Course description
The course focuses less on specific English legal issues and more generally on critical analysis, legal theory and background information.
This has been very useful for a broader understanding of the subject, especially as I will not be working in the UK.
Johannes Rost / Intellectual Property Law LLM Graduate
The LLM in Intellectual Property Law gives you an in-depth understanding of intellectual property and patent law in the context of modern business. Our expert academics will guide you through the economic, social, and philosophical dimensions of intellectual property law, encouraging critical analysis of current legal frameworks.
You will acquire advanced knowledge in intellectual property law and associated policies, learning about the national and international frameworks for granting, enforcing, and defending intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions.
Core and optional course units cover a broad spectrum of topics such as international economic law, corporate governance, financial services regulation, and human rights law, enabling you to customise your studies to your career aspirations.
Aims
On this course, you will:
- develop your understanding of the law concerning intellectual property and patents in modern business.;
- examine the economic, social and philosophical aspects of IP law development, advancing your knowledge in intellectual property law and concomitant policy.;
- learn about national and international grant, enforcement and defence of intellectual property rights on a multi-jurisdictional basis.;
- connect the wider profession to important industry sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, communications and information technology.
Special features
Strong partnerships
The Law School works with organisations beyond higher education – from leading NGOs to blue-chip companies – so your research tackles real-world issues. Recent projects have informed national healthcare guidelines and shaped police procedures in Norway, Australia and Brazil, giving you experience that resonates far outside the classroom.
Justice Hub
Our Justice Hub brings together students, staff and local practitioners to provide free, supervised legal advice to the community – giving you hands-on casework experience while making a positive social impact.
International impact
You learn from academics whose evidence is cited by bodies such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization and national governments. Their policy-shaping work feeds directly into seminars, ensuring the LLM stays aligned with the latest developments in international business and commercial law.
Teaching and learning
The LLM in Intellectual Property Law is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:
- lectures;
- workshops;
- student-led presentations and debate;
- group work;
- individual research.
Coursework and assessment
Most course units are assessed by standard methods, either:
- one unseen written examination;
- one coursework essay;
- or a combination of these two methods of assessment.
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
120 of these credits are made up of a mix of mandatory and optional course units. On the LLM in International Financial Law, there is one mandatory course unit:
International Financial Services Regulation (30 credits);
You will also choose additional optional course units to make up the remaining 90 credits from an approved list of commercial law options. Course units are typically worth 15 or 30 credits each, so you’ll choose between four and eight units in total depending on your selection.
Course units span a wide range of topics across the legal spectrum, such as:
- international trade and corporate law;
- financial services regulation;
- European law
- international economic law;
- intellectual property law
- human rights law;
- corporate governance;
- law and finance in emerging markets.
The availability of individual optional course units may be subject to change. Information sent to you in August will clearly set out the course units available for the upcoming academic year.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a 12,000-word dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen.
Your research will be supported by weekly research methodology lectures in both semesters, helping you sharpen your legal writing and research skills.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Mark Law and Policy | LAWS70261 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Patent Law and Policy | LAWS70271 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Copyright Law and Policy | LAWS70292 | 30 | Mandatory |
| LL.M Dissertation | LAWS70990 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Academic Skills for Legal Studies | LAWS50000 | 0 | Optional |
| Transnational Corporate & Capital Markets Law | LAWS70082 | 30 | Optional |
| International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Law | LAWS77082 | 30 | Optional |
What our students say
Facilities
You will be supported by the first-class resources you would expect of a top law school.
In addition to the networked study spaces, you can access a specialist moot courtroom, enabling you to hone your debating skills in a realistic court setting.
There is also The University of Manchester Library , which houses a substantial collection of law books and periodicals, including texts to support all the degrees we offer.