COURSE INFORMATION
Please note that the first intake for this new course will be September 2006. Practitioners tasked with dealing with requests for disclosure of information face a multitude of legal provisions. The data protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information regulations 2004 together with the common law duty of confidence and the right to privacy protected by European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms combine to form am increasingly complex and seemingly contradictory framework. The Information Rights programme developed by Northumbria University in conjunction with the Department for Constitutional Affairs is the first postgraduate qualification designed to unravel the complexities of these ‘information rights’. This programme aims to respond to the specific needs of information rights practitioners, providing a structured framework within which they can acquire and update knowledge whilst gaining a qualification that recognises their specialist expertise. It also recognises the importance of effective records management and information handling. This programme is therefore likely to be attractive both to practitioners specifically charged with processing information and other professionals working in environments where information is held, including central and local government, health and education. Completing further qualifications on a distance learning basis, whether certificated individual modules, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or a full LLM offers clear benefits to students who are working full-time. Northumbria University students praise the support that it offers to its distance learning students, through online databases, structured course materials, written guidance and its team of academic and administrative staff. Optional study days which take place each semester facilitate discussion of the legal and practical issues affecting practitioners. Information Rights Law and practice is studied by distance learning. It offers a choice of options for acquiring knowledge and attaining a qualification in information rights. Students may enrol on individual modules, attend single study days or study for a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in Law (LLM). Those who wish to obtain a postgraduate qualification but who do not have the necessary qualifications for the LLM may initially enrol upon Certificate. Students who successfully complete the Certificate will have the opportunity to take the Diploma. All students can exit the course with a Postgraduate Certificate after nine months, upon successful completion of three compulsory modules. Students who wish to exit with the Postgraduate Diploma must complete the five core modules plus one optional module, over 18 months. Those successfully completing the diploma can continue towards an LLM. Students wishing to gain the LLM complete a project in a related topic of their choice. Students are allocated an individual project supervisor who is able to provide guidance in relation to the research methodology, structure, presentation and other aspects of research and project writing. The taught part of the programme includes the following modules:
Compulsory
Legal research and study skills
Foundations of information rights
Data protection
Freedom of information
Access to environmental information Options
Freedom of information: managing records for legal and regulatory compliance
Implementing effective records management
Access to European Union information
Data protection, confidentiality and medical issues
Children and young people – information sharing
Information as intellectual property
Information in employment law
Media and privacy law Students are provided with a comprehensive package of mat
COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT
Each module is assessed, usually by means of an essay or online workshops. There are no exams.
OTHER INFO
This new programme will commence in September 2006, with subsequent intakes in February and September of e
ach year. Applicants should endeavour to submit their application by the following dates: Applicants should endeavour to submit their application by the following dates:
September intake – beginning July
February intake – Beginning January
Late applications will be considered subject to availability of places. Candidates should also be aware that due to postal delays beyond the control of the Law School, it may take up to six weeks for an overseas application to be finalized. This may delay the start of the programme. We strongly recommend that candidates apply as soon as possible.
Course Length:
9 months for the Certificate, 18 months for the Diploma, 2 years for the LLM
Enquiries:
Future Focus Ltd
8, Magazines Street
Floriana FRN 1119
Malta
Tel. +35621221371
E-mail: info@futurefocus.com.mt
Standard Entry:
The programme is available to lawyers and non-lawyers. Applicants should normally possess one of the following:
- An appropriate degree
- A comparable professional qualification
Candidates without a degree or equivalent but with suitable work experience may also be considered for admission to the programme. Applicants for whom English is not their first language, should have attained a score of 6.5 IELTS or equivalent. If you would like to discuss your qualifications or suitability, please contact the Programme Leader, Helen Morris. Email: helenmorris@northumbria.ac.uk
|
