LLM International Trade Law
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Laws
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
There are few states around the world that don’t engage in international trade, and in an increasingly economically interdependent world, 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 in 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, therefore, if you have an analytical mind and a curiosity about how law can assist world trade.
You will learn to think from an international, rather than national, legal perspective, as well as developing your research and analytical skills.
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 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 and modules taught by leading experts. The School is based in Earlham Hall, a building of significant historical importance, built in 1642 but recently refurbished, where most of the postgraduate LLM teaching takes place – it will therefore be your home for your period of study.
Each year we 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 believe small-group teaching at postgraduate level is important, and we aim to keep class sizes low, offering you 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 have developed a programme of opportunities tailored specifically to the needs of our postgraduate students, including placement opportunities for both UK and overseas students. During your course, you can apply for one of UEA Law School’s internship placements. You can also 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.
Law Masters (LLM) degrees are increasingly seen by employers 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.
Study and Modules
Structure
You will discover the essentials of international trade law in your core, year-long Foundations of International Commercial Law module. Here you will gain an understanding of what drives the law governing international trade and commerce, 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 interrelate, 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 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 will 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 up to 40 credits’ worth of 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: 40)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. We encourage students therefore to remove themselves from their “jurisdictional silos” and become transnational lawyers. 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 the ideas of others, as well as 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 Masters degree.
Your core Foundations of International Commercial Law module also has an assessed group project element where you will work in groups, preparing a group report and giving an assessed presentation.
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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- Intakes
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
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.