Programme description for the Integrated Master's Programme in Law at the University of Bergen

Programme name:
One-tier Master's Programme in Law

Degree:
Master in Law: Completion of the degree confers the title Master in Law. The diploma will be issued once the degree has been completed. Graduates must take the following oath to be awarded a degree (the law graduate’s oath):

"Never knowingly to deviate from truth and justice, nor to encourage needless dispute, nor in any other way to promote any unjust cause or intention."

Scope:
300 ECTS credits. Normal length of study is five years.

Language of instruction:
Norwegian. Some individual courses may be taught in another Scandinavian language or English.

Programme start:
Each autumn

Objectives and content:
The Master's Programme in Law at the University of Bergen comprises a total of 300 ECTS credits (five academic years). This includes the preparatory courses Examen Philosophicum (10 credits) and Examen Facultatum (10 credits), elective courses totalling 30 credits, and an original, written thesis (normally 30 credits) – the Master's thesis. On application, the students may submit a Master's thesis equivalent to 60 credits.

Structure:
The programme is based on the problem-based learning method. During the first two years, students are divided into study groups, headed by an advanced student, that meet each week to resolve a given assignment. In the third year, these groups are optional and are organised and managed by the students themselves. Each individual student must write an original assignment on which they will receive feedback. Students are required to comment on their fellow students' assignments.

In the fourth or fifth year of study, students can choose elective courses according to their own interests. Students must also write a Master's thesis on some aspect of the law. During this period, students have the opportunity to study abroad.

In the first semester, students take the Examen Philosophicum and Examen Facultatum preparatory courses in parallel until October / November. Please note that students who have already passed the Examen Philosophicum and Examen Facultatum will only be awarded 10 credits in the autumn semester. The course Public administrative Law I starts at the end of October or beginning of November and concludes with an examination in January.

Learning outcomes:

A graduate with a Master's degree in Law from the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen shall:

• be able to account for, and correctly apply, considerable knowledge of the legal concepts, values, rules and principles of Norwegian Law and international legal systems
• demonstrate through use in given situations that his/her basic knowledge of the different subject areas covered in the programme is of a high quality
• be able to use accepted legal methodology to analyse complex legal problems, including discussing, arguing and forming an independent opinion on the problem
• be able to express his/her suggested solutions in different types of text as well as orally
• be able to provide an account of legal-political evaluations linked to given legal problems
• be able to explain ethical aspects of the profession
• be able to acquire new legal knowledge beyond the material taught as part of the programme and apply this knowledge to resolve legal problems
• demonstrate through the Master’s thesis the ability to formulate and analyse legal problems, complete an independent collection and evaluation of relevant sources, and present the conclusions in an academic text
• be able to work with others in a group and actively contribute to the group’s resolution of legal problems

Entrance requirements:
Admission to the programme takes place through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service. Cf. Regulations governing Admission to Higher Education. All applicants must qualify for entrance to higher education. Admission to the programme is restricted.

Recommended previous knowledge:
Good command of Norwegian.

Introductory courses:
Students must have completed and passed the Examen Philosophicum and Examen Facultatum before starting the second year.

Compulsory courses:
The programme consists of required courses totalling 270 credits. The remaining 30 credits are to be selected from elective courses.

First year:

• Examen Philosophicum
• Examen Facultatum
• JUS111 Administrative Law I
• JUS112 Law of Succession, Family Law
• JUS113 Contract Law I 
• JUS114 Legal Methodology

Second year:

• JUS121 Norwegian and International Legal Institutions
• JUS122 Tort Law
• JUS123 Administrative Law II
• JUS124 Property Law

Third year:

• JUS131 Contract Law II
• JUS132 Law on Money Claims
• JUS133 Legal Method and Sources of Law
• JUS134 Legal History and Comparative Law
• JUS135 The Rule of Law and Human Rights

Fourth year:

• JUS241 Criminal Law
• JUS242 Law of Procedure (Civil and Criminal)
• JUS243 General Law of Property Rights and Obligations

Fifth year:

• JUS399/JUS398 Master's Thesis
• JUSETIKK Ethics for Law Students

Recommended during the fourth or fifth year. The diploma will state whether the student took the ethics course JUSETIKK or not.

Recommended electives fifth year of study:
Students shall take courses totalling 30 credits, chosen among the following courses:

• JUS250-2-A / The Right to Health Care and Social Benefits
• JUS250-2-B / Autonomy and Coercion in Health Care and Social Services
• JUS250-2-C / Human Rights and the Welfare State
• JUS251-2-A / Labour Law I
• JUS251-2-B / Labour Law II
• JUS253-2-A / Local Government Law I
• JUS253-2-B / Local Government Law II
• JUS254-2-A / Police Law
• JUS255-2-A / Prosecution Law
• JUS256-2-A / Tax Law I
• JUS256-2-B / Tax Law II
• JUS257-2-A / Basic Company Law
• JUS257-2-B / Limited Liability Companies – specialisation
• JUS258-2-A / Norwegian Competition Law
• JUS258-2-B / Competition Law
• JUS259-2-A / International Private Law
• JUS260-2-A / Design and Patent Law
• JUS260-2-B / Copyright Law
• JUS260-2-C / Trademark Law
• JUS260-2-D / Marketing Law
• JUS261-2-A / Mediation
• JUS262-2-A / Social Insurance Law
• JUS263-2-A / Stock Exchange and Securities Law
• JUS270-2-A / Economic Analysis of Law
• JUS271-2-A / Energy Law
• JUS272-2-A / American Law
• JUS273-2-A / Legal Philosophy
• JUS273-2-B / Legal Theory
• JUS273-2-C / Law and Justice
• JUS274-2-A / Comparative Company Law & Economics 1: Theory and Structure
• JUS275-2-A / Terrorism in International and European Criminal Law
• JUS276-2-A / Human Rights Law: Special Focus on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• JUS277-2-A / Introduction to Copyright Law
• JUS277-2-B / International Copyright Law
• JUS278-2-A / Comparative Private Law
• JUS279-2-A / Transnational Commercial Law I
• JUS279-2-B / Transnational Commercial Law II
• JUS280-2-A / Alternative Dispute Settlements  
• JUS281-2-A / Comparative Constitutional Law
• JUS282-2-A / International Business Contracts: Structures, Negotiation, Conflict Avoidance and Resolution 
• JUS283-2-A / Arbitration Theory and Practice 
• JUS325 / Legal Aid – elective
• JUS329 / Instruction in University Pedagogics
• JUS330 / International Moot Court Competitions (participation pre-approved)

A period of study abroad or elective courses from other Norwegian law faculties may be included in the form of exemption from an elective course, cf. Section 5-9 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.

The rules governing elective courses do not apply to students who have applied for and been granted permission to submit an extended Master's thesis equivalent to 60 credits.

Master's thesis:
During the fourth or fifth year of the Master's programme, the student shall submit an original piece of written work equivalent to 30 credits (Master's thesis) for individual assessment. On application, the student may be granted permission to submit an extended Master's thesis of 60 credits.

Order in which courses must be taken:

• Students must pass the first-year courses (JUS111, JUS112, JUS113 and JUS114) before they can start the second year.
• Students must pass the second-year courses (JUS121, JUS122, JUS123, and JUS124) before they can start the third year.
• Students must pass the third-year courses (JUS131, JUS132, JUS133, JUS134, JUS135) before they can start the fourth or fifth year.
• Students are advised to take JUS241 Criminal Law and JUS242 Procedural Law in parallel.

The order in which the courses on the programme must be taken is indicated in the individual student's education plan.

After the third year, students can choose to write their Master's thesis and take electives or equivalent, before taking the fourth year courses.

Requirements for progression:

1. All the courses in the programme of study are compulsory unless otherwise specified in the curriculum. They are to be taken in the order given in the programme description. The Faculty may make exceptions to this rule in individual education plans.
2. The teaching and examinations in the individual courses require knowledge from preceding courses.

Location:
Bergen

Studying abroad as part of the programme:
Students who have completed and passed the third year of study may study abroad as part of the Master's programme. Students can take courses equivalent to 30 credits in elective courses and/or produce a written assignment equivalent to a Master's thesis. The Faculty of Law selects a number of special partnership universities with programmes that are suitable for our students. More information here (in Norwegian only).

Teaching methods:

1. A required reading list of core literature shall be compiled and approved for each course. A list of introductory literature and additional reading shall also be compiled.
2. The core literature should generally not exceed 30 pages of text per credit in the first to fourth years and 40 pages per credit in the fifth year of study.
3. The teaching is based on problem-based learning (PBL).
   
   • As a main rule, each course will have some lectures.
   • All first and second year courses will have study groups headed by an advanced student. The study groups focus on problem-solving. Students are required to prepare for group sessions and participate actively, resolve assignments and comment on assignments written by fellow students.
   • In the third year, students are placed in virtual groups to work on assignments and comment on each other's papers. Students can also form voluntary, self-managed study groups.
   • Large group sessions led by a teacher will be held in all the courses in the first three years. Large groups consist of three study groups. Students are required to prepare for group sessions and participate actively.
   • Seminars will be offered in fourth year. Students are required to prepare for seminars and participate actively.
   • Teaching methods in elective courses in the fifth year varies. See the individual course description.
   • Compulsory supervision of the Master's thesis.
     
     Scope of supervision
     Students are entitled to supervision when working on their Master's thesis, and the Master's thesis must be written under supervision. Each student will be given ten hours of supervision. Students who have applied for and been granted permission to write a Master's thesis of 60 credits will receive 20 hours of supervision. This figure includes the time the supervisor spends reading drafts, preparing comments, and conversations with the student. Supervision shall be limited to one semester, unless otherwise specifically agreed or there are special reasons why a Master's thesis has taken longer. Supervision shall be limited to two semesters for students who have applied for and been granted permission to write a Master's thesis of 60 credits, with the same provisos.
     
     Form
     Supervision may be provided individually or in groups. If supervision is provided in a group, students shall also receive some individual supervision.
     
     Supervision record
     A record shall be kept of the supervision that each student has received. If supervision is provided by someone other than the person the Faculty has appointed as supervisor, the reasons for this must be stated in the supervision record.
     
     Work plan
     The student and supervisor shall establish a work plan at the first meeting.
     
     Modification of supervision arrangements
     Any student who finds that the supervision or supervision situation is not satisfactory shall notify the Faculty and may have a new supervisor appointed, if there is due cause. If a supervisor finds that a student is not fulfilling his/her duties in a satisfactory manner, the Faculty shall be notified of this and modification or termination of the supervision arrangements shall be considered.

     4.  The teaching methods used in each individual course are presented in the course description.
     5.  Compulsory requirements: The coursework requirements, including required attendance, etc. are defined in more detail in the "Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen".

Assessment methods:

1. The main rule is that courses conclude with a four-hour written examination to be taken at the University. The form and duration of assessment of individual courses are specified in the individual course description.
2. Examinations are held shortly after the course is completed.
3. Elective courses may have other arrangements, see the individual course description.
4. The questions asked in examinations may also include learning requirements from previous courses.

Grading:

1. The following grading scale is used: A – E for pass and F for fail. The Faculty Board may decide that the grades "Pass" and "Fail" shall be used for one or more specific courses. See the individual course descriptions.
2. The assessment of the students' achievements shall be based on the content of the individual course, the defined learning objectives, the required learning outcomes, the form of assessment, and the level the specific course is on.
3. Assessment shall otherwise be based on the "Guidelines for awarding grades in the Master’s degree programme".
   

Qualification for further study:
The Master's degree forms the basis of admission to PhD programmes. Admission requires an approved project description.

It is possible to update and increase skills by taking additional elective courses after completing the degree by applying for special admission to take elective specialisation courses.

Career opportunities:
Few programmes of study lead to career opportunities in as many different industries as law. Legal practitioners work in all areas of life, and there will always be high demand for people with legal training.

While many legal practitioners go into the private sector, for example, banking, insurance, retail, industry and shipping, others choose to work for government agencies, for example, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), the Tax Administration and the Competition Authority. The ministries, the police and prosecution authorities are also popular and major employers of law graduates. Other possible workplaces include the media and trade unions. Another possible career path is research and academia.

Law graduates can become judges or enter the legal profession. Only qualified lawyers ("advokat") are allowed to provide professional legal services and bring cases before the courts. Law graduates must take the compulsory "advokat course" in order to receive the title "advokat" and a licence to practise as a lawyer. In addition, they must have two years of approved legal practice, usually as an assistant lawyer, deputy judge or police intendant II.

Evaluation:
The programme is subject to several forms of evaluation:

1. Student evaluation has been established as a permanent system in the first four years. Elective courses are evaluated as specified in detailed regulations.
2. Teachers are evaluated annually on the basis of student evaluations and statistics from the courses (number of participants, execution, examination results, re-sit percentage etc.).
3. External evaluation:
   a) The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) monitors the quality of higher education on a continuous basis.
   b) External programme supervisors attached to the Master's Programme in Law evaluate defined, limited parts of the programme and submit an annual report.
   c) The University of Bergen oversees operations through defined reporting procedures.

All internal evaluations shall adhere to the requirements laid down in the University of Bergen's "Handbook for Quality Assurance of University Education".

Authorisation:
With certain additional requirements (courses and practice), the degree of Master in Law qualifies graduates to register as an authorised lawyer ("advokat"), 2005/36/EU. Authorisation is granted by the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice.

Programme coordinator:
The Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen. The one-tier Master's Programme in Law does not have its own separate Programme Board, but is administered by the Education Committee on behalf of the Faculty Board.

Administration:
The Faculty Director as represented by the Section for Academic and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen is responsible for the administration of the programme. post@jurfa.uib.no