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Location: Murray Fraser Hall
Program number: 403.210.8718
Fax: 403.210.9662
Email address: law@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Master of Laws (LLM), thesis-based

Specializations:

• Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law
• Energy and Environmental Systems (Interdisciplinary, thesis-based only. See the calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information)

Students may elect not to have an area of specialization.

Master of Laws (LLM), course-based with major research project

• Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law

Students may elect not to have an area of specialization.

The Faculty also offers a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law.

The course-based LLM program and the Graduate Certificate program are available for part-time enrolment.

Master of Laws (course-based and thesis-based) and Graduate Certificate

In addition to the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Faculty of Law requires:

a) Ordinarily, a JD, LLB or equivalent degree in Law.

b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL Internet-based score of 97, with a minimum of 25 on the reading and writing components; or the minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0, with a reading and writing band minimum of 7.0; or a CAEL score of 70, with a minimum of 70 on reading and writing components; or a PTE score of 68. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of "A-" in the Academic Writing and Composition course, a minimum grade of "A-" in the Research Writing and Form course, and a minimum grade of "B+" in other courses.

c) Applicants to the LLM program must submit a brief statement of their proposed thesis or major paper and indicate their proposed supervisor. Forms and details are available from the Faculty. For applicants interested in the specialization in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, the proposal must be in this area.

d) Two reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Faculty of Law requires:

a) Completion of an undergraduate degree in Law (e.g. JD or LLB), normally with a minimum grade point average of 3.30.

b) Completion of a Master’s degree in Law or other appropriate and relevant Master’s, with a minimum grade point average of 3.00. The typical successful applicant will have a GPA of at least 3.7 on a 4.0-point scale.

c) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL Internet-based score of 97, with a minimum of 25 on the reading and writing components; or a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0, with a reading and writing band minimum of 7.0; or a PTE score of 68; or a CAEL overall score of 70, with a minimum score of 70 on writing and reading sections. This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of “A-” in the Academic Writing and Composition course, a minimum grade of “A-” in the Research Writing and Form course, and a minimum grade of “B+” in other courses.

d) Two reference letters, ordinarily academic. At least one reference letter should be written by someone who has worked with the applicant at the Master’s level and who is well familiar with the student’s past work and research proposal.

e) An indication of possible supervisors.

f) A writing sample.

g) A 10-page statement describing the applicant’s research interests and proposing a dissertation project.

Deadlines for submission of completed applications are available on the Future Students website:

PhD: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/law-phd

LLM (thesis-based):

LLM (course-based):

Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law:

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for courses taken as part of another completed degree/diploma/certificate or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. See Advanced Credit.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Law requires:

Graduate Certificate Program

The completion of four courses (12 units) in the area of natural resources, energy or environmental law or a related area, including at least one with a research paper evaluation worth at least 50 per cent of the course grade and including at least two at the 600 level. All courses require the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

Master of LawsĚý(thesis-based)

a) Law 703. Students must receive a passing grade in this course to advance in the program.

b) Law 705.

c) At least two additional 600-level courses (6 units) approved by the Graduate Program Director. For students in the specialization in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, the courses should be in the areas of natural resources, energy or environmental law or in a related area or from a related discipline with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

d) A substantial research thesis, approximately 100 to 125 pages (30,000-38,000 words) in length, exclusive of the bibliography, prepared under the supervision of a faculty member or other suitable person appointed by the Graduate Program Director. For students in the specialization in Natural resources, Energy and Environmental Law, the thesis should be on a topic in that subject area.

e) Two terms in residence, normally consecutive and normally from September to April. Students usually require at least 15 to 18 months from initial registration for thesis completion and defence.

Master of LawsĚý(course-based)

a) Law 703. Students must receive a passing grade in this course to advance in the program.

b) 15 units of elective courses as follows:

LLM with specialization in Natural Resources, Energy or Environmental Law:

15 units of elective courses at the 500 level or higher in the areas of natural resources, energy and environmental law or in graduate-level courses in a related area or discipline, approved by the Graduate Program Director.

• At least 6 units must be law courses at 600 level or higher.
• At least 6 units must be from law courses that include a research paper evaluation worth at least 50 percent of the course grade.
• 3 of these units may be Law 705.

LLM without a specialization:

15 units of elective law courses at the 500 level or higher, or in graduate-level courses in a related area or discipline, approved by the Graduate Program Director.

• No more than 3 units may be taken outside of the Faculty of Law; any course taken outside the Faculty of Law must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.
• At least 6 units must be law courses at 600 level or higher.
• At least 6 units must be from law courses that include a research paper evaluation worth at least 50 percent of the course grade.

c) Law 706: A major research paper, approximately 50 to 60 pages (15,000–18,000 words) in length, evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis by the instructor and a second reader appointed by the Graduate Program Director.

Doctor of PhilosophyĚý

Students must complete:

a) Law 703.

b) Law 705.

c) Law 709.

d) Additional coursework as may be required by the supervisor in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Students may be required to carry out advanced coursework in the area of their thesis, or in a cognate area of law, or in a discipline other than law which is relevant to their thesis topic.

Master of Laws - Some JD courses may be eligible for credit toward the LLM program.

Doctor of Philosophy - Credit will be given for additional coursework required by the supervisor in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Such coursework may include upper-level undergraduate courses as appropriate.

a) All requirements for the Graduate Certificate program must be completed within three calendar years of initial registration.

b) All requirements for the course-based LLM degree must be completed within five years of initial registration. It is expected that full-time students will complete the program in one calendar year.

c) All requirements for the thesis-based LLM degree must be completed within three calendar years of initial registration.

d) Students are expected to compete all requirements for the PhD in four years. Maximum time to completion is six years.

Master of Laws

Contact the Faculty of Law Graduate Program Director for information.

Doctor of Philosophy

Prospective students are required to identify possible supervisors as part of the application process. Supervisors will be determined on the basis of consultations among the student, the potential supervisor(s) and the Graduate Program Director. An interim supervisor will be assigned during the admissions process, and the supervisor and supervisory committee will be established within twelve months of the student entering the program.

Master of Laws (thesis-based)

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations for thesis examinations, the program requires:

Thesis Examination

Thesis examinations are open.

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee (where applicable), must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations for candidacy and thesis examinations, the program requires:

Candidacy

Advancing to candidacy requires the successful completion of a) all coursework; b) an original thesis proposal; and c) a field of study examination with written and oral components.

Thesis Examination

Thesis examinations are open.

Scheduling of the Examination
Before an examination can be scheduled, all members of the supervisory committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the material related to the thesis, or the draft thesis document, and have provided written consent that the examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Master of Laws and Graduate Certificate - Financial assistance may be available to qualified students, although funding for course-based LLM and Graduate Certificate students will very rarely be provided. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar or the Faculty of Law Calendar or website.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their scholarship applications to the Faculty of Law by the deadlines for completed admission applications.

Doctor of Philosophy - Financial assistance will be available to qualified students in accordance with the Faculty of Law Graduate Student Funding Policy. See the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar, the , and the Faculty of Law website.

Attaining an LLM degree without a Canadian LLB degree will not qualify graduates to practice law in Canada. Inquiries on this issue must be addressed to the appropriate provincial governing body for the legal profession. In Alberta, contact the Law Society of Alberta or the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.