LLM Medical Law, Ethics and Practice

Learn how to analyse, interpret and apply the laws regulating the provision of healthcare with a particular regard to ethical perspectives.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Overview

Please note that we are not accepting applications for September 2024 entry to this course.

The course is aimed at healthcare professionals directly responsible for patient care, particularly those caring for psychiatric patients and clinicians engaged in medical research. It is also suitable for NHS Trust staff concerned with clinical governance, risk management or resourcing decisions.

This course is designed to help you identify and manage the issues you encounter in the modern workplace. Our targeted medical law and ethics modules will focus on developing and applying your practical skills, analysis, evaluation and application of the specialised legal subject matter, culminating in a final assessment. Delivery is by lectures and seminars, guided learning, independent learning, problem-based learning and resource-based learning approaches.

Key features

You will be taught by legal experts who have a wealth of experience. These will include barristers, solicitors, professors and practitioners from the international legal arena.
The programme covers real-world ethical issues including euthanasia, abortion, mental health, medical negligence, patient safety and Coroner’s law.
You can expand your knowledge of the law in dedicated learning spaces, including access to a crown court – a site of trials since the Middle Ages, a training courtroom and a simulated Judge's Chambers suite. In addition, the university's Hugh Aston Building has a dedicated law library exclusively for law students, allowing you to practise scenario-based learning.
You will develop and apply values, skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable them to contribute to the development of a just, peaceful and sustainable world.

Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Scholarships:

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International Scholarships

Find out about available scholarships and country specific fee discounts for international students.

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

UK
EU/International

Programme code: M20089

Start date: TBC

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding:
For 2024/25 tuition fees for UK students will be £10,450

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Programme code: M20089

Start date: TBC

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding:
For 2024/25 tuition fees for international students will be £17,950

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Applicants are expected to have background knowledge of law or a discipline related to the LLM (usually an undergraduate degree or professional qualifications). Applicants will normally hold a degree with a minimum pass of 2:2, or equivalent overseas qualification, or an equivalent professional qualification. A degree in law is preferred but is not essential.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

Block 1: Medical Negligence Regulation and Practice
Block 2: Mental Health, Consent and the Incapacitated Patient
Block 3: Creation and Termination of Life
Block 4: Expert Evidence and Coroner’s Law
Block 5: Dissertation

See detailed module descriptions

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, guest lectures and PC labs.

Assessment is through assignments, essays, exams, and projects. Some assessment opportunities will have additional support via groupwork, such as simulations and case studies; and students have access to a personal tutor for mentoring and signposting for additional needs.

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course. Most of our courses consist of approximately 2 hours of lectures, 6 hours of workshop and 2 hours of asynchronous activity each week. However, this may differ depending on the course and module choice.

Facilities and features

Hugh Aston Building

You will have access to our purpose-built Hugh Aston Building, equipped with lecture theatres and classrooms, break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work and IT labs. Wherever possible, students will be given home access to specialist software.

You’ll also have access to the building’s new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space. This is designed to facilitate your learning experience with large and airy breakout spaces, a new Student Advice Centre, and a balcony on the top floor. The Yard also features more comfortable classrooms and self-study spaces, allowing you to carry out independent study as well as group work.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Graduate careers

The LLM Medical Law, Ethics and Practice will open up a wide range of career opportunities as you develop a broad base of skills that are in great demand with global employers.

Take your next steps

Postgraduate research students are nurtured and recognised by scholars and research leaders.