LLM International Commercial and Business Law
Overview
LLM International Commercial and Business Law
What is the LLM International Commercial and Business Law?
Develop a global perspective on the regulation of business, exploring the complex and evolving legal frameworks that shape markets in the UK, Europe, and across the world.
Our LLM International Commercial and Business Law at Essex Law School is a specialist course examining contemporary developments and debates in both traditional and emerging forms of legal governance. You will explore how domestic, European and international legal systems regulate commercial and consumer markets, while strengthening your analytical, evaluative and problem-solving skills.
You will gain insight into how effective corporate governance and competitive markets are promoted, alongside the role of legal and soft law frameworks in shaping modern business environments. This course equips you with both theoretical understanding and practical awareness of the challenges facing global commerce today.
Why this course
- Develop a global commercial perspective: Explore how business is regulated across jurisdictions, preparing you to operate in an increasingly interconnected legal landscape.
- Study contemporary legal issues: Engage with current debates and emerging challenges in international commercial and business law.
- Build practical and analytical skills: Strengthen your ability to analyse complex legal problems, evaluate competing arguments, and develop clear, reasoned solutions.
- Learn from experts: Be taught by leading academics and practitioners within a research-intensive environment.
- Strong reputation: Ranked 87th in the world (16th in the UK) for Law in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
Who should apply
- The Aspiring Commercial Lawyer: Students seeking to specialise in international business and commercial law.
- The Globally Minded Graduate: Applicants interested in understanding how law shapes global markets and cross-border trade.
- The Career-Driven Professional: Individuals aiming for careers in legal practice, business, policy, or international organisations.
What you’ll learn
Our research-led teaching reflects the latest developments in international commercial and business law. You will examine how legal frameworks regulate key areas such as:
- Goods and services
- Internet activities
- Data protection
- Consumer protection
- The environment
Modules are regularly reviewed to ensure they reflect current legal developments and emerging global challenges. As part of your studies, you will also undertake independent research, allowing you to explore a topic of particular interest in depth.
We understand that choosing where and what to study is an important decision. We'll make all reasonable efforts to deliver the courses, services and facilities described on our website. If changes are required, we will inform applicants and students as soon as possible.
Your learning experience
Postgraduate students in Essex Law School typically attend two-hour workshops, or a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module each week.
- Taught through small-group, interactive seminars that encourage critical thinking and debate.
- Opportunities to attend talks and events with external speakers, including legal professionals and industry experts.
- Assessment through coursework, examinations, or a combination of both.
Your dissertation is normally 12,000 words in length, allowing you to explore a specialist area of international commercial and business law. You will receive guidance on topic selection and benefit from one-to-one supervision by an academic expert.
You will be part of an internationally diverse community, gaining a wide range of perspectives on global legal issues and building a network of contacts across jurisdictions.
- Gain commercial awareness through practical opportunities such as the Business Law Clinic.
- Engage with real-world legal challenges and applied learning experiences.
- Participate in mooting and skills competitions to strengthen advocacy and negotiation skills.
- Join student societies and networks to enhance your academic and professional experience.
- Access networking opportunities with visiting law firms and industry professionals.
Careers and outcomes
This course provides a strong foundation for careers in international commercial law, business, policy, and beyond. Graduates are well-equipped for roles in legal practice, multinational corporations, financial institutions, government bodies, and international organisations.
Throughout your studies, you will have access to careers support, including dedicated sessions, networking opportunities, and connections with alumni working in relevant sectors.
We also work closely with the University's Employability and Careers Centre to support you in securing work experience, internships, and other professional opportunities.
- Investigate the fast-paced regulation of businesses in the UK, Europe and across the world
- Challenge convention and debate governance of commercial and consumer markets
- Develop the critical, analytical and research skills needed for an international law career
Course content
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY
This module aims to apply the comparative and case study methodologies to examine the national and global legal, philosophical, historical and socio-political contexts of business law and commercial relationships and transactions.
View Contemporary Issues in Commercial and Business Law on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY
This module is a compulsory module for all LLM in International Law students on all pathways, which aims to develop students’ academic skills as required for the postgraduate study of international law. This module has been designed to be taken alongside the module LW902 Public International Law (also compulsory for all LLM in International Law students). The LW949 Academic Skills in International Law module equips students with the technical skills required to engage in research and study of public international law, including academic referencing of scholarship, treaties, cases of international courts and tribunals. Students also develop the necessary skills to analyse international legal materials, complete both essay and problem-based questions within the field, produce high-quality independent writing at postgraduate level, and reflect upon feedback. This module will also prepare students for the foundation essay (formative essay) for the LLM in International Law. This is a formative essay, which provides an opportunity for students to engage with postgraduate level reading and writing on a topic of international law, and to submit an essay for the first time at LLM level. As a valuable learning tool, students receive feedback on their foundation essay, allowing them to reflect accordingly for future coursework with a view on how to further develop their skills throughout their postgraduate degree.
View Postgraduate Academic Legal Skills on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 05: CORE
You’ll undertake a dissertation of 12,000 words in length for your LLM course. This is a compulsory element of the course.
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 Degree in Law or a joint honours Degree in another subject with Law.
Applicants who do not hold a Law Degree but who have at least six months of relevant professional experience, traineeships, or professional qualifications/certifications issued by professional bodies such as Bar Associations can apply and will be considered. Please provide your CV.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£11,025
International fee
£23,875
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
Applying
You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.
We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.
For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.
You will need to provide a copy of your CV with your application.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
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