UCC Postgraduate courses

Law LLM (Intellectual Property & E-Law)

Course Fact File
CodeLLMIPE
Duration1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
Teaching ModeFull-time, Part-Time
QualificationsLLM
NFQ LevelLevel 9
Closing DateRolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing DateOpen until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date9 September 2024

Course Outline

On this LLM programme you will study the close connection between the fields of Intellectual Property (copyright, patents, and trademarks) and E-Law (internet regulation, electronic commerce, and cybercrime). You will discuss novel and dynamic issues concerning social networks, music and video copyright, regulation of electronic contracts and data protection. 

Applicants for the LLM (Intellectual Property and E-Law) also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property and E-Law. Students take 60 credits of taught modules from those on offer for the LLM (Intellectual Property and E-Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. 

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 12,500-word research dissertation and graduate with an LLM. 

Modules  

  • Full-time: Students take 90 credits: 70 credits of core/taught modules plus 20 credits of elective modules.
  • Part-time: Students take 90 credits, completing a total of 40 credits (including LW6574) in Year 1 and 50 credits (including LW6659) in Year 2.

Core Modules (30 credits)

  • LW6652 Legal Research Methods and Writing (5 credits)
  • LW6659 LLM Dissertation (25 credits)

Taught Modules (40 credits)

  • LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10 credits)
  • LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
  • LW6574 Intellectual Property and Internet Regulation (10 credits)
  • LW6647 IT Law Clinic for Start-ups (10 credits)

Plus choose 20 credits in total from Lists A and B with a maximum of 10 credits being chosen from List B:

List A: Elective Modules in E-Law, Business Law and Human Rights

  • LW2269 Privacy and Data Protection Law (5 credits)
  • LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
  • LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
  • LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
  • LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)
  • LW6650 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (10 credits)
  • LW6657 Law and Policy of the EU Digital Market (10 credits)
  • LW6660 Digital Finance and FinTech: Law and Regulation (10 credits)
  • LW6662 Law and the Future of Europe: Critical Perspectives Internal Market & Citizenship (5 credits)
  • LW6663 Law and the Future of Europe: Critical Perspectives EMU & Governance (5 credits)

List B: Undergraduate Modules (choose up to 10 credits)

  • LW2254 Commercial Law (10 credits)
  • LW3316 Financial Services Law and Regulation (5 credits)
  • LW3345 Company Law I: Fundamental Concepts and Doctrines (5 credits)
  • LW3346 Company Law II: Management, Finance and Insolvency (5 credits)
  • LW3347 Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5 credits)
  • LW3368 Principles of Revenue Law (5 credits)
  • LW3369 Income Tax Law (5 credits)

Students may not choose a module from List B if they have already taken that module or equivalent subject matter at the undergraduate level or if it involves a timetable clash.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Examinations

Presentation of Dissertation/Submission Dates The dissertation must be submitted for examination at the Winter Board, on a date in September to be specified by the School of Law at the commencement of the programme.

Exit Awards

Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)

Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 30 credits that meet the requirements of the Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology, students may opt not to proceed with the LLM and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Law and Technology.

Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Intellectual Property and e-Law) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 60 credits, registered LLM (Intellectual Property and e-Law) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Intellectual Property and e-Law).

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

LLM classes are presented in a seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for the postgraduate level. Students receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar.  Seminars take place in 2-hour blocks between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. 10-credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5-credit modules run for 6 weeks.

Part-Time 

The part-time option is taught during weekday working hours over two years.

Assessment

You will be examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and your dissertation must be submitted in September. To view individual module assessments in the Book of Modules.

Why Choose This Course

The LLM in Intellectual Property and E-Law reflects the close connection in legal research and practice between the fields of Intellectual Property (copyright, patents and trademarks) and E-Law (internet regulation, electronic commerce and law of cybercrime).

This specialised LLM builds upon the Law School’s considerable research and teaching expertise in the fields of Intellectual Property and E-Law. Students can choose from a range of intellectual property, commercial, information law and e-law modules and further specialise by writing a dissertation on any one of the modern challenges presented by the practice of intellectual property law in the electronic age.

The LLM includes a unique IT Law Clinic module, where students provide legal information to startups on issues such as copyright, data protection and selling online. The clinic is the first such clinic in any Irish university and provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of these dynamic legal areas to real-life problems faced by businesses. See the Law Clinic page for more information. 

UCC Law School is the Irish Partner in the global Creative Commons movement and a member of the iLINC European Network of Law Incubators, which aims to facilitate the provision of legal information and advice to ICT entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Top 100 Ranking

UCC School of Law has been ranked among the world’s best Law Schools in the latest QS World University Rankings by subject, placing 59th in the World and 1st in Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

Our LLM graduates in Intellectual Property and e-Law have excellent legal research and writing skills and can pursue careers as solicitors, barristers or in-house lawyers, as well as other roles in technology businesses or in the public sector.

Requirements

To be accepted on this course you must be approved by the School of Law and must normally:

  • (a) hold a law degree with Second Class Honours Grade I (NFQ, Level 8); or
  • (b) have such other relevant third-level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualify you under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Intellectual Property and e-Law) degree;
  • If you are an overseas candidate you are welcome to apply, and your qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis as above.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

  • In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
  • Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Vsit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits 

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment 

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay? 

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

  • Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
  • Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

  • You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
  • In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
  • Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
  • Please enter the names and email addresses of two referees. 

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Apply Now

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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