee law and displacement, as well as on issues related to transnational criminal law, extradition and surrender and the applicability of exclusion clauses under Art 1(f) of the Refugee Convention.

Specialist Facilities

• Volunteer at the Digital Investigations Unit, where you can carry out pathbreaking investigations on mass crimes for bodies like the UN Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine, the ICC and Amnesty International.
• Participate in mooting competitions to develop your skills.
• Take advantage of networking opportunities throughout the year with visiting practitioners and academics.

Your Future

• Essex Law School LLM graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers in international and intergovernmental organisations or employment with governments across the world, in non-governmental organisations and, as might be expected, in the legal profession and the judiciary.
• During the year, we hold a careers session for our students in which we reflect upon our own careers and how they have been built as well as those from former students.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• A 2:2 Degree in Law or a joint honours Degree in another subject with Law.
• Applicants who do not hold a Law Degree but who have at least six months of relevant professional experience, traineeships, or professional qualifications/certifications issued by professional bodies such as Bar Associations can apply and will be considered.

International & EU Entry Requirements

• We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.
• Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept.

English Language Requirements

• If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.

Structure

Course Structure

• We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.
• Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field.

Components and Modules Explained

• Components: Components are the blocks of study that make up your course.
• Modules: Modules are the individual units of study for your course.

Year 1

• COMPONENT 01: CORE - Dissertation – International Criminal Law (60 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY - International Criminal Law (15 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY - International Criminal Law 2: Advocacy and Litigation (15 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY - Public International Law (15 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS - Option(s) from list (30 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 06: OPTIONAL - Option(s) from list (30 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 07: OPTIONAL - Option(s) from list (15 CREDITS)
• COMPONENT 08: COMPULSORY - Foundation Essay (0 CREDITS)

Teaching

• Postgraduate students in Essex Law School usually attend two-hour workshops, or a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module each week.
• Taught through small-group interactive seminars that foster critical debate and analysis.
• Teaching is supplemented by lectures, where appropriate.

Assessment

• Modules are assessed via coursework (which may be comprised of in-class exercises, essays, legal drafting or problem-solving assignments), an examination, or a combination of the two.

Dissertation

• Your dissertation is normally 12,000 words in length.
• You will have the freedom to select your own dissertation topic.
• A special dissertation module that offers guidance on topic selection and the writing process, as well as one-to-one supervision given from a member of academic staff.

Fees and Funding

Home/UK Fee

• £11,025

International Fee

• £23,875

Scholarships and Financial Support

• There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.

Fees and Funding Guide

• Masters fees and funding information
• Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's Next

• We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year.
• Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex.
• If the dates of our organised events aren't suitable for you, feel free to get in touch and we'll arrange an individual campus tour for you.