Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice, MA

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Facilitating international cooperation and addressing urgent challenges

Key Course Details

UK/EU
International

MA 1 Years Full Time

- Mode of Study Campus Based
- Start Date October
- Typical Offer (view equivalents) 1:1
- Location Singleton Park Campus
- Tuition Fees Per Year £ 16,000

MA 1 Years Full Time

- Mode of Study Campus Based
- Start Date October
- Typical Offer 1:1 - More Information
- Location Singleton Park Campus
- Tuition Fees Per Year £ 16,000

Course Overview

The Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Programme aims to facilitate international cooperation to address urgent national and transnational challenges, including:

Environmental law, with particular reference on the impact on women and children;
Human rights and international criminal law;
Children’s rights and protecting children online, and
Terrorism, radicalisation and cyber security.

In partnership with Sky, this graduate scholarship initiative will develop the next generation of outstanding, forward-looking and real-world focussed leaders in legal scholarship, activism and practice.

If you are accepted onto this master’s programme, you will receive a scholarship which covers the full tuition fee as well as a stipend of c.£15,000 to contribute towards your living costs.

Applications close on July 24th 2019.

Why Global Challenges at Swansea?

As a postgraduate student at the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, you will be part of a globally recognised law school, with a thriving academic environment committed to excellence in teaching and research, and offering an exceptional student experience.

The School has an international reputation for research, education and experiential learning that equips students, staff and partners with the skills and experiences to understand the changing legal landscape, and to confront societal challenges.

The School’s productive international collaborations with academic, commercial and public sector organisations support its ambition to be at the forefront of education in law and criminology, recognised as much for its capacity to influence policy and debate as for the quality of the education it provides.

In addition to leading expertise in human rights, environmental law, international criminal justice, and commercial law, the School is home to:

The Observatory on Human Rights of Children, which works to embed children’s human rights at every stage of decision-making on matters that affect them. The Observatory’s research influenced Wales’ child rights laws, which have gained international recognition;
The Cyber Threats Research Centre, which leads the UK in research into terrorist use of social media. Through the law school, Swansea is the only UK university to be part of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism research network and is the only UK member of Europol’s steering committee on online terrorist propaganda;
The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, the largest specialist research centre of its kind in Europe.

Your Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice Experience

Scholars will demonstrate academic excellence alongside a creative, action-oriented approach to collaboration and partnership working. They will follow a one-year master’s degree in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice that will equip them with:

A strong awareness of contemporary global challenges in a rights-based framework;
An understanding of the role of law and policy in addressing national and transnational challenges;
The skills to undertake effective research, and develop creative practical solutions, and
Experience of advocating and engaging with stakeholders to facilitate law and policy reform.

Alongside their degree programme, scholars will benefit from a complementary range of additional activities, designed to further develop their skills and experience, and enhance their employability.

These will include mentorship by researchers and practitioners, bespoke media training, a series of workshops and seminars delivered by leading experts, and opportunities to visit relevant international institutions.

Employment Opportunities

The programme is designed to significantly enhance the employability of students, enabling them to develop skills that will equip them for work across a range of sectors. The programme will support the development and ambitions of students intending to continue or undertake a career in:

The public sector, including government at all levels: global challenges are a key responsibility of government. Graduates will gain the knowledge and skills applicable to law and policy development, programmatic action, the conduct of government through regulation and budgeting, and the arrangement and provision of public services. Potential careers include: civil service, regional, national and sub-national government, local authorities and other public bodies, and political and policy advice work.
International and regional institutions: international and regional institutions are seeking to support, monitor and influence state policy and social arrangements in relation to areas of global challenge. Graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to advocacy in these areas, as well as technical arrangement of, for example, state programmes. Potential careers include: the United Nations, Council of Europe, and other regional institutions.
The private sector: global challenges are increasingly the concern of the private sector in the realm of socially responsible capitalism. Major international organisations such as the World Bank are placing human rights and climate change at the centre of their business. Graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to the human rights concerns of business globally and at a state or sub-state level. Potential careers include: global business; the business sector (from large scale business such as the banking sector, to smaller concerns seeking to appeal to ethical consumers).
The NGO sector: non-governmental agencies are well-established stakeholders in addressing global challenges. Policy advocacy and lobbying, campaigns, and on the ground intervention are all facets of the NGO sector globally, nationally and locally. Graduates will be equipped with knowledge and skills applicable to the breadth of work undertaken by the NGO sector in addressing global challenges. Potential careers include: international NGOs (e.g. UNICEF and Greenpeace); national or local NGOs.
Research and academia: research on global challenges is a major concern, and is likely to increase in significance for funding priorities. Graduates will have well-developed research skills. In addition to the potential to continue to study at PhD level, graduates will gain knowledge and skills applicable to teaching and research in the field. Potential careers include: policy ‘think- tanks’; and, HEIs.

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Entry Requirements

Candidates will hold a first class degree in law, or a related discipline, with strong overall and individual module performance. Exceptional candidates with a good upper second class degree who can demonstrate relevant work experience may also be considered.

In support of their application, candidates are also asked to provide a two-page CV and a cover letter setting out what they hope to gain from the programme and how they will contribute to it. Applicants should also identify and justify the global challenge area they would like to work on.

If neither English nor Welsh is your first language you will need an acceptable pass in an approved English language qualification such as the IELTS test (with an overall score of at least 7.0 and a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

How You're Taught

The programme will provide students with a grounding in research and advocacy skills, along with academic expertise in specific fields where there are recognised global challenges.

The programme will consist of a range of compulsory and optional modules, followed by a research project.

A placement with a relevant organisation is central to the degree programme, and will enable students to gain practical research and advocacy experience, and to directly contribute to bringing about transformative change to law and policy during their studies. Students will be supervised by academics who are actively contributing to innovative research in their fields, and who are ideally placed to provide ongoing guidance and support.

The programme will be assessed using a range of innovative and practically focussed assessment methods, designed to develop the skills needed by graduates to succeed in their future careers.

In addition to the placement, there are a number of opportunities for experiential learning incorporated into the programme, including:

Guest lectures, within the delivery of modules, and as additional learning;
Exploitation of established networks to support workplace learning through additional voluntary work placements and/or collaborative research projects;
Additional (extracurricular) training in relevant skills such as media training;
Engagement with Swansea University ‘whole mission’ projects focussed on practical implementation and impact from research. Examples include the Cyber Threats Research Centre, the Observatory on Human Rights of Children and the Student Sex Work Project.

Welsh Provision

If you are a Welsh speaker our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and every effort will be made to mark your work in its original language.
A Welsh-speaking personal tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our *TEF data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Meet Your Lecturers

Our postgraduate degrees give you the opportunity to learn from academics who are industry experts, with a wealth of academic and practical experience. The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law is home to a vibrant academic community dedicated to understanding some of society’s most challenging issues.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2019/20 are as follows:

		UK/EU	International
MA	Full Time	£ 16,000	£ 16,000

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

MA in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice

If you are accepted onto this master’s programme, you will receive a scholarship which covers the full tuition fee as well as a stipend of c.£15,000 to contribute towards your living costs.

Find out more about this scholarship opportunity.

Additional Costs

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

Parking and travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Printing and binding
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Careers and Employability Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Employability at the School of Law

The School of Law takes a proactive approach to enhancing graduate employability, with a dedicated Employability and Placements Officer. The School offers a range of local, national and international work placements, professional courses, advice and support to help you develop the skills required to achieve your ambitions. Find out more on our employability webpage.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Support at the School of Law

Each student is assigned an Academic Mentor to help with:

Academic guidance
Personal development planning
Employability advice

The School also has a dedicated Student Information Office who will be able to offer academic assistance throughout your studies.

How to Apply

Please apply through the University’s central application system.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply for postgraduate study pages.

Please provide a 2-page CV and a cover letter setting out what you hope to gain from the programme and how you will contribute to it. Please also identify and justify the “global challenge” area you would like to work on.

Applications close on July 24th 2019.

Additional Information

Contact Details

For further details please contact:

Dr Osian Rees (Programme Director)
Email: solglobal@swansea.ac.uk

General Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 295831
Email: Study

For EU/International Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602600
Email: International

Modules

Scholars will undertake core and optional modules.

Compulsory modules:

Advanced Legal Research - this module will cover fundamental skills such as designing a research project; carrying out a literature review, and choosing appropriate methodologies.
Confronting Global Challenges - incorporates a work placement with a relevant organisation, working on a project related to the Global Challenges priorities.
Transforming Law and Policy – building on their research in the Confronting Global Challenges module, scholars will evaluate avenues for policy change, law reform and accountability.
International Human Rights Law - this module examines the global system for protecting human rights and the challenges it faces. It examines the political, economic and other non-legal considerations that influence the application and development of international human rights law.
Global Challenges Research Project – Scholars will prepare a longer research project on a topic of their own choice related to the Global Challenges programme. Scholars may spend part of their time with an organisation or at an international academic institution, and will produce outputs of a publishable standard that may directly contribute to law and policy development.

Optional Modules

Scholars will also choose two modules from a range of options. Indicative choices include:

Human Rights and the Environment
Human Rights Implementation
Human Rights and Terrorism Online
Street Law
Human Rights, Asylum and Migration
Rights and Accountability: Technology and Law
Online Propaganda and Radicalisation
Crime in Cyberspace
Countering Violent Extremism Online