International Corporate and Commercial Law LLM

Select the year

Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time

About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • You'll follow a curriculum tailored for the global marketplace of the 21st Century.
  • You’ll benefit from the use of our mock court room to gain real world experience in presenting legal cases.
  • You’ll be taught by internationally experienced staff from a variety of legal backgrounds, who will draw on their experience in your teaching.

Looking to excel in the fast-evolving world of corporate governance and global commerce? Our LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law will equip you with the expertise to navigate the complex legal challenges that multinational corporations and international commercial transactions face today.

Whether you aspire to work with global corporations, in-house legal teams, or regulatory bodies, this course offers you the chance to delve into the legal frameworks governing international commerce. You’ll gain a deep understanding of key issues such as cross-border trade, corporate governance, e-commerce, and digital technologies like blockchain, all of which are rapidly transforming the commercial landscape.

Our balanced curriculum integrates three core themes: international law, business law, and social justice. This structure gives you the flexibility to tailor your studies through specialised core modules and a dissertation, ensuring you develop the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary for tackling the real-world legal issues faced by today’s global businesses.

Delivered by expert scholars in corporate and commercial law, this course is designed to provide both law and non-law graduates with a solid foundation to succeed in the increasingly globalised and digitised world of corporate and commercial management.

Career opportunities after the course *

Conveyancing Assistants

Paralegals

Paralegals

Conveyancing Parale

Legal Assistants

Conveyancing Paralegals

Patent Paralegals

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • An Honours degree (2:2 or above) in any subject.
  • Other experience or qualifications that demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills at graduate level may be acceptable. Suitability for acceptance onto the course will be assessed through interview.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page. If you have alternative qualifications or do not meet the IELTS requirement we also offer a range of Pre-Sessional English Programmes.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module will provide you with an introduction to legal and academic skills covering research approaches, critical evaluation skills, analysis of both primary and secondary sources of law and an introduction to English and International legal systems. Compulsory for all students joining the LLM programmes and particularly useful if you have not previously studied law or come from a non-common law background, the module will equip you with knowledge of sources and institutions of law, which is essential to allow you to successfully complete the LLM.

In this module you will examine the legal framework which governs international business transactions. The syllabus will be divided into two main parts: the law applicable to the international sales; and the law which governs the international carriage of goods, with particular emphasis on the international carriage of goods by sea. You will have the opportunity to evaluate the historical development and evolution of the legal principles which govern international business transactions through time, from the law merchant to special trade terms. You will also be able to reflect on the transition from common law governance to the modern era of codification, as well as the impact of new technologies and globalisation on the current legal framework governing international business transactions.

In this module you will explore key legal mechanisms which protect the results of intellectual endeavour through patents, trademarks and copyrights in the context of modern technology. The focus is upon how regional (EU) and national (UK) law regulating territorial rights comply with a global framework of governance and respond to competitive trading practices in global markets. Major themes underpinning legal rights are the basis for critically analysis (such as: property theory; commercial and philosophical justifications; and regulatory theories such as ‘nudge’) and you are encouraged to contextualise the law to consider evolving trends in regulation and the scope for legal reform.

In this module, you will explore the different rules, policies and controls put in place to determine the behaviour, objectives and policies of international corporations, and the internal and external controls over corporate activities by cultural, legal and political institutions. You will also analyse the different theories, models and pillars of corporate governance, harmonisation of corporate governance codes and the future of global corporate governance. You will analyse the role of key members of corporations - the company secretary and the board of directors- and the relationship between the board of directors and its shareholders, and important obligations of disclosure and accountability for corporate managers. The module will expose you to the practical contexts of corporate management in the global economy and transnational corporate influence on global environmental, social and economic goals. The module will utilise real-life case studies of major transnational corporations, their internal corporate structures and the international legal regulation of their activities, objectives and impacts.

In this module you will examine the theoretical paradigms, concepts, and models of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a major mechanism for businesses and its challenges for business law and practice. Within the context of social, labour and environmental impact of corporate activities in domestic and international environments, the course will investigate the role of CSR as a business policy, the corporate objective, accountability, and the legal frameworks in human rights protection. You will examine the function and obligation of the corporation from broad perspectives beyond the traditional paradigm of enlightened shareholder primacy, to furthering human rights and social benefits.

Commercial transactions are complex in their nature and stretch beyond the national borders. Since the emergence of disputes from these transactions is normal, the stakeholders rely on arbitration to decide these disputes conclusively and this is due to so many very obvious reasons including, skilled and neutral arbitrator, flexible and speedy procedure, privacy and confidentiality, and enforcement of arbitrator’s decision worldwide due to the New York Convention. London is one the most popular seats of arbitration which hosts a large number of arbitrations and its courts entertain a good deal of foreign awards for enforcement. In this module, you will be introduced to all the major legal issues pertaining to arbitration agreement, arbitrator, arbitral procedure and arbitral award which London seated arbitral tribunal and the English courts face. To that end, you will explore the relevant provisions of English Arbitration Act 1996 along with UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention which have made a great impact on the Arbitration Act 1996. Furthermore, you will also evaluate the ICSID regime for the resolution of investment disputes arising between a state and foreign investor.

The LLM Dissertation will enable you to explore the field of International Corporate and Commercial Law, deepening your understanding of current problems and exploring new insights in the field. By applying legal research skills and methods acquired during the course of the LLM, you will be able identify and define theoretical concepts, principles and rules relevant to your area of research and the broader social, political, environmental or economic context in which the law operates. You will be expected to select and research an area of law specifically related to International Corporate and Commercial Law. The work undertaken must demonstrate appropriate design, methods and techniques along with interpretation and evaluation of the findings reported to a high professional standard and also within a defined word limit. Your project will be either a literature review of a focused topic using a systematic approach or an empirical study that draws on and makes a contribution to knowledge.

Additional information: Tutors are experts in their field and with many having practical experience in industry and the professions which helps combine your academic knowledge with practical application. Many aspects of teaching and assessment are grounded in real life situations.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Paralegal, Solicitor, Barrister, Costs Lawyer, Local Government Officer and Chartered Legal Executive.*

*Source: Prospects

98%
Percentage of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled.

£38.5k
Average salary of our postgraduate students fifteen months after graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, mean salary, UK domiciled, full-time UK employment as main activity.

Studying the LLM in Law gave me legal expertise, critical thinking, and a global view of corporate law. My favourite module, International Business Law, deepened my knowledge of trade and dispute resolution. I aim to qualify as a solicitor specialising in international corporate law.

- Tamanna Goswami
Law LLM, currently works at Pinsent and Masons Law Firm.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£10,305 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£18,700 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible postgraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

Explore More

Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

Need more details?

More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

See our support services

Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

Find out more

Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Law School may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

Find out more

Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

Take a look at your options

Further Study

Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.

Discover research degrees
Ask us a question