MA in Law

Course Description

On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Law, students are eligible to apply to complete a Master of Arts in Law. Supported by academic supervisors, students are required to complete an Advanced Research Skills module and a 15,000-20,000 word thesis on a topic of legal relevance.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold the DIT Postgraduate Diploma in Law.

Duration

The programme ordinarily takes eight months part-time, October through May.

Examples of previous thesis topics: 

Ben Aniekwena “The constitutional provisions of child protection and welfare in Ireland”

Andrew Guy “Mental Health and the Law in Ireland  - A Critical Review”

Clare Egan  "Children as Victims and Perpetrators of Violence: A Legal Analysis of Children in Armed Conflict".

Niamh Dennehy “Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010”

Íde O’ Rourke “The Constitution, and the de facto family: and the Margin of Appreciation?”

David Cleary  “Disregarding Article 24.8.1˚: The implications of excessive Executive power and insufficient Parliamentary oversight”

Aoife Balfry “Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009- Implications for the Fair Trial of the Accused”

Kirk Donohue  “Protecting our marine environment through law”

Rob Michael “Mediation and the Business of Law in a Recession"

Ewaen Fred Ogieriakhi  "Union Citizenship: Impact, Influences and Challenges to Irish Immigration Laws"

How to apply

Applications are made online (click here).  

Applications should be accompanied by:

• A short written description (no more than 2 pages/500 words) of an area of law in which you are interested.  
• If available, a copy of your academic transcripts detailing the results from your PG Diploma in Law/Legal Studies (while these details are available to the DIT, a copy of your transcript will speed up the processing of applications).

How to decide between applications?

The following criteria are applied:

• The academic performance of the applicant, particularly on the PG Diploma in Law.  Ordinarily at least a lower merit is required, though preference will be given to students with an upper merit or higher.
• The feasibility, originality, relevance and topicality of the proposed thesis
• The availability of a supervisor with relevant expertise
• The motivation of the applicant