International Business Law - LLM
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
LLM International Business Law is a course for graduates of any discipline which aims to nurture critically aware and professionally adept future global citizens with a strong understanding of international business law. The LLM International Business Law course provides an exciting opportunity to build specialist knowledge of the legal aspects of business dealings that cross a border....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award LLM
- Start date September 2025, January 2026
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
LLM International Business Law is a course for graduates of any discipline which aims to nurture critically aware and professionally adept future global citizens with a strong understanding of international business law.
The LLM International Business Law course provides an exciting opportunity to build specialist knowledge of the legal aspects of business dealings that cross a border. You will explore the legal regulation of international business, considering the perspectives of traders, corporations, individuals, and entrepreneurs. You will examine business models that cross a border and how commercial legal disputes can be resolved when a commercial agreement involves multiple parties from different jurisdictions. You will consider complex questions that arise internationally on the legal aspects of digital business models and data.
There will also be opportunity to understand the role of artificial intelligence in relation to laws that operate jurisdictionally and internationally that have an impact on business and professional practice. Consideration of contemporary issues relating to technology, law, algorithms, and ethics will also be covered during the course.
This course is a great step for any individual interested in understanding how the fields of business and law interact. As part of this analysis, you will critically examine economics, philosophy, business ethics, and law. You will be taught by a team of active researchers that specialise in international business law, competition law, dispute resolution, and corporate law. The LLM International Business Law team have a wide range of research specialisms which include areas such as the intersection of technology and business law, international/ national dispute settlement, European Union legal capital rules, and how intellectual property law is affected by digitisation.
Professional Placement option
For our International Law LLM degrees, you will have the opportunity to take the Professional Placement version of the course, which is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.
This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability and transferable skills. The placement experience will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study, with support from our Careers+ team as well as advice and guidance from your faculty.
Please note that placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.
For full details, please click here.
What's covered in this course?
You will explore law from jurisdictional, comparative, and international perspectives. The skills gained on this course, such as critical thinking, critical analysis, and evaluative skills, will be crucial to enhance your employability so that you can problem solve at a high level and within many contexts.
There are options available so that you can tailor your study and specialise in particular areas of interest. If you are interested in expanding your corporate law specialism you can study corporate finance law, or study comparative competition law to build your expertise in commercial/competition law.
We also offer international intellectual property law to allow you to develop skills and knowledge related to intellectual creations. The law and legal tech module allows you to explore how legal technology is used in professional practice. The dissertation and placement modules provide some flexibility for you to develop as an autonomous and self-reliant learner.
Why Choose Us?
- You will learn from an outstanding and dedicated teaching team.
- You don’t need a degree in Law to be eligible to study this course.
- The course covers transnational jurisdictions, so it is international in scope
- You will have an opportunity to enhance your employability skills by completing an internship. Placement opportunities are also available at a range of European companies
- Our Law Clinic can give you opportunities to volunteer with local charitable legal advice providers and to work alongside legal professionals undertaking pro-bono work, allowing you to make a genuine difference to the lives of Birmingham residents.
- You will be able to benefit from postgraduate loans. For more information, visit UCAS.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 28 June 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, in any subject.
Applying with international qualifications
See below for further information on applying as an international student.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: LLM
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £10,000 in 2025/26
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £11,000 in 2025/26
Award: LLM
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
- £10,000 in 2025/26
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £11,000 in 2025/26
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: LLM
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £21,965 in 2025/26
Award: LLM
Starting: Jan 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
-
TBC
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
-
TBC
Application deadlines
We advise you to apply early to allow sufficient time for you to prepare to start your studies. Please apply by Friday 18 July for a September start or Friday 5 December for a January start to allow time to arrange accommodation, student finance and visas where required.
Late applications will be accepted where places are still available, but please note that Welcome Week for September entry begins on Monday 15 September 2025, and teaching begins on Monday 22 September 2025. International students are invited to arrive from Monday 8 September 2025.
To find out more, see our application timeline.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 140 credits):
In contemporary times there has been a large growth of international commerce which has resulted in an expanding use of cross border commercial transactions. This module aims to consider commercial law in the globalised world.
Advanced Skills 20 credits
Cross-Border Dispute Resolution 20 credits
Corporate Law: A Comparative Approach 20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a substantial piece of disciplinary-relevant research the output of which may be either an integrated project or dissertation. This is founded upon Birmingham City University’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory into practice.
OR
The aim of this module is to provide a framework for you to undertake a placement to develop your employability skills, commercial awareness and prepare you for the world of work. This module allows you to develop practical skills by undertaking a placement or internship and to begin your journey towards becoming a reflective practitioner in a relevant field.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
The aim of this module is to introduce you to a number of important themes in the area of international intellectual property law. More specifically, it is intended to provide you with an intellectually stimulating and academically rigorous education on the operation of intellectual property law at international level, and the challenges faced by the operation of that law.
Corporate Finance Law 20 credits
Comparative Competition Law 20 credits
Law and Legal Tech 20 credits
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Professional Placement
In order to qualify for the award of LLM International Business Law with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
Download nowThis course aims to nurture critically aware and professionally adept future global citizens. A cornerstone of the course is the development of a systematic understanding of international business law. This is cultivated in tandem with a critical awareness of the discipline and an ability to creatively apply its ideas and doctrines.
This knowledge will be built on – and learned through – the utilisation of research methodologies to identify and critically evaluate sources of information and apply them to complex legal problems.
The LLM will allow you to study complex legal challenges that arise when transactions cross a border. In addition to this you will gain awareness of how commercial laws can settle disputes that cross a border. You will study how governance and regulation can be used beyond a national jurisdiction in the context of governance of companies.
The course aims to provide assessments which allow you to demonstrate your communication skills by answering complex problems in international business law, whether in writing or verbally. You will learn how to reflect on your practice and position in a globalised world.
The core modules allow you to undertake simulated professional activity preparing you to be ready for the future by writing business reports, legal analyses, case studies, and presenting in professional business/ legal related professional environments.
The LLM offers you the opportunity to engage with either a research or placement project further enhancing your self-reliance, confidence, independence, collaborative teamworking, and communication skills.
Employability
The University’s Employability Framework is embedded throughout the course. Modules are assessed through authentic assessment to ensure transferable skills are assessed. There is an emphasis on independent study and work-readiness with a choice of a placement in a work setting or a dissertation in the third semester, with the added option to continue a longer placement thereafter.
The LLM International Business Law course provides you with skills and expertise that translates into many professional roles. The diverse range of career opportunities available after completion of the course is a distinctive feature of the course. Relevant career options include work in compliance, sales, banking, human resources, and education.
We have had many graduates go on to undertake work in the legal industry as well as work in high-level positions in business and business management. Others have decided to pursue research careers by undertaking doctoral study.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £260 million on learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at the City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Law, Business and Social Sciences courses.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The facilities at the Curzon building include two bespoke Law Courtrooms, replicating a Crown court and a Magistrates court. These rooms will play a key part in your learning experience, allowing you to try your hand in mock court cases, whilst also being the venue for our Mooting and Debating Societies.
On top of this, the Curzon building houses an extensive Law library, with books covering every aspect of Law history.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point
Our staff
Dr Ewan Kirk
Deputy Head of College of Law, Social and Criminal Justice
Ewan is Deputy Head of College of Law, Social and Criminal Justice, responsible for the suite of LLB courses. He joined the university in 2001 after completing his PhD in Copyright Law and the Internet.
More about EwanSuresh Birdi
Senior Lecturer in Law
Suresh Birdi is a Senior Lecturer in law at Birmingham City University and is the director of the LLM International Business Law course. Suresh’s qualifications include an LLB from the University of Wolverhampton where he received an award for the most outstanding student in the European Union law module, gaining recognition for the work he did in...
More about SureshDr Siu Yung Alan Ma
Lecturer
Dr. Alan Ma is a highly qualified professional with expertise in IT, Engineering, and Law. He joined Birmingham City University (BCU) in 2019 as a Lecturer in Law. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Ma held various roles, including chartered engineer, contracts manager, in-house counsel, and solicitor in private practice. He has extensive experience...
More about Siu Yung Alan