International, Commercial and Business Law

Course summary

International law is an increasingly important field of study and practice. The regulation of financial markets, environmental protection, the management of migrations, or the prosecution of war criminals are all areas in which international law plays a central role.

On the LLM in International, Commercial and Business Law, you’ll focus on the legal rules, conventions, treaties, domestic legislation and commercial customs or usages that govern international commercial and consumer markets. You’ll deepen your understanding of how they affect activities including the sale of goods and services, market competition, consumer rights, data protection, and the environment.

Keele School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for cutting-edge, socially relevant legal research, which tackles some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. Key research themes include: Social Justice and Human Rights; International and European Law; Ethics, Health and Social Care; Legal Education, Innovation, and Practice; Gender, Sexuality, and Law.

The wide range of staff expertise enables us to offer four specialist pathways in: Commerce and Business; the Environment; and Human Rights. This also considerably broadens the scope for potential interdisciplinary research topics; a fascinating range of dissertation topics chosen by past students covers areas as diverse as the law of the sea to the principles of state extradition.

You can also choose from a wide range of elective modules offered both within the Law School and other faculties, for example, Keele Business School. To complement your studies, you can study a modern language, including key UN languages such as French, Russian and Spanish.

Students frequently tell us one of the highlights of the course has been the study trip to Geneva to see international law-making, diplomacy, arbitration and humanitarian efforts in action within organisations such as the WTO, UN’s European headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Through regular lecture series, you’ll also, where possible, have opportunities to hear from experts in the field of international law. Past speakers have included Judge Sir Howard Morrison of the International Criminal Court and Dr Vincent Joël Proulx of the International Court of Justice, who spoke about ‘International Law: Hopes and Fears’ and ‘Transnational Terrorism and State Accountability’, respectively.

Other courses you might be interested in:

• LLM International Law
• LLM International Law and Human Rights
• LLM International Law and the Environment
• LLM Law with SQE Preparation

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.

Your career

A postgraduate qualification in international law opens up opportunities for a wide range of roles across the public, private and third sectors. International law provides the framework for cooperation in many fields of international relations, including: peace and security; trade and investment; environmental protection; telecommunications; air travel; and maritime navigation.

This can open up careers in consultancy in international affairs, legal practice, international development, foreign relations and advocacy working for government foreign ministries, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Employers may include international courts and tribunals, UN agencies, law reform agencies, and even the media, in areas of journalism and broadcasting.

As well as the national and international agencies and organisations mentioned above, the LLM in International, Commercial and Business Law equips you with specialist knowledge of value to transnational law firms, multinational corporations, banking, insurance and auditing firms.

By developing your ability to undertake critical analysis, problem solve and present rational, coherent and accurate arguments orally and in writing, you’ll graduate with essential skills valued by legal and non-legal employers alike. The specialist research skills you learn also provide a strong foundation for pursuing further study at doctoral level for those interested in doing so.

Positions may include:

• Academic
• Barrister
• Consultant
• Lawyer
• Newspaper journalist
• Policy officer
• Scientist
• Social worker
• Solicitor
• Teacher