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:
 
  • 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:
 
  • 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
  • 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.

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Corporate Law

The Faculty is offering an exciting, rich and brand new LLM specialisation in Corporate Law! This LLM/MPhil specialisation will initially consist of three modules which represent our contribution to the knowledge economy and our response to contemporary topical aspects of the law and industry needs. The modules on offer will cover a wide range of issues from corporate governance, corporate financial regulation, corporate insolvency and the regulation of mergers and acquisitions. 

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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 new modules, Constitutional Property Law and Land Reform and Housing Law. These new modules reflect on multiple areas of law, including property law, human rights law, constitutional law, and administrative law.

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Legal Pluralism

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.

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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.

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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 30 September 2023:    
       
  • 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, 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 2023

 

Download Brochure


 

Other postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Law
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law
  • Advanced Diploma in Labour 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 enroled 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 ADMISSION
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
 
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 by no later than 30 September 2023

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