COURSE CURRICULUM

The LLM in International Criminal Law at the University of Galway requires students to complete 90 credits in Year 1 under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), although module offerings may be subject to change for the current academic year. The curriculum is built around a combination of required and optional modules, enabling students to specialize in international criminal justice while also exploring related areas of international law, human rights, and global governance. A module is an examinable unit identified by a unique code and involves lectures, seminars, and assessed coursework.Two core components are compulsory for all students. International Criminal Law provides in-depth study of substantive crimes, modes of liability, and the structure and functioning of international criminal courts and tribunals. The Dissertation, worth 30 credits, involves independent, supervised research on a specialized topic, allowing students to develop advanced research, analytical, and writing skills.Students then select from a broad range of optional modules, including International Humanitarian Law, Transitional Justice, Procedure Before International Criminal Courts, Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, Criminology, Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Sentencing and Penal Policy, Policing, Security and Rights, Minority Groups and the Criminal Justice System, International Human Rights Law, Public International Law, and the European Convention on Human Rights: Law and Politics. Additional options cover areas such as international refugee and migration law, gender and human rights, climate justice, international environmental law, business and human rights, transnational lawyering, digital transformation and law, and computation and law. This wide selection enables students to tailor their expertise across criminal accountability, human rights protection, and emerging global legal challenges.