Postgraduate Diploma Specialisations

Postgraduate Diploma Fields (Previous Rules)

Note:  The School of Law will implement a new curriculum for Postgraduate Diploma in law from 2013.  The curriculum on this page applies only to students already registered under the previous rules.

Click here for the 2013 curriculum.  Students registered under previous rules may complete their degree under the old rules subject to General Rule 7.5. Alternatively, a student may elect to convert to the 2013 rules.  A student wishing to convert must fulfil all the requirements of the 2013 rules.  Credits or exemptions may be granted for certain units or unit requirements subject to CLM17.4.11.

Curriculum under previous rules

 The programme comprises of four courses.  The content of the programme depends on the field of specialisation chosen.  Six fields of specialisation are on offer:

• PG Dip in the field of Corporate Law
• PG Dip in the field of Tax Law
• PG Dip in the field of Labour Law
• PG Dip in the field of Pension Funds Law
• PG Dip in the field o Communications Law
• PG Dip in the field of Environmental Law

Note:  Not all the subjects are offered every year, and not all specialisations can be completed on a full-time basis every year.  Students who have a particular interest in doing subjects that are not offered in a particular year may, with the permission of the Director of the LLM programme, suspend their registration or receive an extension to do this.

A candidate is required to complete every course at the first attempt. Failure to do so will result in exclusion from the Postgraduate Diploma programme.

For details of the contents of specific courses, click here.

Fields of Study

Corporate Law

Commercial practice is today not only the most lucrative field of law, but undoubtedly the most dynamic.  The Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Law is structrued to provide the commercial lawyer with an opportunity to acquire specialised knowledge in selected topics in this competitive field.

Students are required to complete four courses as follows:

Tax Law

Take the opportunity to learn from South Africa's best tax lawyers in the Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law.  The focus is on he theoretical principles of this most specialised field of law, which means that the qualification remains current despite changes in the relevant legislation.  This qualification builds on the already firm reputation gained by the School of Law's Higher Diploma in Tax Law, which it replaces.

Note that currently the Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law is only presented on a part-time basis.  Students therefore have to complete 2 courses in the first year of study and the remaining two in the 2nd year of study.

Students are required to complete four courses as follows:

Labour Law

The School of Law's Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law affords you the opportunity to gain an up to date theoretical insight into the state of South Africa labour law and to take that perspective with you in your future practice.

Students are required to complete four courses as follows:

Pension Funds Law

Answering to a need from practice to advance specialised learning in a field of law that has seen enormous growth in the last decade, we offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Pension Funds Law.

Note that currently the compulsory courses for the Postgraduate Diploma in Pension Funds Law are only presented every two years.  Students who wish to complete this qualification on a full-time basis will therefore only be able to register for this qualification every two years, the next opportunity being 2013. Students who wish to complete this qualification on a part-time basis will be able to register for this qualification every year.

Students are required to complete four courses as follows:

Communications Law

As the law struggles to keep track of the vast technological advances of the past two decades, you are offered the opportunity to specialise your knowledge in communications law.

Students are required to complete any four courses from the following list

Environmental Law

The need for mankind to rectify its previous misuse of the environment, as well as the need to adjust our future behaviours, is foremost on the 21st century citizen's mind.  The law responds accordingly. We invite the future leaders in the field of legal thinking on the environment and sustainable development to enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Law.

Students are required to complete four courses as follows:

Note: Please note that the electives on offer in any one year may vary according to the availability of staff.