Public Procurement Law and Policy

Entry requirements

Applicants with alternative academic backgrounds also considered where they have relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications such as a MCIPS.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Developments over the last two decades have made public procurement law one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of law. Given the extent to which legal rules now govern the day-to-day conduct of most procurement activity, knowledge of procurement law has become vital for anyone working in public sector procurement.

This programme is open to those with a legal background and those without, and does not require a law degree. It is designed in particular for:

• procurement officers whose role demands an understanding of the legal rules
• policymakers responsible for designing and implementing legal rules on procurement
• lawyers advising on public procurement
• those seeking to undertake research or teaching in public procurement

It provides a thorough understanding of:

• the nature of law and legal process
• the principles and rules of public procurement law
• the application of these rules in key national and international systems/models, including UNCITRAL, the WTO, the World Bank, the EU and the UK
• how to implement best practice in the context of a legal framework

Brexit impact

A bespoke UK Public Procurement Law module is run every teaching cycle. This covers all of the latest UK developments in detail, including the post-Brexit legislation scheduled for adoption in 2023. The module will next run in spring 2023.

The UK’s accession to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and signing of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU requires the UK system to align with the WTO GPA and EU systems, which are very similar. Students will therefore greatly benefit from in-depth modules on the WTO GPA and EU legal systems and associated case law, which will continue to inform the application of UK law.

Information for international students