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  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
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  • Business and Management

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  • Wildlife Conservation
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  • Engineering
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  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

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  • History
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  • Management
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

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  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Social Policy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Strategic Studies
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  • Typography and Graphic Communication
  • War and Peace Studies
  • Zoology

MA by Research Legal History

  • Year of entry
    2022/23 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2022/23 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

COVID-19 update


Find out how we're adapting during COVID-19.

Start date: September 2022

Our MA by Research Legal History course is suited to those considering legal practice or who wish to pursue a PhD in history, law or related areas.

You will learn through a combination of skills-focused training, guided research and and writing, on a programme which draws on the academic networks and events facilitated and organised by the Forum for Legal and Historical Research at Reading.

We were ranked 10th for research intensity in a recent national assessment, with 100% of our research rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

Emphasis is placed on independent research, and your studies will be supported by a small number of group seminars and individual supervision. You will benefit from full library access and seminars and training held at the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

Pursued as a part-time course, it would also be an asset if you are a researcher and practitioner who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in new directions while undertaking structured independent research.

For more information, please visit the School of Law's website.

Overview

Start date: September 2022

Our MA by Research Legal History course is suited to those considering legal practice or who wish to pursue a PhD in history, law or related areas.

You will learn through a combination of skills-focused training, guided research and and writing, on a programme which draws on the academic networks and events facilitated and organised by the Forum for Legal and Historical Research at Reading.

We were ranked 10th for research intensity in a recent national assessment, with 100% of our research rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

Emphasis is placed on independent research, and your studies will be supported by a small number of group seminars and individual supervision. You will benefit from full library access and seminars and training held at the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

Pursued as a part-time course, it would also be an asset if you are a researcher and practitioner who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in new directions while undertaking structured independent research.

For more information, please visit the School of Law's website.

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK. Our students come with a variety of relevant legal and non-legal experience and all applicants are considered on individual merit. You must provide a sample of academic writing and a short abstract of the proposed research, and attend an interview with the programme director.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Accessing and Interrogating Archives

Code:

LWMHAA

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Smith

Summary:

This module introduces students to the sources available in London for historical research, primarily in the modern period (since 1500), provides them with an introduction to the legal regime governing public records and access to archives, and explores some of the theoretical and practical issues raised by archival research and the use of legal and historical sources. The primary aims of the module are to equip students with the skills necessary to undertake a programme of primary source research in legal history, and to develop their understanding of the practical and theoretical issues which they must address in the course of such research.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research Dissertation (Legal History)

Code:

LWMHDI

Convenor:

DR Stephen Banks

Summary:

Students taking this module will undertake supervised independent research and write a 20,000 word research dissertation on a topic agreed with the Programme Director and Research Dissertation Supervisor.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Dissertation Plan

Code:

LWMHDP

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Smith

Summary:

This module aims to build on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the Archival Research Module. It aims to develop further a critical awareness of issues in legal historical research, to facilitate the discussion of those issues, and to further develop key legal historical research skills, including especially those involved in planning a legal historical research project. It will culminate in the creation of a research plan for the dissertation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research Seminar Presentation

Code:

LWMHRS

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Smith

Summary:

This module aims to develop and enhance key skills in oral presentation and the ability critically and reflectively to discuss the research process and experience and the methodologies adopted.

Assessment Method:

Oral 60%, Project 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
LWMHAA Accessing and Interrogating Archives DR Charlotte Smith
LWMHDI Research Dissertation (Legal History) DR Stephen Banks
LWMHDP Dissertation Plan DR Charlotte Smith
LWMHRS Research Seminar Presentation DR Charlotte Smith

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Archival Internship

Code:

LWMHAI

Convenor:

PROF Rosemary Auchmuty

Summary:

Students taking this module will undertake a three month internship working for a minimum of three days per week at the National Archives or other library or archive with which the School of Law has agreed internship arrangements at the relevant time. This will enable them to gain practical experience of cataloguing and archival management; and will allow them to develop their knowledge of the history and management of a body of archival material which they are using in the research for their dissertation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Critical Thinkers

Code:

LWMHCT

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Smith

Summary:

Students taking this module will write a review essay of three books which consider an area of interest to them in legal history.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

History and Management of an Archive

Code:

LWMHMA

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Smith

Summary:

Students taking this module will develop their knowledge of the history and management of one archive which they are using in the research for the dissertation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Sourcing the Past

Code:

LWMHSP

Convenor:

PROF Rosemary Auchmuty

Summary:

This module aims to develop and enhance students’ ability critically to evaluate and analyse legal historical sources and the methodological issues which arise in using them. It aims to further develop their understanding of how the creation, availability and form of sources shapes our understanding of legal history and the outcomes of legal historical research.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
LWMHAI Archival Internship PROF Rosemary Auchmuty
LWMHCT Critical Thinkers DR Charlotte Smith
LWMHMA History and Management of an Archive DR Charlotte Smith
LWMHSP Sourcing the Past PROF Rosemary Auchmuty

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £18,650

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

This programme can lead to careers in legal practice, teaching or further academia.

Graduates from our LLM course have gone on to work for various national and international law firms, as lawyers and as in-house legal counsel for large multinational companies in the UK and abroad, as well as international organisations and NGOs. A good proportion of our recent graduates are working with the European Union, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Police (INTERPOL), amongst others. A postgraduate law degree will open many doors not only in specialised areas of employment, such as law firms, European and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations, but also in academia (with further postgraduate study), the media (journalism and broadcasting), the civil service, and other branches of public service.

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