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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 1 – THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

1. Programme title and designation

LLM International Corporate & Commercial Law

2. Final award

Award Title Credit value

ECTS equivalent

Any special criteria

LLM International Corporate & Commercial Law

180 90 n/a

3. Nested award

Award Title Credit value

ECTS equivalent

Any special criteria

PGDip International Corporate & Commercial Law

120 60 Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credits of Corporate Law and 30 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 120 credits overall) in order to receive the PGDip. (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law)

PGCert International Corporate & Commercial Law

60 30 Students must have completed a minimum of 15 credits of Corporate Law and 15 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 60 credits overall) in order to receive the PGCert. (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law)

4. Exit award

Award Title Credit value

ECTS equivalent

Any special criteria

PGDip International Corporate & Commercial Law

120 60 Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credits of Corporate Law and 30 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 120 credits overall) in order to receive the PGDip. (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law)

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PGCert International Corporate & Commercial Law

60 30 Students must have completed a minimum of 15 credits of Corporate Law and 15 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 60 credits overall) in order to receive the PGCert. (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law)

5. Level in the qualifications framework

7

6. Attendance

Full-time Part-time Distance learning

Mode of attendance

X X Yes

Minimum length of programme

X X 2 years

Maximum length of programme

X X 6 years

7. Awarding institution/body

King’s College London

8. Teaching institution

King’s College London

9. Proposing department

Law

10. Programme organiser and contact Details

Professor Djakhongir Saidov

11. Relevant QAA subject benchmark/ Professional, statutory and regulatory body guidelines

QAA Masters Characteristics have been consulted: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-

guidance/publication/?PubID=2977#.VjIB87fhBaR

12. Date of production of specification

October 2015

13. Date of programme review 2020/21

14. Educational aims of the programme The proposed distance learning (DL) LLM programme in International Corporate and Commercial Law will provide students with an in-depth understanding of and expertise in a number of key areas of corporate and commercial law as well as with skills and analytical tools to enable them to apply, analyse and think critically about these areas of the law. The corporate and commercial worlds and activities today are highly complex, sophisticated and dynamic and are increasingly global in their character. These features of modern corporate and commercial realities similarly reflect the areas of the law governing them. Against this background, the vision underlying the programme is that an ability to understand, analyse, solve problems and practice law in the corporate and commercial environment today demands not only highly specialist knowledge, strong analytical and critical skills but also a truly global perspective, based on the most advanced legal thinking emanating from the experience of major legal systems and international and transnational law regimes. The programme is also based on the view that an understanding of corporate and commercial law is inseparable from an

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understanding of the economic realities. For this reason, the teaching on the programme will be driven by a strong sense of commercial realism and explore linkages, synergies and interactions between the law and the surrounding corporate and commercial contexts. The aims of the LLM International Corporate & Commercial Law are as follows:

To provide students with a thorough understanding of a number of key areas of

corporate and commercial law and an ability to analyse, critically assess the state of

the law in these areas and propose legal reform, where necessary.

To provide students with advanced knowledge of the approaches to governance of

corporate activities, sales, finance, shipping, energy and investment related

transactions, dispute resolution and conflicts of law, taken by the UK law, some other

major domestic legal systems and by the international and transnational commercial

law instruments.

To develop an ability to apply the law to a wide variety of factual settings.

To enable students to gain an advanced understanding of the relationship between

the law and the surrounding commercial and corporate context.

To develop research skills that allow students to identify and use primary and

secondary source materials relating to the modules covered in the programme.

To provide students with critical awareness of current problems and new insights in the modules covered in the programme.

To ensure that students show originality in the application of knowledge.

To enable students to evaluate critically current research and scholarship in the area of law.

To receive the PGDip International Corporate and Commercial Law, Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credits of Corporate Law and 30 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 120 credits overall); (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law). The aims of the PGDip International Corporate & Commercial Law are as follows:

To provide students with an understanding of some key areas of corporate and

commercial law and an ability to analyse, assess the state of the law in these areas

and propose legal reform, where necessary.

To provide students with knowledge of the approaches to governance of corporate

activities, sales, finance, shipping, energy and investment related transactions,

dispute resolution and conflicts of law, taken by the UK law, some other major

domestic legal systems and by the international and transnational commercial law

instruments.

To develop an ability to apply the law to a wide variety of factual settings.

To enable students to gain an understanding of the relationship between the law

and the surrounding commercial and corporate context.

To provide students with critical awareness of current problems and new insights in the modules covered in the programme.

To ensure that students show originality in the application of knowledge.

To enable students to evaluate critically current research and scholarship in the area of law.

To receive the PGCert International Corporate and Commercial Law, students must have completed a minimum of 15 credits of Corporate Law and 15 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 60 credits overall); (see table in section 19 for which modules are Corporate Law and which are Commercial Law). The aims of the PGCert International Corporate & Commercial Law are as follows:

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To provide students with an understanding of some key areas of corporate and

commercial law and an ability to analyse and assess the state of the law in these

areas.

To provide students with knowledge of the approaches to governance of corporate

activities, sales, finance, shipping, energy and investment related transactions,

dispute resolution and conflicts of law, taken by the UK law, some other major

domestic legal systems and by the international and transnational commercial law

instruments.

To develop an ability to apply the law to a variety of factual settings.

To enable students to gain an introductory understanding of the relationship

between the law and the surrounding commercial and corporate context.

To provide students with awareness of current problems and new insights in select modules covered in the programme.

To enable students to evaluate current research and scholarship in the area of law.

15. Educational objectives of the programme/programme outcomes (as relevant to the SEEC Credit Level Descriptors) The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

The programme provides a knowledge and understanding of the following: 1. Systematic and detailed knowledge and understanding of a range of areas within corporate and commercial law from the perspectives of English, European, international and transnational law.

2. Systematic and critical knowledge and understanding of the legal concepts, values, principles and rules that underpin these areas of the law.

3. Critical awareness of current problems in a range of areas of corporate and commercial law, which is informed by the forefront of practice in these areas.

4. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of analytical approaches to the study of corporate and commercial law.

5. Detailed knowledge and understanding of research tools employed in legal studies.

6. Appropriate personal and professional conduct in the context of the discipline.

These are achieved through the following learning/teaching methods and strategies:

Online lectures and self-directed learning activities.

Overview video lectures, designed to provide informative and accessible overview of the weeks learning activities.

URLs highlighting Law’s research that is relevant to the week’s topic may be used (reinforcing the learning objectives). A descriptor, links to key articles and relevant KCL webpages may be provided.

Discussion boards: there will be one discussion-board ‘starter’ questions per week. Discussion board will be asynchronously monitored. Minimum activity in the discussion board will be a summative assessment; posts and discussions will be considered a formative assessment.

Q&A discussion boards will provide an opportunity for students to post questions related to the topic and asynchronous answers will be provided/discussed by both students and educators.

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Assessment:

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) examinations

Discussion board participation

Case studies

Coursework

Open book examination

Formative assessment: practice quizzes and / or essays

Skills and other attributes

Intellectual skills: The programme will provide the following: 1. Identification and solution of legal problems, arising in the context of corporate and commercial law.

2. Systematic and analytically rigorous application of legal rules and principles to a wide range of factual situations.

3. Ability to understand and explain the relationship between the law and the surrounding corporate and commercial context.

4. Critical analysis and interpretation of the state of the law and ability to propose reform, where necessary.

5. Critical evaluation of current methodology and knowledge in the legal areas chosen by the student.

6. Ability to devise a plan and structure for self-directed autonomous study.

These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies:

Extensive reading and self-directed learning guided by appropriate reading lists

Participation in discussion boards

Video lectures

Q and A sessions with teaching fellows

‘Meet the expert’ – one session with the module leader for each module

Assessment:

SAQs

Discussion board participation

Coursework

Case study

Open book examination

Formative: essays or discussion board questions

Practical Skills: 1. Capacity to access, construe and analyse materials from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

2. Ability to use interactive websites and other electronic resources.

3. Ability to formulate and engage with conflicting ideas and legal principles in various areas of corporate and commercial law.

4. Ability to understand and articulate how and why the experience of one jurisdiction, international or transnational legal regime can be important to the experience of another jurisdiction or legal regime.

These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies:

Participation in online discussion boards

Reading and self-directed learning

Assessment:

Participation in online discussion boards

Coursework

Open book examination

SAQs

Formative: essays or discussion board questions

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5. Ability of students to advance their knowledge and understanding of the law. 6. Organisation and planning of self-study.

Generic/transferable skills: 1. Ability to structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.

2. Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, take personal responsibility and show initiative.

3. Ability to use electronic communication technologies for learning and to carry out independent research on specific problems.

4. Collaboration with others to achieve common goals.

5. Ability to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations.

These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies:

Video lectures

Online discussion boards

Reading and self-directed learning

Assessment:

Coursework

Case studies

Open book examinations

SAQs

17. Statement of how the programme has been informed by the relevant subject benchmark statement(s)/professional, statutory and regulatory body guidelines There are currently no benchmark statements on this subject area; however, consideration has been made of the Masters Characteristics (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-

and-guidance/publication/?PubID=2977#.VjIB87fhBaR)

18. In cases of joint honours programmes, please provide a rationale for the particular subject combination, either educational or academic N/A Which is the lead department and/or School?

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19. Programme structure

Please complete the following table and, if appropriate, to include joint, major/minor or other variations Code = code of each module available for the programme Title = title of each module available for the programme, plus its credit level and credit value Status = please indicate whether the module is introductory (I), core (Cr), compulsory (Cp), one or more of however many modules must be passed to progress (CrCp), (P) professional (i.e. module testing skills/competency that has no credit level or value but is a professional body requirement) or optional (O) for each type of programme. For postgraduate programmes use the "single honours" column Pre-requisite/Co-requisite = where appropriate please indicate whether the module is pre-requisite to another module or co-requisite by noting pre or co and the module code that it is pre/co-requisite to. Assessment = please indicate in broad terms the assessment for the module e.g. written examinations, coursework (Note: the availability of optional modules may vary slightly from year to year; the following are the modules available at the commencement of the programme)

Code Title Credit Level

Credit Value

Status (I, Cr, Cp, CrCp, P, O) for each type of module

Pre-requisite/ Co-requisite (Please note the module code)

Assessment

Single Joint Major/ Minor

Single Joint Major/ Minor

Full-time Study

First Year

7FFLP001 Corporate Actors: Powers and Responsibilities

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP002 International and Comparative Oil & Gas Law

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP003 International Commercial Arbitration

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP004 The Corporate Form 7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP005 International Sale of Goods

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP006 Financing of International Trade

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP007 Corporate Finance Law 7 15 Cp Examination

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7FFLP008 Fundamentals of Mergers & Acquisitions

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP009 Transnational Corporate Law & Practice

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP010 Carriage of Goods by Sea 7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP011 Transnational Corporate Restructuring

7 15 Cp Examination

7FFLP012 Transnational Business Law Instruments

7 15 Cp Examination

If a Master’s programme, are level 6 credit levels permitted within the programme? No

Maximum number of credits permitted with a condoned fail (core modules excluded): 30

Are students permitted to take any additional credits, as per regulation A3; 5.9? No

Are students permitted to take a substitute module, as per regulation A3; 5.10? No

Are there are any exceptions to the regulations regarding credits, progression or award requirements? (where relevant the information should also differentiate the particular requirements of pathways within a programme or nested/exit awards) Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credits of Corporate Law and 30 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 120 credits overall) in order to receive the PGDip. Students must have completed a minimum of 15 credits of Corporate Law and 15 credits of Commercial Law modules (and 60 credits overall) in order to receive the PGCert.

MODULE Corporate or commercial

1 Corporate Actors Corporate

2 Oil and Gas Commercial

3 International commercial arbitration Commercial

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4 The Corporate Form and its issues Corporate

5 International Sale of Goods Commercial

6 Financing of International Trade Commercial

7 Corporate Finance Corporate

8 Fundamentals of Mergers and Acquisitions Corporate

9 Transnational Corporate Law and Practice Corporate

10 Carriage of goods by sea Commercial

11 Transnational Corporate Restructuring Corporate

12 Transnational business law instruments Commercial

A suspension of Appendix 2: Criteria for Degrees, 9.2 from A3 Regulations for taught programmes has been approved to allow the programme to be exempt from the research requirement.

Other relevant information to explain the programme structure Please note that new students enrolling on the information provided on this section of the PAF will have these regulations stipulated throughout their programme of study. The only exception to this will be if there are changes made by Professional, Regulatory or Statutory Bodies that are noted to this programme. In order to progress students cannot be carrying more than 15 failed credits (excluding condoned fails). This programme is delivered using a carousel model, which offers students the flexibility and control to tailor their own learning journey at King’s. Individual modules will run over 6/7 week periods with a one or two week break between modules. Students can dictate their own pace by choosing to take modules at their convenience, based on their commitments. For example, they may decide to embark on their first module in May, but not take the second until November. Each 15 credit module will notionally require 150 hours of study time, to include completion of learning activities, required reading, independent study and assessment and students are encouraged to consider this in relation to their commitments before commencing each module. The LLM in International Corporate and Commercial Law comprises of 180 credits in total, divided over twelve modules worth 15 credits each. Students can enrol directly onto the PG Cert or the PG Dip with a view to progressing onto the full LLM having completed those awards.

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20. Marking criteria The marking scheme for this programme will follow the School’s PGT marking criteria

21. Will this Programme report to an existing Board, and if so which one? If a new Programme Board of Examiners is to be set up, please note name of Board here: The programme will report to a newly constituted single tier assessment board.

22. Please confirm that the process for nominating External Examiners has commenced, and if known, note whom the nominated External Examiner(s) may be: Loukas Mistelis will act as the External Examiner for the programme.

23. Measures to help ensure that the programme is inclusive to all students: Anticipatory: The publicity and programme handbook will clearly communicate to students the key skills that will be required during the programme, the content of each module, the intended teaching methods to be used and the module’s status. Flexible: As a distance-learning programme, this degree offers greater flexibility to learners than a face-to-face programme. Arrangements can be made to accommodate students with a disability or another condition that might require special arrangements. Each case is considered individually and a medical certificate is required to put arrangements in place. Furthermore, the programme can be completed at the student’s own pace (subject to our regulations on the maximum period of study). Collaborative: Advice will be taken from the Disability Advisory Service to ensure assessment methods do not unfairly discriminate against students with disabilities. Transparent: Module outlines and published materials specify the assessment methods that will be used. Equitable: The College’s Personalised Examination Provision Committee (PEPC) considers requests for adjustments to assessments to take account of learning and/or physical disabilities. The PEPC will need to be notified in advance about requests for alternative assessment methods.

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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 2 – ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

1. Entry profile

Academic criteria

GCSE

Not considered

AS/A Level

Not considered

Aptitude tests

Not required

English Language Requirements

7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).

Degree

A bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours (or overseas equivalent) in Law or a subject with 70% Law content.

Postgraduate degree

Students may be considered where a comparable academic level has been achieved through other graduate studies, such as a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Professional Qualifications

Not considered

Work Experience Applicants presenting with at least three years legal work experience will be considered.

2. Any additional criteria

Please state here if applications should have any additional criteria, e.g. community activities, scholastic activities, general activities/interests, paid voluntary work, specific employment requirements, noting if the criteria is desirable, very desirable or compulsory.

3. Interviewing policy

Are interviews offered?

No

Are all applicants interviewed?

No

Are all those made an offer interviewed?

No

What form does it take?

No

What is considered at interview?

No

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4. Additional information

Does the programme require occupational health check?

No

Are DBS (Criminal Conviction) checks required for the programme?

No

Are occupational health checks required for the programme?

No

Do students need to apply for an ATAS Certificate (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) to study in the UK?

No

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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 3 – SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Not all of the information in this section will be relevant for all programmes and, for some programmes, this section will not be relevant at all

1. Programme name: LLM International Corporate and Commercial Law

2. Is this programme involved in collaborative activity? Yes No Pearson will be responsible for recruitment and marketing, and will provide pastoral support to students. However, they are not responsible for providing any support that the student will rely upon to demonstrate a specific learning outcome and, as such, this does not fall under section B10 of the QAA code of practice.

3. If the programme is a joint award with an institution outwith the University of London, validated provision or franchised provision, has the necessary approval been sought from College Education Committee? Yes No Not applicable Please attach a copy of Part 1 of the Partner Profile and checklist submitted to the College Education Committee

4. Partnership programme - in cases where parts or all of the programme are delivered away from one of the College campuses by a body or bodies external to the College please provide the following details Name and address of the off-campus location and external body n/a Percentage/amount of the programme delivered off-campus or by external body Nature of the involvement of external body Description of the learning resources available at the off-campus location What mechanisms will be put in place to ensure the ongoing monitoring of the delivery of the programme, to include monitoring of learning resources off-site or by the external body?

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Please attach the report of the visit to the off-campus location

5. Recognition of study or award of credit through off-campus study or placement - please indicate how the time will be spent, the length of time out, the amount of credit and whether it is a compulsory or optional part of the programme Year abroad Year in employment Internship Placement Other (please specify) Time spent ……………………Credit amount ………..Compulsory/optional...……………

6. Please provide a rationale for any such time outside the College other than that which is a requirement of a professional, statutory or regulatory body n/a

7. Please give details if the programme requires validation or accreditation by a professional, statutory or regulatory body Name and address of PSB n/a Date validation/accreditation commenced: Frequency of validation/ accreditation Date of last validation/accreditation Date of next validation/ accreditation

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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 4 – ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

1. Programme name LLM International Corporate & Commercial Law

2. Programme code (for SMIS use only)

3. JACS code

4. Estimated intake (FTE) 5. Campus

Academic Year

Intake Online

1 100

2 100

3 100

TOTAL

6. Duration

When will the programme start (give month and year)

March 2016

Does the programme run: Sept – Jun, Sept – Sept, Jan – Dec, other (please specify)

Six teaching periods per year: Jan – Feb Mar – April May – June July – August September – October November – December

Are there any other entry points to the programme and if so when

Students may enter at any of the six teaching periods.

Are any years of the programme longer than standard, if so please give details

Does the programme follow standard term dates? If no what are the term dates? 9 May 2016 – 27 June 2016 1 July 2016 – 18 August 2016 5 September 2016 – 21 October 2016 31 October 2016 – 16 December 2016 3 January 2017 – 20 February 2017 1 March 2017 – 24 April 2017 8 May 2017 – 26 June 2017

Yes No

7. Finance

Major source of funding:

Yes No

HEFCE funded X

Funded entirely by student tuition fees (not HEFCE funded)

X

NHS Funded X

Other (please state)

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Is the programme eligible for NHS bursary?

No

Should the fees be billed at the programme or unit level?

Module level

Level of fees if different from the standard level in the College’s fee schedule

£17,400 for the full LLM / £1,450 per module.

8. Contributing departments/divisions/Schools (if the programme is not taught 100% by the “home” Department). Please note that % of contribution must be a fixed percentage not in a range (e.g. cannot be 0 – 20%)

Contributing Department/ Division/School

Nature of involvement % contribution to teaching

Dickson Poon School of Law

Teaching

100%

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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 5 – THE APPROVAL PROCESS

1. Programme name LLM International Corporate & Commercial Law

2. Initial approval by Programme Development and Approval Committee (which includes the approval from Dean of Faculty (Institute/School) and territorial Vice-Principal) Chair’s action taken by VP Education, 28/10/2015

3. Consultation at the planning stage Will the new programme require new library stock? Yes No Will the new programme require new IT facilities/ systems? Yes No Will the new programme require any new resources Yes No (E.g. teaching space, staff, offices, additional support from central services?) If Yes to either of the above, please attach details plus signed approval from IT, Library Services and/or Faculty (Institute/School) Management Accountant, Academic Facilities Manager or other relevant College officer. For new staff resources the Dean of Faculty (Institute/School) approval must be given. The business case for King’s Online, approved by the Principal, includes provisions for these new resources. Refer to business plan for Distance Learning initiative. Which other Departments/Schools have been consulted during the design of the new programme?

4. Approval by the Faculty Education Committee (or its equivalent) Date programme approved 17th February 2016………………. Signature of the Chair of the Faculty Education Committee*: …see email……………… Date: …17th February 2016 Signature of the CEC member of the Faculty Teaching Committee*: …see email……………. Date: 17th February 2016

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Name of the external peer: …Professor Jill Poole…………………………… Signature*: see email…………………………… Date: 17th February 2016

5. Approval for joint honours programmes/jointly taught programmes Date programme approved by the other School(s): Signature of the Chair of the other School Education Committee(s)*: Date:

6. Final approval from Programme Development and Approval Committee Date programme approved by the PDAC:

*Electronic Signatures are acceptable – copy of email confirmation from External Peer/Specialist is also acceptable.

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PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 6 – EXTERNAL SPECIALIST ADVICE

1. Report of the external specialist Please include comments on the following: The nature of the interaction with the Department/School i.e. attendance at programme planning meetings, electronic communication, scrutiny of documentation The documents were provided by email The extent to which the programme meets a defined market need International Commercial law LLMs are plentiful and so make up a fairly crowded market, although different such LLMs concentrate on different specialisms and modules and so there is some differentiation by course and module content as well as by fee level. As is made clear by the market viability report, however, the market is in decline at the moment with fewer students seeking such a qualification than in 2009. However, distance learning is on an upward curve, and therefore a move from a campus based LLM to a distance learning LLM would seem a good move to capture these students rather than lose them altogether. Many of the institutions offering distance-learning courses are not of a comparable ranking to KCL. Even some listed in the competitor set on page 18 are not. De Montfort isn’t really a good comparison; consequently, on the face of the matter there seems a gap in the market to cater for higher quality students. The higher ranked institutions (LSE and UCL) do not seem to offer such distance learning options and so I think there is an opening for students interested in the course content – and there is a high level of course similarity with QMUL for example – but who are unable to come and live in London to study via the online King’s option. One question you may wish to ask is the extent to which the KCL distance masters will cannibalise the campus market for a KCL LLM. That said, I do think there is space in the market for such a degree, and because of the reputation that King’s has, one marketed at a premium fee. Subject content The content and teaching of the LLM seems appropriate for the aims of the programme. It is essential that students come out of this type of qualification having a really good idea of how the different areas – easily thought of as discrete – interact with each other and how the international commercial lawyer is not presented with a problem easily pigeonholed into a subject, but simply a client problem, which requires an understanding of the economic realities and legal linkages. It seems to me that the need to understand the linkages between areas could be made more explicit in the “knowledge & understanding” box on page 3 – perhaps a point 5 inserted, “Critical knowledge and understanding of how the different areas interact and interlink” – alternatively this could be included in “intellectual skills as an inserted point 4 after “ability to understand... the law and the surrounding ... context.” Some real thought appears to have gone into the question of how interaction is to be maintained with the students from a distance – e.g. through the discussion boards first mentioned as part of the knowledge/understanding section. Because of the nature of the documentation, detail is lacking, however, I assume these discussion boards will be more in the way of the equivalent of seminars. The formative assessment (quizzes and essays) can be marked and returned, but it would be harder to mark discussion group posts, which are also called formative assessment – particularly if that poses a disincentive to post more than a bare minimum or to post to seek clarification of something the student does not understand.

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The remainder of the educational objectives and outcomes (practical/generic and transferable skills) appear appropriate, although it is not immediately clear from the documents how the generic skill of collaboration with others is to be fostered. Discussion boards for example, while useful for getting peer feedback probably do not foster co-operation/collaboration as such. That said, I accept any type of group work, which certainly would foster collaboration becomes more difficult in a distance learning setting, which might be thought more appropriate for developing self-study and self-reliance in many respects. Distance learning is, I think, rather more isolating than campus based courses. I am not clear from the documents – although this might simply be unfamiliarity with the KCL system – when this is taught. There are according to section 4 (Administrative Information) 6 teaching periods a year. Does this imply the modules are to be taught in 7-week blocks, two at a time? (9 May – 27 June for example is 7 weeks). The blocks do not all start on the same day of the week – so 9 May is a Monday, but 1 July is Friday, which I find puzzling. In the nature of things, the modules offered will depend on the expertise of the staff available. Some of the modules listed under Programme Structure are self-explanatory and cover not only the basics that one would expect (sales, carriage etc.) in a commercial law masters, but also corporate finance and company law. As 15 credit modules the student will have to do all 12 modules to complete the course. Usually I would expect to see a dissertation present – I can see none here and I would like to understand why. Such a dissertation would be of a greater credit value and this would allow the programme to be less crowded in terms of modules. The Edinburgh Online Commercial Law Masters for example requires 6 taught modules (at least 4 core and 2 options) and a dissertation. The programme specification indicates that the “Masters Characteristics” document produced by the QAA has been consulted – I wonder whether the School has compared it with “professional/practice masters” where LLM is listed as an example on p 14 rather than “specialist/advanced study masters” on p 12 and this may explain the surprising lack of dissertation. The Edinburgh LLM has a rather different set of modules than KCL, but I wonder (linking back to the market point) whether the dissertation might prove a competitive advantage for them over KCL. Or not. It’s hard to know. Engagement with the various points of reference of the national quality assurance framework such as the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and subject benchmark statements, if applicable There is no current relevant benchmark statement, but the aims and objectives of the Masters programme are consistent with the FHEQ statement for masters level (level 7) qualifications. Engagement with the requirements of a professional, regulatory or statutory body, if applicable N/A Any other comments Name: …Duncan Sheehan………………………. Signature*: Position: …Professor of Commercial Law………………………. Institution: University of East Anglia………………………… Address: Norwich Law School, UEA, Norwich NR4 7TJ…... Date: 24/11/2015

.

2. Response of the department

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The relationship with the on-campus LLM: As you say, we do not want this programme to ‘cannibalise’ on our on-campus LLM. We do not expect that there will be competition between the two programmes because the targeted markets are different. The online programme is aiming at those students who want to pursue a Corporate/Commercial Law LLM at a highly ranked UK institution, but are not able or willing to pursue one on campus. Linkages between areas: This is a very helpful comment and we will certainly think about further ways of making the linkages between areas more explicitly, particularly within the two major blocks, that is, corporate and commercial. To start with, we plan for one module to run at a time, but that may change. Each module will be taught within 6 weeks and the 7th week is one for assessment. I am not sure about the differences in weekdays that you have pointed out. It may or may not be significant. My colleagues and I will look into this. The omission of the dissertation component is deliberate. This approach, as you rightly note, is different from a commonly adopted structures on the UK LLM programmes. For an online format, it was deemed more appropriate to give students a wider range of specialist modules, instead of a substantial dissertation component. We will however keep reflecting on how successful this approach has proven to be. I hope that I have addressed adequately the points you have raised. Once again, let me thank you for your time and help with this process. Best wishes, Djakhongir