Admission Requirements

1.1 PHILOSOPHY, OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The general LL.B programmes in Law and the Law School training qualify students as general legal practitioners. LL.M and Ph. D programmes, on the other hand, enable students to qualify as specialist in specific areas of Law. The postgraduate programmes of the Department Jurisprudence and legal theory are designed to offer the students an opportunity to expand their intellectual capacity in legal research and to become sound legal practitioners, publicists and scholars.
The programmes, thus aim to bring about a critical mass of knowledge and specialisation in specific areas of legal thought. It will also lead to improved skill and competence as well as inculcating evidence based knowledge through legal research methods in resolving legal issues/challenges.
The postgraduate programmes of the Department of Jurisprudence and Legal Theory cover the following areas of specialisation: Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Comparative Jurisprudence, International Criminal Theory, and Development, Justice and Human Rights.

1.2 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The programmes will produce specialist Law graduates who can excel as legal experts in their chosen filed at various levels. It is also expected that graduates of the program become critical thinkers with the ability to proffer sound theoretical and practical solutions to contemporary problems in the Nigerian society and the world at large. The theoretical foundations given to students during the programme will place them in good stead to excel in the public and private sectors.

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
FACULTY OF LAW
DEPARTMENT OF JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL THEORY POST GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

1.1. Philosophy, Objectives and Scope

The LL.M and Ph. D programmes are designed to enable students to qualify as specialist in specific areas of Law. The postgraduate programmes of the Department Jurisprudence and legal theory are designed to offer the students an opportunity to expand their intellectual capacity in legal research and to become sound legal practitioners, publicists and scholars.
The programmes, thus aim to bring about a critical mass of knowledge and specialisation in specific areas of legal thought. It will also lead to improved skill and competence as well as inculcating evidence based knowledge through legal research methods in resolving legal issues/challenges.
The postgraduate programmes of the Department of Jurisprudence and Legal Theory cover the following areas of specialisation: Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Comparative Constitutionalism, International Criminal Law and Theory, and Development, Law and Development.
1.2. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
2. The programmes will produce specialist Law graduates who can excel as legal experts in their chosen filed at various levels. It is also expected that graduates of the program become critical thinkers with the ability to proffer sound theoretical and practical solutions to contemporary problems in the Nigerian society and the world at large. The theoretical foundations given to students during the programme will place them in good stead to excel in the public and private sectors.
1.3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Master of Laws (LL.M) and PhD in Law
(a). Master of Laws (LL.M)
The following shall qualify for admission into the Master of Laws (LL.M)degree in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory:
Graduates of the University of Nigeria or of other recognized universities who have obtained a degree of bachelor with at least a second class honours (lower division) with CGPA of not less than 3.0 on a 5-point scale.

(b). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)in Law
The following shall qualify for admission into the Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) in Law degreein Jurisprudence and Legal Theory:
Graduates of the University of Nigeria or of other recognized universities with a good Master’s degree in Law (LL.M), with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 5-point scale or 3.0 on a 4-point scale or 60% or a B grade and Project score not lower than 60% (B).

1.4. DURATION OF PROGRAMMES
(a). Master of Laws (LL.M)
(i) Full-time: A minimum of three (3) semesters and a maximum of six (6) semesters.
(ii) Part-time: A minimum of five (5) semesters and a maximum of eight (8) semesters.
(b). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)in Law
(i) Full-time: A minimum of six (6) semesters and a maximum of ten (10) semesters.
(ii) Part-time: A minimum of eight (8) semesters and a maximum of twelve (12) semesters.

1.5. COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
A Student must have fulfilled, in addition to other University requirements, the following conditions to be awarded:
(a) Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree
To be awarded the Master of Laws (LL.M) degreein Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, a student must have registered and passed a minimum of 39 credit units of both compulsory and elective courses as follows:

Compulsory courses – 12 units
Elective courses – 18 units
Seminar – 3 units
Project – 6 units

39 units

(b) Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD)
To be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) degreein International and Comparative Law, a student must have registered and passed a minimum of 36 credit units of both compulsory and elective courses as follows:

Course Work (Both Compulsory and Elective) – 15 units
Compulsory Paper Presentations – 6 units
PhD Thesis Seminar – 3 units
Thesis – 12 units
—————
36 units

2. CURRICULUM SPECIFICATION TABLE
(a) Master of Laws (LL.M)
FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
2 Compulsory courses – 6 units 2 Compulsory courses – 6 units
2 Courses from Core Area – 6 units 2 Courses from Core Area – 6 units
1 Elective course 1 Elective course
from Alternate Area – 3 units from Alternate Area – 3 units
15 units 15 units

THIRD SEMESTER
Seminar 3 units
Project 6 units
9 units

(b) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)in Law

(i) First Year
FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
1 Compulsory course – 3 units 2 Courses (1from Core Area,
1 from alternate area) – 6 units
2 Courses (1from Core Area,
1 from alternate area) – 6 units
9 units 6 units

(ii) Second Year
FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
Research Proposal – 3 units Book and/or Journal Article Review- 3 units

3 units 3 units

(iii) Third Year
FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
PhD Seminar – 3 units PhD Thesis Defence – 12 units

3 units 12 units

3. STRESS AREAS/AREAS OF SPECIALISATION
0. Fundamentals (Research Methodology, Legal Research Writing, Research Proposal, Synopsis/Grant Writing)
1. Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
2. Comparative Constitutionalism
3. International Criminal Law and Theory
4. Law and Development
5. Seminar
6. Project