Program Overview

---

LLM (Business Law)

Course Fact File

• Code: LLMBL
• Duration: 1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
• Teaching Mode: Full-time, Part-Time
• Qualifications: LLM
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
• Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

Course Outline

The course combines a focus on realities of business law in practice with a broader discussion of relevant theoretical and policy issues. The course builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in a broad range of aspects of business law, including banking, commercial, corporate, financial services, and insolvency, and in regulation and compliance in the business area. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to engage with the practical operation of business law. Students also complete a research dissertation in their chosen aspect of business law under expert individualised supervision. Students will also benefit from guest seminars with experts from legal and business practice, relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies and legal practitioners and international experts in this field.

Applicants for the LLM (Business Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Law. Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Business Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time.

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 12,500 word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).

The course includes a core Business Law in Practice module where students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with business law in practice. Students can choose from a range of postgraduate business law modules, business modules and undergraduate law subjects.

Modules

Students take 90 credits in total, including 40 credits of core modules and 50 credits of elective modules.

• Full-time: Students take 90 credits.
• Part-time: Students take 90 credits, completing a total of 40 credits (including LW6646) in Year 1 and 50 credits (including LW6594) in Year 2.

Core Modules

• LW6652 Legal Research Methods and Writing (5 credits)
• LW6659 LLM Dissertation (25 credits)

Taught Module

• LW6646 Business Law in Practice (10 credits)

Elective Modules

Students take modules to the value of 50 credits from the list of electives set out below. At least 40 credits must be chosen from List A. Students may choose up to 10 credits from List B.

List A: LLM (Business Law) Modules

Choose at least 40 credits from the following:

• LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10 credits)
• LW6574 Intellectual Property and Internet Regulation (10 credits)
• LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
• LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
• LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)
• LW6647 IT Law Clinic for Start-ups (10 credits)
• LW6650 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (10 credits)
• LW6657 Law and Policy of the EU Digital Market (10 credits)
• LW6660 Digital Finance and FinTech: Law and Regulation (10 credits)
• LW6662 Law & the Future of Europe: Critical Perspectives Internal Market & Citizenship (5 credits)
• LW6663 Law & the Future of Europe - Critical Perspectives EMU and Governance (5 credits)

List B: Non-Law Modules and Undergraduate Business Law Modules

Choose up to 10 credits from the following:

• FE6601 Co-operatives and the Third Sector (5 credits)
• FI6001 Treasury Risk Management (5 credits)
• FI6002 Regulation and Compliance in Capital Markets (5 credits)
• LW2254 Commercial Law (10 credits)
• LW2269 Privacy and Data Protection Law (5 credits)
• LW3312 Employment Law: Contracts, Termination, Collective Labour Law (5 credits)
• LW3313 Employment Law: Rights Protection, Equality, Specific Categories of Employees (5 credits)
• LW3316 Financial Services Law and Regulation (5 credits)
• LW3345 Company Law I: Fundamental Concepts and Doctrines (5 credits)
• LW3346 Company Law II: Management, Finance and Insolvency (5 credits)
• LW3347 Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5 credits)
• LW3368 Principles of Revenue Law (5 credits)
• LW3369 Income Tax Law (5 credits)

Course Practicalities

LLM classes are in seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. Students receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar. Seminars generally take place in 2-hour blocks with one seminar per week in each module. Seminar times are between 9:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. 10 credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5 credit modules run for 6 weeks. Some modules/classes (1 or 2 only) may be on Saturdays and online.

Part-time

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Assessment

Generally, students are examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and the dissertation must be submitted in September. Individual module assessments can be viewed in the Book of Modules.

Why Choose This Course

• The perfect specialist qualification for those seeking to establish a career in all aspects of business law including regulation and compliance.
• An opportunity for professionals who want to enhance their knowledge and skills.
• Includes a core Business Law in Practice module, where students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage the practicalities of business.
• Students will also benefit from guest seminars with experts from legal and business practice, relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies and legal practitioners, and international experts in this field.
• Opportunity to expand your knowledge by taking business courses in Economics, Food Business, Management and Marketing.
• Allows you to develop specialised skills in writing, researching and presenting on all aspects of business law.
• The teaching approach is informed by practical experience and academic commitment of teaching School.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates of this degree will be well placed to seek employment in any area of business law, within Ireland, Europe or internationally. Employment opportunities include specialist legal practice in the commercial and corporate fields as well as general legal practice, regulatory bodies, business regulation and compliance, the financial services sector, the insolvency sector, law reform and research. Because of the transferrable knowledge and skills which this programme develops, graduates may also avail of crossover opportunities using their LLM to pursue careers in the business world.

Requirements

Applicants must be approved by the School of Law and must have either:

• (a) a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8);
• (b) have such other relevant third-level educational qualification(s) and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies them under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Business Law) Degree.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the yellow fact file boxes at the top of this webpage. The UCC online application portal usually opens around mid October.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application, including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course, if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online by clicking the red 'Apply Now' button below. Note most of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.