GENERAL SIR JOHN KOTELAWALA DEFENCE UNIVERSITY (MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTHUNIVERSITIESAND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES) CURRICULUM MASTER OF LAWS (LLM) General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), established under the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy Act No: 68 of 1981 and subsequent amendments is a UGC approved Degree awarding Defence University in Sri Lanka. 1
INTRODUCTION MASTER OF LAWS 1. The KDU Master of Laws offers an outstanding postgraduate degree programme for law graduates and attorneys. It covers the subject areas of legal specialization which focus on contemporary legal issues in combination with the latest legal professional expertise and academic excellence. 2. The breadth of the programme gives students an opportunity to harness their legal knowledge and skills, and enhance the career prospects for the purpose of attaining their personal and professional goals. A limited number of students will be admitted so as to facilitate interaction with and contribution from all participants. 3. The program's teaching staff brings together the best legal minds in Sri Lanka which includes leading academics, practitioners and industry professionals with special expertise, as well as visiting international scholars. Students will benefit from a rich educational environment while intermingling with professionals from many backgrounds and industries and building the specialized expertise and experience needed to gain a cutting professional edge. OBJECTIVES 4. Provide you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of different fields of Law and the skills required in practice. 5. Enhance your perceptions on the international dimensions of the different fields of Law. 6. Develop your capacity to understand, critically assess and provide practical solutions to the type of problems commonly encountered in the practice of Law. 7. Inculcate you with knowledge, understanding and skills at postgraduate level deemed appropriate to careers involving International Law or areas which it has relevance. 8. Provide the foundation for progression to PhD level study. AIM 9. The programme provides a broad education in Law and in postgraduate legal research. It is designed for those with a personal or professional interest in Law and will be suitable for study by both law graduates and attorneys. The course would develop key postgraduate legal skills and knowledge with specialization in a specific area of Law. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 10. Candidates are required to earn 60 credits within two years to be qualified to obtain Master of Laws or to complete the academic requirements of the first year to obtain the Postgraduate Diploma in Law. The programme includes six (06) mandatory subject modules and 2
four (04) optional subject modules. A credit is defined as having 15 hours of interactive class room sessions or 30 to 45 hours of practicals and other time work including assignments. The medium of instructions will be English. 11. A take home assignment of 3000 words on a research question from all subject modules will be given. 12 The duration of the Master of Laws will be two years and classes will be conducted on every other weekend other than public holidays. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES AND EXPECTATIONS 13. The programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes as follows: FOR WHOM a. Knowledge and understanding of your chosen area of speciality, augmented by current practice, scholarship and research. b. Critical analysis of current issues and developments in your chosen area of speciality. c. Application of research findings to practical and hypothetical situations. d. Utilization of a range of techniques and research methodology. e. Undertaking critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of novel and complex ideas. f. Making decisions in complex and challenging situations. g. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and resolving complicated legal problems. 14. Legal Officers of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the Police, Legal Officers of the Public and Private sector and independent practitioners. 15. A candidate shall normally possess any of the following qualifications and illustrate that she/he is competent to undertake postgraduate works. a. A Bachelor's Degree in Law or b. Attorney-at- law with 2 years active practice or 3
c. Equivalent qualification from an institution approved by the KDU of comparable academic status. 16. In addition to the above academic requirements, an applicant must possess one of the following English language qualifications; a A minimum overall TOEFL Score of 580 (paper based) or 237 (computer based) or 92 (Internet based) or; b. A minimum IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or; c. A minimum score of 580 in Multimedia University's English Language Proficiency Test or, d. Any other qualification of equivalent level acceptable to the Faculty of Law, KDU. COURSE DELIVERY PLAN 17. The Programme contains 13 subject modules. Any candidate intending to terminate the programme with the Postgraduate Diploma Qualification is required to complete minimum 30 credits with the year one compulsory subjects and one (01) subject out of two (02) Optional Subjects A and B modules. Those who progress for masters degree required to complete one each from Optional Subjects A and B modules additional to compulsory subjects. Course Code Master of Laws Curriculum Year 1 Semester 1 Information & Communication Technology (Cyber) 4 GPA Credits LLM 1015 Constitutional Law 04 LLM 1025 Administrative Law 04 LLM 1035 Research Methodology 04 LLM 1042 Information Technology 02 Year 1 Semester II LLM 2055 International Law 04 LLM 2065 Human Rights Law 04 Optional Subjects - A LLM 2075 Domestic Criminal Justice System 04 LLM 2085 International Criminal Justice System 04 LLM 3095 Year II Semester I 04
LLM 3104 Law Soft Skill Development Optional Subjects - B LLM 3113 Military Law 03 LLM 3123 Security Law 03 Year II Semester II LLM 4134 International Trade Law 04 LLM 4143 International Arbitration Law 04 LLMR Dissertation 18 02 Total Credits 61 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA a. Continues Assessment (Assignments/ Presentation) - 30% b. Written Examination - 60% Total - 100% HOW TO APPLY 18. Legal officers of the Tri Servicers and Police should apply through the respective Service Commanders Inspector General of police and public and private sector personnel through the respective heads of the departments. The application should be addressed to the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana. COURSE FEES a. Registration Fees for 3 years Initial registration periods - Rs 4000.00 (Police/Military/MOD Officers) - Rs 5000.00 (Public/Private Sector Candidates) b. Library Fees - Rs 2000.00 c. Refundable Library Fees - Rs 4000.00 d. Refundable Mess Deposit - Rs 2000.00 e. Tuition Fees - Rs 215,000.00 (Military/Police/MOD Officers) - Rs.250, 000.00 (Public/Private Sector Candidates) f. Registration Renewal Fee - 1 st Year after intial registration Rs. 12,500.00 2 nd Year after intial registration period Rs. 25000.00 Continuation to another additional year under any circumstances- Rs. 100,000.00 g. Re Exam Fee for a Semester - Rs. 2500.00 h. Re Exam Fee for a Subject - Rs. 1000.00 5
PROSPECTS 19. Officers of the Tri forces will be benefited with the successful completion of a Master of Laws degree at KDU in following ways, a. Master of Laws qualification from KDU will enable those who employed in various appointments in the discipline to perform with confidence. b. Master of Laws qualification from the KDU will be motivating factors for them to carry out their further studies towards Mpill/PhDs in the same discipline. c. Above will enable them to become qualified officers with better carrier opportunities after retirement. Closing date to submit the applications 31 st December 2017 6