LLM in International Commercial and Business Law Queen's University Belfast

This research-led Programme is designed to help you understand and engage with the legal and regulatory regimes governing international commerce and the global economy. It will also enable you to develop a broad set of relevant skills and avail of support from leading academics. Overall, this LLM Programme will boost your employability and enhance your job opportunities. It will enable you to consider pursuing a career in law or beyond— in the commercial sector (inclusive of consultancy firms), government or in NGOs.

You will develop your understanding of business on a global scale and the place of law, the linkages between its different areas. You will better appreciate the importance of compliance and corporate social responsibility in our societies.

Thanks to our diverse student body you will have a unique opportunity to meet peers with different experience and backgrounds, enabling you to expand your own perspective and understanding further. In prvious years students have joined the programme from both the UK and around the world, significantly contributing to the discussions in class and group work.

The School’s world-leading academics specialise in a range of relevant areas, including:

• International Commercial Law
• International Competition Law
• International Trade Law
• Legal Aspects of Innovation and New Technologies
• Corporate Governance and Compliance
• International Financial Regulation

The individual modules are frequently research-led, drawing from staff research and their engagement with relevant stakeholders and policy-makers, both in the UK and beyond. They are taught by a variety of methods and assessment types and therefore speak to different learning styles.

International Commercial And Business Law Highlights

Industry Links

Integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Law was ranked Top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022)

World Class Facilities

Our facilities at Queen's include a state-of-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Queen's has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world, home to 1.2 million volumes, amazing digitally-available collection of books and journals from all over the world, and over 2,000 reader places. The University invested considerable resources into further expanding its capacity to enable online learning and engagement, further boosting student experience. Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Queen's Elms Student Village and city centre student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.

Internationally Renowned Experts

The LLM is delivered by academic staff who through their research are currently shaping global and local debates within legal scholarship. They have experience of interacting with leading policy-makers and key stakeholders, contributing to ongoing developments both in the UK and beyond. Law at Queen's is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and we are ranked 19th in the world for global outlook. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).

Student Experience

This Programme has been specifically designed so that our students can emerge with a deeper appreciation of the place law plays in international business and the global economy. Students study within a vibrant international mix of students and staff from all over the world. We focus on your individual career and development needs, building your skills, enhancing your personal experience of the course and thinking of your career path, rather than just teaching you theory. At Queen's you will be part of and co-creating a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Queen's is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Queen’s has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests. Queen’s was ranked 9th in the UK for university facilities.

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete four core modules (80 CATS points), two optional modules (40 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The Masters is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Compulsory Modules

• Issues in International Commercial Law
• Comparative Competition Law
• World Trade Law
• Dissertation (Maximum 15,000 words)

(Students who secure a summer work placement of at least 8 weeks can complete a Dissertation in Practice Module including 12,000 word dissertation and 3,000 word reflective journal of the learning experience)

Course Details

The programme is delivered through a series of taught modules and culminates in the submission of a dissertation on an original topic.

• Methodology Mini-Modules Approaches to Legal Research
• Leadership and Innovation Skills
• Data, Privacy and the Law
• Regulating Digital Communications

Optional Modules

• Governing the Firm
• Business and Human Rights
• Copyright in the Digital Environment
• International Financial Law
• Advanced Issues in Medical Law and Ethics
• UK Trade Law and Policy
• Corporate Environmental Law
• Artificial Intelligence and the Law
• Crimes of the Powerful

Please note this is not an exclusive list of the optional modules available. Optional modules are reviewed each year and subject to staff availability

*Note: students who take the module Business and Human Rights may graduate with the award of LLM in International Corporate Governance.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with the course are outlined below:

Learning Opportunities:

The Law School at Queen's is ranked as one of the top 10 Law Schools in the UK .(Complete University Guide 2023). You will be taught by scholars from all over the world, many of whom have international reputations in their fields with direct experience of engaging with key policy-makers and stakeholders, both in the UK and internationally, and all are committed teachers and researchers. Students will also have access to an excellent law section in the new library (with robust, recently further extended online resources) and extensive IT facilities.

During your study with us you will be supported in various ways. For example, each Programme has its own Programme Co-Ordinator—a dedicated academic staff who is there to guide and support you throughout your time with us, together with the School's experienced and helpful administrative staff.

Moreover, all our LLM students are able to avail of mentoring and pastoral support of academic staff. We place considerable emphasis on facilitating good communication between staff and students. To this end, a Student Voice Committee, comprised of elected student representatives, the Director of Graduate Studies and other members of academic staff, meet at regular intervals throughout the academic year. This Committee provides students with a forum in which to raise matters of concern to them and also enables the School to keep students informed about matters affecting the School and wider university.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

We do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enables our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, life-long learners.

Our LLM programme provides a valuable qualification and the knowledge base for a range of careers, for example, in law, business (including consulting firms), government or NGOs.