Employment Law PGDip

Course description

This degree will provide you with an understanding of UK and EU employment legislation and case law that you can directly apply to your career in HR or legal practice.

It is divided into four broad subject areas: individual employment relations; equality at work; termination of employment and individual dispute resolution; and key themes in employment law. Within these four areas you will critically analyse the scope and limitation of the law in relation to discrimination, gain a deeper understanding of the legal regulation of termination of employment, the role of collective bargaining and employee participation in the workplace and consider the effect of human rights and international labour law on the employment relationship. You will examine the law in-depth in its wider context to determine its effectiveness in the modern workplace, graduating with a comprehensive critical understanding of employment law relevant to your career.

Studying by distance learning allows you to fit your work around your existing employment and family commitments.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught by distance learning combined with teaching weekends held on campus, which take place at the end of each period of study. You are recommended to attend at least two of the weekends and we strongly advise you to attend all of them if possible. The teaching weekends give you the opportunity to embed your knowledge alongside fellow students within our distance learning community, sharing your work and learning experiences.

Assessment

There are no formal exams and you will be assessed by four written assignments followed by a dissertation (LLM only) of 12,000-15,000 words on a subject of your choice. All assessment work is undertaken in your own time, allowing maximum flexibility to fit your learning around other commitments.

Careers and employability

Our supported distance learning and part-time routes enable you to apply your new skills to your current employment role immediately, allowing you to benefit from the course straight away.

Although you are enrolled on a Distance Learning course you are encouraged to use the facilities on campus whenever you can, including specific career-focused events such as our Law Fair, which is held annually and attracts more than 40 law firms and other graduate employers.

We have two members of staff who are dedicated law careers tutors on campus and are on hand to discuss career options, upcoming opportunities and give advice about different firms.

We host a wide range of external speakers every year, representing the whole legal profession.

Students need to have 2:1 degree or an equivalent professional qualification combined with appropriate practical experience.