Course overview

The European Union has been undergoing a continuous process of integration and at the same time expansion to include Central and Eastern Europe and beyond. In addition, the EU is having to undertake a greater role in international affairs. All this has enormous implications for the way it operates and the development of its law and policy-making processes. This means that there is increasing demand for people with expertise in the workings of the EU and a knowledge of European law in business, local and national levels of government and international organisations. This applies both to existing EU member states and also to those countries that need to work with the EU.

The MA European Law and Policy aims to provide you with the necessary advanced knowledge and skills to:

• enhance your employability by extending your area of expertise beyond that of your first degree
• boost your career within your existing area of employment by becoming a specialist in this crucial field
• deepen your knowledge of European affairs in the area of law and policy
• make yourself stand out in an increasingly competitive job market by acquiring skills which show an ability to research independently and study a contemporary topic at an advanced level

The course places the study of law in the wider context of EU politics. You will study the principles of European law and key areas of law such as human rights and competition law. You will also look at policy-making and key areas of European policy (such as regional, monetary and environmental policy) as well as the operation of EU institutions.

The course draws on the combined strengths of two faculties at Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Business School and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The curriculum is informed by the legal background and research and scholarly expertise of the staff involved. Staff are members of the Centre for European and International Studies Research. European Studies at Portsmouth received a top grade five (international quality) in the last national Research Assessment Exercise.

To help you further

This course is run by the School of Social, Historial and Literary Studies. For an application pack and details of fees, or to arrange an informal discussion with the course leader, please contact the Humanities Admissions Centre regarding the Portsmouth route only.

Applications can be made at any time, but we prefer you to apply as soon as possible.

Course content

Our course is not a professional law qualification, but is aimed at those who need to acquire a knowledge of EU law, institutions and policy-making processes because of the career they wish to pursue or are pursuing. Since most students come without a background in law, an initial crash course (an intensive two-day programme) introduces the general principles of law that you will need.

What will I study?

All students take the following core units:-

• • European Union: Institutions, Law and Theories (Core)
• • International Law, Human Rights and Corporate Responsibility (Core)
• • International and European Business Law (Core)
• • Dissertation/Major Project (Core)

They choose 1 out of the following:-

• • Nation and Identity in Europe (Option)
• • Europe and the World (Option)
• • Policy and Networks: The Governance of the EU (Option)
• • Independent Project (Option)
• • Work-based Learning (Option)

September to December

European Union: Institutions, Law and Theories (Core)

This unit introduces students to the institutions, law and theories of the European Union. It equips them with the necessary tools for understanding the current European Union. It also forms a useful basis for the more specialized units on the operation of the EU and its policies - Policy and Networks: the Governance of the EU and Europe and the World.

September to March

International Law, Human Rights and Corporate Responsibility (Core)

This unit will provide students with an understanding of the content of international law and a critical appreciation of the relationship between international and regional human rights law and transnational businesses in an international and domestic context. It will enable students to evaluate the effectiveness of international law in regulating corporate business conduct in terms of human rights compliance and how this compliance is enforced. The unit will also equip students with knowledge and understanding to assess whether or not a multinational corporation acts within the scope of international and regional (European Convention) hard and soft law governing corporate human rights compliance/ corporate responsibility responsible. It will equip students with the knowledge and understanding of human rights civil responsibility of corporate and individual non state perpetrators of human rights violations and acts of international terrorism as an evolving notion of international law

International and European Business Law (Core)

This unit will encourage independent study and the development of the skills which are needed to enable the student to apply knowledge in both an academic environment and in industry, commerce and the professions. It will also provide students with an understanding how the EU operates in the regulation of anti competitive practices and how this interacts both with UK domestic law and in relation to non- EU countries. In addition, the unit will enable students to analyse problem questions and provide reasoned advice to hypothetical clients in relation to a range of circumstances where a business may acquire a liability to or a right against a third party in the domestic and international trade arenas.

January to March

Nation and Identity in Europe (Option)

This unit examines the place of nationalism and national identity in contemporary Europe. It also analyses the related development of immigration and citizenship policies across Europe, examining the factors which have shaped and influenced their nature and progress.

Europe and the World (Option)

Adopting an ontologically broad conception of Europe, and an interdisciplinary approach for its study, ‘Europe and the World’ examines Europe’s relations with the contemporary international and global order. In part 1 of the unit, students are introduced to key issues, themes and analytical approaches relevant to studying Europe’s relations with the wider international and global order. This provides the necessary preparation for part 2 of the unit in which students are required to develop specialised knowledge in the context of regionally focused and/or issue specific study.

Policy and Networks: The Governance of the EU (Option)

This unit seeks, through 3 student-led, linked learning modules, to provide an experiential, comprehensive understanding of the EU policy making process. It reveals the inter relationship between supranational, transnational and intergovernmental structures of the process, and provides the opportunity for both a reflexive and theoretical appreciation of the EU policy complex.

Independent Project (Option)

This unit allows students to develop and carry out an independent research project which may result in a traditional essay or take other forms: country case study, policy analysis, and briefing on a contemporary issue. The precise nature of the artefact must be equivalent to a 4,000-4,500-word essay and must be agreed with the unit coordinator, who will provide guidance on possible topics/themes. The project will be particularly attractive for those wishing to develop interests outside of but relevant to the curriculum on taught units. It is not envisage that students would take this unit if the topic and assessment can be delivered equally effectively within one of the established taught units. The project must fall within the research expertise of current staff (information about staff specialism will be made available in semester 1). Students will be assigned a project supervisor who will be available for email and one-to-one tutorials. This option is very flexible as to tutor contact and may therefore be particularly attractive for students studying in part-time mode or students suffering from time constraints.

Work-based Learning (Option)

This unit, by a process of negotiation and completion of a contract, will provide an opportunity for the student to develop a topic or area of interest within their sphere of work. The student will produce a work-based report which either has the object of suggesting improvements and developments in their work and organisation or centres on the analysis of a particular issue within or related to the work situation. The report will be expected to conform to the rigour of academic analysis in terms of research and presentation. It will also require elements of reflection on aspects of the work situation and the ability to locate this within a wider analytical framework. It will develop the required skills, knowledge and ability to negotiate a learning contract and to critically analyse a topic of interest to them and their organisation.

September to August

Dissertation/Major Project (Core)

This unit is designed to enable students to design and complete an extended advanced study which has clear and specific aims and intentions informed by current issues or insights at the forefront of the relevant academic discipline and/or area of professional practice. It will be necessary for students to undertake significant personal, independent research using a range of well justified and appropriately applied methods dependent upon the aims and focus of the dissertation/project. An initial proposal will contribute to the overall mark but the purpose of this artefact will be primarily formative

Teaching and assessment

Teaching is conducted through a combination of lectures and seminars. In addition, you will have access to staff on an individual tutorial basis and will also be assigned a dissertation supervisor to support you in the research and writing of your dissertation.

Classes are timetabled in the afternoons and evenings. Depending on their option choices part-time students are usually able to structure their course so as to concentrate their studies on one and no more than two afternoons/evenings.

Assessment is normally in the form of an extended essay on a specific topic within a unit and an examination in the case of some law-based units.

Career prospects

The course provides a good basis for those seeking careers or already working in posts where knowledge of EU law, institutions, policies and policy-making processes are required. This is now widely the case in business, local and central government as well as in non-governmental organisations. In addition there are many opportunities within EU, European and international organisations.

Our Masters degree also provides a useful basis for those who wish to go into teaching or further research in the area of European affairs, law and politics.

Former students of the MA European Law and Policy programme have already been working in or gone on to work in local and regional government, foreign embassies, legal posts, business and a wide range of other positions in the public and private sector.

Facilities and features

The MA is taught jointly by staff from the Portsmouth Business School and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and is coordinated within the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies. These are located together in the centre of the city and a short distance from the main University Library.

The Library is open from 8am to midnight seven days a week (with reduced hours during vacations) and is a European Documentation Centre containing more than half a million printed books. You will also have access to some 16,000 online journals and will be eligible to join the UK libraries plus scheme which is a cooperative venture between higher education libraries that makes it easier for you to use academic libraries nearer to home or work. The MA European Law and Policy also has a dedicated subject librarian to assist you.

You will also have good access to computer facilities at the library, Milldam and Park Building in the daytime and evenings.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MA European Law and Policy are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Tel: +31 (0) 70 445 8900 or 8853
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk