The LLM in Intellectual Property Law will let you explore in depth this fascinating legal area that is growing ever more essential to the effective functioning of a global economy.
The LLM in Intellectual Property Law offers you the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of this contemporary subject, in keeping with its rapidly growing importance in enabling the legal and proper function of a global economy.
In essence, intellectual property law serves to regulate the creation and application of mental or creative labour, providing protection for information and ideas by means of a range of legal mechanisms that include copyright, patents and trademarks. The right to intellectual property is essential to success in a vast number of business and creative sectors, encompassing such disparate areas as science, art, advertising, music, product design, trade reputations, medicines and knowledge.
The course takes a national and international view of this fascinating legal world, enabling you to develop a solid grounding in copyright, patents and trademarks from a UK and European perspective through the completion of a compulsory foundation course.
You will then begin a more advanced stage of learning that will focus on current and emerging topics in intellectual property law, such as artificial intelligence, access to medicines and patents in the life sciences. You will also produce a dissertation on an intellectual property law topic of your choice.
The law department has a global reputation for its academic standards and the quality of its teaching which takes place in a supportive learning environment, offering a range of extracurricular activities.
You will be encouraged to attend the various events organised through the school’s research centres, including the Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences, the Institute of Commercial and Corporate Law and the Durham European Law Institute.
Course Structure
Core modules
Applied Research Methods in Law provides specialised knowledge on the range of research methods and skills available in legal studies as well as an advanced understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and of their relevance for different forms of legal research. The module also creates a framework within which you will be able to critically assess potential research topics and, importantly, where you will be able to design, discuss and develop a detailed research proposal of the appropriate standard for your dissertation.
Introduction to International Intellectual Property Law examines the fundamental aspects of the ownership and exercise of intellectual property rights and teaches you about the granting criteria and exercise of intellectual property rights at the national, European and international level. The module also introduces you to the legal, moral, social and political debates which inform the subject matter and the scope of the various rights at home and abroad. You will be given an introduction to the three main areas of intellectual property, patents, copyright and trademarks and learn about the current policy and practice of the leading institutional bodies charged with responsibility for administering intellectual property rights.
Advanced Issues of International Intellectual Property Law
The Dissertation is based on an area of intellectual property law and can be of one of three lengths – 10,000 or 15,000 words. The dissertation is equivalent to 2 or 2.5 modules, depending on word count.
The remainder of the course is chosen from an extensive range of optional modules. Indicative optional modules include the following:
Advanced Issues in Human Rights
Advanced Issues in International Economic Law
Contemporary Issues of International Intellectual Property Law
China and the International Legal Order
Current Problems in International Law
Free Speech Problems in International and Comparative Perspective
Global Environmental Law
Horizontal Human Rights
International Counter Terrorism: Theory and Practice
The course involves both taught modules and a substantial dissertation component. Taught modules are delivered by a mixture of lectures and seminars amounting to 15-30 contact hours per module.
Lectures are used primarily to introduce chosen topics, identify relevant concepts, and introduce you to the main debates and ideas relevant to the chosen topic. Seminars are smaller-sized, student-led classes for which you will be expected to carry out reading prior to classes.
Through class discussion, or the presentation of papers, you are given the opportunity to test and refine your knowledge and understanding, in a relaxed and supportive environment.
In addition to taught modules, you must produce a dissertation which is the product of your own independent research. Depending on the route chosen your dissertation can be anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 words.
Assessment
The assessment regime is rigorous and carried out through writing tasks with the majority of the modules assessed through essays of 3,000-6,000 words in length. The core module on applied research methods will be assessed on a proposal you will present for a research topic. Finally, you will present a dissertation on an area of intellectual property law that is of particular interest to you.
Entry requirements
The course will demand a good degree in law or in a related discipline.
In the United Kingdom, a 2.1 or equivalent will be the minimum requirement.
Students with overseas qualifications will conform to the minimum requirements for admission.
The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Postgraduate-Prospectus.png)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Postgraduate-Scholarships.png)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Postgraduate-Meet-Students.png)
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/study/individual-course-and-cta-images/Book-an-Open-Day.png)
