International Cyber Law and Policy (LLM by Research)

About the Course

Interaction in cyberspace and telecommunications plays an increasingly significant role in the practice of everyday life be it commercial, cultural, political, criminal, creative or personal activities. The School of Law has responded to this by offering a course that seeks to provide students with the opportunity to develop a research and ethical focused approach to the study of the regulation, the regulatory challenges, policing of cyberspace, and current and emergent telecommunications technologies. It will provide students with the opportunity to investigate topics such as regulatory and governance theory, cyber property and cyber-rights, the place of Cyber Law, the policy and legal frameworks and modalities of regulation of technologies in cyberspace, alternative regulatory models, internet governance, cyber rights, cybercrime, emergent technologies, critical legal and political questions surrounding the implications of the use of technology, digital information devices, the influence of social norms, values and interests on the regulatory design of cyberspace regulation of Artificial Intelligence and the rules regarding Cybersecurity.

At its core, the programme will provide postgraduate students with the opportunity to first develop a research focused, advanced, and evaluative understanding of the national and international regulatory and policy frameworks governing and shaping cyberspace and how to design and undertake advanced legal research by completing three taught courses and then go on to complete a significant research project on an aspect of cyber regulation and policy.

Why choose Liverpool Hope?

The LLM by Research in International Cyber Law and Policy adds value to first degrees by giving students the change to develop knowledge, skills and expertise integral to practicing or working in these areas. Students will be able to draw on the wide areas of academic scholarship and expertise brought to the course by well-published and experienced academics.

Curriculum Overview

The LLM by Research in International Cyber Law and Policy programme comprises three compulsory taught modules: Three 20-credit taught modules (Telecommunications Law, Cyber Law & Policy and Advanced Legal Research Methods) and a compulsory 120-credit research dissertation adding up to 180 credits. Assessment methods may include coursework in the form of essays, class presentations and research dissertation.

Modules

During the programme you will study

Telecommunications Law (20 credits – compulsory)

This module is designed to provide students with a thorough and advanced grounding in the rules that govern EU telecommunications networks and service providers. Students will critically evaluate the purpose and implementation of telecommunications regulation, the technological drivers, the liberalisation of telecommunications networks and services in Europe and the regulation of trade in telecommunications networks and services. While the main focus of the module will be EU and UK legal frameworks, it will also examine selected aspects of US telecommunications law and the roles of the International Telecommunications Union and the World Trade Organisation. 

Cyber Law and Policy (20 credits – compulsory)

This module will explore the major challenges, both theoretical and practical, faced by policy makers and lawmakers in regulating cyberspace. It examines the extent to which traditional legal rules, predicated on the dual foundations of physicality of goods and persons and jurisdictional boundaries, have been, or need to be re-framed in order to be extended effectively to cyberspace. The module evaluates the extent to which the regulation of cyberspace requires entirely new and innovative ways of designing and enforcing laws that can be applied in the digital environment as well as the regulation of Artificial Intelligence and the rules regarding Cybersecurity.

Advanced Legal Research Methods (20 credits – compulsory)

The module offers advanced research methods training for students wishing to pursue masters level research in Law. The module will use case study based teaching to give students appropriate training in research design for advanced research projects in Law. Students will be guided in accessing legal resources, research design, devising research questions, writing literature reviews, research methodologies, conducting quantitative and qualitative legal research, developing skills in academic writing, and delivering oral presentations. Research ethics will also be considered.

Research Dissertation (120 credits – compulsory)

The 30,000-word Dissertation (excluding bibliography and footnotes) represents the culmination of the critical engagement with the subject area of international cyber law and policy. It enables students to study and research a relevant topic in considerable depth, make appropriate methodological choices with which to answer research questions, and work with their supervisor to plan, organise, conduct and write-up an in-depth research project. By completing a dissertation, students will demonstrate an advanced, critical and comprehensive knowledge of a chosen aspect of the subject area, present logical

Entry Requirements

A minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Law) awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification, or equivalent professional experience

International Entry Requirements

Possess a degree from an overseas institution that is judged by the Registrar or Nominee to be equivalent to an upper second class honours degree from a UK University.

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this also we accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

Due consideration will be given to applications from outside the UK with the possibility of Distance Learning

Teaching and Research

The School of Law’s academic provision is led by well-respected cutting-edge legal scholars, committed to supporting our students, our academics have internationally recognised research profiles in the fields of Global Business & Human Rights, World Trade Law, International Law, Telecommunications & Cyber Law, Media Law and European Union Law. The School’s teaching is research and practitioner informed with an approach that is inspired by the communitarian and ethical values of the University.

The LLM by Research in International Cyber Law and Policy has been designed to enhance the employment and career potential and prospects of those who successfully complete the course. It is designed to develop the expertise and legal problem solving skills and capacities of students enrolled on the course. 

Teaching is in line with the wider University Learning and Teaching strategy and encourages learning in small groups to foster the development of academic potential and improve the working dynamic between students and members of staff.

Teaching and learning of the taught components of the course during the first term of study (October to December) will essentially be online to afford students maximum learning-time flexibility. Thus, all lectures will be posted online for asynchronous access by students. Weekly 1-2 hour seminars will also be delivered online.

The course will also entail a number of  learning consolidation workshops that may be held face-to face on campus at Hope Park or if more appropriate given student and staff preferences, online. The weekly learning contact time during the taught phase of the programme will require approximately 5-6 contact hours per week. Research supervisory sessions will be held online or face-to face depending on student and staff availability and need following the completion of the taught modules.

UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees

2024/25 

Tuition fees for Home students are £7,500

2025/26

Tuition fees for Home students are £7,750

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.

EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees

2024/25 

Tuition fees for EU students are £7,500

Tuition fees for Non-EU International Students are £15,000

2025/26

Tuition fees for EU/Non-EU International students for 2025/26 are £15,250

Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

Careers

This course will be of particular interest to law graduates with an interest in practice in these areas of the law, social science graduates with the ambition of employment in the cyberspace related industries, or individuals already employed in those industries or members of law enforcement organisations wanting to develop their expertise of the regulation of cyberspace and connected technologies.

The course is designed for individuals who are interested in the regulation of cyberspace and interconnected telecommunication technologies and in developing a greater critical and analytical understanding and solving many of the regulatory and law enforcement challenges the cyberspace interactions generates.