LLM International Commercial and Business Law (Part Time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Laws
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
Course Overview
On this LLM International Commercial and Business Law, you will gain a sound knowledge of the subject and learn how to apply it in an international environment. You will also have the chance to specialise according to your interests. These skills will set you apart, as they are some of the most highly sought after attributes of modern legal practice. You will be taught by experts, many of whom have practised law at leading international commercial law firms.
If you are already working in international commerce law, or aspire to a career in this sector, this course has been designed for you.
You will learn to think from a global legal perspective whilst becoming an expert in the law of international commerce. You will graduate ready to work in private practice, in industry, or within a government department or regulator.
Study at UEA Law School and you will be joining a School that excels in its dedication to offering intellectually diverse, varied and stimulating postgraduate courses, supported by a wide range of subjects or modules taught by leading experts. The School is housed in historic Earlham Hall and you will join a welcoming and collegiate community of legal scholars and students.
You will be taught by dedicated lecturers with expertise in a range of legal fields and will be part of a vibrant student body with an active law society. Each year, we usually welcome around 100 postgraduate students from a wide variety of geographical and personal backgrounds, and it is the vibrant and dynamic community they create that completes the student experience.
We place significant emphasis on choice, building your confidence, maximising your employability, and developing adaptable transferable skills. We aim to provide you with an unparalleled personal teaching environment with access to our team of international specialists drawn from academia and practice.
We also believe practical and careers experience is extremely valuable, and we’ve developed a programme of opportunities tailored specifically to the needs of our postgraduate students, including placement opportunities for both UK and overseas students. You will have many other opportunities to build your skills, confidence and professional CV through extra-curricular activities and the Law School’s unique employability programme. You could, for example, complete an internship at a law firm, or you could ‘marshal’, spending a day on the bench with a judge during a trial. You could benefit from the alumni-mentoring scheme, where Law School graduates offer career mentoring to individual students. Our many events with law firms, barrister chambers and alumni create great opportunities for finding out about the options for when you graduate. You could make a difference in the local community, working for the public good (pro bono). In less than five years, our students have recovered no less than £7 million for welfare benefits claimants wrongly denied payments. We have won the national LawWorks Best Partnership in Pro Bono award no fewer than four times.
You can also have fun, build your profile and hone valuable skills by joining in Law Society activities. As well as social events, these include beginner and advanced mooting contests where a point of law is debated in a simulated court hearing. Finals are judged by actual judges or barristers. The Law Society also holds negotiation, client interviewing, mediation and legal triathlon competitions, the finals of which are hosted by law firms. In 2016, the UEA Law Society won LawCareers.Net award for ‘Best Pro Bono’ activities, and in 2019, the award as the best law society for Commercial Awareness.
Study and Modules
Structure
You will need to complete 180 Level 7 credits over the course of the two years.
You will start your course by taking a compulsory non-credit bearing.
In your first year, you will discover the essentials of international trade law. Here you will gain an understanding of what drives the law governing international trade and commerce and, therefore, the reasons for harmonisation of the law in this area, the institutions involved in the harmonisation process, and the scope of that process. You will develop a firm understanding of international harmonisation efforts, discovering how this has resulted in a move away from national sovereignty and towards the reduction of legal differences. You will also develop an understanding of how international trade law subjects inter-relate as you will explore several areas in which attempts have been made to harmonise or codify the law, and consider how successful these efforts have been, and ways in which the process can be improved.
You will then usually choose three modules from a range of optional modules giving you the chance to explore specialist areas of international trade law that interest you most.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Over the two years, this course gives you an excellent balance of independent thinking and study skills, helping you to grow into a self-motivated learner, expert researcher, and analytical thinker.
Teaching is provided by academics including those who have been in legal practice (often from international city law firms) who are specialists in their fields. Teaching formats include interactive lectures and seminars. Whatever the format, you will learn how to listen to and critique the ideas of others, as well as how to present and defend your own theories.
Your module organiser will provide you with a list of compulsory and optional further reading material in advance of each class. This means that you can fully prepare for your class, having identified areas for further discussion. We advise at least 8 hours preparation per week for each of your modules.
You will develop accuracy and precision in your written work and You will become well versed in time management, graduating as someone who is highly organised and confident in self-directed study.
To make sure you get the most from your studies and to help you reach your full potential, you will have an Academic Adviser who will help you through the year.
In addition, our Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study and writing skills, academic writing (including how to reference) and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.
Assessment
You will experience a variety of assessment methods, but with a focus on coursework. We believe this enables you to best demonstrate your attainment of the learning objectives, and therefore enhances your performance, aiding your successful completion of your Master’s degree.
Throughout your course, you will be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. This feedback will be on both your formative and summative assessments and can be discussed with your Academic Adviser and your module organiser.
Structure
In your second year, you will usually choose a further two optional modules but from a wider list, including subjects such as International Competition Law, Globalisation of Intellectual Property Law, Information Technology Law, E-Commerce and Internet Law.
You will also complete your course by writing a 40-credit dissertation on an area of specific interest to you but related to your major during the summer months.
With the consent of the Course Director, you can also choose to take one 20 credit module from other postgraduate courses offered by UEA in your second year, allowing you to personalise your course to your specific interests. For example, you might choose a module from one of UEA’s International Relations, International Development, Business, or Economics courses. Please speak to the Course Director before the start of your second year if this is of interest.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Over the two years, this course gives you an excellent balance of independent thinking and study skills, helping you to grow into a self-motivated learner, expert researcher, and analytical thinker.
Teaching is provided by academics including those who have been in legal practice (often from international city law firms) who are specialists in their fields. Teaching formats include interactive lectures and seminars. Whatever the format, you will learn how to listen to and critique the ideas of others, as well as how to present and defend your own theories.
Your module organiser will provide you with a list of compulsory and optional further reading material in advance of each class. This means that you can fully prepare for your class, having identified areas for further discussion. We advise at least 8 hours preparation per week for each of your modules.
You will develop accuracy and precision in your written work and you will become well versed in time management, graduating as someone who is highly organised and confident in self-directed study.
To make sure you get the most from your studies and to help you reach your full potential, you will have an Academic Adviser who will help you through the year.
In addition, our Learning Enhancement team, based in the Student Support Service, are on hand to help in various study areas, including study and writing skills, academic writing (including how to reference) and research skills.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.
Assessment
You will experience a variety of assessment methods, but with a focus on coursework. We believe this enables you to best demonstrate your attainment of the learning objectives, and therefore enhances your performance, aiding your successful completion of your Master’s degree.
Throughout your course, you will be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. This feedback will be on both your formative and summative assessments and can be discussed with your Academic Adviser and your module organiser.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Law or related degree
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with a minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Interviews
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year .
Additional Information or Requirements
Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree in Law, or, exceptionally, in a related subject from a recognised higher education institution in the UK or overseas.
The Law School will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant and encourages applications from those wishing to return to academic study to further their knowledge, or those planning to study for a degree while remaining in full-time employment.
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Law Masters (LLM) degrees are increasingly seen by employers as a means to distinguish applicants. Our graduates have progressed to a wide variety of successful careers, from private practice to government legal departments and international organisations, and from universities to industry and commerce.
You will graduate ready for a variety of exciting legal careers, including legal practice, practice before the bars of various jurisdictions, posts in government and international organisations, and public service. Past LLM graduates have gone into specialist areas of law, finance, the civil service, local government, administration or even teaching.
Alternatively, you might continue your studies with a PhD.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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International legal practice
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Thai Judiciary (via the accelerated pathway)
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Other law-related careers (NGOs, international organisations, in-house compliance, legal researchers, police)
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Public sector (Civil Service Fast Stream, prosecutors, local government, politics, education)
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Financial services (tax, banking, insurance, investment, accountancy)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.