16th January 2019
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Corporate Governance and Law GradCG LLM

Study corporate governance, risk and compliance on this LLM degree course. Graduates are eligible for the GradICSA qualification, and with experience ACIS status.

Key information

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
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Showing content for section Overview

Overview

Develop your specialist knowledge and understanding of corporate governance, risk management, compliance and liability as you maximise your career potential on this course.

Corporate governance is fundamental to corporate performance and accountability, and professionals in this field are in high demand across all sectors of industry.

As you study you'll gain the legal foundations you need to make decisions and learn to apply your skills in the workplace.

Thanks to our strong connections with industry partners including the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGI) you’ll be well placed to pursue your chosen career when you graduate. 

This LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree is designed for law and non-law graduates, practising lawyers and business professionals alike. You do not need to have studied law before. If you graduated from a subject other than law, you’ll be brought up to speed in a compulsory law module to introduce you to some core principles of English law.

Once you’ve completed this Master in Laws Corporate Governance degree course you'll be eligible for the Grad.CG qualification from the CGI. If you have relevant work experience, you may also be able to apply for ACIS status (Associate in the Chartered Institute of Secretaries).

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Course highlights

  • Learn the key elements of good corporate governance, and the key elements of corporate law
  • Graduate with a Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGI) accredited qualification
  • Take advantage of our close connections with industry partners, including the CGI and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA), to position yourself within the graduate job market
  • Have the option to study towards a Certificate of Training in Diligent Entities, the corporate secretarial software system
  • Learn from our expert staff in a combination of lectures, group problem solving, discussion, debate and independent study
  • Join our alumni network and our mentoring service with members of the legal profession

Accreditation

Graduates of this course are eligible for Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGI) graduate status. This requires the payment of a fee to CGI. Once the fee is paid the successful graduate receives CGI 'graduate' status and is permitted to use GradCGI after their name. 

Modules

Full-time

If you choose to study this LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree course full-time, you'll study all core modules and 2 optional modules (totalling 180 credits) over 1 year.

Core

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the company secretary and the differing responsibilities of the company secretary, the board, management, shareholders and other stakeholders

  • Crtically evaluate the nature and principles of the company's regulatory requirements and be able to exercise appropriate judgment to advise on the expectations of and compliance with regulatory requirements

  • Critically evaluate how boardroom dynamics might affect the quality of relationships, decision-making, conversations, culture, diversity and other factors

Explore this module

The learning outcomes for this module will be confirmed soon. 

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Be able to critically engage with the need for regulating financial reporting by entities

  • Understand how financial statements and reports are prepared and evaluate them in order to provide insightful interpretation

  • Be able to identify and critically evaluate sources of finance and their associated risks and returns

  • Be able to conceptualise the nature and importance of capital structure and the cost of capital and evaluate these for decision making

  • Be able to critically explore fundamental financial decision-making theories and evaluate these for decision making

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate approaches to risk management and identify the most appropriate approach for the organisation

  • Develop a critical appreciation of the impact of the business environment on organisational risks and governance and the effects this may have

  • Critically analyse the management of risk and provide professionally appropriate advice to those responsible for governance

  • Evaluate critically the impact of risk culture, behaviours and organisational conduct on the practice of management

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategy as a multi-faceted organisational phenomenon

  • Apply that understanding to develop, justify, and critique an approach to strategy

  • Critically assess the implications of the developed strategy approach for corporate governance

  • Judge the ethical and governance implications of strategic decisions and demonstrate how to prioritize stakeholders, including the demonstration of a critical awareness of stakeholder implications of sustainability related practices of the organization

Explore this module

Optional

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Identify which legal issues are relevant based on the facts of the Case Study

  • Clearly explain relevant laws and best practice principles

  • Apply relevant laws and best practice principles to the facts of the Case Study

  • Understand how legal rules from different legal subjects can impact upon one another

  • Effectively use a range of legal sources and cite them in accordance with OSCOLA

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Integrate a sound knowledge, an understanding and a critical awareness of the nature, structure and fundamental principles of data protection law

  • Develop a critical awareness and original insights on practice-related issues and challenges pertinent to data protection law and policy

  • Critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship in the subject area and to engage in informed debate on current/emerging legal and policy issues/challenges observable in the data protection field, displaying elements of original thinking

  • Work independently in the analysis of a variety of authoritative primary and secondary resources in the area of data protection law to be able to create cohesive and persuasive arguments

  • Communicate effectively ideas and the results of independent research in academic and professional communication with others

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Clearly and succinctly explain relevant legal principles

  • Understand the operation of, and how to effectively use, relevant sources of law

  • Critically and objectively analyse legal sources and principles involving the administration of English legal system

  • Use legal knowledge to identify legal issues and apply various sources of law to practical situations

Explore this module

The learning outcomes for this module will be available soon.

Explore this module

Part-time

If you choose to study this LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree course part-time, you'll study 1 core module and 1 optional module (totalling 30 credits) in the first year.

Core

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategy as a multi-faceted organisational phenomenon

  • Apply that understanding to develop, justify, and critique an approach to strategy

  • Critically assess the implications of the developed strategy approach for corporate governance

  • Judge the ethical and governance implications of strategic decisions and demonstrate how to prioritize stakeholders, including the demonstration of a critical awareness of stakeholder implications of sustainability related practices of the organization

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the company secretary and the differing responsibilities of the company secretary, the board, management, shareholders and other stakeholders

  • Crtically evaluate the nature and principles of the company's regulatory requirements and be able to exercise appropriate judgment to advise on the expectations of and compliance with regulatory requirements

  • Critically evaluate how boardroom dynamics might affect the quality of relationships, decision-making, conversations, culture, diversity and other factors

Explore this module

Optional

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Integrate a sound knowledge, an understanding and a critical awareness of the nature, structure and fundamental principles of data protection law

  • Develop a critical awareness and original insights on practice-related issues and challenges pertinent to data protection law and policy

  • Critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship in the subject area and to engage in informed debate on current/emerging legal and policy issues/challenges observable in the data protection field, displaying elements of original thinking

  • Work independently in the analysis of a variety of authoritative primary and secondary resources in the area of data protection law to be able to create cohesive and persuasive arguments

  • Communicate effectively ideas and the results of independent research in academic and professional communication with others

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Clearly and succinctly explain relevant legal principles

  • Understand the operation of, and how to effectively use, relevant sources of law

  • Critically and objectively analyse legal sources and principles involving the administration of English legal system

  • Use legal knowledge to identify legal issues and apply various sources of law to practical situations

Explore this module

If you choose to study this LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree course part-time, you'll study 3 core modules (totalling 60 credits) in the second year.

Core

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Be able to critically engage with the need for regulating financial reporting by entities

  • Understand how financial statements and reports are prepared and evaluate them in order to provide insightful interpretation

  • Be able to identify and critically evaluate sources of finance and their associated risks and returns

  • Be able to conceptualise the nature and importance of capital structure and the cost of capital and evaluate these for decision making

  • Be able to critically explore fundamental financial decision-making theories and evaluate these for decision making

Explore this module

The learning outcomes for this module will be confirmed soon. 

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate approaches to risk management and identify the most appropriate approach for the organisation

  • Develop a critical appreciation of the impact of the business environment on organisational risks and governance and the effects this may have

  • Critically analyse the management of risk and provide professionally appropriate advice to those responsible for governance

  • Evaluate critically the impact of risk culture, behaviours and organisational conduct on the practice of management

Explore this module

If you choose to study this LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree course part-time, you'll choose to undertake a Legal Dissertation or a Corporate Case Study in your final 6 months of study.

Optional

The learning outcomes for this module will be available soon.

Explore this module

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Identify which legal issues are relevant based on the facts of the Case Study

  • Clearly explain relevant laws and best practice principles

  • Apply relevant laws and best practice principles to the facts of the Case Study

  • Understand how legal rules from different legal subjects can impact upon one another

  • Effectively use a range of legal sources and cite them in accordance with OSCOLA

Explore this module


Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Careers and opportunities

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

Corporate governance is a crucial part of corporate performance and accountability. Professionals in this field are in demand across all sectors of industry.

If you have a background in law, this LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree will enhance your employability by developing your knowledge and understanding of corporate governance, risk and compliance.

If you've never studied law before, this Master's will provide you with a valuable and highly sought after combination of legal and corporate governance knowledge.

When you graduate you'll have a thorough knowledge of corporate governance issues and the skills and confidence to advance your career in this sector.

If you choose to work as a chartered secretary, you can enter senior roles in a number of industries in both the private and public sectors. Your qualification will give you international recognition, and you'll have the opportunity to work overseas.

Graduates of this course have gone into areas such as:

  • Banking
  • Law
  • Management

Graduates of this course have gone onto jobs such as:

  • Assistant Company Secretary
  • Assistant Consultant
  • Chartered Secretary
  • Company Secretarial Assistant
  • Compliance Officer
  • Corporate Governance Adviser
  • Data Consultant
  • Global Compliance Coordinator
  • Legal Assistant
  • Paralegal
Postgraduate Shoot

I chose Portsmouth because of the high employability prospects.

I am now a graduate trainee in Corporate and International Banking at Barclays, and have held company secretarial positions in management companies.

Baboo Kunalsing Askurn, LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad CG graduate

Read Baboo's story

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

Career support

You'll benefit from:
  • Networking events
  • Regular emails from the Career Ready Programme sharing job opportunities, application tips and events
  • Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
  • Workshops to enhance your employability skills
  • Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
  • 1-to-1 appointments 
  • CV and cover letter advice
  • Interview preparation and practice
  • Support starting your own business

Learn more about your career support

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

  • 1 year (full-time study)
  • 30 months (part-time study)

Full-time study

At the moment, teaching will generally take place over 2-3 days (between 10:00am and 8:00pm), leaving you the rest of the week for self-guided study.

You can expect:

  • 2-3 days of teaching per week
  • 25-30 hours of recommended independent study each week

Part-time study

At the moment, teaching will generally take place over 1-2 days (between 10:00am and 8:00pm), leaving you the rest of the week for self-guided study.

You can expect:

  • 1-2 days of teaching per week
  • 10-15 hours of recommended independent study each week.

Teaching

Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.

You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.

Teaching methods on this course include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • workshops
  • tutorials
  • group problem solving
  • discussion
  • debates

As part of this course and to meet your needs, face-to-face teaching is complemented by the use of a Virtual Learning Environment where you can access online recordings and materials to supplement your learning.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through:

  • coursework
  • reports
  • reflective essays

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Lee Roach Portrait

Dr Lee Roach

Senior Lecturer

Lee.Roach@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth Law School

Faculty of Business and Law

Read more

Term dates

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.

See key dates

Supporting you

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.

The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.

You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.

They can help with:

  • academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
  • reflective writing skills
  • critical thinking skills
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Graduation Class of 2021

Joining us as an international student

You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.

Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in. 

Information for international students

​Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (September 2024 start)

  • Full time: £12,000
  • Part time: £4,000 per year

(including Transition Scholarship)

  • Full time: £12,000
  • Part time: £4,000 per year

  • Full-time: £17,900
  • Part-time: £5,970 a year (subject to annual increase) 

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount

Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

Loans, scholarships and bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

Female Master's student
Explore funding

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

international business students
Discover your options

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.

Postgrad students on campus
Explore funding

Additional costs

These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:

  • Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
  • Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
  • General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
  • Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Entry requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2024 start

  • A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

How to apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra information for international students

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Standard applications

I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2023, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

  • a shorter application form to complete
  • access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
  • a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses 

Learn more about fast track

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.