FACULTY OF LAW

                      LLM in Comparative Child Law – A truly unique qualification 

Are you interested in child and family law

If so, this course is tailor made for your purposes!

The LLM in Comparative Child Law is one of a kind. Although similar qualifications are offered by other faculties nationally and internationally, this one is truly unique in the sense that it is mandatory to study for one semester each at the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU in South Africa and at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. Students are exposed therefore to the study of child and family law from both a South African and broad African perspective on the one hand and a German and broad European perspective on the other. In this respect it is a true international qualification and it comes as no surprise that students from all over the world enroll for the course.

Once in Giessen students enrolled at Potchefstroom receive a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst which is sufficient to afford accommodation and other household necessaries. Scholarships have been awarded by other German institutions on an ad hoc basis in the past.

This programme aims at equipping students with sound academic knowledge and professional skills in the field of child law. It therefore serves as an academic qualification for careers nationally and internationally in child law, family law, comparative law and international law. One module comprises an internship at an institution that focuses on the practice of child law. In this respect the field of study is aimed at bridging the gap between academia and practice.

The following modules are included in the programme. The P and G that appear in brackets refer to Potchefstroom and Giessen respectively where the respective courses are presented.
• Comparative Child Law and Family Law (P and G)
• International Family Law (P and G)
• Comparative Social Justice (P)
• International Children’s Human Rights (G)
• Juvenile Criminal Justice (G)
• Internship (P or G)
• Dissertation (P or G)

In view of the high international profile of the programme the presenters are practitioners and academics who are recognized leading lights in their respective fields of specialization.

Experience shows that the foreign students from Europe, Africa and Asia become very good friends with their South African counterparts who show them around in South Africa and vice versa, German students doing the same for the Potchefstroom students when they are in Giessen. Lasting friendships have developed in the process. The programmes at both Potchefstroom and Giessen leave sufficient time for exploring the surroundings and South Africans make use of the opportunity to travel around in Germany and during holiday time also to other parts of Europe. It may be noted that both faculties are not only very serious about the academic quality of the programme, but also about the social interaction of students. In Potchefstroom excursions are therefore made to inter alia, the Vredefort Dome, a world heritage site, and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. In Germany castles and picturesque medieval towns are visited – sometimes in thick layers of snow.

Rules For the Degree Master of laws (LLM) and Magister Philosophiae (MPhil)

The LLM/MPhil is a qualification aimed at developing advanced research skills. The degrees can be obtained by either writing a dissertation or by writing a mini-dissertation as well as by successfully completing examinations in the modules prescribed for a focused qualification in Labour Law, Estate Law, Import and Export Law, or Environmental Law and Governance or Comparative Child Law.

Duration (minimum and maximum duration)

The study period is at least one year. A student has to meet all the requirements for the LLM / MPhil degree within two years after registration.

Admission requirements for the qualification

To gain admission to the LLM programme, a student has to meet all the requirements set by this university or any other South African university for the LLB degree. A student in possession of another four year legal degree of this or another university may apply for admission to the LLM degree.

Such a student must furnish sufficient written proof of his/her knowledge and practical experience in the specific field of study.

An evaluation certificate as issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must be submitted if a previous qualification was obtained in a foreign country. 

The Director Research may furthermore require that a student furnish sufficient proof of his/her research skills before the student receives permission to register.

If a student wishes to obtain an LLM degree in a subject not included in the LLB or in which the student’s achievements are not of a sufficient standard, an admission examination in the subject in question can be prescribed by the Director of Research.

As far as the LLM in Estate Law is concerned, a student is required to successfully complete an undergraduate module in Tax Law (JURE 313) or submit proof that an equivalent module was passed at another tertiary institution.

To gain admission to the MPhil in Environmental Law and Governance, a student who meets all the requirements of a four year university degree may apply for admission to the MPhil in Environmental Law and Governance. Such a student must first successfully complete the following undergraduate modules (or module equivalents at another South African university): JURI 111 (Introduction to Law); JURI 226 (Law of Property), JURI 214 (Constitutional Law), JURI 321 (Administrative Law) and JURE 411 (Environmental Law). Before being allowed to register, the student may be required to provide the Director of Research with sufficient written evidence of knowledge and practical experience in the relevant field.

In the case of the LLM in Comparative Child Law, students may be subject to a selection process or interviewed before being admitted, to establish their ability to complete the LLM study. New enrolments for the degree are accepted only if the Director of Research is of the opinion that there is sufficient demand for the programme.

The LLM programmes and elective modules are only offered if the Director of Research is of the opinion that there is sufficient demand for the programme/ modules/s.

Students can only register for a research topic in any module when sufficient supervision is available and if the Director of Research is of the opinion that there will be sufficient expertise for support and guidance to a student in the faculty.

A student can only register for a module/s for non degree purposes if he/she can present proof of preceding knowledge on a HEQF level 7

Compilation of curriculum – LLM Comparative Child Law (R807P)

The programme is only offered full-time and in English. Certain modules are offered only at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen (G), Germany.

The programme comprises the following modules:

Master of Laws in Comparative Child law (LL.M.)
 

Welcome to the homepage of the LL.M. programme "Master of Laws in Comparative Child Law". This programme aims at providing in-depth knowledge about Child Law from a cpmparative perspective. Please use the left navigation to learn more about our programme.

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 For the Giessen Group team please consult their website.
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