Why study Space Law at Northumbria?

Space law is evolving at the frontiers of legal research, and staff at Northumbria are among the UK’s foremost authorities on the subject. As nations grapple with the enormity of the task of regulating infinite space, legal professionals in the sector require vision, advanced skills in policy negotiations and applied scientific understanding.

You will study alongside a diverse cohort of LLM Law framework students, and have the flexibility to choose modules which inspire you and support your career aspirations.

You will study ‘Cyber, Space and Telecommunications: the Global Context’ in your first semester, a module giving you an insight into the broad area of law in which your specialism sits. Alongside that you will study Research for Advanced Legal Studies, which will equip you with the skills you need to thrive on the course, and Intellectual Property, to gain an understanding of some of the commercial issues that will arise in space.

In the second semester you will study the specialist module on Space Law. This will provide you with an in depth understanding of the legal regulation of space activity and is led by an academic with an international reputation for research in this field. You will also study modules on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and the Law and Cyber Law, both of which have significant applications in space activity. In the third semester you will undertake a dissertation on an area of Space Law that you want to explore in detail.

You will learn through lectures, seminars and group work, all supported by advanced TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning). You will have access to our eLearning platform Blackboard, where you can re-watch all Panopto-recorded lectures and read workshop presentation slides at your own pace. You may even be able to undertake your dissertation from home – in the UK or internationally – through the Blackboard Collaborate function.

Your assessment throughout will be coursework-based, with no exams.

Please note that to graduate with your specialist bracketed award you must undertake at least two taught modules within that specialism, and base your final research project on a topic in that area. It will be possible to switch specialism after the first semester if your contextual module was relevant to your new choice. If you don’t meet these conditions, you will graduate with an LLM Law.

The teaching staff at Northumbria Law School have a remarkable international reputation. They are carrying out cutting-edge research in established and emerging areas of law, and many are respected practitioners as well as theorists.

Lecturers on this course have expertise and experience in the areas of international treaties, space law, and Artificial Intelligence; knowledge that you can draw on for your LLM project.

Christopher J. Newman, BA(Hons), PhD is Professor of Space Law and Policy at Northumbria University and is an expert on space law and policy issues. He has appeared numerous times in the media to discuss aspects of space law, read a recent article here.

Northumbria Law School provides first-class teaching in a world-class environment. You will be based in our award-winning City Campus East building, which houses our mock courtroom and Student Law Office as well as an array of lecture theatres, classrooms and a dedicated postgraduate study area.

It is also home to our specialist Law Practice Library, which contains practitioner materials as well as a wide variety of journals, databases, and law reports. The range and depth of resources reflects our position as the largest law school in the North East region.

The 24/7 University Library achieves some of the highest levels of student satisfaction in the UK, and has held the Cabinet Office accreditation for Customer Service Excellence since 2010.

You will be immersed in research-rich learning from the outset of your studies. The lecturers who lead each specialism are at the forefront of research in that area, and will take every opportunity to engage you in their ongoing work.

You will also develop your own skills as a researcher, learning to critically reflect on your own and others’ work, challenge your own thinking, and justify your own work in the context of wider theories and practice.

The Legal Research Project in semester three is your opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of legal research on a topic you’re truly passionate about, guided by a tutor with relevant expertise.

You will graduate from this course with independence of thought, boundless curiosity and a talent for collaboration – traits valued by every employer.

If you already have a qualifying UK law degree, this course will help you to enhance your CV with a specialism so that you stand out when competing for training contracts or pupillages.

If you are joining us from another legal jurisdiction you will be able to apply your specialist skills and knowledge in your home country, contributing to local priorities for growth in relevant areas. For students from countries that follow the Bologna Process and require two year of postgraduate study, it will be possible to study the LLM framework twice, choosing a different specialism each time. You will qualify for an alumni discount on the second year.

Students who have qualifications or careers in related areas such as engineering will acquire valuable contextual understanding that helps them stand out among their peers.

This course is also an excellent route to PhD study if you are seeking an academic career within the field of law.