Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

PAEMLAPR - Advanced Diploma in Professional Development in Employment Law and Practice

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Advanced Diploma in Professional Development Level Masters
Possible interim awards
Total credits for course 40
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Subject Area Professional Courses
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 30 WEEKS  
Distance Learning 30 WEEKS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

This is a post-graduate course designed for those working or interested in the HR field who wish to develop their understanding of employment law in their organisation. It is a professional development course that can be taken as a two-module stand-alone course or as a one module top-up course for students who have passed the BL7106 Employment Law and Practice module. It offers the opportunity to gain the credits needed for the Advanced Diploma in Employment Law and Practice, by gaining a thorough foundation in contemporary Employment Law with a particular emphasis on practical implications and by writing a supervised research-based project in a relevant subject of their own choice.

This course will be delivered by the Law Section within the Guildhall School of Business and Law, using staff expertise within the subject area offered.

This course will be delivered on-site (BL7106) and by way of distance learning (Project module). The on-site module will in the future also be offered in distance learning mode. The Students will be able to gain access to the online facilities provided to other London Met students including London Met’s library services, Westlaw, Lexis Library and the subscriptions to e-books and e-journals.

Owing to the method of delivery for the project module (and eventually the course), emphasis will be on the students to work independently, but they are expected to maintain regular communication with peers and teaching staff.

Social media platforms will be set up for students to establish a working relationship with their tutors and peers, especially through Weblearn. This is for a number of reasons:

  • to keep retention high among the cohort of students on the course;
  • to improve student satisfaction and student engagement (which is lost sometimes in distance learning course);
  • to enable students to feel part of the institution; and
  • to expand the university’s alumni throughout a number of different jurisdictions.

Students on the course are encouraged to observe an employment tribunal.

Course aims

The aims of this course are:

  • To develop a thorough foundation in contemporary Employment Law with a particular emphasis on practical implications;
  • To develop to an advanced level the students’ skills of independent research and analysis;
  • To allow students to develop an advanced understanding of Employment Law and Practice through independent research;
  • To develop students’ facility of critical thinking through taught provision and independent research;
  • To offer the course in modes of study that accommodate students’ other commitments and career development;
  • To assist students in evaluating their learning and embedding personal development in their professional practice in research/project activities.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will have:

  • An overview of the complex area of Employment Law and an understanding of relevant contemporary Employment Law issues and their practical implications;
  • An ability to critically analyse the law and evaluate the implications for employment practice;
  • An expertise in a specific area of Employment Law and Practice achieved by preparing for and writing the project.

By completing the BL7106 Employment Law and Practice module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the legal framework relating to employee relations and human resource management and be able to confidently handle and analyse legal materials
  • Analyse developments in employment law, including EC law, and be able to identify appropriate sources to enable them to keep abreast of developments
  • Identify problems and issues which arise in employee relations and human resource management, and apply the legal principles to those situations
  • Advise on appropriate legal action to be taken in the workplace
  • Advise on the preparation, presentation and settling of employment tribunal cases
  • Identify current legal issues, research those areas and analyse the findings.


By researching and presenting the project, students will be able to:

  • Identify an area/topic for the project
  • Identify and analyse the available literature in the field
  • Identify and analyse the relevant primary and secondary sources
  • Justify the title in terms of its relevance, topicality and originality
  • Compose appropriate research questions and supporting evidenced material and examples suitable to address critical academic and professional issues in the area of Employment Law and Practice

In writing the project, students will have:

  • Developed a capacity for independent evaluated research at postgraduate level
  • Become able to develop a methodologically sound critical discussion which is presented as a critically discursive analysis of the dissertation topic achieved by supervised dissertation writing.
  • Adopted an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of Employment Law and Practice.
  • Appropriately constructed academic and professional argument, including supported contextual and critical material suitable for inclusion and completion of a piece of academic and practical research of 5,000 words on a subject related to the area of Employment Law and Practice.

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Descriptor for a higher education qualification at level 7

Assessment strategy

Module 1 (BL7106 Employment Law and Practice)
The module is assessed by 100% coursework. It consists of two pieces of written coursework weighted 75% and 25%.

  1. Case study (1,000 words: 25%) + Essay (2,500 words: 50%): 75% (week 8)
  2. Essay (1,500 words): 25% (week 14)

Module 2 (Project module)

  1. Writing a Project Proposal (1,000 words; formative only; week 5)
  2. Writing the Project (maximum 5,000 words): 100% (week 15)

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Criticality and performative skills through debates, role plays (Employment tribunal), problem solving.

The self-directed research work engenders students’ development.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

Careers information and advice is given on the BL7106 Employment Law and Practice module.

Students on this course will either take this module or will have completed it as a prerequisite (top-up option).

Students may at any time during the course ask the Course Director and University Careers Office for further advice.

Career opportunities

This course is aimed at middle management professionals and technical specialists who are already working in the human resources industry who have an interest in employment law.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • a good bachelor’s degree (2:2) in any subject or a three-year diploma in business or creative industries
  • work experience in the HR industry or a related field equivalent to experienced middle management

You may be considered with HND/HNC. In certain circumstances, candidates with significant HR and employment law experience at a senior level may also be considered. Interviews are generally required for non-standard entry.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2016/17 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 18 Jul 2017 Last validation date 18 Jul 2017  
Sources of funding FUNDED ENTIRELY BY STUDENT TUITION FEES
JACS codes
Route code EMLAPR

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
BL7106 Employment Law and Practice Core 20 NORTH AUT WED EV
          NORTH SPR WED EV
BL7107 Employment Law and Practice: Advanced Project Core 20 NORTH SPR NA  
          NORTH AUT NA  

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
BL7106 Employment Law and Practice Core 20        
BL7107 Employment Law and Practice: Advanced Project Core 20        

Stage 1 Level 07 June start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
BL7106 Employment Law and Practice Core 20        
BL7107 Employment Law and Practice: Advanced Project Core 20