Course overview

The LLM International Business Law has been designed by the School of Law’s internationally renowned Professor of International Business Law to offer a research-led programme of study that meets the practical needs of international business.

'I firmly believe that postgraduate law students should be taught by experts. That is why the lecturers and tutors leading the key international business law units are published and research-informed professionals in the field. Teaching across the LLM programme is informed by my ongoing cutting edge research in international business law and dispute resolution. It is extremely rewarding for me to bring my experience into the lectures to enrich the student learning experience in both the International Commercial Arbitration unit and the International and European Business Law unit that I lead on this programme. In a practice-oriented subject such as international commercial arbitration, I believe in students learning by gaining hands-on experience in simulated arbitrations and presentations.'

Professor (Munir) AFM Maniruzzaman LLB (Hons.), LLM, M.Int'l. Law (ANU), PhD (Cambridge), FRSA, MCIArb

The LLM in International Business Law draws on the School of Law's, and in particular its Professor's, academic strength in international business law. This degree provides a coherent programme of study that enables law graduates, lawyers and those with a relevant first degree to develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of international business law at postgraduate level.

The globalisation of business has created new challenges and new opportunities for lawyers. This programme will provide you with the opportunity to develop new areas of interest and build on yout existing knowledge in international business law. The programme is suitable whether you are planning to work or do research in international business law, or you simply wish to have a more global view of law and business.

Find out more

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

You will study 180 credits worth of units, consisting of 120 credits of taught units and a 60-credit dissertation/professional practitioner project. All of our units (except the dissertation/professional practitioner project) are taught across the year and are worth 30 credits each.

Full-time study

The full-time course lasts for one year. You will study four taught units between September and May with examinations taking place in May/June. These taught courses will require a maximum of eight hours of class time per week. The remainder of the course will be spent researching and writing a dissertation or professional practitioner project. The units taught differ slightly depending on whether you are enrolled on the law route or non-law route.

Law route

Those who hold a law degree or a degree with a substantial legal component will be enrolled on the law route and will undertake the following compulsory units:

• International Private Law
• International and European Business Law
• Dissertation or Professional Practitioner Project
• Two of the following optional units:
  • International Banking Law*
  • International Commercial Arbitration*
  • Global Corporate Responsibility
  • Work-based Learning Unit

Non-law route

Those who do not hold a law degree or a degree with a substantial legal component will be enrolled on the non-law route and will undertake the following compulsory units:

• International Private Law
• International and European Business Law
• Legal Approach to Business
• Dissertation or Professional Practitioner Project
• One of the following optional units:
  • International Banking Law*
  • International Commercial Arbitration*
  • Global Corporate Responsibility
  • Work-based Learning Unit

Part-time study

The part-time course lasts for three years. You will study two taught units in each of the first two years, in addition to undertaking a dissertation/professional practitioner project, which is submitted at the end of the final year. The taught courses will require a maximum of four hours of class time per week in the first two years. The units taught differ slightly depending on whether you are enrolled on the law route or non-law route.

Law route

Those who hold a law degree or a degree with a substantial legal component will be enrolled on the law route and will undertake the following units:

Year one

• International Private Law
• International and European Business Law

Year two

You will undertake two units from:

• International Banking Law*
• International Commercial Arbitration*
• Global Corporate Responsibility
• Work-based Learning Unit

Year three

In the final year, you will either work on and submit your dissertation, or undertake a professional practitioner project.

Non-law route

Those who do not hold a law degree or a degree with a substantial legal component will be enrolled on the non-law route and will undertake the following units:

Year one

• International Private Law
• Legal Approach to Business

Year two

You will undertake the International and European Business Law unit, and one unit from:

• International Banking Law*
• International Commercial Arbitration*
• Global Corporate Responsibility
• Work-based Learning Unit

Year three

In the final year, students will either work on and submit their dissertation, or undertake a professional practitioner project.

*Please note that the School of Law hopes to offer both International Banking Law and International Commercial Arbitration. However, this will depend upon the number of students that choose each option. For the avoidance of doubt, the School will offer at least one of these two options.

Teaching and assessment

Learning is student-centred and you will be regularly directed to undertake independent study. Participation is an essential element of the programme and much time will be devoted to individual and group problem solving. The taught courses build on the research strengths of the course team and discussion and debate will be encouraged. LLM International Law students have scope for choosing subjects of particular interest to them that will be helpful in their future careers.

All students are able to select a subject of their own choice to research on which they will then write a dissertation. A supervisor will be appointed to support your dissertation work.

Career prospects

The LLM in International Business Law provides a springboard for many career paths. It allows potential law lecturers to develop expertise in a variety of subjects and provides the basis for a career in international business law. It could also enable law practitioners to obtain a specialist qualification.

This programme will be valuable to anyone wishing to develop a global view of law and business. It will be of particular value to those working in the following:

• legal departments of multinational companies
• international organisations
• any private or public sector organisation with international relationships

Facilities and features

You will attend lectures in the purpose-built Richmond Building, where an attractive Postgraduate Centre and the rest of the Business School are located. It offers a computer drop-in and resource centre containing a wireless network access area, as well as printing and photocopying facilities.

The University Library is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day in term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. Besides the law collection with key primary sources, journals and texts, there is also a European Documentation Centre and collection of Parliamentary Papers. The library has also heavily invested in the purchase of electronic sources. There are thousands of electronic journals and ebooks available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for LLM International Business Law are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Law
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk