Programme : MASTER OF LAWS IN CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW

OVERVIEW

Duration : 18 Months

Credit Load :  288

Minimum Credit Load : 270

Maximum Credit Load : 288

ZNQF Level : 9

  1. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
  2. To equip students with up-to-date knowledge of traditional and emerging fields of commercial practice in Zimbabwe.
  3. To equip students with analytical and problem-solving skills for a challenging and evolving commercial and corporate world.
  4. Competently draft novel and advanced commercial contracts on various aspects of the law such as construction, mining, agriculture, public- private partnerships, joint ventures.
  5. To produce knowledge products (like publications, specialised research, journal articles, policy briefs, thematic papers and books).
  6. To promote academic and practical expertise in the area of commercial law generally and to stimulate academic debate, critical thinking and possible advocacy around certain of the more complex and controversial areas of corporate law and commercial practices. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Applicants should possess a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) 
  2. Applicants are required to have at least a 2.1 (Upper Second) degree class, or the equivalent thereof.
  3. Other factors such as relevant professional experience will also be taken into consideration in assessing applications.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  1. These regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Academic Regulations for Postgraduate degree programmes.
  2. The Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Commercial Law is a three semester programme offered on a block-release basis. The programme is aimed at professionals who possess an LLB who seek to specialise in the areas of commercial & corporate law.

2 CAREER PROSPECTS

Completing an LLM degree in Corporate and Commercial law at MSU can open up a wide range of employment opportunities in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Some of the potential career paths include:

  • Law firms specialising in corporate and commercial law.
  • Government agencies, international financial institutions such as the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, African Continental Free Trade Secretariat and other various institutions in other countries involved in corporate and commercial law.
  • International organisations, including the United Nations, African Union, Southern Africa Development Community and other such regional economic organisations that deal with corporate and commercial law issues.
  • Consultancy firms providing expert advice and support to businesses, governments, and non-profit organisations on corporate and commercial law matters.
  • Securities and chambers of commerce representing the interests of businesses in corporate and commercial law negotiations.
  • Academic institutions – teaching and conducting research in corporate and commercial law related fields.
  • NGOs and non-profit organisations working on corporate and commercial law issues such as sustainable development and human rights.

It is important to note that the exact employment options will vary depending on the candidate’s qualifications, experience and skills, as well as the prevailing job market conditions.

  1. ASSESSMENT
  2. The overall assessment shall be based on continuous assessment and formal       examinations. Each candidate is required to earn twenty-four (24) credits in the taught modules and ninety-six (96) credits in the research component.
  3. Examinations shall be written at the end of each semester. Each module will be examined by a paper that is four (4) hours long. In determining the final marks for modules, the weighting will be as follows:

Continuous assessment 40%

Examinations 60%

  1. For a candidate to proceed to the next level of the programme, the candidate must have passed at least two modules per level. 
  2. If a candidate fails all modules at the end of the first semester, he or she shall retake the failed modules.
  3. Research Methodology is a prerequisite for dissertation writing. For a candidate to proceed to the dissertation level, the candidate must have passed the Research Methodology module.
  4.  PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
    1. The Master of Laws (LLM): Commercial Law shall be a taught programme with a dissertation that commences in the second semester and is submitted in the final (third) semester. 
    2.  The degree programme will run for three semesters and is structured as follows:
    3.  First (Opening) semester: 3 core modules.
    4.  Second (Penultimate) semester: 4 elective modules.
    5.  Third (Final) semester: dissertation continued.
MODULE DESCRIPTION CREDITS
CORE MODULES  
LEVEL 1.1  
LMC 111 Advanced Legal Theory & Research Methods 24
LMC 112 Advanced Corporate Governance Law 24
LMC 113 Advanced Commercial Arbitration & Negotiation 24
LMC 114 Introduction to a Foreign Language 24
LEVEL 1.2  
ELECTIVE MODULES   
LMC 121 Drafting Commercial Contracts 24
LMC 122  Business and Human Rights 24
LMC 123 Import and Export Law  24
LMC 124 Telecommunications Law 24
LMC 125 Electronic Transactions & Cyberspace Law 24
LMC 126 International Tax Law 24
LMC 127 Advanced Competition Law  24
LMC 128 Corporate Financing and Securities Law 24
LMC 129 Procurement Law  24
LMC 130 Advanced International Trade Law 24
LMC 131 Advanced Labour Law 24
LMC 132 Advanced Banking Law 24
LMC 134 Advanced Intellectual Property Law

LMC 135 Advanced Company Law

LMC 136 Aviation Law and Policy

 24

24

24
LMC 137 Advanced Taxation Law

Choose 4 Electives

 24
LEVEL 2.1  
LMC 201 Dissertation 96