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Queen's University Belfast

Law - JD Juris Doctor

Overview
The Juris Doctor (JD) programme is a Professional Doctorate, which is a partly taught and partly research-based doctoral programme and is designed to provide our students with a world-class legal education, preparing them for the global and international environments in which they will be providing legal advice.

This three-year programme delivers a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) to graduates from a discipline other than Law which will provide them with the necessary professional exemptions to allow them to apply for the professional stage in England and Wales and those further jurisdictions which allow for application on the basis on an English Law degree (eg North America and elsewhere).

Why Queen's?
Students have the opportunity to apply to study at another university, from a selection of international study abroad partners with which the Queen's Law School has an agreement, during the first semester of their third year.

Students holding a Tier 4 Student Visa will be eligible to apply for the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme in order to remain in the UK for one year after completing their studies.

Entry requirements

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

International Qualifications
For information on international qualification equivalents please select Your Country from the list on our International Students website.

Additional Information for International Students
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their studies. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.
*taken within the last 2 years

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this programme, our partner INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability to entry to this programme.

For additional information, please visit our website.
English for University Study - an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level.
Pre-sessional English - a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Duration

3 years full-time.

Careers or further progression

Graduates will hold a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) which provides the necessary professional exemptions to allow holders to apply for the professional stage in several jurisdictions.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Further enquiries

Ms Heather Kinning
School of Law
Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 3458
Email: JD-enquiries@qub.ac.uk
WWW: http://www.law.qub.ac.uk

Subjects taught

The JD is taught at Doctoral level and includes multiple research-focused activities. In addition to the compulsory taught modules, students are required to complete a research portfolio and a dissertation. The JD is taught via intensive, small-group teaching, with each student expected to participate fully in each module. Other forms of delivery will occasionally be used, including seminar questions prepared in advance of the class, group and independent work in class, and short lectures to aid students' understanding and knowledge of the subject matter.

Modules include:
Year 1
Contract Law
Legal Methods and Skills
Property Law
Tort Law

Year 2
Constitutional and Administrative Law
Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts
European Law
Research Design
Research Methodologies

Year 3
Dissertation (30,000 words)

In addition, students choose taught modules from the wide selection of existing postgraduate modules in the School.

Comment

Learning and Teaching
The JD is taught via intensive, small-group teaching, with each student expected to participate fully in each module. Other forms of delivery will occasionally be used, including seminar questions prepared in advance of the class, group and independent work in class, and short lectures to aid students' understanding and knowledge of the subject matter.

Assessment method

Modules are assessed via written assignments and these may be in the form of a term paper, case comment, research essay, reflective portfolio, journal articles, or drafting/interpretation exercise. Oral performance in the seminars may also be assessed by way of an individual presentation in class along with a viva in the third year.

Application date

Postgraduate Taught
In general, there are no closing dates for the majority of courses (those with closing dates will be highlighted in the Course Finder). However we advise you to apply as early as possible, particularly for those courses where there is a high demand for places. Early application is also important for international applicants to allow sufficient time to obtain a student entry visa.

Postgraduate Research
There is no standard closing date. You should however check both the Universitys website and refer to the relevant School/Institute webpage for information on deadline dates for postgraduate funding applications, as these will also determine when your application for admission should be submitted.