LLM International Trade Law
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Laws
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
In today's increasingly economically interdependent world, there are few states that don’t engage in international trade. The importance of an efficient and effective legal framework for the facilitation of international trade and investment is widely acknowledged.
Studying international trade law, rather than national trade law, is essential if you intend to enter a career in trade or a trade-related government department. By becoming an expert in this specialist area of law, you will build a firm foundation in the law and legal practice in this challenging and complex area, gaining a clear understanding of why a predictable and clear legal framework is essential for efficient and effective cross-border trade. This course is ideal if you have an analytical mind and a curiosity about how law can assist world trade.
UEA Law School is housed in the historic Earlham Hall. You will join a vibrant, dynamic community of students from diverse backgrounds. On this course, you will learn to think from an international, rather than national, legal perspective and develop your research and analytical skills.
We offer placement opportunities and chances to build your CV through extra-curricular activities and the Law School’s unique employability programme. You could benefit from our alumni-mentoring scheme, as well as attend some of our many career events where you can network with law firms, barrister chambers and alumni. You can apply for internship placements, attend careers panels, commercial awareness workshops, mock job interviews, our annual Law Careers Fair and many other events organised by the UEA Law School and the Careers Service.
Our LLM International Trade Law graduates are highly regarded by employers, both inside and outside the legal profession, and we have well established relationships with many local, regional, national and international law firms, some of which offer exclusive placements to UEA students.
Study and Modules
Structure
You will discover the essentials of international trade law and gain an understanding of the complications which arise from a legal perspective in cross-border trade and commerce. You will focus your studies on the 'transnational' nature of such transactions, and the transnational solutions which have developed, both in different legal systems but more generally through the work of international organisations. We therefore consider the “harmonisation” of the law and gain an understanding of international harmonisation efforts in key areas of trade law, such as sales, carriage of goods by sea, international commercial payment and cross-border dispute resolution. You will also develop an understanding of how international trade law subjects interrelate and consider how successful harmonisation efforts have been in these areas.
You will then have the chance to explore the specialist areas of international trade law that interest you most.
You will also take a compulsory non-credit-bearing module at the start of your course and write a dissertation on an area of specific interest to you but related to your major during the summer.
With the consent of the Course Director, you can also choose modules from other postgraduate courses offered at UEA, 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 discuss any ideas with the Course Director before the start of the academic year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(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
The course is taught from an international and comparative perspective with particular focus on the effects (and benefits) of the various harmonisation initiatives, and so students learn to think from an international, rather than national, legal perspective, as well as developing research and analytical skills. As a student with us, you will be encouraged to remove yourself from your “jurisdictional silos” and become a transnational lawyer. 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 and associate tutors from legal practice (often 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 others' ideas and how to present and defend your own theories.
Depending on your module choices, you will have around eight contact hours per week.
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 small group meetings, having identified areas for further discussion. We advise at least 10 to 15 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 throughout 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 particular 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
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Law or Cognate
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Law or Cognate
- 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):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in Writing and Speaking, and 5.5 in Reading and Listening)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not 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 required English skills.
-
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £10,675
-
International Students: £22,700
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 £1,136 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
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
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 choose to continue your studies with a PhD.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- International legal practice
- Thai Judiciary (via the accelerated pathway)
- Other law-related careers (NGOs, international organisations, in-house compliance, legal researchers, police)
- Public sector (Civil Service Fast Stream, prosecutors, local government, politics, education)
- Financial services (tax, banking, insurance, investment, accountancy)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.