Name of Programme
LLM International and Commercial Law
Final Award
LLM
Location
mini´«Ã½
Awarding Institution/Body
University Of mini´«Ã½
Teaching Institution
University Of mini´«Ã½
School of Study
School of Law
Programme Code(s)
PLMF1PIC / Full Time / 9 Months
Professional Body Accreditation
Relevant Subject Benchmark Statement (SBS)
Law (March 2023)
Admission Criteria
1) 2:2 LLB (Hons) degree from a UK institution (or equivalent from a foreign institution)
2) Persons who have not attained a degree of the standard and type indicated in 1) may be accepted if they have had some relevant practical experience in a legal or commercial environment
3) 2:2 (Hons) non-law degree (or equivalent from a foreign institution) in which student has studied sufficient legal topics and obtained a minimum of 2:2 grades in them
4) Persons who hold a 2:2 or better degree in which no legal subjects were studied, and who either demonstrate the necessary analytical skills, and/ or have relevant experience in a legal or commercial environment
5) Persons that hold Third Class LLB degrees from the mini´«Ã½, may be allowed to upgrade from a Diploma in International & Commercial Law if they satisfy conditions laid down by the Programme Director regarding the upgrade
Applicable Cohort(s)
Winter and Autumn 2025
FHEQ Level
7
UCAS Code
Summary of Programme
Students are required to complete 180 units of study in order to be awarded an LL.M. in International and Commercial Law. In order to achieve this, students must complete:

1. The compulsory Dissertation module, worth 60 units. This constitutes the research component of the degree and requires students to attend a taught element introducing them to advanced legal research that runs in the Winter Term and includes submitting and presenting a dissertation proposal, as well as subsequently writing the dissertation of 15,000 words, excluding footnotes, which is expected to be completed in the Summer Term.

2. 120-units worth of Taught Modules. Students are free to combine modules as they wish, as long as they do not pick more than 4 modules per term. There are 15-unit Modules and 30-unit Modules to choose from. The 15-unit Modules are taught over one term and the 30-unit Modules are taught over two terms. Taught modules do not run in the Summer Term (Term 3). Taught modules are assessed through a variety of methods, including essays and/or oral presentations.

Depending on the combination of taught modules selected by a student, they will be awarded one of the following:

LLM in International & Commercial Law (General)
LLM in International & Commercial Law (Financial Law Specialist)
LLM in International & Commercial Law (International Trade and Maritime Law Specialist)
LLM in International & Commercial Law (Corporate Law Specialist)

A student may be awarded an LLM with one of the above specialisations provided that:
1. At least 120 out of 180 units of their degree are obtained in their area of specialisation, in accordance with the lists below; and
2. The student has obtained a minimum of a pass mark in all modules, and at least 60 Units at merit level.

LLM in International & Commercial Law (Financial Law Specialist):
• Banking Law and Fintech *
• Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse
• Artificial Intelligence and the Law
• Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency
• A dissertation on a suitable area of Financial Services Law as approved by the Programme Director

LLM in International & Commercial Law (International Trade and Maritime Law Specialist)
• International Trade and Maritime Law*
• Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency
• Marine Insurance
• Law of World Trade
• International Intellectual Property Law
• A dissertation on a suitable area of International Trade and Maritime Law as approved by the Programme Director

LLM in International & Commercial Law (Corporate Law Specialist)
• Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency *
• Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse
• Banking Law and Fintech
• International Intellectual Property Law
• Artificial Intelligence and the Law
• A dissertation on a suitable area of Corporate Law as approved by the Programme Director

* Essential module for specialist pathway.

The programme will be classified as per the General Academic Regulations for First Degrees and Taught Postgraduate Degrees within the Regulation Handbook, available on the UoB website.
Educational Aims of the Programme
• To develop a systematic and in depth understanding of areas of commercial and international law.
• To develop the critical skills necessary to analyse and evaluate complex legal problems and related issues.
• To give students an opportunity to examine and discuss specialist aspects of commercial and international law and develop and practise a number of advanced key skills, including research skills.
• To give students the opportunity to undertake substantial independent research projects in areas of international, comparative or commercial law and enable them to evaluate their own decision making.
• To enable students to develop a co-operative approach to problem-solving through seminar discussions.
Programme Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

On completing this programme students will acquire:
• An in depth understanding of complex and specialist areas of Commercial Law, International Law, Financial and Corporate Law (depending upon what choices they make);
• An understanding of the context in which certain legal rules are developed, or applied in specialist areas of law;
• For non-UK law graduates, an in depth understanding of how the English legal system works and operates

Teaching/Learning Strategy

• Structured lectures and seminars in the taught course options chosen by the student;
• The undertaking of a dissertation to gain knowledge of specific specialist area of commercial, comparative or international law. The research option will be supported by supervision of their research.

Assessment Strategy

1. Dissertation 60 credits (Compulsory Module)
2. Taught Modules (120 credits) All Unit courses are assessed by various methods, including essays and or oral presentations.
Programme Outcomes

Cognitive Skills

• Ability to critically identify and analyse specialist legal and related issues, and assess the validity of different arguments and concepts;
• Ability to critically evaluate existing legal rules and evaluate proposals for changes to legal rules;
• Ability to critically apply knowledge to difficult legal problems and produce well-supported conclusions based upon sound analysis of the legal principles.

Teaching/Learning Strategy

• Seminar groups
• Written assignments
• Students are required to make oral presentations
• Feedback from tutors and supervisors of research
• Dissertation (compulsory)




Assessment Strategy

• Seminar groups
• Written assignments
• Students are required to make presentations
• Feedback from tutors and supervisors of research
• Dissertation (compulsory)
Programme Outcomes

Practical/Transferable Skills

Key Skills
• To analytically apply knowledge of specialist areas of commercial, international and comparative law to complex problem situations;
• To present, in writing or orally, a concise and coherent argument based upon legal and related material, and be able to defend such arguments;
• To provide a critical evaluation of unresolved problems in commercial, international and comparative law at an advanced level.

Practical Skills
• Identify, find, use and be up-to date with primary and secondary legal resources at an advanced level;
• To act independently in planning and managing tasks, including the conduct of their own dissertations;
• To make oral presentations on complex and specialist legal issues in a concise and coherent way
• To critically engage in academic debate on commercial, international and comparative legal issues, both in writing and orally;
• To read and comprehend complex legal and related materials;
• To use advanced information

Teaching/Learning Strategy

• Structured lectures, seminars
• Written assignments
• Oral presentations
• Dissertation (Compulsory)
• Feedback from tutors and research supervisors
• Students, who need to be, are instructed in the use of the main legal databases to which the university subscribes;
• Students, who need to be, are instructed in the use of the law library;
• Seminars and tutorials
• Written assignments and comments from tutors;
• Dissertations; and comments from supervisors;

Assessment Strategy

• Seminar groups
• Written assignments
• Students are required to make oral presentations
• Feedback from tutors and supervisors of research
• Dissertation (compulsory).
External Reference Points
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• Relevant Subject Benchmark Statement(s)
• Other (list)
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the departmental or programme handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by the mini´«Ã½ and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Date of Production
Revised August 2020, December 2024
Date approved by School Learning and Teaching Committee
Last Revision Date: June 2024, December 2024
Date approved by School Board of Study
Last Revision Date: June 2024, December 2024
Date approved by University Learning and Teaching Committee
Last Revision Date: June 2024, December 2024
Date of Annual Review
In line with the University annual monitoring review process

 

PROGRAMME STRUCTURES

LLM International and Commercial Law

PLMF1PIC / Full Time / January Entry
Term 1
Winter
Dissertation (Law) [L7/60U] (LPFDLLM)
One or Four of:
Climate Change and the Law: Contemporary Issues [L7/15U]
International & Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) [L7/15U]
International Intellectual Property Law [L7/15U]
Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices [L7/15U] (FCLPXXLLM1) *
One or Four of:
Banking Law and Fintech [L7/30U]
International Trade and Maritime Law [L7/30U]
Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency [L7/30U]
Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse [L7/30U] (LAWPGXXXX3) **
Term 2
Spring
Dissertation (Law) [L7/60U] (LPFDLLM)
(Continued)
One or Four of:
Artificial Intelligence and The Law [L7/15U]
Law of World Trade [L7/15U]
Law of War [L7/15U]
Marine Insurance [L7/15U] (LAWPGXXXX2)
One or Four of:
Banking Law and Fintech [L7/30U]
International Trade and Maritime Law [L7/30U]
Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency [L7/30U]
Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse [L7/30U] (LAWPGXXXX3) **
(Continued)
Term 3
Summer
Dissertation (Law) [L7/60U] (LPFDLLM)
(Continued)

* Elective Choices for Term 1 (Winter): Four modules, to be selected in any combination desired, from the two columns, noting that some modules are mandatory in order to obtain a specialisation (as specified above).
** Elective Choices for Term 2 (Spring): Four modules, to be selected in any combination desired, from the two columns, noting that some modules are mandatory in order to obtain a specialisation (as specified above). Where 30-unit modules were selected in the Winter Term, they will need to be carried on to this Spring Term.

Note: 1: International Students must complete a minimum of 30 units of study per term, in order to comply with Visa requirements 2: With the exception of the 60 Unit Dissertation, all other modules are electives and students can choose which ones to complete, whilst ensuring that the required amount of units equates to 120 Units in order to qualify for the LLM International and Commercial Law and except where a student wishes to obtain a specialism, in which case the required modules (as detailed in the Summary of the Programme, above) should be completed.

 

LLM International and Commercial Law

PLMF1PIC / Full Time / September Entry
Term 1
Autumn
Dissertation [Law] [L7/60U] (LPFDISS)
One or Four of:
International and Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) [L7/15U]
International Intellectual Property Law [L7/15U]
Law of World Trade [L7/15U]
Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices [L7/15U] (FCLP5) *
Term 2
Winter
Dissertation [Law] [L7/60U] (LPFDISS)
(Continued)
Zero or Three of:
Climate Change and the Law: Contemporary Issues [L7/15U]
International and Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) [L7/15U]
International Intellectual Property Law [L7/15U]
Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices [L7/15U] (FCLP19) **
Zero or Four of:
Banking Law and Fintech [L7/30U]
International Trade and Maritime Law [L7/30U]
Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency [L7/30U]
Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse [L7/30U] (LAWPGXXXX3) ***
Term 3
Spring
Dissertation [Law] [L7/60U] (LPFDISS)
(Continued)
Zero or Four of:
Artificial Intelligence and The Law [L7/15U]
Law of World Trade [L7/15U]
Law of War [L7/15U]
Marine Insurance [L7/15U] (LAWPGXXXX2)
Zero or Four of:
Banking Law and Fintech [L7/30U]
International Trade and Maritime Law [L7/30U]
Corporate Law and Corporate Insolvency [L7/30U]
Financial Crime, Money Laundering and Market Abuse [L7/30U] (LAWPGXXXX3) ***
(Continued)
Term 4
Summer
Dissertation [Law] [L7/60U] (LPFDISS)
(Continued)

* Elective Choices for Term 1 (Autumn): Students must select modules worth 120 units to be spread over the Autumn, Winter, and Spring terms, without studying more than 4 modules in any given term. We suggest students pick 2 modules this term, but anything between 1 to 3 choices for this term will be permitted. Please note that some modules are mandatory in order to obtain a specialisation (as specified above).
** Elective Choices for Term 2 (Winter): Students must select modules worth 120 units to be spread over the Autumn, Winter, and Spring terms, without studying more than 4 modules in any given term. We suggest students pick 3 modules this term, but anything between 1 to 4 choices for this term will be permitted. Please note that some modules are mandatory in order to obtain a specialisation (as specified above).
*** Elective Choices for Term 3 (Spring): Students must select modules worth 120 units to be spread over the Autumn, Winter, and Spring terms, without studying more than 4 modules in any given term. We suggest students pick 3 modules this term, but anything between 1 to 4 choices for this term will be permitted. Where 30-unit modules were selected in the Winter Term, they will need to be carried on to this Spring Term. Please note that some modules are mandatory in order to obtain a specialisation (as specified above).

Note: 1: International Students must complete a minimum of 30 units of study per term, in order to comply with Visa requirements 2: With the exception of the 60 Unit Dissertation, all other modules are electives and students can choose which ones to complete, whilst ensuring that the required amount of units equates to 120 Units in order to qualify for the LLM International and Commercial Law and except where a student wishes to obtain a specialism, in which case the required modules (as detailed in the Summary of the Programme, above) should be completed.