Programme structure: Socio-Legal Studies (MSc) - what's running in 2025/26

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Students on the Socio-Legal Studies MSc will take mandatory units worth 100 credits, an optional unit worth 20 credits plus a mandatory 60 credit Dissertation and Legal Research Skills unit (which runs across TB1 and TB2). The optional unit can either be taken in Law, the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS) or the School for Policy Studies (SPS).
Dissertation and Legal Research Skills LAWDM0177 60 Mandatory AYEAR
TEACHING BLOCK 1: Students take three mandatory units worth 60 credits
Advanced Legal and Socio-Legal Research Methods (for MSc) LAWDM0180 20 Mandatory TB-1
Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences SOCIM0012 20 Mandatory TB-1
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences SOCIM0013 20 Mandatory TB-1
TEACHING BLOCK 2: Students take two mandatory units worth 40 credits
Social and Legal Theory LAWDM0083 20 Mandatory TB-2
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences SOCIM0011 20 Mandatory TB-1,TB-2
TEACHING BLOCK 2: Students take one optional unit worth 20 credits
Supervised Individual Study (Socio-legal Studies) LAWDM0109 20 Optional TB-2
Contemporary Sociological Theory SOCIM3101 20 Optional TB-2
Advanced Qualitative Research SOCIM3132 20 Optional TB-2
Advanced Quantitative Research POLIM0064 20 Optional TB-2
The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion SPOLM1068 20 Optional TB-2
MSc Socio-Legal Studies   180    

Award requirements

The pass mark set by the University for any level 7 unit is 50 out of 100.

For detailed rules on the award of credit, reassessment and award of a qualification please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Degree classifications:

A classification will be awarded in the following qualifications:

  • Taught postgraduate Masters degree, including a Master of Research (MRes)
  • Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications
  • Exit awards of Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates in designated programmes (as described in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.

A classification is not awarded for exit awards where students are required to withdraw from the programme on academic grounds.

The overall final programme mark is calculated as the average of all unit marks in the programme, weighted by credit point value.

The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

  • Distinction = final programme mark of 70+
  • Merit = final programme mark of 60-69
  • Pass = final programme mark of 50-59
  • Fail = final programme mark of 49 or less

* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.

Diploma/certificate stages:

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 100 must be at level 7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.