Postgraduate Programmes
The Faculty of Law offers LLM/MPhil and LLD/PhD degrees in several areas of specialisation.The Faculty is home to four departments: It is also home to the Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights (DOI); the Centre for Legal Integration in Africa (CLIA); the Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work (CENTROW), which includes the Social Law Project (SLP); the African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice; and the Global Environmental Law Centre (GELC); as well as a Law Clinic.
The Faculty offers doctoral degrees in a number of specialisation areas, including the following:
Admission to the doctoral programme depends on an evaluation of performance in earlier degrees, particularly the proven ability to conduct research on an advanced level.
APPLY HERE
- Comparative Labour Law;
- Comparative Constitutional Law;
- (Transnational) Criminal Justice;
- Environmental Law;
- Human Rights Protection;
- Law, State and Multi-Level Government; and
- Mercantile Law, including Tax Law, Corporate Law, Competition Law, Trade Law and Investment Law.
Admission requirement
Admission to the doctoral programme depends on an evaluation of performance in earlier degrees, particularly the proven ability to conduct research on an advanced level.APPLY HERE
The Faculty of Law offers LLM/MPhil degrees in a number of specialised areas namely:
Admission to the master’s programme requires a minimum of 60% over the last two years of LLB or equivalent degree.
APPLY HERE
Below are details of specialisations for which there may be a limited number of academic bursary opportunities.
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Possible Bursary Opportunity There may be limited academic bursary funding opportunities, and if you believe that you are a deserving candidate (both academically and financially) please clearly motivate this in your letter of motivation, and also indicate which programme you are applying for.
To apply, please email the following documents to Ms L Loubser (lloubser@uwc.ac.za) on or before 31 October 2024:
APPLY FOR POSSIBLE BURSARY HERE
UWC's LLM graduates hold their own in the global effort to facilitate transnational business.The course was established in 2003, with the University of Pretoria, to address the skills shortage in managing the legal challenges of international trade and business in Africa.Application close: 30 June 2024
- Human Rights Protection;
- Labour Law;
- Law, State and Multilevel Government;
- Comparative Constitutional Law;
- Environmental Law;
- Mercantile Law, including Corporate Law, Tax Law, Competition Law, Trade Law and Investment Law;
- (Transnational) Criminal Justice;
- Legal Pluralism and Family Law;
Admission requirements
Admission to the master’s programme requires a minimum of 60% over the last two years of LLB or equivalent degree.APPLY HERE
Below are details of specialisations for which there may be a limited number of academic bursary opportunities.
- Comparative Constitutional Law
- Competition Law and Policy
- Corporate Law
- Environmental Law
- Human Rights Protection
- Legal Pluralism & Family Law
- Transnational Criminal Justice
- Tax Law
Comparative Constitutional Law
The programme has a strong comparative focus that transcends South African Constitutional Law and seeks to expose students to the methodology of comparative constitutional law and different options of constitutional design and operation.Competition Law and Policy
This area of specialisation offers modules that focus on the substantive principles of South African competition law, the enforcement thereof, and its policy underpinnings; the connection between South African competition law and labour law; Mergers and Acquisitions; as well as Intellectual Property.Download Brochure
Corporate Law
The LLM in Corporate Law programme is intentionally designed to attract those legal practitioners, legal advisors/in-house legal teams of companies and other persons in corporate leadership and practitioners who specialise in company law generally, in mergers, acquisitions and rearrangements (M&A); corporate finance decision-making; business rescue and corporate governance in general who may be interested in furthering their studies.Download Brochure
Environmental Law
The LLM by coursework, offered by the Global Environmental Law Centre (GELC) equips students with an advanced understanding of the scope and evolution of environmental law, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the major concepts, cases, principles and key debates that shape effective environmental law and governance frameworks and approaches.Human Rights Protection
The Faculty of Law offers a high quality Master's programme in Human Rights Protection. The programme includes two recently introduced modules, Constitutional Property Law and Land Reform and Housing Law. These modules reflect on multiple areas of law, including property law, human rights law, constitutional law, and administrative law.Download Brochure
Legal Pluralism & Family Law
Are you interested in the future of law in Africa? The Centre for Legal Integration in Africa in the Department of Private Law at UWC is offering an interdisciplinary Master of Laws with a focus on legal pluralism. The programme presents the interaction of legal orders in Africa as a cultural struggle with enormous significance for legal identity in the continent. It is presented by global experts in the field, with the core module of Legal and Cultural Pluralism and a basket of electives in Children’s Rights, International Family Law, International Protection of Human Rights Law, and Islamic Law and Jurisprudence.Tax Law
This programme covers domestic and international taxation, as well as tax administration principles. Students will be taught by eminent scholars in the field of taxation, including Judge Dennis Davis.Download Brochure
Transnational Criminal Justice
The programme examines how the criminal law aspects of international law and the international law aspect of criminal law combine to provide a legal mechanism for national and international response to human rights violations both at the level of the international criminal justice system and in the context of transitional justice in postconflict societies.Download brochure
Possible Bursary Opportunity There may be limited academic bursary funding opportunities, and if you believe that you are a deserving candidate (both academically and financially) please clearly motivate this in your letter of motivation, and also indicate which programme you are applying for.
To apply, please email the following documents to Ms L Loubser (lloubser@uwc.ac.za) on or before 31 October 2024:
- Copy of SA Identity document/Passport
- Motivation (max: 2 p.) – Clearly indicating which specific programme [Comparative Constitutional Law, Tax Law, Transnational Criminal Justice, Legal Pluralism & Family Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Protection, Corporate Law or Competition Law & Policy]
- A copy of your CV
- Academic record
- Sample of written work
APPLY FOR POSSIBLE BURSARY HERE
LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law
The University of the Western Cape's LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law equips bright minds to navigate the legal and administrative structures of international markets. The programme develops students' crucial thinking skills and supplies them with practical, transferable capabilities to positively influence global economic development.UWC's LLM graduates hold their own in the global effort to facilitate transnational business.The course was established in 2003, with the University of Pretoria, to address the skills shortage in managing the legal challenges of international trade and business in Africa.
Admission Requirements
- Four-year LLB degree (or South African Qualifications Authority equivalent)
- Admission is based on merit: > 60% average during LLB
- Relevant work experience will be an advantage.
Application close: 30 June 2024
(Closing date only applicable for the LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law)
Download Brochure
Other postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty
- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law
- Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law
- Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LABOUR LAW (7701)
H.28 ADMISSION
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a student shall be required to meet the following criteria to be enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law – PGDip (Labour Law):
An applicant must be in possession of a Bachelor of Laws degree obtained from a South African University or have obtained another qualification which in the opinion of the Senate is of an equivalent standard (See also Rule A.2.1.4).
H.29 SELECTION
Final selection shall be based on an applicant meeting the criteria as determined by the Faculty.
H.30 DURATION
Unless Senate decides otherwise the duration of the programme shall be one year full-time or two years part-time.
H.31 CURRICULUM
H.32 ASSESSMENT
H.32.1 Assessment is governed by Rule A.5 as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1.
H.32.2 Unless the Faculty Board otherwise decides, a student, in respect of modules enrolled for at this University, must:
H.32.2.1 submit at least one research essay of approximately five thousand words for every module or equivalent form of assessment of the student’s research ability (which shall be submitted for assessment at least two calendar weeks before the dates scheduled for the examination referred to in Rule H.32.2.2), and
H.32.2.2 sit for an examination or final assessment in each module, the format of which shall be determined by the relevant academic department.
H.33 PROGRESSION RULES
H.33.1 Full-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a full-time student shall complete the programme in one year. A student who has passed at least 90 credits may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.33.2 Part-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a part-time student shall complete the programme in two consecutive years and accumulate at least 60 credits in the first year in order to proceed with his/her studies. A student who has accumulated 90 credits within two years may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.34 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
Renewal of registration shall be governed by Rule A.4.1, as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1 or as provided for in the Faculty rules.
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a student shall be required to meet the following criteria to be enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law – PGDip (Public Law):
An applicant must be in possession of a qualification at NQF Level 7 or have obtained a qualification that in the opinion of the Senate is of an equivalent standard (See also Rule A.2.1.4).
Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the University’s RPL policy (Rule A.2) in terms of the criteria stipulated by Senate.
H.36 SELECTION
Final selection shall be based on an applicant meeting the criteria as determined by the Faculty.
H.37 DURATION
Unless Senate decides otherwise the duration of the programme shall be one year full-time or two years part-time.
H.38 CURRICULUM
H.39 ASSESSMENT
H.39.1 Assessment is governed by Rule A.5 as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1.
H.39.2 Unless the Faculty Board otherwise decides, a student, in respect of modules enrolled for at this University, must:
H.39.2.1 participate in a variety of formative assessments, including assignments, presentations, and tests, will be used. Feedback will be given to students on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the progress they are making,
H.39.2.2 sit for an examination or final assessment in each module, the format of which shall be determined by the relevant academic department.
H.39.2.3 An integrated assessment approach is envisaged in terms of which both the theoretical knowledge of students and their acquired skills will be assessed by way of tests, exams, practical assignments, case studies, and portfolios.
H.40 PROGRESSION RULES
H.40.1 Full-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a full-time student shall complete the programme in one year. A student who has passed at least 60 credits may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.40.2 Part-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a part-time student shall complete the programme in two consecutive years and accumulate at least 30 credits in the first year in order to proceed with his/her studies. A student who has accumulated 90 credits within two years may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.41 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
Renewal of registration shall be governed by Rule A.4.1, as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1 or as provided for in the Faculty rules.
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a student shall be required to meet the following criteria to be enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law – PGDip (Labour Law):
An applicant must be in possession of a Bachelor of Laws degree obtained from a South African University or have obtained another qualification which in the opinion of the Senate is of an equivalent standard (See also Rule A.2.1.4).
H.29 SELECTION
Final selection shall be based on an applicant meeting the criteria as determined by the Faculty.
H.30 DURATION
Unless Senate decides otherwise the duration of the programme shall be one year full-time or two years part-time.
H.31 CURRICULUM
| Module Name | Alpha Code | Cred |
| Labour Law in Context 711 | PGL711 | 30 |
| The Right to Fair Labour Practices 712 | PGL712 | 30 |
| Labour Dispute Resolution 721 | PGL721 | 30 |
| Advanced Dispute Resolution Procedure 722 | PGL722 | 30 |
| FINAL TOTAL | 120 |
H.32 ASSESSMENT
H.32.1 Assessment is governed by Rule A.5 as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1.
H.32.2 Unless the Faculty Board otherwise decides, a student, in respect of modules enrolled for at this University, must:
H.32.2.1 submit at least one research essay of approximately five thousand words for every module or equivalent form of assessment of the student’s research ability (which shall be submitted for assessment at least two calendar weeks before the dates scheduled for the examination referred to in Rule H.32.2.2), and
H.32.2.2 sit for an examination or final assessment in each module, the format of which shall be determined by the relevant academic department.
H.33 PROGRESSION RULES
H.33.1 Full-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a full-time student shall complete the programme in one year. A student who has passed at least 90 credits may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.33.2 Part-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a part-time student shall complete the programme in two consecutive years and accumulate at least 60 credits in the first year in order to proceed with his/her studies. A student who has accumulated 90 credits within two years may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.34 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
Renewal of registration shall be governed by Rule A.4.1, as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1 or as provided for in the Faculty rules.
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC LAW (7711)
H.35 ADMISSIONUnless Senate decides otherwise, a student shall be required to meet the following criteria to be enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law – PGDip (Public Law):
An applicant must be in possession of a qualification at NQF Level 7 or have obtained a qualification that in the opinion of the Senate is of an equivalent standard (See also Rule A.2.1.4).
Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the University’s RPL policy (Rule A.2) in terms of the criteria stipulated by Senate.
H.36 SELECTION
Final selection shall be based on an applicant meeting the criteria as determined by the Faculty.
H.37 DURATION
Unless Senate decides otherwise the duration of the programme shall be one year full-time or two years part-time.
H.38 CURRICULUM
| Module Name | Alpha Code | Cred |
| Administrative Law 711 | ADL711 | 30 |
| Constitutional Law 713 | CLL713 | 30 |
| Local Government 712 | LGL712 | 30 |
| Multi-level Governance 714 | MLG714 | 30 |
| FINAL TOTAL | 120 |
H.39 ASSESSMENT
H.39.1 Assessment is governed by Rule A.5 as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1.
H.39.2 Unless the Faculty Board otherwise decides, a student, in respect of modules enrolled for at this University, must:
H.39.2.1 participate in a variety of formative assessments, including assignments, presentations, and tests, will be used. Feedback will be given to students on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the progress they are making,
H.39.2.2 sit for an examination or final assessment in each module, the format of which shall be determined by the relevant academic department.
H.39.2.3 An integrated assessment approach is envisaged in terms of which both the theoretical knowledge of students and their acquired skills will be assessed by way of tests, exams, practical assignments, case studies, and portfolios.
H.40 PROGRESSION RULES
H.40.1 Full-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a full-time student shall complete the programme in one year. A student who has passed at least 60 credits may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.40.2 Part-time
Unless Senate decides otherwise, a part-time student shall complete the programme in two consecutive years and accumulate at least 30 credits in the first year in order to proceed with his/her studies. A student who has accumulated 90 credits within two years may be allowed to proceed with his/her studies to complete the programme in the following year.
H.41 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
Renewal of registration shall be governed by Rule A.4.1, as stipulated in the University Calendar: General Information Part 1 or as provided for in the Faculty rules.
Postgraduate applicants are reminded to complete the online application form and submit all required documents
APPLY HERE FOR GENERAL PG APPLICATIONS
APPLY FOR POSSIBLE BURSARY HERE
APPLY HERE FOR GENERAL PG APPLICATIONS
APPLY FOR POSSIBLE BURSARY HERE
Law Postgraduate Enquiries:
lawpostgradenq@uwc.ac.za
Ms Yolisa Velebayi:
yvelebayi@uwc.ac.za
Ms Lauren Loubser:
lloubser@uwc.ac.za
Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law & Advanced Diploma in Labour Law:
The Social Law project - lschuller@uwc.ac.za
Posted on
15 October 2024
Author
Office of the Dean of Law
Departments
African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice
Centre for Legal Integration in Africa
Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work
Department of Criminal Justice & Procedure
Department of Mercantile and Labour Law
Department of Private Law
Department of Public Law and Jurisprudence
Dullah Omar Institute for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights
Faculty of Law
Global Environmental Law Centre
Keywords
2025
Applications
Faculty of Law
Postgraduate
UWC
