Master's Degree Programme in Law and Information Society
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Become an expert in the legal challenges of digitalisation! The Master's Degree Programme in Law and Information Society (LIS) provides essential insights, capabilities and intellectual tools for analysing legal problems of the information society.
The Programme offers its students a unique combination of private and public law and multidisciplinary perspectives. Skills in legal analysis, critical thinking, research and writing is what distinguishes excellent lawyers and legal scholars.
We use interactive study methods and emphasise teaching in small groups. The Programme creates a solid basis for doctoral training in law. It also provides you with the expertise necessary for a successful career at law firms and corporations, governments and international organisations, as well as at universities and research institutions.
Programme in brief
Please see the degree structure above. The detailed information about the courses included in the degree will be published in the programme study guide latest in June 2020. The current study guide is valid until July 2020.
The degree consist of different types of studies. The studies begin with an introductory course. In the language courses students will practise research writing in English. The students who are not fluent with Finnish language must study a Finnish language course.
The students will study three modules. In the module 1, the studies must be selected from the Faculty of Law courses in English. Module 2 may consist of either the Faculty of Law studies or studies in other units. The module 3 studies must be studied in another unit than the Faculty of Law. The students will be given guidance in selecting the courses.
During the second year of studies the students will study the advanced studies, 60 ECTS. Advanced studies include the Master´s thesis.
Research-based teaching
Faculty of Law has four focal areas of research:
- Law, Information, and Technology
- Changing Economy Regulation
- Rights, Democracy, and Constitutionalism
- Law, Society, and Power
Law and Information Society Programme crosscuts all these themes and all our teaching is based on research. The Faculty of Law has several externally funded research projects in the areas of the LIS Programme and Digital Futures is also one of the six strategic research themes of University of Turku. More information on Faculty of Law Research.
Co-operation
Faculty of Law has a close co-operation with the other units teaching law in Turku. Three units from two universities teach law together under a co-operation called Turku Law School (TLS). Law and Information Society Programme students can study the TLS studies as a part of their degree.
In the LIS Programme, you will learn from the lecturers of the University of Turku as well as from international experts who are also top researchers in their area of expertise. LIS Programme is a partner in the Pan European Seal Traineeship Programme
Examples of thesis topics:
- Internet Service Providers’ Liability for Third Party Content
- Digital Exhaustion of Video Games – The Consumer Perspective
- The Right to be Forgotten – A conceptual analysis of the right to be forgotten, and its practical implications in the context of search engines
Career options
In the Programme, you learn:
- to understand patents, copyright, trademarks, design rights and trade secrets in their economic and societal contexts in the framework of European law and international treaties
- to comprehend how human rights, such as freedom of expression, privacy and data protection, are guaranteed in the digital society of today
- to apply recent research to the legal problems of the information society
After completing the MDP in Law and Information Society students will be awarded a Master of International and Comparative Law degree. Completion of this degree does not qualify the graduate for positions which require a Finnish Master of Laws degree (OTM).
The LIS Programme provides various opportunities to acquire the knowledge and competence necessary for working in various demanding positions in the knowledge society.
As a Master of International and Comparative Law, you can work in following positions:
- a legal counsel in a tech company
- an expert in an international organization
- a data protection officer in an insurance agency
The Programme offers internship opportunities in the EUIPO and EPO Offices. It is a possibility for a one year paid internhsip after graduation. Please see the website for further information.
The Programme offers a solid basis for doctoral training in the University of Turku or abroad. At the moment, the Faculty of Law has several doctoral candidates who have graduated from the LIS Programme.
Graduates from the Programme can apply for a position in the University of Turku Graduate School, UTUGS. The Graduate School consists of Doctoral Programmes, which cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.
Together with the Doctoral Programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional career in research and other positions of expertise.
Entry requirements
General Requirement
You are an eligible applicant for Master’s-level studies if
- you have a nationally recognized first cycle degree – normally a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education,
- your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study,
- your degree is in a relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to. Please check the programme page for detailed degree requirements.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills. You can indicate your language skills by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests.
Applicants must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. No exceptions will be made. Read more about the language requirements here.
Programme is directed to the students with a Bachelor of Laws degree or equivalent degree with most of the credits from legal studies. When filling in the application form the applicants must be prepared to write a motivation letter (max 4000 characters with spaces): Please describe why you are applying to the Master´s degree Programme Law and Information Society. You should also evaluate how your previous study and professional background supports the successful completion of the programme.
The applicants must also answer to the exam question. The instructions and the question will be published in the Studyinfo portal 16 December 2019.
The admission decision is based on the overall evaluation of the level and content of previous studies, grades, language skills, personal interest and written application examination. Applications will be checked for plagiarism.
