| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
| 2025-03-01 | - |
Program Overview
The University of Nicosia's Law (LLB) program provides a comprehensive education in legal principles and practice, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in law, legal consulting, and other related fields. The program offers a wide range of courses, including foundational legal subjects, electives, and research opportunities, and utilizes various teaching methods to foster critical thinking, analysis, and professional development. Graduates are well-prepared to enter the legal profession and pursue further postgraduate studies.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Aim:
Equip students with a first degree in law to allow them to practice law, work as legal consultants, develop necessary skills and abilities, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, self-motivation, and legal knowledge. The program is recognized by the Cypriot Legal Council for professional recognition of the degree and other organizations. It collaborates with the University of London External Program and offers a joint LLM together with EAP in Greece and Loyola in the USA.
Objectives:
- Provide students with a strong understanding of the legal system's foundations and socio-legal environment and enable them to develop their analytical and research skills.
- Provide students with a critical understanding and specialized knowledge of a wide range of law courses. This includes offering the opportunity to study law from an extensive catalogue of optional subjects, covering the entire range of legal knowledge.
- Expose students to a wide range of disciplinary approaches to legal study, encouraging them to reflect on the complexity of legal practice and the variety of ways of understanding law's role in contemporary society.
Outline:
The program consists of three clusters (A, B, and C), each containing mandatory courses, and a cluster (D) with elective courses.
Cluster A:
This cluster focuses on foundational legal subjects. It comprises 32 courses, each worth 6 ECTS credits, for a total of 192 ECTS credits.
Cluster B:
This cluster focuses on foundational legal subjects, but differs from Cluster A in terms of specific course offerings. It comprises 32 courses, each worth 6 ECTS credits, for a total of 192 ECTS credits. The course list includes: Introduction to the Science of Law, General Principles of Civil Law, Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, General Law of Obligations, Special Law of Obligations, Family Law, Commercial Law and Negotiable Instruments Law, Public International Law, European Law, General Criminal Law, Special Criminal Law, Real Law, Company Law, Administrative Law, Administrative Procedural Law, Inheritance Law, Private International Law, Civil Procedural Law (I), Criminal Procedural Law (I & II), Evidence Law (I & II), Labour Law. This cluster also offers students the opportunity to explore Law in greater depth with courses on Civil Law & Civil Procedural Law, Public Law, and Commercial Law.
Cluster C:
This cluster focuses on foundational legal subjects and differs from Clusters A and B in terms of the specific courses offered. Students are required to complete 32 courses, each worth 6 ECTS credits, for a total of 192 ECTS credits. The course list includes: Introduction to the Science of Law, Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, General Law of Obligations, Special Law of Obligations, Family Law, Commercial Law and Negotiable Instruments Law, Legal Ethics, Public International Law, European Law, General Criminal Law, Special Criminal Law, Real Law, Company Law, Administrative Law, Administrative Procedural Law, Inheritance Law, Private International Law, Civil Procedural Law (I), Criminal Procedural Law (I).
Cluster D:
This cluster comprises elective courses from which students are required to take a minimum of 60 ECTS credits and a maximum of 78 ECTS credits. Students can choose to take courses from Lists 1 and 2. List 1 comprises the following elective courses: Introduction to US Law; Judicial Psychology; Roman Law; Law and Religion; Legal Anthropology; Sociology of Law; Diplomacy; Law of International Conflict; Criminology; Immigration Law and Policy; Maritime Law; Internet Law; Medical Law and Bioethics; Law of the Sea; European Criminal Law. List 2 contains additional electives, which are also offered as replacements for some List 1 electives: Organization and Function of Public Administration; History of Law; Ecclesiastical Law; Philosophy of Law; Comparative Law; International Relations and International Law; International Trade Law; EU Intellectual Property Law; Media Law; Personal Data Protection Law; Sports Law; International Criminal Law. The elective courses allow students to tailor their studies to specific legal interests, career aspirations, and areas of expertise.
Assessment:
Course assessment usually comprises of a comprehensive final exam and a continuous assessment component. Students' grades and learning outcomes are determined using both elements. Continuous assessment can include assignments, mid-term exams, projects, class participation, or other activities determined by individual course instructors. Letter grades, assigned based on the weighted average of the final exam and continuous assessment scores, are:
Grade
|
- --|---| A | Excellent B | Very Good C | Good D | Pass D- | Conditional Pass F | Fail A minimum cumulative GPA (CPA) of 2.0 is required for graduation. While a "D-" is technically a passing grade, students need to maintain an average grade of "C" to achieve the required CPA.
Teaching:
The program utilizes various teaching and learning strategies to create an engaging and effective academic environment:
- Lectures: These sessions provide an overview of key legal concepts, principles, and theories. They offer students a foundational understanding of the subject matter.
- Seminars: Interactive discussions allow students to delve deeper into specific topics, explore different perspectives, and apply legal principles to real-world scenarios. These sessions encourage critical thinking, analysis, and debate.
- Case Studies: This method helps students understand the complexities of law by examining real-life legal cases. Analyzing and discussing these cases provides valuable insights into legal reasoning, interpretation, and application.
- Presentations: Opportunities for students to research and prepare presentations on various legal topics strengthen their analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills. These presentations also provide a platform for student-faculty and peer-to-peer learning.
- Independent Research: The program emphasizes independent research skills through projects, assignments, and other research-related activities. This helps students develop research methodologies, refine their writing and argumentation skills, and deepen their understanding of particular legal areas.
Faculty:
The program boasts a highly qualified faculty of experts in their respective legal fields. These individuals bring extensive academic expertise, practical experience, and current knowledge of legal developments to the classroom. The faculty are dedicated to fostering an enriching learning environment that promotes intellectual inquiry, critical analysis, and professional development for future legal careers.
Careers:
Graduates of the Law program at the University of Nicosia pursue careers in various areas of the legal profession:
- Advocates: Representing clients in legal proceedings, advising on legal matters, drafting legal documents, and negotiating settlements.
- Judges: Presiding over court proceedings, making legal rulings, interpreting and applying the law, and ensuring fair and just outcomes.
- Notaries: Providing authentication services for legal documents, verifying signatures, and witnessing agreements.
- Legal Consultants: Advising individuals, organizations, and businesses on legal matters, providing legal opinions, and assisting with legal compliance.
- Public and Private Organizations: Legal counsel, compliance specialists, policy analysts, researchers, and legal advisors in various government departments, corporations, NGOs, and international organizations.
Graduation:
To graduate, students must successfully complete all program requirements, including:
- Completing a total of 240 ECTS credits across all clusters and electives.
- Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA (CPA) of 2.0.
- Successfully passing all required assessments and examinations.
Other:
- The program collaborates with the University of London External Program, offering a joint LLM program with EAP in Greece and Loyola University in the USA.
- This program provides an excellent foundation for further postgraduate studies (LLM or Master in Law and Politics) or other relevant postgraduate programs.
Summary:
The Law (LLB, 4 Years) program at the University of Nicosia offers a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to thrive in the legal profession. The program's combination of theoretical and practical elements ensures graduates are well-prepared to enter the professional world and excel in various legal roles. The meticulous breakdown of course offerings, assessment strategies, and teaching methodology provides prospective students with a detailed understanding of this program's structure and expectations. The comprehensive career information outlines the diverse opportunities available to graduates, emphasizing the program's strong commitment to preparing students for successful legal careers.
