Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law

Gain a qualification from a top UK university while remaining in full-time employment.

• Start Date: 1st October 2019
• King's College London

Over the last three years, this Diploma/MA received an overall satisfaction rate of 93% (compared to a Russell Group average of 80%) from the students in the PTES, Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey.

The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London provides world-class teaching and cutting-edge research and was rated number 1 in the UK in the ‘power’ ranking which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity in the 2014 official Research Excellence Framework (takes place every 7 years.)

King’s College London also rated 7th for quality according to Times Higher Education rankings.

Overall, King’s College is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19). It has a distinguished reputation in Law, ranking 9th in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2019).

Course Overview

The Centre of European Law at King’s College London is pleased to announce details of its 2019-2020 Distance Learning Programme leading to a Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Economics for Competition Law, now in its tenth year. This programme is aimed at competition lawyers, both in-house and in private practice, and economists who may be new to competition law. Completing this rigorous programme will give you an edge in a competitive job market.

The programme aims to provide you with an understanding of the increasingly important role that economics plays in competition law and an understanding of when the economic analysis is relevant to a particular competition law case.

EU Referendum Statement: UPDATE

Following the Brexit decision, King’s College London has re-affirmed its total commitment to remaining a leader in EU law and in EU competition law. Enrol on this programme to ensure that you are in pole position to understand the changes as and when they happen – and to take advantage of any new opportunities that may appear.

Programme Aims

The first unit covers the conceptual foundations of economics as applied to competition law.

The next two units cover the basic building blocks of economic analysis in competition law: market power and market definition. Units four to five look at economic issues that arise under Article 102, whilst units six and seven deal with Article 101.

These are followed by one unit on network effects and the boundaries of competition and intellectual property law, two units on mergers, one on state aid and one on empirical analysis.

Each unit will consist of text, suggestions for further reading; questions and model answers. The units are designed to give the reader a basic understanding of the economics of the topic in question.

You will qualify with a highly regarded Postgraduate Diploma from one of the top 10 UK Law Schools in the UK (QS World Rankings 2018)

Key Information

• Qualification: Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Economics for Competition Law
• Start date: 1st October 2019
• Duration: 8 months
• Delivery: Online Distance Learning
• Fees: £6,180.
• Masters degree: Students who have completed the Postgraduate Diploma at Merit level can then apply for the Masters

Masters Programme

Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law will have the option to carry their credits forward and top up to a King' College London Masters by distance learning. This masters top up will consist of a dissertation of between 12,000-15,000 words.

Ideal For

Competition lawyers will be aware of the importance that economic evidence and analysis plays in cases brought before the European Commission, national competition authorities and the courts.

This programme has been specifically designed for lawyers in private practice, in-house legal advisers, representatives from the national competition authorities and the European Commission.

Countries who have benefited from the programme include:

Cyprus, Sweden, The Channel Islands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Denmark. Belgium, Greece, France, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil, Malaysia, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Why This Course?

"The course gives a superb overview of economic issues in competition law. It manages to be both informative and challenging to someone with professional experience in the area."

K. Knaus, E-Control, Austria

"An excellent combination of insights into economic theory, how it is applied, and how it shapes the competition world."

M. Ivanovas, Policy and Regulatory Report, Belgium

Programme Structure

The distance learning Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law consists of three modules containing twelve units. It will commence on 1st October 2019 and will extend over eight months leading to an examination in May 2020. The first unit will be sent out on 1st October 2019 and subsequent units will then be issued every two weeks until April 2020 with a four-week break over Christmas. Questions will be set at the end of each unit and model answers to these will be sent with the unit that follows. In addition, three compulsory assignments will be set during the programme which will count towards the final mark.

Optional Tutorial Seminars

All students will be eligible to attend two optional weekend seminars. The first will be held around on 16th/17th November 2019 and the second on 14th/15th March 2020. The weekend seminars will be held in Central London. The seminars are not compulsory but are very beneficial and provide an excellent opportunity to meet fellow students, the programme director and programme authors. The weekend seminars will be audio and video recorded in full and will be accessible to students via the programme website after the event, allowing all students to benefit from the seminars.

Unit format

The units come in the form of hard copy print and as PDF documents via the programme website. Each unit is designed to be largely self-contained but recommended and further reading will be suggested. For each unit, students will receive a package of materials comprising text, suggestions for further reading, questions and model answers.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants should hold a degree in law of a good 2nd class standard or the equivalent or a degree in a related discipline or be qualified as a barrister or a solicitor.
• Applications may also be accepted from a candidate who has achieved a comparative academic level through his or her studies and where the previous study, work or experience has made the applicant a suitable candidate.
• It is not possible to study this programme whilst you are registered for a different programme at any other institution.

English Language Requirements

• Applicants for whom English is not their mother tongue must provide evidence of having attained a level of English adequate to meet the demands of the programme. English IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all four skills or Cambridge Proficiency, rating B or Pearson Test of Academic English, overall 69 and a minimum of 62 in each individual skill.
• Alternatively, students should have a qualification from an English-speaking university.

King's College London Students & Brexit