LLM in Corporate Governance
Duration
1 year Full time / 2 years Part time
Entrance Requirements
Normally a 2:1 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.
Introduction
The LLM in Corporate Governance is an innovative programme designed to provide a comprehensive guide to the practical, legal, ethical and theoretical issues involved in the direction and control of modern corporations. The programme is international in focus and taught by leading academics and practitioners.
The programme is especially timely at the moment given its focus on the role of finance and stock markets in the governance of the firm.
By situating the study of corporate governance within the wider context of governance, the programme transcends a narrow legalistic focus on compliance. It also provides an excellent grounding in, and appreciation of, the roles played by disparate actors in the construction and recalibration of corporate governance regimes.
The programme is designed to give students a grounding in theories of governance and corporate governance from which they can specialise in areas of their choosing: legal doctrine; social responsibility; public sector governance etc.
This introduction provides a basic overview. If you want more details of programme content and structure, please contact Dr Ciarán O'Kelly, Programme Coordinator (c.okelly@qub.ac.uk) at the School of Law.
Where will course graduates find employment?
Global in application, the programme provides students with the necessary skill base to pursue careers with national and international legal partnerships, corporations and regulatory authorities. Many graduates have continued on into legal practice or have been employed in business. The big four accountancy firms have employed a number of our graduates for instance.
Furthermore, the inter-disciplinary nature of the programme provides students with the expertise to pursue further academic study should they so choose.
Comments from Graduates
“An in-depth exploration of regulation for the corporate community. I found the Corporate Governance and Public Policy LL.M Masters a rewarding experience and thus highly recommend the course. The course provides sufficient guidance and excellent facilities for independent research. I graduated in December 2007, giving my CV an extra asset, but also giving me a talking point to employers about my independent Dissertation research project. A must for any corporate minded individuals from a legal or a non-legal background.”
Rachel Leonard LL.M. Belfast.
“The programme in Corporate Governance addressed a wide range of issues that have become increasingly important in the world economy. Being an American student with a background in social sciences and American corporate law, I entered the program with no real understanding of international company law or international corporate governance. The programme proved to be genuinely international in scope, and left me with a firm analytical understanding of key issues that are becoming increasingly important in light of the problems being faced by the world economy. Perhaps even more importantly, the LLM programme in Corporate Governance left me with a wealth of resources to draw on in continuing study and legal practice. While studying at Queens, I found Belfast to be a great place to live and study, with interesting and engaging people and a wide range of amenities. Unlike so many cities, it has a unique character that's easy to appreciate when compared to the cultural uniformity that is plaguing so many cities in Europe and North America”
Philip Londeree, LLM. USA
Who is the programme aimed at?
The programme has been designed to prove equally attractive to those transferring from an undergraduate course and those who have gained practical experience in industry or public policy.
Teaching outline and methodology
The programme is taught within a directed learning framework through weekly seminars, which provide an overview to a particular area. Students gain an appreciation of how to design effective corporate governance structures that are applicable across a range of institutional settings. These seminars offer a starting point for the completion of assessed essay questions. The second major method of testing is a dissertation, the exact subject of which is to be chosen in consultation with the Course Coordinator.
Resources within the School
Students registered on the LLM will be able to avail of an array of seminars and workshops grounded in corporate and political governance within the Law School and beyond.
The Law School provides postgraduate students with a range of excellent facilities including a computer room with high grade PC's. Students also have access to computerized research tools such as Lexis.
Outline syllabus
All students take three full compulsory modules, two optional half-modules and one dissertation.
Compulsory modules
- Issues in Corporate Governance (30 credits)
- Approaches to Law and Regulation (30 credits)
- Techniques and Methods in Law and the Social Sciences (15 credits)
Optional Modules Please note that not all modules will be delivered each year
- International Corporate Social Responsibility (15 credits)
- International Trade Law (15 credits)
- Regulation, Privatisation and the Company (15 credits)
- European Competition Law and Policy (15 credits)
- Regulation, International Banking & Financial Markets (15 credits)
- Intellectual Property and Technology Law (15 credits)
- Governing the Public Sector in a Globalised Context (15 credits)
- Company Law and Corporate Governance (15 credits)
- E-Government and E-democracy (15 credits)
- The Idea of the Public (15 credits)
- Foundations of European Internal Market Law (15 credits)
For further information on module content please see the course handbook.
Finally, students will write a dissertation on a relevant topic of their choosing.
The course lasts twelve months when taken full time.
Dissertation
The dissertation is undertaken during June to September. Dissertations are between 15,000 to 20,000 words in length. They should relate to the intersection between corporate governance and public policy. The exact nature of the dissertation and the selection of appropriate advisors will be taken by the student in consultation with the Programme Coordinator.
Closing date for applications
Applications, via the online portal, will be accepted up to end August 2013. After this date, please contact the School Postgraduate Secretary (pglawenquiries@qub.ac.uk)
Programme Coordinator: Dr Ciaran O'Kelly
Some funding opportunities exist for Taught Masters Programmes
