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LLM in General Law (Thesis or Non-Thesis)

The LLM program, whether Thesis or Non-Thesis, offers an outstanding opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the McGill Law community by giving them maximum latitude in designing their program of study.

Most students enrol in the LLM Non-Thesis program. It is geared toward students who wish to explore advanced courses in law and/or who wish to better learn about North American legal culture. The program requires coursework as well as a research project.

The LLM Thesis program is geared toward students who wish to continue their legal education primarily through research. In addition to some courses, students focus on the production of a thesis evaluated by an examiner, but without the requirement of a thesis defence.

LLM Thesis and Non-Thesis requirements

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This programme offers an exciting and flexible range of courses drawn from across the range of masters level courses offered by Edinburgh Law School, enabling you to tailor the LLM to meet your academic interests and future career plans.

The LLM in Law (or ‘General LLM’) is suitable for students seeking a range of advanced courses, without necessarily specialising in one area of law.

You will have the opportunity to select courses from the following areas of law:

• Commercial Law
• Criminal Law
• Criminology
• Intellectual Property, Media and Technology Law
• International Law
• Legal History and Legal Theory
• Medical Law
• Private Law

The General LLM qualification reflects expertise across a range of subjects. For that reason, there are limits on the number of courses which can be taken from any one subject area.

If you wish to specialise in a specific area of law you should apply for one of our nominate degrees.

View our full range of Masters degrees

The LLM in Law offers students the opportunity to craft a curriculum which suits their needs and interests and to engage with a broad range of subject areas. The range of skills and knowledge which such a programme develops and allows students to demonstrate is increasingly important in view of the interconnectedness of the modern workplace.

Advanced study in legal and criminological fields offers excellent preparation for a range of careers including academia, legal practice, business, public policy. Our teaching is research-led and delivered in seminars which give students the opportunity to engage directly with each other and with academic staff.

The University of Edinburgh's Law School has a vibrant research community, boasting scholars of international repute. Their work is supported by one of the UK’s leading law libraries, which you will also have access to.

The Law School is also home to research centres for Commercial, Constitutional, International and Global and Private Law as well as centres for Legal History and Legal Theory as well as the Empirical Legal Research Network, the Mason Institute (which examines medicine, life science and the law), the Europa Institute, the Global Justice Academy and the SCRIPT Centre (which explores the relations between law, technology and commerce).

Find out more about our research centres and networks

In addition to scholars based in Edinburgh, the Law School also operates two schemes for visiting researchers: the Visiting Scholar Programme and the MacCormick Fellowship Scheme. Through these the international culture of scholarship in Edinburgh is fostered and developed.

Visit Edinburgh Law School's MacCormick Fellows video channel

Find out more about research at Edinburgh Law School

The wide range of research seminars and public lectures provide an excellent opportunity for you to engage with current research and to get to know academics and postgraduate researchers in a more informal setting.

Each of the research centres organises a number of seminars and symposia throughout the year, which are open to all postgraduate students. The Law School also holds a number of annual lectures given by leading scholars and members of the judiciary.

As a postgraduate student you are actively encouraged to attend and to participate in these events.

Find out more about the range of events at Edinburgh Law School

If you have any questions about the LLM in Law please don't hesitate to contact us.

[email protected]

This programme can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years subject to visa restrictions.

It offers a wide range of subjects across many legal fields from European, International and comparative perspectives. It is genuinely flexible enabling you to tailor the LLM to meet your specific interests.

The programme consists of 180 credits, comprising taught courses worth 120 credits (60 credits per semester) and a 10,000 word dissertation worth 60 credits.

To ensure a programme of general interest there are no mandatory courses, however you may only select a certain number of credits (60 per semester) from particular fields. This is indicated in the course options list below. Full programme details for the 2024-25 academic year including detailed course descriptions are available on the University Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study website. 

View 2024-25 programme information for the LLM in Law

Please note that the courses listed below are scheduled for the 2024-25 academic year and are provided for illustrative purposes.

Depending on demand, space on specific courses may be limited.

You can select between 0 and 40 credits from the following courses:

• Company Law (40 credits, full-year course) 
• Comparative Corporate Governance (20 credits)
• Corporation Law and Economics (20 credits)
• International Commercial Arbitration (20 credits)
• The Law of International Trade (20 credits)
• Contract Law in Europe (20 credits)
• Applied Corporate Law (20 credits)
• Priniciples of Commerical Law (20 credits)
• Sustainability in Food Supply Chains: Law and Policy (20 credits)

View full programme information for the LLM in Law

• Sexual Offending and the Law (20 credits)
• General Principles of Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Current Issues in Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Criminal Justice and Penal Process (20 credits)
• Police and Policing (20 credits)
• Theoretical Criminology (20 credits)
• Mental Health and Crime (20 credits)
• Surveillance and Security (20 credits)
• Global Crime and Insecurity (20 credits)
• Responding to Global Crime and Insecurity (20 credits)
• Cybercrime and Cyber Security (20 credits)
• Prisons and Places of Confinement (20 credits)
• Criminological Research Methods (20 credits)
• Applied Criminological Research Methods (20 credits)
• EU Competition Law (40 credits, full-year course)
• EU External Economic Relations Law (20 credits)
• EU Criminal Law (20 credits)
• Citizenship in Europe (20 credits)
• EU Immigration and Asylum Law (20 credits)
• The Values of the European Union: A Legal Perspective ( 20 credits)
• Judicial Protection in the European Union: A Comparative Framework (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law 1: Copyright and Related Rights (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law 2: Industrial Property (20 credits)
• The legal challenges of information technologies (20 credits)
• Information: Control and Power (20 credits)
• International and European Media Law (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property and Human Rights (20 credits)
• Intellectual Property Law, Innovation and Creativity (20 credits)
• Robotics, AI and the Law (20 credits)
• E-Governance, Digital Change and Democratisation (10 credits)
• Human-Computer Interaction and Governance (10 credits)
• Space Law (20 credits)
• Advanced Issues in Registered Trade Mark Law (20 credits)
• Software and the law (20 credits)
• EU Data Protection Law (GDPR) (20 credits)
• International Intellectual Property Law (20 credits)
• Fundamental Issues in International Law (40 credits)
• International Environmental Law (40 credits)
• International Investment Law (20 credits)
• Inter-state Conflict and Humanitarian Law (20 credits)
• International Climate Change Law (20 credits)
• International Human Rights Law (20 credits)
• WTO Law 1 (20 credits)
• International Ocean Governance and the Protection of the Marine Environment (40 credits)
• Law and Development (20 credits)
• Economic and Social Rights (20 credits)
• Legal Decision Making (20 credits)
• Reasoning with Precedent (20 credits)
• The Rule of Law (20 credits)
• Advanced Legal Reasoning (20 credits) 
• Reasoning Using Civilian Authority (20 credits)
• Fundamental Issues in Medical Jurisprudence (20 credits)
• Contemporary Issues in Medical Jurisprudence (20 credits)
• Fundamentals in Bioethics (20 credits)
• Mental Health Law (20 credits)
• Reproduction and the Law (10 credits)
• Shaping and Regulating Modern Healthcare (10 credits)
• Clinical Negligence and the Law (10 credits)

You can select between 0 and 60 credits from the following courses:

• International Private Law: Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments (20 credits)
• Delict and Tort (20 credits)
• Comparative Property Law (20 credits)
• Insolvency Law (20 credits)
• Trusts across the Common Law World (20 credits)
• Child Law in Comparative Perspectives (20 credits)
• Comparative Statutory Interpretation (20 credits)
• The Anatomy of Public Law (20 credits)
• Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (20 credits)
• Human Rights Law in Europe (20 credits)
• Advanced Comparative Constitutional Law (20 credits)
• Global South Actors in International Relations and International Law, 1945-present (20 credits)
• Conflict and Peaceful Transition in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (20 credits) 
• Working in Conflict-Affected Areas: Understand, Cooperate and Protect (20 credits)

Having successfully completed 120 credit points of courses within the LLM, you will be ready to move onto a single piece of independent and in-depth research. The 10,000 word dissertation allows you to focus on a preferred topic based on a subject you have studied in one of your courses during the programme.

You will be assigned an academic dissertation supervisor who will provide you with support and guidance while you prepare and write your dissertation.

The dissertation is a challenging but rewarding endeavour, asking you to demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the relevant literature and an ability to engage critically with a range of sources, drawing on the skills and knowledge you have developed during the course of the programme. Students are encouraged to show originality and evidence of independent thinking, whether in terms of the material used, or the manner in which it is presented.

The dissertation is written in the summer months (April to August) after the taught courses are successfully completed.

We cannot guarantee that all courses will run each year, and will provide adequate notice of any changes to the programme structure and courses.

Page update: Courses for the 2024-25 year were published on the 3rd May 2024. 

Academic staff teaching on courses on the LLM in Law in 2023-24 are experts in their field and are actively involved in cutting-edge research in their area of expertise.

Dr Simone Lamont-Black - Programme Director 2023-24

Dr Simone Lamont-Black is Senior Lecturer in International Trade Law, at the University of Edinburgh. She trained and practiced law in Germany as Rechtsanwältin before moving to the UK. She holds her Doctorate from Augsburg University (summa cum laude). Simone's teaching spans across a range of topics in international commercial law, including international sale of goods and transport law, commercial private international law, international commercial arbitration and dispute resolution methods.

Find out more

Depending on the courses you choose to study, you will be taught by staff from a range of different subject areas in the Law School.

• Criminal Law and Evidence
• IP, Media and Technology Law
• Legal History
• Legal Theory
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Public International Law

The staff teaching on this programme are subject to change for the 2023-24 academic year.

Find out what it's like to study for an LLM in Law at Edinburgh Law School from our current and former students.

Marlene, Germany

My name’s Marlene, I’m German and have a background in EU-level digital policy-making. After working for several years after my undergraduate degree, I chose Edinburgh Law School to complete my education. While my undergraduate degree was mainly law, I also took interdisciplinary courses in politics and economics. The faculty is open to such backgrounds, which I think is forward-thinking. Many universities still treat legal education as siloed from other disciplines, which it isn’t in real life.

For someone with an interdisciplinary background like mine, the General Law LLM stream was perfect. I was effectively able to custom-design an LLM, drawing from courses across the Law School, and tailor everything to my specific goals. While other LLM streams also have freedom in choosing some courses, what sets the General stream apart is that we have no mandatory courses, and truly have free choice.

I also participated in the University’s team for the Willem C. Vis Moot, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time in Edinburgh. It was really challenging to balance with my regular course load, but complementary in improving my oral advocacy skills.

I loved Edinburgh. It’s big enough to feel like a city and offer you anything you need, but small enough that everything is in your reach. The university attracts incredibly interesting people, and I made friends for life.

Marlene studied the LLM in Law in the academic year 2019-20, graduating in 2020.

"Due to the huge range of courses, the LLM in Law offered me a tailor-made way to pursue my various legal interests. Without being restricted to a particular area of law, I had the chance to set up my individual curriculum consisting of civil and criminal law classes.

I really enjoyed the seminar-style teaching in small groups. As most of my courses had a comparative approach, it was more like learning from each other than only from the lecturer.

Discussing legal topics and problems with my fellow classmates from various legal backgrounds was a highly enriching experience. Sometimes the teachers only had to trigger a discussion which then developed itself and only stopped because the seminar-time ran out.

Working with the teaching-staff was also a great experience. The lecturers were all very approachable, student friendly and willing to help.This was particularly visible when I was writing my dissertation. Through out all meetings my supervisor tried to show me ways to improve my work. It was the first time in my academic career that I received such an extensive and smooth supervision.

Not being stuck in one specific programme had another positive effect. As almost all General LLM students had chosen completely different combinations of courses, I met new people in every single class. I really felt like I was part of one big LLM family and not just one small programme. As a result, I made new friends not only from all over the world but also from a wide range of legal subject areas. Thus, I think the LLM in Law is the most diverse programme of all LLM programmes at Edinburgh University."

Nils studied the LLM in Law in the academic year 2016-17, graduating in 2017.

Please note that the information provided is for entry in the 2024-25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. 

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.  We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible; this is particularly important for applicants who may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test, for overseas students who may need time to satisfy necessary visa requirements and/or to apply for University accommodation.

We require a minimum 2:1 honours degree from a UK university, or its international equivalent, in law. We may also consider a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a social science subject. Entry to this programme is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements for consideration does not guarantee an offer of study.

Supporting your application:

• Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.
• Relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
• Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.

International qualifications

You can check whether your degree qualification is equivalent to the minimum standard before applying.

Check your degree

Students from China

This degree is Band A.

Find out more about our postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

Postgraduate study in the field of law requires a thorough, complex and demanding knowledge of English, so we ask that the communication skills of all students are at the same minimum standard.

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic Online : total 7.0 (at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other module)
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 25 in writing and 23 in each other module)
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 (at least 185 in writing and 176 in in all other components)
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components
• PTE Academic: 70 overall with at least 70 in the writing component and 62 in each other component
• Oxford ELLT (Global and Digital): 9 overall with at least 9 in the writing component and 8 in each other component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, that was taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The UK Government's website provides a list of majority English speaking countries.

View the UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or equivalent, that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.

Approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

View approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries

Your application may not be successful if you do not currently satisfy any of these requirements; alternatively, you may be offered a place conditional on your reaching the satisfactory standard by the time you start the degree.

Find out more about the University's English language requirements

Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes

We also accept satisfactory completion of our English for Academic Purposes programme as meeting our English language requirements. You must complete the programme no more than two years and one month before the start date of the degree you are applying to study.

Find out more about the University's Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes

English language support

The University runs a series of programmes for English Language Education, including a pre-sessional English Language Programme intended to strengthen your English Language skills before you start your programme of study.

Find out more about English language support offered by the University

Deadlines for applicants applying to study the LLM in Law in 2024-25 are provided in the table below.

We monitor application numbers carefully to ensure we are able to accommodate all those who receive offers. It may therefore be necessary to close a programme earlier than the published deadline and if this is the case we will place a four-week warning notice on the relevant programme page.

Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 18 August 2024.

Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.

Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following documentation with your application:

• You will need to submit a personal statement of around 500 words, outlining your academic history and relevant experience. Guidance on writing your personal statement .
• Degree certificates showing award of degree
• Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes (please upload the full transcript showing results from all years of study)
• A reference in support of your application. The reference should be academic and dated no earlier than one year from the start of study on the LLM programme
• Evidence of English language proficiency, if required

If you are currently studying for your degree or you are not in a possession of an English test result you may still apply to the programme. Please note that it is your responsibility to submit the necessary documents.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

View full detailed application guidance

Students at this University must not undertake any other concurrent credit bearing studies in this (or in any other) institution, unless the College has granted permission. The College must be satisfied that any additional credit-bearing studies will not restrict the student’s ability to complete their existing programme of study. Students will not be permitted to undertake concurrent degree programmes in any circumstances.

If you are studying at this or another institution just prior to the start of your postgraduate studies you must have finished these studies before the start of the programme to which you have an offer.

After your application has been submitted you will be able to track its progress through the University's applicant hub.

Application processing times will vary, however the admissions team will endeavour to process your application within four to six weeks of submission. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.

You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:

• You may be offered a place unconditionally
• You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.  Please note that the deadline for meeting the conditions of an offer is 18 August 2024.
• Your application may be unsuccessful. If your application has not been successful, you can request feedback from us or refer to our guidance for unsuccessful applicants, which explains some of the common reasons we why we reach this decision. View the University's guidance for unsuccessful applicants

Deferring your offer

We do not normally offer deferrals, however, we may be able to make a very limited number of offers for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances.

View full guidance on deferral requests

If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,500 (within 28 days of receiving your offer) to secure your place on the programme.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits

The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.

University of Edinburgh admissions terms and conditions

If you have any questions about applying to the LLM in Law please don't hesitate to contact us.

Key information

Llm and msc programmes.

Research at Edinburgh Law School

Why Edinburgh Law School?

LLM in Law by online learning

Frequently asked questions

How do i get an application form.

Please refer to the How to apply section.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline for receipt of LLM applications for the 2024 entry course is 5 December 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

What do I need to do if the PAO policy requires me to provide proof of language proficiency?

You will need to pass a test demonstrating proficiency in English and submit the results with the rest of your supporting application documents . You should take your language test early enough to ensure that you receive the results in time to submit them electronically with your application. Unlike other parts of the University, the Faculty of Law requires submission of language tests results by the application deadline. The LLM Committee will not consider applications without the required language test results.

Do I have to have a law degree to apply for the Cambridge LLM?

Generally yes, but not always. The LLM Admissions Committee does consider applications from those with a non-Law first degree, provided that in addition to their degree they have substantial relevant professional legal experience or have obtained a professional legal qualification with the equivalent of a First Class result. However, a first degree in Law is the preferred preparation for the Cambridge LLM.

What grades do I need to have achieved to be offered a place on the Cambridge LLM?

Usually a First class degree from a UK university or its overseas equivalent, but further details are available in the Admissions criteria .

Can I apply for the Cambridge LLM if I have not yet completed my first degree in law?

Yes, and we welcome such applications. Note, though, that the LLM Admissions Committee can consider your application only on the basis of grades provided at the time you apply. If you have done well in your first couple of years at university, but possibly not quite well enough to be a strong candidate for admission, waiting for a year until you have finished your degree with outstanding results in the final year may be the better option. If you do apply before you have completed your first degree in law and your application is successful, your offer is likely to have academic conditions attached.

Can I take the Cambridge LLM if I am from a civil law country rather than a common law country?

Yes. Those from a civil law background are welcome, and take the same courses and receive the same degree as those from a common law background. The interaction of students from a wide of variety of legal families greatly enriches discussions inside and outside the classroom. Civil law students are invited to attend a series of optional lectures on the common law held just before the LLM course begins. Students wanting further instruction in the common law method might also consider attending the English Legal Methods summer course run by Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education .

Can I apply for the Cambridge LLM and another degree programme at Cambridge for the same year of entry?

Yes. However you must make a separate application for each programme, and if offers of admission are made for more than one of these programmes, you will have to choose which offer to accept – you cannot study for the Cambridge LLM and for another degree concurrently.

Do you accept applications from students who already have a UK LLM?

Generally no, but we do make exceptions in cases where applicants plan to use the Cambridge LLM to develop their studies in a different direction to their previous UK LLM The different direction needs to be evident from the application.

How long is the Cambridge LLM Programme?

The Programme starts in the first week of October and finishes by the end of the following June. The University's term dates can be found on the University website.

Can I take the Cambridge LLM on a part-time or distance-learning basis?

No. The LLM Programme cannot be taken by correspondence or on a part-time basis. Since the LLM is oriented around lectures starting in October and ending in May, it is only possible to begin the LLM Programme in October.

How much will it cost to do the Cambridge LLM?

This depends on whether you are from the UK, another European Union country or elsewhere. The PAO provides an estimate of costs which graduate students incur .

What funding options are available?

See the PAO fees and funding web pages for details of the composition (tuition) fees and college fees, and for estimated living costs in Cambridge. This section of the PAO website also provides detailed information about sources of funding, including the online database of scholarships, studentships and bursaries . You can use this search facility to find sources of funding for which you are eligible to apply.

Once I have applied, when can I expect to find out if I have been offered a place?

All admissions decisions will have been made by 1 March. However, it may take further time before you receive notification. Applicants will be notified of the decision relating to their application via their self service account by the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

If I receive an offer, can I be sure I will be able to get a place at the college I would like to attend?

Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed, since some colleges are significantly oversubscribed. But you can express a preference. And if you are offered a place on the Cambridge LLM you can be certain you will be accepted by one of the colleges, even if it is not the one you prefer.

If I receive an offer subject to an academic condition and fail to meet this condition, is it possible to obtain a waiver?

It is very unlikely. If you consider that your final results have been affected by unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, you may submit a formal request for a waiver to the Cambridge LLM team at [email protected] .

I have received an offer of a place on the Cambridge LLM, and would like to take up the offer, but I cannot now attend in the year for which I initially applied. Is it possible to defer?

No. In line with general University policy, deferred entry will not be possible for the LLM.

Do I have to write a dissertation as part of the Cambridge LLM?

No, you do not have to write a dissertation, but a dissertation option is available for those who wish to undertake some independent research. For example, in seminar courses, students are examined through a (compulsory) dissertation. In addition, in many of the LLM courses there is the option of writing a dissertation in lieu of the examination. A candidate whose topic is approved for a dissertation in lieu of an examination will receive a prescribed amount of individual advice from an appropriate dissertation advisor. Students may only write one dissertation for their Cambridge LLM, and their chosen dissertation topic cannot overlap substantially with material covered in another course.

I have checked the website thoroughly, together with the PAO website and supporting documentation, but I have a question I cannot answer. Is there anyone I can contact?

Yes. Please contact the Cambridge LLM team at [email protected] .

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Non-thesis ll.m..

Posted Mar 15, 2013 18:23

Hi everyone. I'm from Nigeria and I'm interested in enrolling for an LL.M degree in either UK or Ireland. Anyone know a good school that offers a non thesis LL.M in those countries? Heard UCD runs such a programme but I'm not certain. What would be the usual entry requirements for someone with a foreign LL.B?

Posted Mar 18, 2013 11:38

Hi, Twilight! It depends on what do you mean by "good school". Cambridge is a great school, and does not have a dissertation or thesis requirement. LSE didn't have that requirement, but from the next year it will be a must for every student. UCL has also, and it's not that easy.. In the Uni of Portsmouth you would also need to write a thesis/dissertation.. I guess you should not to be afraid of thesis. For sure, it's not that hard and definitely should not be the only reason for you to choose Uni. Try to choose the Uni in the respect of its reputation in the respective field of study, position in ratings and, above all, what subjects (consider Professors) it offers. Of course you should also bear in mind your marks. If you are in top 5-10 % so you have a good chance at every single Uni. For sure, you have to be outstanding not only in marks for top 5 Unis. For other Unis (except for top 5) there are lower academic requirements. What r your marks/rating? What is you preferable specialization, and career plans?

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© 2001–2024 Pritzwalks – LLM GUIDE – Master of Laws (LL.M.) Programs Worldwide

• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Full time

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day .

Why study this course

Study a programme designed to give you the greatest flexibility to pursue advanced legal study in any area that you wish.

Contemporary issues

Gain a general appreciation of a range of current issues in specific areas of law, both domestic and international.

Think critically

Will stimulate you to take a critical approach to the evaluation of current and proposed regulation.

Undertake in-depth research

You will demonstrate advanced knowledge in specific areas of law and join our world-leading research staff.

Customise your learning

Benefit from a varied range of modules which allow you to customise the programme to meet your own interests and career goals.

Our Law LLM programme allows you to study across the legal spectrum without focussing on one specific area of Law.

It aims to offer you the knowledge and expertise to allow you to contribute more fully to your chosen profession through the development of intellectual competence and postgraduate skills. 

You can follow any of the modules available in the year of study from the lists of the specialised LLM programmes, and complete a dissertation.

Where you'll study

School of Law and Politics

Our vibrant student body combined with highly qualified academic staff provides the perfect environment to explore the dynamic and fast-paced fields of law, politics and international relations.

• Research at the School of Law and Politics Chevron right
• News and features Chevron right
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• Telephone +44 (0)29 2087 6102
• Marker Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:1 honours degree in law, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates. Applicants with a 2:2 class degree or equivalent will be considered taking into account the application in its entirety. 
• A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled. 

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements .

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

• access to computers or devices that can store images
• use of internet and communication tools/devices
• freedom of movement
• contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

The programme is delivered in two stages. Stage One (the taught component) comprises four 30 credit modules from the lists of the specialised LLM programmes. Stage Two comprises the Dissertation. 

Two of the Stage One modules will be taught and assessed in the first semester and the remaining two in the second semester. You will progress to the Dissertation upon successful completion of Stage One.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/25 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.

Year One comprises four taught modules, totalling 120 credits. Upon successful completion of the taught stage, you will progress to the 60 credit Dissertation.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will i be taught.

Study for an LLM is intensive and challenging and it is important that you take full advantage of the teaching that is provided in order to succeed. Attendance at classes and dissertation supervisions is compulsory and we will expect you to be well prepared. 

Our teaching is very flexible and your modules may be delivered through seminars or a combination of lectures and seminars.  Other teaching methods include the online use of discussion boards, self-access study packs and formative quizzes and activities.

Modules may be diverse in content to cater for a high proportion of overseas students or students with previous qualifications other than in law. Modules are typically led by experienced staff actively engaged in research relevant to their subject area.

How will I be assessed?

We make use of both formative and summative assessment.

Formative assessments do not count towards your degree but are designed to give you the opportunity to practice for your summative assessments and enable you and your tutors to assess your progress in your modules. Formative assessments will normally involve written coursework or a class test or may comprise individual student presentations.  

Summative assessments count towards your degree. Your marks in these assessments count towards your formal progression from stage one (taught modules) to stage two (the dissertation), and towards the determination of your final award. Summative assessments in stage one will vary by module but will typically involve written coursework (5,000 word essays), unseen examinations or pre-release examinations. The Dissertation (up to 15,000 words) comprises the stage two summative assessment.

How will I be supported?

We have created a specially designed research and study skills module which is studied by all LLM students at the beginning of the programme. We also offer writing skills support for those whose first language is not English.

Your learning will be supported through e-learning; all modules are supported by Learning Central, a virtual learning environment that is available on and off campus through which you will access a wide range of materials for your modules.

You will receive dedicated pastoral support through our personal tutor scheme. We offer an extensive programme of careers lectures and workshops with an in-house Law Careers Consultant and a Pro-bono Scheme Co-ordinator. 

A designated Disability and Diversity Officer ensures that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities. The University also has a range of services to support you, including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service and excellent libraries with specialist law librarians and resource centres. 

Feedback is available through oral feedback during seminars and you will receive written feedback on both your formative and summative assessments. Individual feedback on formative work will help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your learning, as well as how you might improve your performance in summative assessments. Written feedback will be made available no later than four weeks from the submission of your assessment.

What skills will I practise and develop?

You are expected to assume a greater responsibility for your education as you undertake your postgraduate studies. 

Through the LLM, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic employability skills.  During the programme you will be able to extend your communication and presentation skills, both oral and written. You will also be able to develop collaborative skills, take leadership roles and enhance skills of disciplined and independent study.

You will be encouraged to work independently to seek out legal materials for yourself, to read and analyse these materials critically and to present structured and reasoned argument under the guidance of your tutors and supervisors. You will be provided with training in postgraduate research skills to develop your independent legal analysis, research and writing.

Outside the curriculum you will have the opportunity to develop wider employability skills through participation in the school’s Law in Action pro-bono schemes run with partner organisations, in which student volunteers assist real people in their dealings with the law. The schemes currently include: 

• Law in Justice: the Innocence Project, (dealing with alleged miscarriages of justice).
• Law in Healthcare: the NHS Continuing Healthcare Scheme, (challenges to NHS healthcare funding assessments).
• Law in Sport: the Rugby Union Project – (providing legal advice and legal newsletters to rugby clubs).

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Students from the eu, eea and switzerland.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees .

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

Fees for overseas status

More information about tuition fees and deposits , including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs.

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff .

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2024/25.

Career prospects

A law degree doesn’t restrict you to a career within the legal profession and law graduates enter professions as diverse as finance, sales and marketing, digital communications and recruitment.

We are committed to extending extracurricular opportunities to you, helping to enhance your CVs in a competitive graduate job market. We work in partnership with lawyers, charities and voluntary organisations to give you the opportunity to practise and extend your skills and we run several Pro Bono schemes and provide advice to members of the community on different legal issues.

If you successfully complete the LLM programme you may have the opportunity to continue your legal study through the School’s PhD programme or through the Centre for Professional Legal Studies professional programmes (the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course).

Open Day visits

Make an enquiry, international, discover more.

Search for your courses

Related searches: Law

HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.

Module information

Postgraduate

Be part of a thriving postgraduate community in a university known internationally for outstanding research and teaching.

Postgraduate prospectus 2024

Download a copy of our prospectus, school and subject brochures, and other guides.

Order or download

Get in touch if you have a question about studying with us.

HLS Dissertations, Theses, and JD Papers

S.j.d. dissertations, ll.m. papers, ll.m. theses, j.d. papers, submitting your paper to an online collection, other sources for student papers beyond harvard, getting help, introduction.

This is a guide to finding Harvard Law School (“HLS”) student-authored works held by the Library and in online collections. This guide covers HLS S.J.D Dissertations, LL.M. papers, J.D. third-year papers, seminar papers, and prize papers.

There have been changes in the HLS degree requirements for written work. The library’s collection practices and catalog descriptions for these works has varied. Please note that there are gaps in the library’s collection and for J.D. papers, few of these works are being collected any longer.

If we have an S.J.D. dissertation or LL.M. thesis, we have two copies. One is kept in the general collection and one in the Red Set, an archival collection of works authored by HLS affiliates. If we have a J.D. paper, we have only one copy, kept in the Red Set. Red Set copies are last resort copies available only by advance appointment in Historical and Special Collections .

Some papers have not been processed by library staff. If HOLLIS indicates a paper is “ordered-received” please use this form to have library processing completed.

The HLS Doctor of Juridical Science (“S.J.D.”) program began in 1910.  The library collection of these works is not comprehensive. Exceptions are usually due to scholars’ requests to withhold Library deposit. 

• HLS S.J.D. Dissertations in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic or faculty advisor, or limit by date, click Add a New Line.
• Hein’s Legal Theses and Dissertations Microfiche Mic K556.H45x Drawers 947-949 This microfiche set includes legal theses and dissertations from HLS and other premier law schools. It currently includes about 300 HLS dissertations and theses.
• Hein's Legal Theses and Dissertations Contents List This content list is in order by school only, not by date, subject or author. It references microfiche numbers within the set housed in the Microforms room on the entry level of the library, drawers 947-949. The fiche are a different color for each institution.
• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ Harvard University (Harvard login) Copy this search syntax: dg(S.J.D.) You will find about 130 SJD Dissertations dated from 1972 to 2004. They are not available in full text.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, DASH is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. There are currently about 600 HLS student papers included. Unfortunately it is not possible to search by type of paper or degree awarded.

The Master of Laws (“LL.M.”) degree has been awarded since 1923. Originally, the degree required completion of a major research paper, akin to a thesis. Since 1993, most students have the option of writing the LL.M. "short paper."  This is a 25-page (or longer) paper advised by a faculty supervisor or completed in conjunction with a seminar.  Fewer LL.M. candidates continue to write the more extensive "long-paper." LL.M. candidates holding J.D.s from the U.S. must write the long paper.

• HLS Written Work Requirements for LL.M. Degree The current explanation of the LL.M. written work requirement for the master of laws.

The library generally holds HLS LL.M. long papers and short papers. In recent years, we require author release in order to do so. In HOLLIS, no distinction is made between types of written work created in satisfaction of the LL.M. degree; all are described as LL.M. thesis. Though we describe them as thesis, the law school refers to them solely as papers or in earlier years, essays. HOLLIS records indicate the number of pages, so at the record level, it is possible to distinguish long papers.

• HLS LL.M. Papers in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

HLS LL.M. Papers are sometimes available in DASH and Hein's Legal Dissertations and Theses. See descriptions above .

The HLS J.D. written work requirement has changed over time. The degree formerly required a substantial research paper comparable in scope to a law review article written under faculty supervision, the "third year paper." Since 2008, J.D. students have the option of using two shorter works instead.

Of all those written, the library holds relatively few third-year papers. They were not actively collected but accepted by submission from faculty advisors who deemed a paper worthy of institutional retention. The papers are described in HOLLIS as third year papers, seminar papers, and student papers. Sometimes this distinction was valid, but not always. The faculty deposit tradition more or less ended in 2006, though the possibility of deposit still exists. 

• J.D. Written Work Requirement
• Faculty Deposit of Student Papers with the Library

HLS Third Year Papers in HOLLIS

To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line.

• HLS Student Papers Some third-year papers and LL.M. papers were described in HOLLIS simply as student papers. To refine these search results, click "Add a New Line" and add topic, faculty advisor, or course title.
• HLS Seminar Papers Note that these include legal research pathfinders produced for the Advanced Legal Research course when taught by Virginia Wise.

Prize Papers

HLS has many endowed prizes for student papers and essays. There are currently 16 different writing prizes. See this complete descriptive list with links to lists of winners from 2009 to present. Note that there is not always a winner each year for each award. Prize winners are announced each year in the commencement pamphlet.

The Library has not specifically collected prize papers over the years but has added copies when possible. The HOLLIS record for the paper will usually indicate its status as a prize paper. The most recent prize paper was added to the collection in 2006.

Addison Brown Prize Animal Law & Policy Program Writing Prize Victor Brudney Prize Davis Polk Legal Profession Paper Prize Roger Fisher and Frank E.A. Sander Prize Yong K. Kim ’95 Memorial Prize Islamic Legal Studies Program Prize on Islamic Law Laylin Prize LGBTQ Writing Prize Mancini Prize Irving Oberman Memorial Awards John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics Project on the Foundations of Private Law Prize Sidney I. Roberts Prize Fund Klemens von Klemperer Prize Stephen L. Werner Prize

• Harvard Law School Prize Essays (1850-1868) A historical collection of handwritten prize essays covering the range of topics covered at that time. See this finding aid for a collection description.

The following information about online repositories is not a recommendation or endorsement to participate.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses HLS is not an institutional participant to this collection. If you are interested in submitting your work, refer to these instructions and note that there is a fee required, which varies depending on the format of submission.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Relatively new, this is an open repository of metadata for dissertations. It is an outgrowth of the index American Doctoral Dissertations. The aim is to cover 1933 to present and, for modern works, to link to full text available in institutional repositories. Harvard is not one of the institutional participants.
• DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard

Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, this is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. See more information about the project. 

Some HLS students have submitted their degree paper to DASH.  If you would like to submit your paper, you may use this authorization form  or contact June Casey , Librarian for Open Access Initiatives and Scholarly Communication at Harvard Law School.

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (Harvard Login) Covers dissertations and masters' theses from North American graduate schools and many worldwide. Provides full text for many since the 1990s and has descriptive data for older works.
• NDLTD Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Union Catalog Worldwide in scope, NDLTD contains millions of records of electronic theses and dissertations from the early 1900s to the present.
• Law Commons of the Digital Commons Network The Law Commons has dissertations and theses, as well as many other types of scholarly research such as book chapters and conference proceedings. They aim to collect free, full-text scholarly work from hundreds of academic institutions worldwide.
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Doctoral dissertations from many institutions. Free, open repository.
• Dissertations from Center for Research Libraries Dissertations found in this resource are available to the Harvard University Community through Interlibrary Loan.
• British Library EThOS Dissertation source from the British Library listing doctoral theses awarded in the UK. Some available for immediate download and some others may be requested for scanning.
• BASE from Bielefeld University Library Index of the open repositoris of most academic institutions. Includes many types of documents including doctoral and masters theses.

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• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023 10:46 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/studentpapers

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Home > Student Works & Orgs > LLM Theses and Essays

LLM Theses and Essays

Submissions from 2013 2013.

Some Important Causes for Settlement in American Civil Litigation , Felipe Forte Cobo

Submissions from 2011 2011

TO REVEAL OR CONCEAL?—AN ISP’S DILEMMA, Presenting a New “Anonymous Public Concern Test” for Evaluating ISP Subpoenas in Online Defamation Suits , Cayce Myers

Submissions from 2008 2008

Infrastructure Development in Emerging Economies and the Roles Played by Multilateral Institutions , Amjad Ahasan Basheer

Universal Human Rights and Threat to International Peace and Security: The United Nations' Obligation to Intervene , Godfrey Mhlanga

Submissions from 2007 2007

Applicable Law Provisions in International Uniform Commercial Law Conventions , Paolo E. Conci

Licenses, Leases and Other Contractual Arrangements for the Exploration and Production of Petroleum A Comparative Study Between Nigeria and the United States , Omolara Elumelu

Judicial Review of International Commercial Arbitral Awards by National Courts in the United States and India , Aparna D. JUJJAVARAPU

Ethiopia's Sovereign Right of Access to the Sea under International Law , Abebe T. Kahsay

Comfort Women: Human Rights of Women from Then to Present , Jinyang Koh

Imports or Made-in-China: Comparison of Two Constitutional Cases in China and the United States , Xiao Li

Taxing Emotional Distress Recoveries: Does Murphy Show the Way? , Kaushal P. Mahaseth

The Land of the Free: Human Rights Violations at Immigration Detention Facilities in America , Caitlin J. Mitchel

International Legal Standards Governing the Use of Child Soldiers , Dorcas B. Mulira

Corporate Restrictions in Mexico and the United States , Dennis Rios

Regulating Transnational Corporation for Environmental Damage , Sonal Sahu

The Need for a Transnational Appellate Arbitral Review Body , Priya Sampath

A Consumption Tax versus a Federal Income Tax in the United States , Shelly-Ann R. Tomlinson

Financial Holding Company System and Relevant Legislation , Ye Wang

Submissions from 2006 2006

The Hamburg Rules , Kweku G. Ainuson

Tourism in Antarctica: History, Current Challenges and Proposals for Regulation , Juan Y. Harcha

Reconsidering the Medical Expert Witness System , Yunwei Jiang

A Comparative Study of the Legal Responses to Domestic Violence in the United States and Hungary , Adam Keri

Enforcement of Human Rights under Regional Mechanisms: a Comparative Analysis , Fekadeselassie F. Kidanemariam

Shareholders' Agreements in Close Corporations and Their Enforcement , Ricardo Molano Leon

A Comparative Study on the Trade Barriers Regulation and Foreign Trade Barriers Investigation Rules , Junrong Song

How to Deal with Multi-party Nominations of Arbitrators in International Commercial Arbitration - a Comparative Study of Appointment Procedures with Emphasis on U.S.-European Commerce between Private Entities , Marie-Beatrix Tupy

Balancing Regulations and Incentives for Foreign Direct Investment: a Case Study of Mexico and Kazakhstan , Dauren B. Tynybekov

Submissions from 2005 2005

The Legality of Humanitarian Intervention , Eric Adjei

A Comparative Assessment of U.S. Direct Investment in China and India , Kalpana Arjunan

Pre-contractual Obligations in France and the United States , Florence Caterini

Comparative Law: Alcohol, Drug Abuse & Jurisprudence from the United States to Korea , Hyun J. Cho

Commercial Speech in the United States and Europe , Oxana Valeryevna Gassy-Wright

Accountability of Transnational Corporations under International Standards , Lea Hanakova

Protection of "Persona" in the EU and in the US: a Comparative Analysis , Anna E. Helling

Income Tax Preferences to Foreign Investment in China since the Late 1970s , Xiaoyang Hou

Role of the World Bank and IMF in Issuing Loans to Russia: Responsibility, Tricks, Corruption, Mafia, and Important Use of Legal Enforcement , Elmira A. Makova

Governance and Responsibility of Multinational Enterprises: the Use of Codes of Conduct and Litigation to Change Multinational Enterprises' Behavior , Maria Fernanda Matach

Free Movement of Goods: a Comparative Analysis of the European Community Treaty and the North American Free Trade Agreement , Pedro A. Perichart

The Drafting Process For a Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Judgements with Special Consideration of Intellectual Property and E-Commerce , Knut Woestehoff

The Drafting Process for a Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Judgments with Special Consideration of Intellectual Property and E-commerce , Knut Woestehoff

Trade-related Environmental Measures and GATT: the Conflict between Trade Libralization and Environmental Protection , Fang Zheng

Submissions from 2004 2004

The Question of Non-trade Issues in the WTO from a Developing Country Perspective , Cecilia Alzamora

Cybercrime , Karissa Ayala

Protection of Children from Exploitation in West Africa: Illusion or Reality? , Afua Brown-Eyeson

Legal Structures of European Security and Defense Policy and War Powers under the U.S. Constitution , Heiko Buesing

U.S. Antidumping Law and Practices against Korean Exports , Jinwook Choi

Regulation of Hate Speech , Haiping Deng

The Institutional Framework of the European Union for the Conduct of Foreign Affairs , Frederic Eggermont

Comparison of New Zealand and United States Securities Markets through the Looking Glass of the Efficient Market Hypothesis , Carla Natalia Gargiulo

Private Party Participation in the World Trade Organizations , Taehyung Im

Issues Regarding the Most Effective Tool of U.S. Bankruptcy Law , Zeenat Kera

Contracts and Electronic Agents , Sabrina Kis

Historical Aspects of State Arbitration Policy , Elton R. Lanier

Regulating Non-territorial Commercial Environments in Territorial-based Legal Systems , Pedro Martin G. Less Andrade

Unilateral Refusals to Deal in Intellectual Property as Monopolistic Conduct , Bolanle Meshida

Comparative Analysis of Federal Income Tax Imposed on U.S. C Corporations and Russian Joint Stock Companies , Alina Y. Mitskevich

Legislation and Implementation of International Environmental Law by African Countries: a Case Study of Ghana , Brigitte L. Okley

The Challenges of Tax Collection in Developing Economies (with Special Reference to India) , Pramod K. Rai

Family Businesses, Choices of Legal Entity , Martina L. Rojo

Sound Record Producers' Rights and the Problem of Sound Recording Piracy , Stanislava N. Staykova

The Change of Corporate Governance Structure in the United States and Taiwan , Yifan Tseng

Fiduciary Duties of Directors in the Context of Going-private Transactions to the Minority Shareholders under Delaware Law , Yuan Wang

Recognition and Enforcement of International Commercial Arbitration Awards , Shouhua Yu

Submissions from 2003 2003

Interim Measures in International Commercial Arbitration: Past, Present and Future , Sandeep Adhipathi

Reservations, Human Rights Treaties in the 21st century: from Universality to Integrity , Pierrick Devidal

Technological Advances Leading to the Diminishing of Privacy Rights , Anabelle Maria D'Souza

Protection of Consumer Privacy in E-commerce , Choong L. Ha

Mergers and Acquisitions in Europe: Analysis of EC Competition Regulations , YoungJun Lee

Security Interests in Intellectual Property Rights: the Time Has Come for the Enactment of New Laws , Esteban Mazzucco

The Convergence of Trade and Environment and the Relative Role of WTO , Xiaoxi Meng

The Main Characteristics of State's Jurisdiction to Tax in International Dimension , Alfred Nizamiev

U.S. Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries: a Case Study of Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa , Abenaa A. Oti-Prempeh

Free movement of goods: A comparative analysis of the European community treaty and the north American free trade agreement , Pedro A. Perichart

A Historical View of Intellectual Property Rights in the Palestinian Territories , Ihab G. Samaan

Submissions from 2002 2002

An Analysis of the Duty to Negotiate in Good Faith: Precontractual Liability and Preliminary Agreement , Aarti Arunachalam

Multinational Corporations Facing the Varying Concepts of Jurisdiction : "forum non-conveniens", Contrasts between the Anglo-American and the European Law Systems , Sandrine Buttin

Minority Shareholders and Oppression in Close Corporations: Contracting as an Effective Protection Device , Marcella Machado Carneiro

Freedom of Speech, Cinema and Censorship: a Comparative Analysis of Issues of Freedom of Speech Violations as a Result of the Rating Regulation Authorities in the Motion Picture Industry in France and the United States , Stephanie Grenier

International Corporate Governance Practices and Their Implications on Investors , Namwandi Hamanyanga

Current Problems of International Taxation of Electronic Commerce , Nuran G. Kerimov

An End to the Political Question Doctrine in Korea?: A Comparative Analysis , Myeong-Sik Kim

The Evolution of the Law's Treatment of the Confessions of Mentally Disabled Criminal Suspects , John E. Knight

Public and Private Interests in Copyright Law: Creativity, Science and Democracy vs. Property and Market , Daryana I. Kotzeva

The Intra-enterprise Conspiracy Doctrine as Applied to Affiliated Corporations under Section 1 of the Sherman Act , Michael B. Menz

Privacy and Personal Data Protection in the Information Age: A Comparative Evaluation , Emeka B. Obasi

The Right to Freedom of Religion vis a vis Religious Intolerance in the New Millennium , Buihe P. Okenu

Conflict of Laws in the Enforcement of Foreign Awards and Foreign Judgments: the Public Policy Defense and Practice in U.S. Courts , Anupama Parameshwaran

Balancing Interests: Statute of Limitations and Repose in Medical Malpractice Cases , Laurie L. Paterson

A Comparison of Environmental Impact Assessment Process between the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Basic Environmental Protection Act (BEPA) , V An Rhee

Offshore Investments , Ana Maura M. Safrin

Lawyers' Value in Mergers and Acquisitions under the New World of Multidisciplinary Practices , Yunling Wu

Submissions from 2001 2001

FAIR USE AND THE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF MUSIC - RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA v. NAPSTER, INC. (A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF A RESTRAINT ON COPYRIGHT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO) , MICHELLE LISA ALEXANDER

THE IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT ON MUSLIM WOMEN IN EGYPT: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE , MAZAHIR MUHAMMED ATA EL-SID

David vs. Goliath (2001): An Analysis of the OECD Harmful Tax Competition Policy , Truman Butler

Transfer Pricing: A Comparative Study of the French and U.S. Legal Systems , Valerie Ciancia

REFORMING CHINA'S PARTNERSHIP LAW: ACHIEVEMENTS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS , HONGBING FAN

SHOULD AN EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HAVE PRIMACY OR BE COMPLEMENTARY TO NATIONAL COURTS? AN ANALYSIS OF CONCURRENT JURISDICTION IN THE AD HOC TRIBUNALS AND THE ROME STATUTE , GODWIN YENIKA FONYE

Foreign Direct Investment in Colombia , Juliana Gomez

LEGALIZE IT? -OSP AND PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK LIABILITY FOR ONLINE MUSIC COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY , CHRISTIAN NILS JOCHEN ENGELHARDT

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Master's degree programmes

UCT Law offers Master's programmes in 18 specialisations. These can be pursued along various routes, including a Master's degree by coursework only; a Master's (LLM or MPhil) degree by coursework and dissertation; and a Master's (LLM or MPhil) by research only. 

1.  Professional Masters (coursework only)

2. llm and mphil programmes with coursework & dissertation.

To graduate with an LLM or MPhil degree (coursework & dissertation) from the Faculty of Law, students must select and complete four courses and submit a dissertation of up to 25 000 words on a topic of their choice. Full-time students are expected to complete the programme requirements within one academic year and part-time students are expected to complete the requirements within two years (except that the dissertation component may be submitted by not later than: the Friday before the first term starts the year following the completion of the coursework for students who have completed their coursework in December; and 15 September of the same year for students who have completed their coursework in June).

Students who register for a general LLM or MPhil in Law are free to choose from the numerous courses on offer. However, students wanting to pursue a specialist LLM or MPhil programme (options are detailed in this linked table) will need to ensure that they take the courses prescribed for that specialisation, as detailed in the Law Faculty Handbook . 

Our specialised programmes are listed here, with links to programme detail and course information.

Additional information on LLM / MPhil by coursework & dissertation

• To see the requirements in each of the specialist programme areas please refer to the Law Faculty Handbook .
• To find out about our highlight postgraduate courses, have a look under the Courses menu .
• Minor Dissertation Guidelines - LLM & MPhil
• Minor Dissertation Submission Guidelines - LLM & MPhil

3. Master of Laws by dissertation (LLM or MPhil)

Applicants for the LLM or MPhil by research only may qualify for admission provided that they have:

• a law degree of the University or equivalent degrees from another university recognised by Senate for this purpose, or
• in any other manner attained a level of competence which, in the opinion of Senate (which acts on recommendation by the Law Faculty), is adequate for purposes of admission.
• or, in the case of the MPhil, candidates may qualify if they have an honours degree from UCT or another university recognised by Senate.

Although originality in postgraduate research is always desirable, it is not an exclusive requirement for an LLM degree. Instead, a dissertation should constitute a significant advance in knowledge on the subject, of such a standard that publication in a reputable journal would be justified.

Candidates must therefore show that they have:

• a thorough knowledge of the chosen subject
• mastered techniques required for competent research in law
• the capacity for independent thought and sound reasoning
• satisfactorily presented the results of research

An LLM or MPhil dissertation must not exceed 40 000 words in length.

For more information on research degrees in the Faculty of Law, what is required and how to apply, have a look at:

Applications

Law Research Degree guidelines - PhD & Master's

Thesis proposal 

Ethics approval 

Supervision

Examination Procedures

Key dates for Research Degree Programmes - Submission etc

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Master of Laws (LLM)

Master of laws (llm): constitutional and human rights law, introduction, 1.1 academic regulations for postgraduate degree programmes..

1.2. The Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Constitutional and Human Rights Law is a three semester programme offered on a block-release basis. The programme is aimed at professionals who possess an LLB qualifcation seeking specialized knowledge in the areas of constitutional and human rights law.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1 The programme provides an academic opportunity for students intending to deepen their understanding and knowledge of constitutional and human rights law. The degree invites students to explore and appreciate the convergence of constitutional and human rights law in a constitutional democracy and the importance of such convergence to a legal system.

2.2 The development of constitutional and human rights law in the public interest litigation context is critical in the development of the country’s legal system. In light of Zimbabwe’s new constitutional dispensation, the programme provides options to candidates who wish to enhance their litigation skills in constitutional

Career Pospects

3.  career prospects.

The LLM programme enhances career prospects in various areas for a target group that includes, but is not limited to law graduates, practising attorneys, academics, civil society   and human rights law.  practitioners, members of the judiciary, and law offcers in government departments.

4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Applicants shall possess a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB). Applicants are required to have at least a 2.2 (Lower Second) degree class, or the equivalent thereof. 4.2 Other factors such as relevant professional experience will also be taken into consideration in assessing applications.

5. GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1 The Master of Laws in Constitutional and Human Rights Law is studied through taught modules with continuous assessment and examinations offered at the end of each semester. 5.2 The programme is completed over a period of three semesters. The degree programme shall be by block release. The method of learning will be through lectures and seminars. Contact shall be a minimum of 60 hours per semester for each module. Each semester has three (3), two week blocks.

6. ASSESSMENT

6.1 Overall assessment shall be based on continuous assessment and formal examinations. Each candidate is required to earn twenty (20) credits in the taught modules and sixteen (16) credits in the research component. 6.2 Examinations shall be written at the end of each semester. Each module will be examined by a paper which is, four (4) hours long. In determining the fnal marks for modules, weighting will be as follows:

PROGRESSION

7. 7.1 For a candidate to proceed to the next level of the programme, the candidate must have passed at least two modules per level. 7.2 If a candidate fails all modules at the end of the frst semester, he or she shall retake the failed modules.

8 EXAMINATIONS

8.1 Two external Examiners shall be appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee to examine written modules in respect of the LLM programme. 8.2 Candidates who have neither fnished nor submitted their dissertations in the third semester shall be required to re-register for their work to be assessed and/or submitted for examination. 8.3 Upon failure in a particular module(s), candidates can retake the failed modules in the following semester.

9. DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

Programme structure, 10. programme structure.

The Master of Laws (LLM): Constitutional and Human Rights Law shall be a taught programme with a dissertation which commences in the second semester and submitted in the fnal (third) semester. The degree programme will run for three semesters and is structured as follows:

MODULE SYNOPSES

LM601 Advanced Constitutional Law The module seeks to provide a focused and deeper appreciation of the jurisprudential and theoretical basis for constitutionalism, aspects of constitution making process, constitutions and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe. It is further aimed at extending knowledge of constitutional principles, concepts and constitutional rights, and constitutional interpretation. Issues to be canvassed further include democratic governance through commissions and related institutions, the convergence of constitutional law and human rights in Zimbabwe, electoral systems and participatory democracy, the rule of law and judicial matters. It should be emphasized that the module is rooted in constitutional law and practice throughout Zimbabwe’s constitutional history. To this extent, the module canvasses all post independence constitutional developments and constitutional processes that characterize Zimbabwe’s constitutional history and its constitutional jurisprudence. Topics under this module include: • Jurisprudential and Theoretical Basis for Constitutionalism • Constitutionalism and the constitution making process • Constitutional rights in the Zimbabwean Constitution and constitutional interpretation • Democratic Governance under the Constitution • The Constitution and Institutional Guarantees for Democracy • Electoral Systems and Participatory Democracy • The Legislature: Structures, Competencies and Functions • The Constitution and Judicial Function • Judicial Review • Constitutional rights and Human rights in Zimbabwe

LM602 Advanced Human Rights Law The Advanced Human Rights Module is one of the core-components of the LLM Programme in  Human Rights and Constitutional Law. The focus is on multidisciplinary issues and underpinnings pertaining to human rights and how it should be understood as an important tool to an end – the general wellbeing of Zimbabweans and other people of the world. The primary objectives of the module are thus as follows: • Build an understanding of the conceptual, philosophical and ideological nature of human rights in light of their origin; • Explore the national understanding, application, attitudes, and perceptions of human rights. • Study in detail the normative content of human rights as provided for in the Bill of Rights as complemented by international and regional human rights treaties. • Explore the opportunities for promotion and protection of human rights by utilizing both judicial, quasi-judicial and non-judicial procedures and institutions. • Make a case for the necessity of international human rights protection mechanisms as secondary in nature. • Familiarize candidates with promotion and protection options at international level including treaties, institutions, and procedures and prevailing jurisprudence in the area. • Critique and assess the strengths and weaknesses of international protection. The module will be in four parts as. The frst part will examine the conceptualization, origins and philosophical foundations of human rights. This part of the module will focus on: • Defnitions, origins, and history of human rights in light of leading scholarship. • The universality, relativity, interrelatedness, interdependency of human rights • Human rights and culture/religion • Categories of human rights (thematic, ‘generations’, groups protected. • The nature of the mandate of independent constitutional commissions The second part of the module will focus on the national protection of human rights particularly: • Normative content (interpretation) of each right and freedom in the Constitution. • Limitation of rights in terms of Section 86, 87 and 113 of the Constitution. • Concept of non-limitation of rights. • Constitutional jurisdiction of courts, standing and remedial powers. • Human rights litigation through impact litigation. • Skills specifc to human rights/constitutional litigation. • The new advent of constitutional interpretation consequent to 2013 Constitution The third part of the module will look at international protection of human rights particularly the following; • The United Nations – UN Charter-based and treaty-based protection of human rights. • The UN Human Rights Council, special procedures, Universal Periodic Review and special mechanisms – critique and analysis. • The UN treaties and oversight of implementation by treaty-bodies. • The treaty-body system of human rights oversight. • State reporting procedure (purpose and procedure). • Individual communications procedure (legal basis, standing, exhaustion of local remedies, legal reasoning in decisions, compliance with decisions, effectiveness). • Effectiveness of the international protection in comparison to national. The last part of the module will look at regional protection of human rights; • Membership and geographical dynamics of these supra-national institutions • Respective human rights systems paying attention to treaties, institutions, jurisprudence, effectiveness and enforcement of judgments of their courts. • Relationship, if any between these regional systems and the global protection matrix. • Litigating before regional human rights systems (pay attention to the international criminal jurisdiction of the African Court of Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights) the new relevance of international criminal law. • The place of sub-regional (SADC, ECOWAS, EAS, MAGHREB) economic blocs to the protection of human rights at that level LM603 Research Methodology This module is meant to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct research, to critically evaluate published research and to explore different ways of translating research questions in quantitative or qualitative studies. The module will focus on the following aspects: • Understanding the range of paradigms and data-gathering techniques available to the legal researcher • Distinguishing the purpose and product of qualitative research from that of quantitative research. • Research methods, including the application and conceptualization of theory, research design, • Sampling, strategies for framing research and interview questions, • Use of GPS to demarcate area of research where feld work is involved • Data coding and analysis. • Ethical responsibilities of qualitative researchers, who have closer contact with “subjects” and “informants” than do their more quantitative counterparts

LM604 International Criminal Law International criminal law deals with the prosecution of international crimes. It serves as an important mechanism that provides remedies to victims of human rights violations. Provision of remedies to victims is a very important area of international human rights law. The main objective of the module is to highlight to students that without accountability and provision of remedies to victims, international human rights law is nothing but the proverbial brutum fulmen – a harmless thunderbolt. Through the lens of international criminal law, students will appreciate that the purpose of human rights law is not only to set standards for governments, non-state actors and their agents, it is to prescribe the consequences of a failure to meet those standards – through criminal sanction for example. Not only will the module discuss criminal accountability of natural persons but also corporations. In recent years, some multi-national companies have been involved in the grave violations of human rights especially on the African continent. There is a growing jurisprudence that such corporations must not only face civil liability but criminal liability also. Although the focus will be on international criminal law accountability, there will also be a discussion on other alternatives to accountability such as those espoused in transitional justice. The aim is to make students aware of the potential clashes and opportunities between international criminal law and some elements of transitional justice – a situation that currently characterize many African countries. Further, inasmuch as the module focuses on international criminal law as an enforcement tool of human rights, there is an underlying theme that it is the State that has the primary obligation to investigate human rights violations and prosecute those responsible within its domestic courts. The international community through international criminal law and international criminal courts should only complement domestic efforts – coming in only when the concerned state is unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute. The following are the themes that will be explored: • Conceptualization of international criminal law • History of international criminal law and the human rights paradigm • Ad Hoc Tribunals, the International Criminal Court, the proposed African Criminal Court • The correlation between human rights protection and international criminal law • Victims of human rights violations’ right to a remedy • Investigation and prosecution as an essential tool of remedy • Domestic versus regional and international criminal accountability • State’s primary obligation to investigate and prosecute human rights violations • Complementarity between domestic and international criminal jurisdiction over rights violations • Universal criminal jurisdiction over gross violations of human rights constituting international crime • Criminal liability of corporations for human rights violations • Advantages, disadvantages, challenges and opportunities in holding corporations criminally liable for human rights violations. • Transitional justice as a complement or an alternative to international criminal law and justice? LM605 Environmental Law In light of the inclusion of environmental rights in the Zimbabwean Constitution, the module will explore the importance of, and role played by, these rights in regulatory efforts. Particular attention will be drawn to the exercise and enforcement of these rights as part of an overarching approach to regulating environmental protection. In addition to the environmental regulatory framework, the module will focus on the international environmental regulatory framework, and how it relates to, enhances, and influences the domestic regulatory framework. As such, the course will cover aspects such as, • Justifying environmental regulation • The constitutional content, scope and nature of environmental rights • The international environmental legal regulatory framework • Human rights approaches to environmental protection • substantive rights • procedural rights • Public interest environmental law: Public Participation • Access to information • Access to justice • The role and object of environmental rights in Command and Control Regulation • Enforcement of environmental rights as constitutional rights in Command and Control Regulation • Specifc environmental rights issues • Waste Management Law • Contaminated land • Mining and environmental law • Environmental Justice and the Constitution

LM606 Women’s Rights The main focus of the module is on the concept of women’s rights within equality and non discrimination framework and specifc issues of concern to women within the context of feminist legal theories. This module further examines how gender shapes and informs the law and how legal doctrine affects our understanding of women’s rights. The module will examine the relationship between sex and gender as reflected in and influenced by law; cultural images of women and men that both shape and are shaped by the law; and institutional and social structures and practices that perpetuate inequality or subordination. The module is in three main parts. The frst part examines feminist legal theories and their impact on feminist jurisprudence as well as their applicability or shortcomings within the local and broader non-western context. This part of the module will focus on: • Introduction to feminist terms: sex, gender, oppression of women, subordination of women, deprivation, feminism, emancipation • Feminist theories and feminist jurisprudence with in an African setting • Law in a patriarchal society The second part of the module looks at Constitutional and International human rights instruments and analyses the factors that militate against the adequate protection of women’s rights. It examines more fully the principles of equality and non discrimination in the Constitution of Zimbabwe as well as international and regional instruments impacting on women’s rights. Focus will be on • Introduction to human rights instruments impacting on women’s rights • Strengths and limitations of various category of rights ie frst, second and third generation rights • Why women’s human rights • Human Rights Principles on family laws and protection of the family • Human Rights Principles on reproductive and sexual rights • Violence against women as a human rights violation • Sexual harassment The third part of the module gives detailed attention to specifc topics affecting women which include: • women and culture • women in politics and decision making, • The concept of women’s empowerment and the action strategies for the furtherance of women’s rights.

LM607 Refugee Law The module aims at inculcating in candidates an appreciation of the national and international legal framework for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers and the attendant state practice using Zimbabwe as the main case study. The key objectives of the module are thus as follows; • To build a full appreciation in candidates regarding the prevailing national legal framework for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers in Zimbabwe. • Acquaint candidates with specifc knowledge on the extent to which the Refugees Act [Chapter 4:03] has domesticated international instruments in that discipline. • To equip candidates with practical knowledge on the determination of refugee status in Zimbabwe in terms of domestic law and procedure. • Assist candidates transposing national processes into the domain of international refugee law by linking the national and international legal frameworks for the protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. The module will be in in four parts. The frst part examines the introduction to refugee and will focus on the following; • Defnitions and descriptions of refugees • Defnitions of asylum seekers • Zimbabwe as sending, transit and destination of refugees • Constitutional and general legal framework on refugee law • Aspects of traffcking in persons The second part will examine international refugee law and will focus on the following; • United Nations approach to refugee defnition • Regional approach to refugee defnition • Refugees for the purpose of general international law • Determination of refugee status • Determination by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees • Determination by States – Zimbabwe case study The third part examines asylum and will focus on the following: • Concept of asylum • Principle of non-refoulement • Asylum in international law and practice • Asylum in national law and state practice • Standards of treatment vis-à-vis refugees The fourth part examines protection and issues and will focus on the following; • General protection issues • Internally displaced persons • Solutions to refugee problems • International co-operation • Treaty standards and implementation in national law

LM608 Child Rights Child Rights is a unique and multi-layered area of law which explores the international, regional and national legal spectrums. The module intersects with different domestic areas of civil, criminal and administrative law, as well as public international law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and international labour law. A special feature concerns the interplay between children’s rights and private international law, in particular, with the instruments developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It also examines the scope of children’s rights as protected by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) and the Zimbabwean legislation that seek to protect children’s rights. Additionally, this module seeks to scrutinize the ideas and attitudes towards children on one hand and family dynamics, educational practices, socio-economic structures as well as cultural and social differences on the other hand. In ensuring that the rights of children are respected, regardless of their status in the society a variety of theories and assumptions will also be considered. The module canvasses the following topics: • The historical background of children’s rights and child rights theories • Conceptions of childhood and the evolving capacities of the child • International law and the monitoring structures • Domestication of children’s rights in Zimbabwe • The administration of juvenile justice • HIV/AIDS and children’s rights • Combating child poverty and exploitation • The African customary law and children’s rights • Child victims of armed conflict • The rights of children with disabilities • Refugee children under the African Human Rights System • Inter-country adoption and child abduction

LM609 Disability Rights Law Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are a historically disadvantaged group. Prejudice, exclusion and discrimination remain common experiences for PWDs. In many jurisdictions, Zimbabwe included, the nexus between disability and exclusion is well established and maintained. Thus PWDs continue to be sidelined in national developmental agendas and in community life. In this module, the focus is on disability as a legal category with implications for the rights of PWDs. Students will be taught various concepts and theories of disability rights with the aim of showing how the law constructs and regulates the lives of PWDs. In essence, historical approaches and contemporary arguments pertaining to disability are discussed within the context of national laws, policies and institutions addressing disability rights. Further, regional and international laws directly and indirectly addressing disability are explored and unpacked. Emphasis will be placed on state obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the major law that addresses PWDs at the international level. Overall, the module seeks to provide learners with a legal, conceptual and practical understanding of the rights of PWDs. The module will cover the following topics: • Conceptualization of disability rights • Protection of disability rights under the global framework: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other relevant global treaties • State reporting, UN special procedures and the functions of the UN Committee on the rights of PWDs • Protection of disability rights under regional human rights frameworks: The African, European and Inter-American Regional Human Rights Systems • The Zimbabwean legal, policy and institutional framework for the realisation of the rights of PWDs (and a historical trajectory of the development of the laws, policies and institutions). • Comparative perspectives (African, Arabic, European, Inter-American jurisdictions) • Vulnerabilities and Inter-sectionalities • PWDs and legal capacity • Contemporary arguments in disability rights law, policy and reform LM610 Comparative Constitutional Law This module introduces students to the study of constitutional law through the lens of comparative law. Students are introduced to the theoretical foundations of comparative constitutional law, and to the rich diversity of constitutional law in the world today, aiming at a better understanding of the working of constitutions and of the work constitutions do in different political, socio-economic settings and historical periods. This is important particularly in the Zimbabwean context in light of the recent constitutional developments. The module provides a foundation for a structural approach to constitution making and constitution interpretation. By using a comparative approach, students will examine the possibilities and limits of modern constitutions. The theoretical, methodological, and case study dimensions of the module are concerned with the ways in which ‘similar’ topics of constitutional law are understood, negotiated, and produced differently by different actors in and around different constitutional systems. The topics to be covered in this module include the following: • Introduction to comparative constitutional law Constitutions and constitutionalism • Comparative constitutional law methodologies • Comparative analyses of the constitutions of the world • Pluralism and constitutional guarantees of democracy • Human rights in world constitutions • The constitutional regulation of the separation of powers in world constitutions • The executive, legislative and judicial structures in constitutional systems of the world • Judicial review models in world constitutions

LM611 Constitutional and Human Rights Litigation This Module focuses on the central ways in which constitutional claims are actually litigated in Zimbabwe. The bulk of the course looks at constitutional litigation, procedures, institutions, jurisprudence, and the interface with human rights law. It further develops a framework for the appreciation of the convergence of constitutional law and its application and enforcement of human rights protection in Zimbabwe. Focus is also on enforcing rights in Africa after exhausting internal remedies. This module examines Constitutional and Human Rights litigation inclusive of the following topics:- • Review of human rights legislation in Zimbabwe, and African human rights system. • Government liability for the acts of individual offcials. • Examination and analysis of human rights remedies (remedies for constitutional violations). • Prospects for further developments in remedies. • Constitutional and human rights litigation procedures and claims. • Pleading aspects in human rights matters. • Preparing and proving human rights claims. • Enforcing mechanisms of human rights. • Procedural aspects of human rights with focus on the international and regional human rights systems.

LM612 Constitutional Property Law The module is rooted on the convergence between constitutional law and property rights law. It enables students to appreciate mainstream debates emerging from the conflict between private property rights and governmental interests in land reform, land tenure reform and land redistribution in the public interest. It further provides an opportunity for students to understand the rights discourse in constitutional property law within a domestic regional and international context. Topics to be covered include: • The evolution and history of constitutional property law in Zimbabwe • Constitutional property and the legal system • The scope, meaning and nature of constitutional property law in Zimbabwe • The constitutional land rights clause • Expropriation, compulsory acquisition and compulsory deprivation • Property Rights and the Constitutional Limitation Clause • Land Reform legal framework- Land Acquisition, Land Redistribution/Resettlement Land Tenure Reform • Judicial interpretation of constitutional property in Zimbabwe • Regional and International Perspectives

LM613 Advanced International Humanitarian Law The relationship between international humanitarian law and international human rights law has been a subject of discussion in recent years. This is mainly because of three important factors: frst, many of contemporary conflicts straddle across both the law enforcement and armed conflict paradigms, second, human rights law continues to apply in armed conflict wherein international humanitarian law is the lex specialis and third, some of the military weapons that are being developed end up being used in law enforcement situations to which international human rights law is applicable. The focus of this module is on contemporary international humanitarian law issues that have human rights implications and how such issues can be understood from a humanist perspective which considers the concept of humanity as the foundational basis of both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The following are the main topics that will be covered under this module: • The social, religious and philosophical underpinnings of humanitarian law and human rights law • The concept of humanity and dictates of public conscience as the foundational basis of humanitarian law and human rights law • Contemporary conflicts and challenges • The challenge of qualifying contemporary armed conflicts e.g the global war on terror – an armed conflict or rhetoric? A law enforcement situation? How to choose the applicable regime, targeting of suspected terrorists – a possible violation of due process rights • The impact of contemporary conflicts on social and economic rights • Means and methods of warfare – implications of sophisticated weapons on human rights • Advent of new sophisticated weapons – the role of human rights law in the review of new weapons in terms of Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. • Unmanned weapon systems, drones, autonomous weapon systems and their implications on the right to life and dignity. Is it in line with the right to dignity when an autonomous weapon system or a robot makes a decision as to who dies and who lives? • Nano-technology, cyber warfare and their ramifcations on human rights • The dangers of the new military technologies being used in law enforcement situations – human rights implications on the use of force and the need for human judgment. • Post armed conflict and human rights • Women, peace and security – women’s rights in the peace building process after conflict – participation – why should they and how they should. • Accountability of international humanitarian law violations as a human rights issue – the victim’s right to remedy and the obligation of the responsible state.

LM614 Dissertation Students are required to produce and submit dissertation (thesis) of between 20 000 and 25 000 words at the end of the third (fnal) semester for examination. The dissertation shall be done over a period of two semesters. Topics for dissertation shall be carefully chosen and students are required to defend, justify, and explain their topics in vivas before a panel composed of Faculty members. Research proposals shall be submitted and students are expected to proceed with the dissertation once approval to do so is granted. With regards to dissertation examination, at least one internal and one external examiner shall be nominated by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee to evaluate the dissertation

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NLSIU offers a one year LL.M. Degree Programme. Similar to the BA LLB (Hons) programme, the LL.M. programme is organised around three trimesters every academic year. With the help of a cutting-edge curriculum and innovative pedagogical approaches, it is meticulously designed to equip students with skills and knowledge needed to navigate the intricate landscape of law. Our one-year LL.M. programme provides a unique blend of core and elective courses, allowing students to deepen their expertise in their preferred areas of interest and thrive in diverse fields such as academia, research, legal practice, policy making and judicial services.

In Academic Year 2024-25, NLSIU is introducing four concentrations, in addition to the general stream. This distinctive concentration model enables LL.M. students to delve deeper into specific domains of law, enhancing their knowledge and expertise in those specific domains. The four concentrations that are being offered for AY 2024-25 are:

• Criminal Law
• Commercial Laws
• Law and Technology

The maximum intake in a concentration shall be 30 and the minimum number of students required for offering any concentration shall be 15 students.

To fulfill the requirements of a concentration, students must complete:

• 3 LL.M. Core Compulsory courses;
• 1 Concentration Core course;
• 3 Concentration Electives;
• 4 General Electives; and
• Dissertation (in the area of Concentration).

Transcripts will reflect the chosen concentration, and upon graduation, the University will issue a uniform Master’s in Law Degree Certificate. For students opting for the general stream, general electives will replace concentration electives. Additionally, they will have the flexibility to select dissertation topics from any area of interest.

NLSIU accepts students from the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for admission to its LL.M. programme.

Admission Notification AY 2024-25

• View the admission notification for AY 2024-25 here.
• View the admission notification (Second allotment list) for AY 2024-25 here.
• View the admission notification (Third allotment list) for AY 2024-25 here.

Eligibility

• The candidate must have an LL.B. Degree or an equivalent examination with a minimum of: (i) Fifty percent (50%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to General/OBC/PWD categories, and (ii) Forty five percent (45%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
• The candidate will have to appear for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to secure admission into the postgraduate programme.
• Candidates appearing for the qualifying examination in the year of admission are also permitted to take the Admission Test, but their admission to the course shall be subject to fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the Regulations, and producing supporting documentary evidence at the time of admission.
• There is no upper age limit for the PG programme in CLAT.

For details on CLAT, please visit: https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/

International Students

Candidates can apply for the NLSAT – International Examination for “international student” category, if they fulfil the following conditions:

• They should be a citizen of a country other than India; AND
• They should have completed a minimum of ten years of their education in a school/college/university outside India.

For more details, click here.

Intake and Reservation for AY 2024-25

The total intake capacity shall be 120 (One Hundred and Twenty) students for AY 2024-25 with the following breakup:

• Scheduled Castes – 15%
• Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
• Other Backward Classes (Non-creamy layer) – 27%
• Economically Weaker Sections – 10%
• Persons with Disabilities (Horizontal reservation) – 5%
• Women (Horizontal reservation) – 30%
• Karnataka Students* (Compartmentalised Horizontal reservation) – 25%

* Karnataka Students Category:

(i) Candidates who have studied for not less than 10 years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’

(ii) Candidates who have not completed ten years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:

1. Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.

2. Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.

3. Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.

4. Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.

Illustration: If the candidate has studied in Karnataka for three (3) years, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least seven (7) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.

If the candidate has not studied in Karnataka continuously for at least one (1) year, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least ten (10) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.

(iii) Eligible candidates must keep their Study Certificates issued by their School/s and other relevant documents ready to be submitted at the time of counselling/admission.

Procedure to apply for a concentration in the LLM programme

Students will be submitting their LL.M. concentration preferences through an online form.

The maximum intake in a concentration shall be 30. The minimum number of students required for offering any concentration shall be 15 students. In the event that the number of applicants for any particular concentration exceeds 30, the allocations will be based on CLAT rank, i.e., a higher CLAT rank will be prioritised.

Course Curriculum | AY 2024-25

Research Methodology Concentration Core course Concentration Elective 1 General Elective 1

Comparative Public Law Concentration Elective 2 Concentration Elective 3 General Elective 2

Law and Justice in a Globalizing World General Elective 3 General Elective 4 Dissertation

NOTE: 1. This allocation of courses is tentative and is subject to change. Each course shall be of 4 credits and the total credits required for LL.M. is 48 (including 4 credits for dissertation). Students who are opting for the general stream will be taking general electives in lieu of the concentration electives. 2. The sequence of courses may be changed if required.

Academic Calendar for A.Y. 2023-24 | Trimester III (March 2024 – May 2024)

Dr. V. S. Elizabeth

Professor of History

Dr. Kamala Sankaran

Professor of Law, Ford Foundation Chair in Public Interest Law

Dr. Madhubanti Sadhya

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Neeraj Grover

Assistant Professor | AY 2023-24

Dr. Sudhir Krishnaswamy

Vice-Chancellor & Professor of Law

Fee Structure for the AY 2024-25 

Admission fee (one time) – Rs. 12,000/- Tuition and Facilities fee – Rs. 2,69,000/- Total fee per annum – Rs. 2,81,000/-

One Time Refundable Deposit Refundable deposit for SC/ST category students – Rs. 15,500/- Refundable deposit for other students – Rs. 20,000/-

The total amount payable by SC/ST category students is Rs. 2,96,500. The total amount payable by other students is Rs. 3,01,000. 

NOTE: 1. Fees mentioned above are provisional and subject to ratification by the University Governing Bodies. 2. Hostel accommodation shall be provided to the LLM Candidates only on the basis of availability. Information pertaining to availability of hostel accommodation and the process of application for hostel accommodation shall be notified in due course.

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The University offers means-based scholarships. To know more about NLSIU’s financial aid options for students, click  here . 

Fee Structure for Foreign Students for AY 2024-25

Admission fee – one time – Rs. 36,000/- Tuition and facilities fee – Rs. 8,07,000/- Hostel residential charges – Rs. 45,000/- Mess charges – Rs. 67,500/- Total fee – per annum – Rs. 9,55,500/-

One Time Refundable Deposit Refundable deposits – Rs. 60,000/- The total amount payable at the time of admission, by foreign students is Rs. 10,15,500/-

* Fees mentioned above are provisional and subject to ratification by the University Governing Bodies. * Mess fee includes meal plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack.

Hon’ble Justice Mr. Hari Prasad Phuyal, Judge, Supreme Court of Nepal | NLS LLM 1995

Hon’ble Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Judge, Supreme Court of Nepal | NLS LLM 1996, PhD (2000)

Featured articles:

Alumni feature | sriraj venkatasamy’s journey of perseverance.

“It was surprising! What I expected, rather, anticipated was long hours of classes. But what I ended up doing was completely different. This is not a school, where you will be spoon-fed or even fed. It is like an open book… you are not forced into any kind of regime, but given the right kind of opportunities you need for growth. The systematic approach here prepares you for self-learning, which eventually grooms your personality. I find NLSIU to be the right place for one to realise their potential.” Read more

Alumni Feature | Living the Teaching Dream: Dr. Gitanjali Ghosh

“I met some of the best people here, and made friends for life. I cannot count any bad memories from my days at NLS. I happened to join my LLM programme almost 20 days late, as the start date clashed with the final days of my LLB programme.  So, it was a tad intimidating. But my classmates helped me a lot, showed me around the library and eased me into the programme. These are things I will not forget! Along with the great connections with faculty and peers, the kind of time management required to complete the LLM programme, complete with the dissertation and papers, helped me pick up this key skill during my time at NLS.” Read more

Law LLM Dissertation module (LW50107)

Understand the main rules, aspects, and stages of researching and writing a dissertation

This module will help you conduct work on a master’s dissertation. This covers choosing a topic, defining a title, and using research assistance tools. It will conclude in writing the dissertation.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• understand the main rules, aspects, and stages of researching and writing the dissertation
• learn about the rules that apply to the dissertation. You will also learn about the roles of the supervisor and supervisee
• develop the necessary skills to conduct research and write your dissertation
• use your background knowledge and organise initial ideas. This will allow you to defining a topic, research question, and hypothesis
• learn how to use research assistance tools such as Zotero and Endnote
• understand how to write an outline. You will also learn to manage time and resources to complete your dissertation

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• bring together all skills learned to prepare, research, and write your dissertation
• produce a professional dissertation using correct referencing guidelines and tools

Assignments / assessment

• final dissertation (100%)

This is supported by supervision and guidance. This includes the selection of an initial topic and an extended outline on which oral and written feedback is given.

Your dissertation is expected to be relevant to your named degree award.

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• independent study

This module is supported by classes delivered as part of LW50107 Legal Research Skills. There are also 8 hours in the spring semester dedicated to preparing for the dissertation. This includes one session from Library Services staff.

This module is available on following courses:

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Natural language boosts LLM performance in coding, planning, and robotics

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Large language models (LLMs) are becoming increasingly useful for programming and robotics tasks, but for more complicated reasoning problems, the gap between these systems and humans looms large. Without the ability to learn new concepts like humans do, these systems fail to form good abstractions — essentially, high-level representations of complex concepts that skip less-important details — and thus sputter when asked to do more sophisticated tasks. Luckily, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) researchers have found a treasure trove of abstractions within natural language. In three papers to be presented at the International Conference on Learning Representations this month, the group shows how our everyday words are a rich source of context for language models, helping them build better overarching representations for code synthesis, AI planning, and robotic navigation and manipulation. The three separate frameworks build libraries of abstractions for their given task: LILO (library induction from language observations) can synthesize, compress, and document code; Ada (action domain acquisition) explores sequential decision-making for artificial intelligence agents; and LGA (language-guided abstraction) helps robots better understand their environments to develop more feasible plans. Each system is a neurosymbolic method, a type of AI that blends human-like neural networks and program-like logical components. LILO: A neurosymbolic framework that codes Large language models can be used to quickly write solutions to small-scale coding tasks, but cannot yet architect entire software libraries like the ones written by human software engineers. To take their software development capabilities further, AI models need to refactor (cut down and combine) code into libraries of succinct, readable, and reusable programs. Refactoring tools like the previously developed MIT-led Stitch algorithm can automatically identify abstractions, so, in a nod to the Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch,” CSAIL researchers combined these algorithmic refactoring approaches with LLMs. Their neurosymbolic method LILO uses a standard LLM to write code, then pairs it with Stitch to find abstractions that are comprehensively documented in a library. LILO’s unique emphasis on natural language allows the system to do tasks that require human-like commonsense knowledge, such as identifying and removing all vowels from a string of code and drawing a snowflake. In both cases, the CSAIL system outperformed standalone LLMs, as well as a previous library learning algorithm from MIT called DreamCoder, indicating its ability to build a deeper understanding of the words within prompts. These encouraging results point to how LILO could assist with things like writing programs to manipulate documents like Excel spreadsheets, helping AI answer questions about visuals, and drawing 2D graphics.

“Language models prefer to work with functions that are named in natural language,” says Gabe Grand SM '23, an MIT PhD student in electrical engineering and computer science, CSAIL affiliate, and lead author on the research. “Our work creates more straightforward abstractions for language models and assigns natural language names and documentation to each one, leading to more interpretable code for programmers and improved system performance.”

When prompted on a programming task, LILO first uses an LLM to quickly propose solutions based on data it was trained on, and then the system slowly searches more exhaustively for outside solutions. Next, Stitch efficiently identifies common structures within the code and pulls out useful abstractions. These are then automatically named and documented by LILO, resulting in simplified programs that can be used by the system to solve more complex tasks.

The MIT framework writes programs in domain-specific programming languages, like Logo, a language developed at MIT in the 1970s to teach children about programming. Scaling up automated refactoring algorithms to handle more general programming languages like Python will be a focus for future research. Still, their work represents a step forward for how language models can facilitate increasingly elaborate coding activities. Ada: Natural language guides AI task planning Just like in programming, AI models that automate multi-step tasks in households and command-based video games lack abstractions. Imagine you’re cooking breakfast and ask your roommate to bring a hot egg to the table — they’ll intuitively abstract their background knowledge about cooking in your kitchen into a sequence of actions. In contrast, an LLM trained on similar information will still struggle to reason about what they need to build a flexible plan. Named after the famed mathematician Ada Lovelace, who many consider the world’s first programmer, the CSAIL-led “Ada” framework makes headway on this issue by developing libraries of useful plans for virtual kitchen chores and gaming. The method trains on potential tasks and their natural language descriptions, then a language model proposes action abstractions from this dataset. A human operator scores and filters the best plans into a library, so that the best possible actions can be implemented into hierarchical plans for different tasks. “Traditionally, large language models have struggled with more complex tasks because of problems like reasoning about abstractions,” says Ada lead researcher Lio Wong, an MIT graduate student in brain and cognitive sciences, CSAIL affiliate, and LILO coauthor. “But we can combine the tools that software engineers and roboticists use with LLMs to solve hard problems, such as decision-making in virtual environments.”

When the researchers incorporated the widely-used large language model GPT-4 into Ada, the system completed more tasks in a kitchen simulator and Mini Minecraft than the AI decision-making baseline “Code as Policies.” Ada used the background information hidden within natural language to understand how to place chilled wine in a cabinet and craft a bed. The results indicated a staggering 59 and 89 percent task accuracy improvement, respectively. With this success, the researchers hope to generalize their work to real-world homes, with the hopes that Ada could assist with other household tasks and aid multiple robots in a kitchen. For now, its key limitation is that it uses a generic LLM, so the CSAIL team wants to apply a more powerful, fine-tuned language model that could assist with more extensive planning. Wong and her colleagues are also considering combining Ada with a robotic manipulation framework fresh out of CSAIL: LGA (language-guided abstraction). Language-guided abstraction: Representations for robotic tasks Andi Peng SM ’23, an MIT graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science and CSAIL affiliate, and her coauthors designed a method to help machines interpret their surroundings more like humans, cutting out unnecessary details in a complex environment like a factory or kitchen. Just like LILO and Ada, LGA has a novel focus on how natural language leads us to those better abstractions. In these more unstructured environments, a robot will need some common sense about what it’s tasked with, even with basic training beforehand. Ask a robot to hand you a bowl, for instance, and the machine will need a general understanding of which features are important within its surroundings. From there, it can reason about how to give you the item you want. 

In LGA’s case, humans first provide a pre-trained language model with a general task description using natural language, like “bring me my hat.” Then, the model translates this information into abstractions about the essential elements needed to perform this task. Finally, an imitation policy trained on a few demonstrations can implement these abstractions to guide a robot to grab the desired item. Previous work required a person to take extensive notes on different manipulation tasks to pre-train a robot, which can be expensive. Remarkably, LGA guides language models to produce abstractions similar to those of a human annotator, but in less time. To illustrate this, LGA developed robotic policies to help Boston Dynamics’ Spot quadruped pick up fruits and throw drinks in a recycling bin. These experiments show how the MIT-developed method can scan the world and develop effective plans in unstructured environments, potentially guiding autonomous vehicles on the road and robots working in factories and kitchens.

“In robotics, a truth we often disregard is how much we need to refine our data to make a robot useful in the real world,” says Peng. “Beyond simply memorizing what’s in an image for training robots to perform tasks, we wanted to leverage computer vision and captioning models in conjunction with language. By producing text captions from what a robot sees, we show that language models can essentially build important world knowledge for a robot.” The challenge for LGA is that some behaviors can’t be explained in language, making certain tasks underspecified. To expand how they represent features in an environment, Peng and her colleagues are considering incorporating multimodal visualization interfaces into their work. In the meantime, LGA provides a way for robots to gain a better feel for their surroundings when giving humans a helping hand. 

An “exciting frontier” in AI

“Library learning represents one of the most exciting frontiers in artificial intelligence, offering a path towards discovering and reasoning over compositional abstractions,” says assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Robert Hawkins, who was not involved with the papers. Hawkins notes that previous techniques exploring this subject have been “too computationally expensive to use at scale” and have an issue with the lambdas, or keywords used to describe new functions in many languages, that they generate. “They tend to produce opaque 'lambda salads,' big piles of hard-to-interpret functions. These recent papers demonstrate a compelling way forward by placing large language models in an interactive loop with symbolic search, compression, and planning algorithms. This work enables the rapid acquisition of more interpretable and adaptive libraries for the task at hand.” By building libraries of high-quality code abstractions using natural language, the three neurosymbolic methods make it easier for language models to tackle more elaborate problems and environments in the future. This deeper understanding of the precise keywords within a prompt presents a path forward in developing more human-like AI models. MIT CSAIL members are senior authors for each paper: Joshua Tenenbaum, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences, for both LILO and Ada; Julie Shah, head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, for LGA; and Jacob Andreas, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, for all three. The additional MIT authors are all PhD students: Maddy Bowers and Theo X. Olausson for LILO, Jiayuan Mao and Pratyusha Sharma for Ada, and Belinda Z. Li for LGA. Muxin Liu of Harvey Mudd College was a coauthor on LILO; Zachary Siegel of Princeton University, Jaihai Feng of the University of California at Berkeley, and Noa Korneev of Microsoft were coauthors on Ada; and Ilia Sucholutsky, Theodore R. Sumers, and Thomas L. Griffiths of Princeton were coauthors on LGA.  LILO and Ada were supported, in part, by ​​MIT Quest for Intelligence, the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, Intel, U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the U.S. Office of Naval Research, with the latter project also receiving funding from the Center for Brains, Minds and Machines. LGA received funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Open Philanthropy, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

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Chemical Science

Nach0: multimodal natural and chemical languages foundation model †.

* Corresponding authors

a NVIDIA, 2788 San Tomas Expressway, Santa Clara, CA, USA

b Insilico Medicine Canada Inc., 3710-1250 René-Lévesque West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

c Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Unit 310, 3/F, Building 8W, Phase 2, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong E-mail: [email protected]

d Insilico Medicine AI Ltd., Level 6, Unit 08, Block A, IRENA HQ Building, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

e University of Toronto, Lash Miller Building 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada E-mail: [email protected]

Large Language Models (LLMs) have substantially driven scientific progress in various domains, and many papers have demonstrated their ability to tackle complex problems with creative solutions. Our paper introduces a new foundation model, nach0, capable of solving various chemical and biological tasks: biomedical question answering, named entity recognition, molecular generation, molecular synthesis, attributes prediction, and others. nach0 is a multi-domain and multi-task encoder–decoder LLM pre-trained on unlabeled text from scientific literature, patents, and molecule strings to incorporate a range of chemical and linguistic knowledge. We employed instruction tuning, where specific task-related instructions are utilized to fine-tune nach0 for the final set of tasks. To train nach0 effectively, we leverage the NeMo framework, enabling efficient parallel optimization of both base and large model versions. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our model outperforms state-of-the-art baselines on single-domain and cross-domain tasks. Furthermore, it can generate high-quality outputs in molecular and textual formats, showcasing its effectiveness in multi-domain setups.

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nach0: multimodal natural and chemical languages foundation model

M. Livne, Z. Miftahutdinov, E. Tutubalina, M. Kuznetsov, D. Polykovskiy, A. Brundyn, A. Jhunjhunwala, A. Costa, A. Aliper, A. Aspuru-Guzik and A. Zhavoronkov, Chem. Sci. , 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4SC00966E

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In conclusion, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Microsoft proposed FastGen, a new technique to enhance LLMs inference efficiency with no loss in visible quality, using lightweight model profiling and adaptive key-value caching. Also, the adaptive KV Cache compression introduced by researchers is constructed using FastGen to reduce the memory footprint of generative inference for LLMs. Future work includes integrating FastGen with other model compression approaches, e.g., quantization and distillation, grouped-query attention, etc.

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Sajjad Ansari

Sajjad Ansari is a final year undergraduate from IIT Kharagpur. As a Tech enthusiast, he delves into the practical applications of AI with a focus on understanding the impact of AI technologies and their real-world implications. He aims to articulate complex AI concepts in a clear and accessible manner.

• Sajjad Ansari https://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/ Researchers from Princeton and Meta AI Introduce 'Lory': A Fully-Differentiable MoE Model Designed for Autoregressive Language Model Pre-Training
• Sajjad Ansari https://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/ Sparse-Matrix Factorization-based Method: Efficient Computation of Latent Query and Item Representations to Approximate CE Scores
• Sajjad Ansari https://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/ Microsoft AI Proposes an Automated Pipeline that Utilizes GPT-4V(ision) to Generate Accurate Audio Description AD for Videos
• Sajjad Ansari https://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/ CIPHER: An Effective Retrieval-based AI Algorithm that Infers User Preference by Querying the LLMs

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