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Delve into the complexities facing financial institutions and acquire a comprehensive understanding of corporate and commercial law through our diverse range of specialized modules.
Overview
The LLM in International Commercial Law offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of commercial law, learning from leaders in the field who draw on their research to give you a real understanding of current issues and controversies. The key feature of the specialism is its internationalism: both in terms of programme content, where you can understand commercial law in an international and comparative context, and in terms of the student community, providing opportunities to meet and work alongside law graduates from around the world.
Your learning will cover a dynamic range of subjects and you can choose from a range of modules covering finance law, intellectual property, maritime law, trade law, and more.
Why choose this programme?
This programme offers a unique opportunity to deepen your expertise in the commercial world and gain a comprehensive education that will prepare you for a successful career in the global legal landscape. Throughout the programme, you'll develop a nuanced understanding of global commercial relationships and learn to navigate the complexities of cross-border transactions. This comprehensive skill set will equip you to address the unique legal challenges that arise in international business contexts. By investing in this education, you're not just preparing for a job; you're opening doors to a dynamic and rewarding career at the forefront of global trade and commerce. Whether your ambitions lie in private practice, corporate leadership, public service, or entrepreneurship, this programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective needed to excel in today's interconnected business world.
Who should apply?
Our students come from a range of backgrounds. Some have recently completed undergraduate studies, and are looking to increase their specialised knowledge of commercial law to focus and enhance their career prospects as a solicitor or barrister. Others will be studying after some time working as a lawyer and are looking to deepen their understanding of their areas of practice, or to shift or expand their expertise. Some will have studied or practised previously in the UK. Others will be in the UK for the first time, often drawn to London by its status as a leading international business and dispute resolution centre and the important role which English law plays in international commerce. The specialism will also be of interest to those who wish to study Maritime Law. Please visit our LLM applying and entry requirements page to find out the exact requirements for this programme.
Programme structure
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and tutorials. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, particularly for seminars and tutorials.
Assessment in taught modules is often by examination, an assessed coursework essay, or through a combination of both. There may be other forms of assessments such as oral presentations, output for audience or group projects.
During the programme, you will research and write a 9000 word Research Essay which counts towards your final grade.
- Full-time students
Terms one and two
During the first week of term one, you will attend the LLM Induction Programme, which includes a series of events to welcome you to UCL Laws and to UCL as a whole, and to complete your formal registration onto the LLM programme.
In the second week of term, you will begin your first classes.
There are ten weeks of classes per term, with a break for reading week after week five. Throughout the term, you will be able to take advantage of the wide range of events held within the faculty and across UCL, including special lectures, mooting, debating and activities organised by the UCL Laws Graduate Law Society.
Term three
Your assessments, including any coursework essays are normally submitted in the first week of term three. All examinations take place during term three and can be scheduled at any time during this term. The examination schedule is published at the end of term two.
During the entire year from September to June you will work on your Research Essay (RE) which will be submitted at the end of term three.
- Part-time students
You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:
- Your degree will be completed over two academic years
- In your first year, you will take 90 credits of taught modules
- In your second year, you will take the remaining 45 credits of taught modules and the 45 credit Research Essay
- You will therefore complete module selection twice: once at the start of your programme and again in the summer before you return to your second and final year.
You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.
Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and flexi LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.
- Modular/flexible students
You will follow the same programme as full-time students above, except for the following:
- You will have up to 5 academic years to complete your degree.
- You can plan how you would like to complete your 135 taught module credits over that 5 year period based on your personal circumstances (or earlier if you plan to complete the degree in fewer than 5 years).
- We will prompt you to select modules each year. You may wish to have a year or more where you do not take any modules; this is possible.
- It is recommended that you only complete your Research Essay at the end of your degree, in the same year that you are due to complete all of your taught module credits.
- You will be invited to attend induction at the start of your first year with the full-time students.
Please note that you will be attending classes with full-time and part-time LLM students. Module teaching can be scheduled between 9am-8pm on weekdays. You will be able to reference the timetable when making your module selections each year.
Modules
Students will need to obtain a total of 180 credits consisting of taught modules and a research essay to successfully complete the programme. Students choosing a LLM specialist degree are required to select a minimum of 60 credits from the qualifying modules listed below. Students are required to write their Research Essay in the area of the specialism.
Students are advised to plan their modules choices and research essay carefully and in advance. You will select your modules at pre-enrolment, before arrival.
Below is an example of the suite of modules you can expect to chose from. The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please note that modules are subject to cancellation and change, including changes in module convenors and type of assessment and the modules listed below are to be confirmed for the 2025/26 session. Applicants and offer-holders are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates and changes prior to the start of the programme in September. Module places may be limited and will be subject to availability where there is a high demand and exceeds resources.
- Modules for LLM in International Commercial Law
Carriage of Goods by Sea
Commercial Remedies
Corporations, Finance and the Environment
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions
International and Commercial Trusts Law
International and Comparative Secured Transactions
International Arbitration
International Commercial Litigation
International Trade Law
Legal Aspects of International Finance
Liquidation and its Consequences
Marine Insurance Law
The Law and Regulation of Banks and FinTech Services- Modules across LLM Law
Access to Justice: Theory & Practice
Advanced Foundations of Environmental Law
Advanced Foundations of International Law of Foreign Investment
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Aspects of National Security
Comparative Constitutional Law
Comparative Corporate Governance
Comparative Human Rights Law
Competition Law (EU & UK)
Competition Law, Regulation and the Intangible Economy
Constitutional Theory
Copyright and Related Rights, Law of
Corporate Finance
Decolonizing Law
Environmental Lawyering
Foreign Relations Law
Foundations and Principles of International Law
Human Rights at Work
International and European Refugee Law
International and Global Environmental Law
International Criminal Law
International Human Rights Law
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition
Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition A
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory
Jurisprudence & Legal Theory A
Law and Policy of Climate Change
Law and Policy of International Trade and the Environment
Law of Patents
Law, Economics and Society: The Foundations of Capitalism
Principles of Civil Justice
Privacy, Data and Surveillance Law
Regulation of Financial Market
The Rule of Law in the European Union
Trade Marks and Unfair Competition in the UK, Europe and the United States
Career prospects
Commercial law services will always be in high demand, and studying commercial law opens up a variety of possible career paths. Students who have taken this specialism have gone on to practice in England as solicitors or barristers, or to work as in-house legal counsel. Others go into (or back into) legal practice elsewhere around the world, whether as a practising lawyer, judge, or as part of a commercial enterprise. By choosing this course of study, you'll position yourself for a highly interesting career with substantial opportunities for advancement. The specialised knowledge you'll acquire in international commercial law is highly sought after by a diverse range of employers, from prestigious law firms and large multinational corporations to international organizations and government agencies. Even small and medium-sized enterprises looking to expand their international trade operations value professionals with this expertise.
The LLM can also equip you with skills required for roles in consultancy, regulatory bodies, financial services and more.