POSTGRADUATE PROSPECTUS

MA INTERNATIONAL ANDCOMPARATIVE LEGAL STUDIESDURATIONOne year (full-time)Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)START OF PROGRAMMESeptember intake onlyENTRY REQUIREMENTSUpper second class honours preferably in arelated disciplineThe MA is intended primarily to address theneeds of professionals with non-law degrees,who wish to further their understanding of thelegal issues they encounter in their workinglives. Although work experience is not essentialfor entry to this programme, many studentshave spent some time with internationalorganisations, governmental bodies or NGOsconcerned for example, with human rights,refugees, environment and development issues.Others may have work experience with corporateresponsibility or dispute resolution. Some cometo study law at SOAS simply to take advantageof its unrivalled expertise in subjects such asIslamic Law, International Law, Chinese Law,or Law and Development.The programme is open to people from anybackground who have a good first degreein a non-law discipline and the motivation,commitment and ability to rise to the challengesof studying law at the postgraduate level. Studentscome from all over the world, making theexperience of studying law at SOAS particularlyenriching and enjoyable.The MA programme does not entitle graduatesto practise as lawyers, but may help with makinga move into more legally orientated work. Likethe LLM, the MA is designed to be maximallyflexible – allowing students to chose between ageneric MA in International and ComparativeLegal Studies, or a specific MA in an area of legalspecialism (such as Chinese Law, Islamic Lawand Human Rights). The specialist programmesare listed below.PROGRAMME STRUCTUREThe MA is divided into four elements: threetaught courses and a 10,000-word dissertationon a topic related to the specialism of the degree.Most subjects are taught in weekly two-hourseminars, and the teaching usually ends inApril/May. Examinations are normally held overa four-week period in May/June of each year.The compulsory dissertation must be submittedin September following the year of registration.Every MA student must attend an intensivetwo-week Introduction to Law and Legal Methodcourse, which runs in September each year inthe weeks prior to registration. This is aimed athelping non-law students get accustomed to thestudy of law at a post-graduate level, and generallyassisting them in making the most of their studies.The Pre-Sessional Introduction to Law andLegal Method course provides students witha general introduction to English, Internationaland Comparative Law; legal methods and legalskills; research techniques; essay/ dissertationwriting; the use of library and on-line resources.It also includes (and particularly for overseasstudents) tours of the Law Courts and Parliamentand sessions aimed at adjusting students tolife in London.MA INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVELEGAL STUDIESNot all courses listed below may be available everyyear. For courses being offered in 2008/09, pleasevisit the relevant departmental website or contactthe Faculty office. Some courses may be taught inother departments of the School.Applicants wishing to study for an MA in Law mustapply for one of the following 11 programmes.Those who do not wish to apply for one of thespecialised programmes (1) to (9) should apply forthe general programme (10). For students followingone of the specialised programmes (1) to (9),the dissertation must be on a topic related to thespecialism of the programme.1) MA CHINESE LAWStudents are required to take three taught courses:COURSES 1 & 2At least two courses from the following options:- Foundations of Chinese Law- Modern Chinese Law- Chinese Commercial LawCOURSE 3The third option may be chosen from the GeneralList below, or can be from the above list99LAW