1. Programme of Study The JSD programme consists of two components, coursework and thesis. The first component of JSD programme will require JSD students to complete 24 credit units of both core and elective courses. The second component requires a student to write a substantial thesis (22 credit units), which will make a significant contribution to legal scholarship and be publishable.
(i) Taught Component ( 24 credit units) The taught component is designed to ensure that a JSD student attains a very high level of academic skills through the study of taught courses. He/she will then possess the appropriate academic foundation to progress to the thesis stage. Through the taught component a student is expected to learn not only advanced legal research methodology but also substantive law in his/her chosen area of study. |
JSD students must choose from the following list of courses:-
|
Core Courses (6 credit units)| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Units |
|---|
| LW8709D | Advanced Legal Research Methodology | 3 | | LW8710D | Jurisprudence and Political Theories | 3 |
|
Elective Courses (18 credit units)
Select a total of at least 18 credit units from the following:- LLM taught courses (LLM Dissertation courses are excluded.)
- JD courses (up to a maximum of 6 credit units; JD Independent Research course is excluded)
|
Course Selection: JSD students who have previously completed LLM course(s) at CityU are not allowed to take the same or similar course(s) under the LLM programme. If a JSD student requests to take a CityU JD course and he/she has previously completed a similar course in a common law jurisdiction, he/she will not be allowed to take the course. JSD students who have not taken Basic Law or constitutional law course are encouraged to take LW6120C/E Basic Law of Hong Kong or LW6166E Constitutional and Administrative Law of Hong Kong, which are the courses under the LLM programme. |
(ii) Thesis Component (22 credit units) |
Core Course (22 credit units)| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Units |
|---|
| LW8703D | Doctoral Thesis | 22 |
|
2. LW8703D Doctoral Thesis Doctoral Thesis offers students a challenging and enriching opportunity to propose, formulate and carry out an independent research project and develop research methodology to be applied in their own research. The thesis will help the students to develop innovative thinking in tackling legal issues to meet the needs of the local as well as international communities. The minimum course duration is two years.
Please refer to the detailed information about the course. |
3. Programme Duration The normal study period of the programme is three years. The maximum period of study is six years. Any periods of leave of absence and academic suspension are counted towards the maximum period of study.
|
4. Award Classification Awards of JSD degree are classified Pass-Fail. |
5. Credit Transfer
Credit transfer is permitted only from relevant, formal studies at postgraduate level and may count only against the taught course requirement. Transfer credits will not be counted in the calculation of a student’s GPA, except where special arrangements have been made. Students should not take the courses for which transfer credits have been granted. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 12 credit units of taught courses. A student applying for credit transfer in respect of CityU courses will have to attain a course grade of B or above in the completed course for which credit transfer is requested, except for courses graded on a pass-fail basis. No credit transfer will be granted for the following CityU research-based courses and non-taught courses:- LLM courses
• LW6537C&E and LW6137C/E Dissertation
• LW6548C and LW6551E Independent Research
LLMArbDR courses
• LW6404 Research Project
• LW6409A Dissertation
JD course
• LW5551 Independent Research Applications for credit transfer for Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) courses will not be considered. Applications for credit transfer for non-CityU courses will normally not be considered if those courses do not have equivalent LLM courses taught at CityU. Students who have obtained CityU MA/LLMArbDR degree with CGPA of at least 3.0 will be approved a general credit transfer (i.e., not course-by-course basis) of up to 6 credit units of taught courses. |
6. Residence Requirement A student is expected to be in residence, i.e. spend the whole period of study in Hong Kong and attend classes at CityU, for the taught component of the JSD programme. After successful completion of the taught component, a student can apply to return to his/her own country to write his/her thesis. But the student must report regularly to his/her supervisors on a monthly basis. |
7. Intermediate Awards Students who have satisfied the programme requirements of LLM and choose not to write the Thesis (or who failed the Thesis) may be granted the following intermediate awards as appropriate: • Master of Laws (Chinese and Comparative Law) 中國法與比較法法學碩士
• Master of Laws (International Economic Law) 國際經濟法法學碩士
• Master of Laws (Common Law) 普通法法學碩士
• Master of Laws (Maritime and Transportation Law) 海事法與運輸法法學碩士
• Master of Laws 法學碩士 The LLM programme requirements are those effective at the time of the student’s application to withdraw from the JSD programme. Applications for conferment of intermediate award must be received within one calendar year of the student’s withdrawal from the programme.
|
