Our LLMs from our new Master's in Law suite of programs are designed for law and non-law graduates who want to explore the practical application of a particular, specialist area of the law. Study face-to-face or online.

LLM Media Law, Privacy and Defamation - Part-time

A Master of Laws (LLM) in Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation* is a postgraduate degree designed for law and non-law graduates to enhance their academic legal knowledge. This internationally recognized Master’s course will give you the skills to progress within the media law industry and can open up pathways to a career as a Barrister, Solicitor, Legal Advisor, Legal Executive, and more.

The law in context

Gain essential in-depth knowledge and insight in your chosen area of law and understand the importance of legal rules as they are applied in the real world.

Flexible study

The program structure is highly flexible. You can design your own degree pathway that suits you and meets your career objectives, whatever they might be.

Taught by subject experts

Taught by a combination of former and current practitioners, as well as research and teaching academics who are focused on legal practice, not just theory.

Course Requirements

Students should possess a UK bachelor’s degree in any subject at 2:2 or above or equivalent qualifications. Non-law students must complete a compulsory two-week induction covering the Key Principles of the English Legal System unless they can evidence the successful completion of an LLB (or equivalent) or a minimum of 3 legal modules worth at least 80 QCF credits, which must include - English Legal System, Contract Law and Law of Tort.

Course Details

The LLM Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation is an innovative, flexible program that will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of media law, privacy and defamation in practice. You will explore issues such as the legal and administrative regulation of mainstream media publications, as well as content issues on social media. You’ll also have the opportunity to consider freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to reputation, and the application of data protection and privacy rules to online advertising.

When you study the LLM Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation with us you will:

• Be taught by subject matter experts, former and current practitioners, and research and teaching-focused academics.
• Benefit from strategic partnerships with firms, regulators, and accreditation bodies, which inform our program development.
• Improve your employability by gaining important transferable skills and mapping your career with our careers team.
• Strengthen your network - connect with other students, faculty, and industry professionals on an international scale, and seek out opportunities for future placements and job opportunities.
• Increase your earning potential - the 2020 Graduate Labour Market Statistics found that postgraduates earn on average £7,000 more than their graduate counterparts.
• Get ahead of the competition - gain in-depth knowledge of your topic of interest and become a subject expert, which will provide you with a competitive edge in the job market.
• 94% of postgraduate students in employment were in highly skilled occupations 15 months after graduating (2019/20 Graduate Outcomes data).
• Prepare for the future of Legal Technology – study modules in legal technology and gain insight into this emerging area of law.

Please note that, due to Home Office regulations, students who require a Student Route visa to study with us are not permitted to study online and can only choose face-to-face taught modules.

Course Structure

Term 1-4 (Part-time)

In addition to a general induction to the program, there is a two-week induction covering the Key Principles of the English Legal System. This is compulsory for non-law students, but also open to students wanting a refresher in the fundamentals of the law of England and Wales. This would be useful for any student who has taken a considerable break from legal education.

Compulsory modules include:

• Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation
• Research Methods Training to help you prepare for your dissertation

You may then choose three* from the list of elective modules which includes modules such as:

• Data Protection and Intellectual Property
• International Human Rights
• Public International Law

*All elective modules are subject to availability.

Term 5-6 (Part-time)

• Dissertation in Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation.

Course Information

Assessments

Modules are assessed by a three-hour unseen written examination or a 4,500-word coursework assignment.

All assessments are conducted online.

The dissertation module will be assessed by submission of a thesis (15,000 words), and provides an opportunity for sustained, in-depth and intensive investigation into, and reflection upon, a specialist area of Media Law, Privacy, and Defamation.

Structure

The course has an innovatively flexible structure, with specific assessments that are conducive to effective learning.

The approach to learning and teaching in the Master of Laws programmes is predominantly learner-centered. Each taught module is divided into a number of Units which are presented using the Prepare, Engage, Consolidate approach.

Prepare: this represents all the work the student needs to complete before attending the relevant workshop. Traditional lecture content will be presented in short bite-sized segments of approximately 10 minutes to better engage the modern student. Guided independent research and reading will be expected as part of a student’s preparation.

Engage: this represents the interactive element of the Unit. This could be a face-to-face workshop, a synchronous online workshop or an asynchronous online activity.

Consolidate: this represents the final part of the Unit and can be used by students to check their understanding of the Unit immediately after their Engage activity or as part of their revision for the module or both.

How to Apply

• You can apply for this course directly with the University.
• This course cannot be chosen to study alongside our Legal Practice Course (LPC).