International Business Law - LLM
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
The LLM International Business Law meets the current demand for specialist knowledge and skills in a rapidly expanding field. The course provides you with the opportunity to explore the legal regulation of the world of international business, and you will acquire knowledge and understanding of the aspects of substantive and procedural law....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City Centre
- Award LLM
- Start date January 2025
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Law
- Faculty Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
The LLM International Business Law meets the current demand for specialist knowledge and skills in a rapidly expanding field. The course provides you with the opportunity to explore the legal regulation of the world of international business, and you will acquire knowledge and understanding of the aspects of substantive and procedural law.
You will study all the key areas of International Business Law:
Core taught modules:
- International Corporate Law
- Transnational Commercial Law
- Corporate Criminality and Tax Evasion
- Advanced Legal Research Methods
Two optional modules from the list below:
- International Intellectual Property Law
- Conflict Resolution in Business
- Global Comparative Competition Law
- Corporate Compliance
- Comparative International Corporate Insolvency Law
LLM Masters Stage:
- Dissertation/Live Project/Placement
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 School.
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?
The course will also provide you with the opportunity to critically examine different systems of law at a higher level. The critical analysis skills that you will develop while studying on this course will enhance your employment opportunities in the legal and business sectors, as well as enabling you to acquire a strong basis for progression to doctoral studies.
The course aims to develop your ability in analysing and evaluating the principal features of international business law. You will study the major concepts, values, principles and rules that dictate the discipline.
You will communicate complex and abstract ideas in an articulate and confident manner, as well as learning a host of transferrable skills that will stand you in good stead for when it comes to securing employment.
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 the newly-introduced postgraduate loans. For more information, visit UCAS.
Find out more
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus 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: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Essential Requirements
Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
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Minimum 2:2 class UK degree or international equivalent in any subject area. |
Additional information for EU/International students
Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
IELTS |
6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page |
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: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
- £9,710 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £10,685 in 2024/25
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: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 15 Months
- £19,020 in 2024/25
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
- £20,925 in 2024/25
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):
The principal legal vehicle for business in all developed economies is the limited liability company. Therefore any study of international business law must include a coherent and rigorous examination and analysis of:
- The legal framework of corporate law adopted in a range of relevant jurisdictions
- The problems and issues faced by the law in this field
- The similarities and differences of the choices made and solutions instituted
- The aims, experiences and outcomes of the operation of company law in those jurisdictions
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.
This module considers the role of corporate structures and their global operations, and how these may lead to fraud, corruption and tax evasion. The role of intermediaries (such as banks, insurance companies, and law firms), tax havens, and tax evasion methods are considered in terms of how they may facilitate corporate criminality.
This module enables you to gain enhanced knowledge and understanding of the techniques needed for advanced legal research. It serves a double purpose. As a foundation to other Level 7 modules in law, it supports you in acquiring the knowledge of research methods and skills in applying those methods required to succeed in postgraduate legal research – both in scholarship and for practitioners.
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 a placement, integrated project or dissertation. This is founded upon Birmingham City University’s teaching and learning philosophy which integrates theory into practice.
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.
This module aims to inspire a new generation to rethink traditional approaches to conflict and conflict resolution. ADR is a fast-growing area and offers a challenging and satisfying career through an array of emerging professional roles. As a consequence, this module significantly enhances student employability.
Competition law has affected trade and business in many and diverse ways this module will explore the impact that regulation has had upon multinational corporations and small and medium sized enterprises. The EU and the U.S will be considered alongside other international law in order to compare and contrast the legal systems.
International firms are often subject to several international and domestic regimes which determine the acceptable standards of business behaviour. Corporate compliance revolves around how firms respond to the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to their business activities. This module aims to provide a theoretical foundation for compliance requirements. Hence, the module provides a contextualised discussion on the theoretical justifications for regulatory intervention in business activities.
This module aims to provide you with the tools to understand, analyse and question the development of insolvency and restructuring methods and practices in selected jurisdictions, as well as at international level. International insolvency law is currently a hotly debated topic, due to the number of famous insolvency cases soaring across the world. The differences across jurisdiction in the balance struck between the protection of companies and their employees against the rights of their creditors will be scrutinised.
This module critically considers the complex relationship between international and regional trade law and practice on the one hand and the protection and promotion of labour rights and social goals on the other. This module therefore considers questions of applied forms of human rights and social values and the realities of international trade and business.
The module will consider the contested justifications for labour rights and their protection at national, regional and international level, as well as the major regional and international sources of labour law. It will seek to understand the effectiveness of these different models and their relationship with different sources of international trade law and economic and investor rights.
The module aims to develop an understanding of the legal and ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, along with consideration of appropriate legal and regulatory responses. It provides a philosophical and legal framework for considering concepts and principles that relate to the development and use of such technologies.
It considers different legal and regulatory governance regimes at the international, regional, and national levels. It explores the application and impact of artificial intelligence and robotics in four real-life scenarios: lethal autonomous weapons systems in warfare; automated and algorithmic decision-making in business and finance; autonomous cars and liability; aging population and healthcare robots.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Download course specification
Download nowOur LLM is taught by an outstanding team of professionals. You must complete six taught modules and either a dissertation, project or placement.
All modes offer a coherent, staged and progressive learning structure in which you will benefit from teaching which is informed by the research expertise of our academic team. Our approach is experiential and practice-led and will give you opportunities to apply your learning and to develop skills to enhance your employability and career.
This course will support you in becoming an independent learner during the teaching, learning and assessment process. During induction we will support you in developing key study skills. Throughout the course you will have the chance to complete activities which will enable you to practice legal skills including legal research, problem-solving, advocacy and drafting in order to develop and practice.
These activities also enable you to practice transferable skills including structuring and presenting arguments, working independently or in teams to complete tasks, oral and written communication, and time management. These skills will be valuable whatever your final choice of future career.
During the September and January terms you will study three 20-credit modules, thereafter you will study one 60-credit module: the LLM dissertation/placement/project module. The 20-credit Advanced Legal Research Methods module (studied in the January term) is delivered online via the Virtual Learning Environment, providing maximum flexibility.
Throughout the two terms there will be regular facilitated workshops which are interactive sessions designed to develop your knowledge, understanding and critical evaluation of directed pre-reading, with an emphasis on peer-led learning to develop your skills in legal analysis and evaluation.
We expect you to attend all teaching sessions as well as to read and prepare before these sessions. Good preparation will enable you to get the most from your contact time and will help you become an autonomous learner. Advance preparation is also a critical skill which you must develop if you wish to succeed in business or professional practice.
When you progress to the dissertation/placement/project there will be regular one-to-one sessions with your supervisor.
Employability
Employment Opportunities
You will have the opportunity to undertake a placement or complete a project as an alternative to a dissertation.
In addition we have active, student-led Legal, Mooting and Debate Societies. Our Student Mooting Society is one of the most successful in England, with our students reaching five finals in the past six years, regularly beating teams from some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
We also have a staff and student led Pro-Bono Unit that provides legal advice to the public.
International
Birmingham City University is home to students from a wide number of countries studying traditional Law degree programmes and short-term international courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
A legal education at Birmingham City University is widely recognised and many of our international students return to their home country to either pursue legal practice or requisite professional qualifications in their jurisdiction.
As a law student you will not only develop and refine knowledge in discrete areas of English and international law but also develop key transferable skills designed to enhance your employability profile. Many international students have travelled thousands of miles to study at Birmingham City University. We offer you an engaging and diverse study experience based in the city of Birmingham which is the second largest city in the UK.
Due to our proximity close to the legal and business district of the city we enjoy strong links with Birmingham Law Society and law firms around the West Midlands. The benefit of these links is passed directly onto you so that you can enhance your network of contacts whilst seeking relevant legal practice experience to enhance your employability profile.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
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 the LLB Course Director in the School of Law, responsible for the suite of LLB courses that run in the School of Law. He joined the university in 2001 after completing his PhD in Copyright Law and the Internet. He is also the Deputy Head of the Law School.
More about EwanSuresh Birdi
Senior Lecturer in Law
Suresh Birdi is a Senior Lecturer in law in the School of 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...
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