Legal and Constitutional Studies (PGDip/MLitt) 2021 entry
The MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies is an interdisciplinary programme in which students can construct an individually tailored degree with a primary focus in legal history or international law, or they can pursue an integrated, interdisciplinary, degree.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (PGDip/MLitt)
Course dates
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year full time or two years part time
Entry requirements
- A good 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject-related area. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £9,900
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
Wednesday 11 August 2021. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- a personal statement
- a sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies is an interdisciplinary programme run jointly by the Schools of History and International Relations.
Highlights
- Students have the opportunity to work on an individual and small-group basis with internationally leading scholars in the fields of legal, constitutional and historical research.
- The flexible nature of the programme makes it suitable both for those wishing to go on to doctoral research and for those wishing only to take a year’s specialist study.
- The compulsory modules equip students with knowledge of different theoretical approaches to law, legal history and constitutionalism, using the past to interrogate and investigate current issues and controversies.
Teaching format
Over two semesters, students take four modules taught through a range of group seminars, workshops, one-to-one discussions and supervised independent research projects.
The specialist modules are designed to be flexible enough to enable students to choose their own areas of in-depth study and include individually tailored research training and guidance.
Module assessment comprises coursework; there are no final exams for this programme.
MLitt students will research and write a 15,000-word dissertation as their final assessment piece.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2020–2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
In the first semester, you will take the following compulsory module:
- The Idea of Law: introduces fundamental concepts, questions and analytical frameworks relevant to legal, historical and constitutional research.
You will also take one module from the two listed below. These modules may be subject to a maximum number of participants (students will be asked to indicate their first and second choices):
- Approaches to Legal History: a grounding in particularly influential authors and works on the history of law.
- Approaches to International Law: underlying philosophical issues arising from the nature and practice of international law.
In the second semester, you will take the following compulsory modules:
- Comparative Studies in Legal and Constitutional Research: a forum for students to develop, present and write on a particular field or topic, drawing on methodological ideas from Semester 1 modules.
- Special Topic in Legal and Constitutional Studies: provides students with the opportunity for detailed research and tuition within a specialised field of their choice. Choices offered may include modules on Comparative Studies in Legal History or on Global Constitutionalism or an individually supervised directed reading topic.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
The Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research at St Andrews hosts a number of reading groups, seminars and lectures, including visiting speakers and cross-discipline presentations, on legal and constitutional research and ideas.
Funding
ILCR MLitt scholarship
The Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research (ILCR) intends to offer MLitt scholarships on the basis of academic merit for students applying for the MLitt in Legal and Constitutional Studies.
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
After the MLitt
Research degrees
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews.
Careers
Legal and Constitutional Studies is designed to prepare students for work beyond the MLitt, such as:
- doctoral research within the field
- study for a law degree
- employment in areas more broadly related to law, legal history, global constitutionalism and international relations.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Contact
Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research
School of History
University of St Andrews
71 South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9QW
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2900
Email: ilcrsta@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.