LLM International Commercial Law

Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months

Start date: September 2020 and January 2021

Combine the study of law and business with our LLM International Commercial Law.

This interdisciplinary course is taught by the School of Law and the ICMA Centre, part of the renowned Henley Business School.

We prepare you to graduate with a diverse portfolio and skill set through our:

practice-focused approach. Develop valuable links with employers, gain real-world experience, and embed your learning in professional practice.
focus on research intensity. Advance your research skills with the support of experienced academics. You'll be in good company: 100% of our research overall was judged to be world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised (REF, 2014 – Law).

You will develop a comparative, international perspective of commercial law and benefit from:

high quality teaching and modules led by expert academic researchers and practitioners
opportunities to hear from guest speakers who excel in their fields
a dynamic, learning environment.

Create your own pathway with LLM International Commercial Law

Tailor your master’s study based on your interests and career aspirations. You can graduate with an LLM International Commercial Law, or choose to specialise by choosing one of our many pathways with specific, optional modules.

All students will study Advanced Issues in International Commercial Law, together with a chosen specialist pathway. There is a wide range to choose from, including:

Corporate Finance
Banking and Financial Regulation
Insolvency and Corporate Rescue
International Dispute Resolution
Competition Law and Regulation
Intellectual Property Law and Management
Information Technology Law
Oil and Gas Law
Energy Law and Natural Resources
Economic Law

You will be required to complete both the specified module(s) for your chosen pathway, and a written project related to that area of law.

Any specialisation is recorded on your degree transcript, and can offer a niche for future employment. Plus, studying across different departments gives you the opportunity to network and broaden your knowledge base.

Make valuable connections

The Centre for Commercial Law and Financial Regulation (CCLFR) is a research hub established for commercial law students by the School of Law and ICMA centre. It focuses on:

conducting research and disseminating knowledge of international commercial law and financial regulation
advancing legal scholarship
bringing together scholars and policymakers from law and finance
influencing the development and application of commercial law and finance regulation in practice, through research projects, conferences, teaching and publications.

Flexible study options

This master’s course is for graduates with either legal or relevant, non-legal experience – you will be considered on individual merit regardless of discipline.
You can attend this course on a full-time basis over one year, or part-time over two years.

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: You are normally required to have an undergraduate upper second class honours degree (or equivalent from a university outside the UK). However, our participants come with a variety of relevant legal and non-legal experience and all applicants are considered on individual merit.

Compulsory modules

Advanced International Commercial Law Issues

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

Develop a critical understanding of the most relevant areas of transactional business law in today’s globalised economy. A practical approach aims to help you analyse and assess the different institutional forms contractual relationships take, along with their real-world implications.

International Corporate Finance and the Law

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

Learn to analyse the different aspects of corporate finance from an international perspective. You will identify commonalities in the dynamics and mechanisms of financing, and discover innovative trends in this continuous developing area.

Project

Module Convenor: Professor Stavroula Karapapa

This module enables you to develop high-level skills in research design, management, and implementation as you undertake a major independent research project and dissertation.

Project Skills

Module Convenor: Dr Jorge Guira

You will be supported with the formulation of a research question appropriate to your chosen area of study, and will develop the necessary skills to plan and execute your project within the time and resources available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

Optional modules

Financial Markets

Module Convenor: Dr Alfonso Dufour

You will be introduced to commercial and investment banks, and gain an overview of the main characteristics and risks of a range of international financial markets.

Risk Management in Financial Services

Module Convenor: Ms Deepa Govindarajan Driver

Develop a deep, practical understanding of the nature of financial intermediation. You will examine the consequent risk management challenges posed to, and by, financial intermediaries, and how these should be addressed by regulated financial firms.

Corporate Governance and Accountability

Module Convenor: Ms Deepa Govindarajan Driver

Discover the key theoretical and practical concepts of corporate governance, and explore how this governance varies around the world.

Governance and Compliance in Financial Services

Module Convenor: Ms Deepa Govindarajan Driver

You will gain an understanding of the corporate governance and compliance challenges specific to financial services firms. The module then explores how these challenges should be addressed with a view to enhancing the real economy.

Topics in Financial Regulation

Module Convenor: Ms Deepa Govindarajan Driver

This module will provide you with an overview of the purpose and operation of financial regulation, and the consequences of financial sector reform for different markets and jurisdictions.

Contemporary Issues in Environment Law

Module Convenor: Dr Mark Wilde

Examine the nature and sources of environmental law, focusing on the multi-layered qualities of the subject.

Legal Aspects of International Financial Regulation

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

Understand the legal basis, nature, and purpose of financial regulation, and analyse the financial context, organisation, purpose, and structure of regulators.

Introduction to International Law

Module Convenor: Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne

This module teaches the basics of international law, but to an advanced level. It’s designed to provide a starting point for the LLM programme if you do not already have a background in international law.

Legal Aspects of Corporate Rescue

Module Convenor: Dr Bolanle Adebola

Explore the rescue concept, assess the perspectives and objectives aspired to by international rescue systems, and examine the challenges faced by policy makers and the effectiveness of the choices that are made.

International Commercial Arbitration (CIArb Accredited)

Module Convenor: Dr Bolanle Adebola

You will gain a critical understanding of important aspects of commercial arbitration, explore its characteristics and discuss its operation in various international fora.

International Banking and Finance Law

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

This module examines the main aspects of banking and finance law such as capital adequacy, international securities, derivative markets and loan agreements.

Intellectual Property Law: Copyright and Designs

Module Convenor: Professor Stavroula Karapapa

Acquire advanced knowledge of the legal protection that is afforded to creative works and industrial designs. You will be encouraged to critically assess statutory provisions and common law principles that govern copyright and design law.

Comparative Oil and Gas Policy

Module Convenor: TBA

Understand the regulatory and contractual mechanisms required to make a single jurisdiction work, in relation to oil and gas law.

Competition Law

Module Convenor: Mr Athanassios Skourtis

You will be prepared for issues likely to arise in the enforcement of competition legislation. Emphasis will be placed on evolutionary aspects of policy making and competition law enforcement.

International and Comparative Competition Law and Policy

Module Convenor: TBA

This module aims to provide you with advanced knowledge of the substantive principles governing competition law and policy in a global economy. It seeks to assess how conflicts between competition law systems are resolved.

Privacy and Data Protection

Module Convenor: Patsy Kirkwood

Identify the legal protection afforded to privacy and personal data, with emphasis on the processing of information in the online environment.

Oil and Gas Contract Law

Module Convenor: Dr Jorge Guira

Explore the fundamental elements and peculiar legal character of oil and gas law contracts. You will be introduced to the form and substantive content of these contracts, including rights, obligations, and liability.

International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law

Module Convenor: Mr Adrian Aronsson-Storrier

This module explores the law and regulation of intellectual property from an international and comparative perspective. You will cover protection in copyright, patents, trademarks and designs.

International Investment Law

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

Examine the core aspects of emerging markets and international investment law, including growth of these markets and the rule of law, anti-money laundering, liberalisation and investment trade, foreign direct investment, technology transfer, energy investment and climate change, and investment arbitration.

International Economic Law

Module Convenor: Dr Andrea Miglionico

You will explore the role of the principal institutions and structures of international economic law, and the overall intellectual and theoretical bases of institutions such as the WTO, IMF and World Bank.

Legal Aspects of International Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers

Module Convenor: Dr Jorge Guira

This advanced corporate law and financial regulation module analyses transactions – including acquisitions, mergers, and proxy contexts – using sophisticated methodologies.

Legal Issues in Oil and Gas

Module Convenor: Dr Jorge Guira

Gain a thorough introduction to the basics of oil and gas law, as you cover fundamental topics such as ownership of natural resources, licensing regimes for exploration and production, basic elements of agreements, rights and obligations of companies, and institutional context and tortious elements of exploration and production.

Investment Treaty Arbitration

Module Convenor: TBA

Understand the operations of investment treaty arbitration, gain a critical awareness of key structures, legal and policy issues in dispute resolution, and reflect upon underlying economic and legal concepts which determine the choice of dispute resolution methods.

Intellectual Property Law: Patents and Trademarks

Module Convenor: Professor Stavroula Karapapa

Advance your knowledge of the legal protection that is afforded to inventions, trade names and brands. You will be encouraged to assess statutory provisions and common law principles that govern patents and trade mark law.

Internet Law

Module Convenor: Zoi Krokida

This module aims to provide you with advanced knowledge of the legal, regulatory and policy issues of the cyberspace.

WTO Disputes

Module Convenor: Mr Matt Windsor

Examine the structure, procedure and role played by the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. You will review the evolution if this mechanism, and its overall intellectual and theoretical bases.

International Corporate Social Responsibility

Module Convenor: Dr Kleio Akrivou

Gain a rounded introduction to the ethical, business and society aspects and theories relevant to corporate responsibility.

Ethics in International Management

Module Convenor: Dr Kleio Akrivou

This module offers an introduction to the moral norms of international management, the ethical choices to which they give rise, and the resources on which such choices can be based.

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

How much will it cost?

New UK/EU students: £7,735 per year

New international students: £16,450 per year

Fees and funding information

New UK/EU students: £3,868 year one

New international students: £8,225 year one

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated, and relate to courses starting in September 2020. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information on fees and funding, including for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Scholarships and financial support

We have scholarships available for our master's students studying Law. These include:

2 scholarships of £3,000 for international students
3 scholarships of £1,500 each for UK/EU students.

For more information about the University of Reading’s master’s scholarships, please visit our master’s scholarships page.

You can apply for a scholarship once you hold an offer of admission for your course. If you are eligible for a scholarship, we will contact you to guide you through the process.

What career can you have?

Careers for LLM International Commercial Law graduates

Your postgraduate law degree can open doors to a range of careers, including roles within:

Specialised areas – law firms, and European, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations
Academic
Media – journalism and broadcasting
Civil service
Public service

Our graduates have found employment within national and international law firms, and as in-house lawyers for large multinational companies in the UK and abroad. A good proportion of our LLM graduates also work with the European Union, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the International Police (INTERPOL).

Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months

Combine the study of law and business with our LLM International Commercial Law.

Entry requirements

What will you study?

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

How much will it cost?

Fees and funding information

Additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

What career can you have?

Careers for LLM International Commercial Law graduates

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects F-G

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects U-Z

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects Q-Z

Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months

Combine the study of law and business with our LLM International Commercial Law.

Fees and funding information

Additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

Careers for LLM International Commercial Law graduates

Ready for more?