Expand+How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 12th August 2022 fo...

Hide-How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 12th August 2022 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Expand+Graduate
Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.

Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hol...

Hide-Graduate
Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Law, Social Sciences, Humanities or a cognate discipline.

Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) OR for those applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) along with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience.

Admission under the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Expand+Overview
Legal work and practice, as is the case across the professions, is increasingly focused on technological innovation. Employers are very interested in law graduates who are tech-savvy both in terms of awareness of legal matters in technology...

Hide-Overview
Legal work and practice, as is the case across the professions, is increasingly focused on technological innovation. Employers are very interested in law graduates who are tech-savvy both in terms of awareness of legal matters in technology, but in terms of how technology is coming to operate within the profession (such as for research and also for promotional purposes). The School of Law aims to address that gap, through an employer-partnered LLM programme in Law and Technology that introduces students to the interplay of and interfaces between technology and law.

This innovative and employment-focused programme draws on the School of Law’s substantial experience in technology, e-governance and innovation, in terms of law’s role in regulating technology and technology’s role in transforming governance and legal practice.

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with the course are outlined below:

Learning and Teaching Opportunities

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top Schools in the UK and Ireland. There are over 950 undergraduate students enrolled in the School, 260 postgraduates, 70 PhD students and over 50 members of academic staff. You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the library and extensive IT facilities.

The School operates a proactive system of student support. Programme Co-ordinators are allocated to each degree programme tasked to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Student Voice Consultative Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Director of Graduate Studies and other members of academic staff, meet at regular intervals throughout the academic year. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential. We do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, life-long learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

E-Learning technologies
Information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the programme through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in project- based work etc.

Lectures
Provide information about topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).

Self-directed study
This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s Law student when important private reading and research, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/tutorials
These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Expand+Compulsory Modules

Law and the Challenges of Technology
Exploring and analysing the impact of technology on society and the response required by law and regulation. Topics include big data, the advance of robotics, the internet of things, and ma...

Hide-Compulsory Modules

Law and the Challenges of Technology
Exploring and analysing the impact of technology on society and the response required by law and regulation. Topics include big data, the advance of robotics, the internet of things, and machine learning; this is in the context of a general question of whether new law is required to deal with the implications of new technology, or whether existing law can be developed and enforced more imaginatively. Addresses issues such as e-government and the role of information technology in legal practice.

Regulating Innovation
Exploring and analysing the impact of technology on innovation, the construction of online markets, and the implications of new systems and services for law and regulation. Examining the idea of ‘cyberlaw’; jurisdiction over online activities (which law applies in a transnational context); specialist areas including intellectual property and data; and the rise of liability considerations around platforms.

Law and Technology : project based learning
Students will be required to work in groups on short projects based on (law and technology) issues presented and then respond with presentations and documents in a manner that simulates client-facing practice.

Approaches to Legal Research
Students will be introduced to several important theoretical frameworks and research programmes for legal research. This includes empirically-oriented research that investigates how law interacts with other social phenomena, and fundamental principles of research design and methodology, covering both 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' social science methods.

Dissertation

Optional Modules

Computational methods and skills
Introduces students to methods of data analysis and computer programming. Engage with ideas around ‘computational thinking’, data visualisation and basic statistical programming. Includes teaching of ‘Python’ programming (for beginners), which will be useful in the subsequent project as well as in equipping students with technical and data literacy skills.

Foundations of Cybersecurity
The module helps students who are seeking to develop a base-level understanding of the main issues within the field of Cybersecurity and the building blocks of a defence system. The module will be used as a primer for students going on to a more in-depth technical exploration of Cybersecurity.

Copyright in the Digital Environment
Investigation of current topics in copyright law; recent topics have included artificial intelligence and authorship; regulation / liability of social media sites; digitisation, heritage and archives.

International Financial Law
Introduces the law of financial transactions and the regulation of financial institutions in Europe and the US. Topics include the structure of financial systems and the relations between central banks, banks, securities firms, financial investors, depositors, and states; types of finance (e.g. equity, securities); banks; corporate governance of financial institutions; payment systems.

Business and Human Rights
Key debates regarding the corporation's role in society, including topics such as the human rights obligations of corporations to workers, host countries, other stakeholders, the rise of corporate social responsibility reporting, global initiatives and frameworks, the role of civil society in corporate regulation and self-regulation, corporate promotion of labour standards, and human rights considerations in international corporate investment.

Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics
Medical Law and Ethics examines current legal and ethical issues in the interfaces between the regulation of medicine and emerging health technologies. The module emphasises the application of theoretical frameworks to ‘real world’ cases.

Comparative Competition Law : the Case of the EU as the Leading Model
Innovative module funded through a European Union project; involves combination of classroom and electronic learning, visiting expert speakers from across the EU. Explores the internationalisation of competition law in the context of globalisation and international trade with a particular focus on EU competition law as a leading model, followed by many other states.

Leadership and Innovation Skills for Law Students
Incorporates the Graduate School’s 'Mastering Your Leadership' programme, including skills training in leadership, project management, group work and other workplace skills. Also engages with the topics of law's role in business and the legal profession itself.

Data, privacy and the law
Studying the interplay of data, privacy, and the law. Explores recent legal changes (e.g. GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation, on topics such as consent, sensitive personal data, and online communications), current debates on law reform (e.g. the proposed revision of the E-Privacy Directive regarding issues like surveillance and spam), and related issues (e.g. investigatory powers).

Regulating digital communications
Focus on the regulation of digital communications, including comparative approaches to content regulation / censorship, the application of criminal
law to social media posts, and enforcement of broadcasting and other
standards in a digital context.

Making Medical Technologies
This module will familiarise students with legal frameworks relating to research and development of medical technologies and key debates in the area. The module will focus on the way in which legal frameworks interact with and govern medico-technological developments and practice. Some of the key problems of extant frameworks that apply to medical technologies will be explored, and debate on the revision of the frameworks initiated.