Intellectual Property LLM

Course overview

This course has been developed in collaboration with the Joint Education Board of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA).

The LLM in Intellectual Property can be achieved through a year-long programme that has been developed for both UK and international students. This course is linked to the LLM International Commercial Law with which it shares several units.

The course is taught by academics of the renowned Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (Informa World Leaders Award in Education 2005), and enjoys a significant input from Intellectual Property practitioners from some of the UK’s leading companies and practices.

Course delivery

As an LLM Intellectual Property student you will experience a unique blend of delivery and self-managed study over this one-year course. If you start in autumn, you and your fellow students will attend the university for approximately three to four days of contact study per week, studying three common units with colleagues on the LLM International Commercial Law (see Course Content).

During the spring term, you will be joined by professionals who are completing a PG Certificate in Intellectual Property over three block weekends (Thursdays to Saturdays). Many will have a background in industry and thus enhance your learning experience through their passion for IP practice. There will be an extensive programme of electronic learning, guest lectures, as well as an expectation that you attend relevant academic activities common with the course in International Commercial Law (such as preparatory research method seminars supporting your dissertation). There is an option to switch one of the blocked units to traditional delivery. This is recommended for international students not seeking full exemptions from the foundation level exams of the professional bodies CIPA/ITMA.

Although greater emphasis will be placed on self-managed, independent study during the spring term, you will have access to support and guidance from the academic team throughout the course. It is possible to start the course with the PG Certificate in the spring term, and then upgrade to an LLM during the following academic year.

We also offer a PG Certificate in Intellectual Property.

Exemptions

Completion of specific units on this course provide students with full exemptions from the CIPA/ITMA Joint Education Board foundation papers: Design & Copyright P1 P5 T1 T2 T5 and Basic English Law. For more details, please see LLM Intellectual Property course content.

Useful links:

• The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
• The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA)