Program Overview

International Business Law LLM

The International Business Law LLM is a postgraduate program designed to prepare students for a career in the fast-paced world of international business law. This program provides an in-depth understanding of international trade and its effects on societies, regions, and the environment.

Course Overview

The course runs over 12 months full-time, with the option to study part-time over 24 months. Students will gain expertise in international business law, including knowledge of taxes on imported goods and rules for moving goods across borders.

Course Structure

• The course is divided into three terms: Autumn, Spring, and Summer.
• Full-time students normally take two 30-credit modules in the first term.
• One-third of the degree is a dissertation, which students begin planning and submit a proposal for during the first term.

Autumn Term

• The Autumn term runs from September to December (11 weeks).
• Students take two 30-credit modules in this term.

Course Highlights

• Study topics that interest you with a diverse range of modules.
• Specialize in areas such as business tax, financing of international trade, and international dispute resolution.
• Get ready for your future career through research internships, pro bono activities, mooting, and work experience.
• Join a diverse community of staff and students from around the world and broaden your perspective.

Prepare for Your Future Career

• Stand out from the crowd by undertaking research internships, pro bono activities, and work experience opportunities through the Centre for Employability, Professional Legal Education and Research (CEPLER).

Course Delivery

• At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand, with lecturers and professors continuing to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Law.
• Taught modules represent a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework, and assignment preparation.
• Seminars and lectures are mainly taught in small groups with some lectures.
• A 15,000-word dissertation is undertaken in an area that interests the student.

Module Information

• The program comprises 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation.
• Modules run for one term.
• The following modules must be taken:
  • Dissertation on a Legal Topic (60 credits)
  • Introduction to Legal Research (30 credits)
  • Company Law and Dispute Resolution (30 credits)
• Students choose one module from the list of optional International Business Law modules, which has typically included:
  • Financing of International Trade (20 credits)
  • Business Taxation (20 credits)
  • Company Law (20 credits)
  • International Commercial Dispute Resolution (20 credits)
  • International Corporate Governance (20 credits)
  • Law, Society and Governance (20 credits)
• Students choose their remaining two modules from the full list of LLM modules, which may include:
  • International Investment Law (20 credits)
  • Regulating Technologies (20 credits)
  • Financing of International Trade (20 credits)
  • Human Rights & Health Care Law (20 credits)
  • International Human Rights Law (20 credits)
  • International and European Legal Responses to Terrorism (20 credits)
  • AI Law (Case Studies) (20 credits)
  • Assessment and financing of energy projects (20 credits)
  • Banking Law (20 credits)
  • Business Taxation (20 credits)
  • Commercial Conflict of Law (20 credits)
  • Company Law (20 credits)
  • Criminal Law Reform Now (20 credits)
  • Cyberlaw (20 credits)
  • Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (20 credits)
  • Environmental and energy regulation (20 credits)
  • Environmental, Energy Law (20 credits)
  • Global Crime Problems (20 credits)
  • Intellectual Property Law (20 credits)
  • International Commercial Dispute Resolution (20 credits)
  • International Corporate Governance (20 credits)
  • International Criminal Law and Justice (20 credits)
  • International Oil and Gas Law (20 credits)
  • International Trade Law and Policy (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Legal Research (20 credits)
  • Law and Language (20 credits)
  • Law, Society and Governance (20 credits)
  • Preferential Trade Agreements and Regional Blocs (20 credits)
  • Public International Law (20 credits)
  • Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice (20 credits)
  • Renewable Energy and Climate Change Law (20 credits)
  • Socio-Legal Theory (20 credits)
  • Transnational Criminal Law (20 credits)

Entry Requirements

• To gain a place at Birmingham, students will need to meet the general entry requirements, as well as those specific to the course.
• A 2:1 Honours Degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject is required.
• Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry.
• English language requirements:
  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking, and 21 in Writing.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
  • Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component.
  • LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill.

Fees and Scholarships

• The University tuition fee covers the cost of tuition, supervision, assessment, and includes membership to the Guild of Students.
• Fees for 2026 entry:
  • £11,250 (full-time)
  • £5,625 (part-time)
• The University has put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships.
• Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Application Process

• To apply for a postgraduate program, students will need to submit their application and supporting documents online.
• The application deadline for UK and non-visa requiring applicants is 28 August 2026.
• Early applications are encouraged, as the program will close once it is full.

Career Opportunities

• By studying a postgraduate degree in Law at Birmingham, students will develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths.
• These skills include the ability to present a strong argument, research and analytical skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work independently.
• Our LLM postgraduate students have gone on to work in careers such as 'Solicitor', 'Paralegal', and 'Policy Advisor' in organizations such as Eversheds Sutherland, House of Commons, and Crown Prosecution Service.

Student Experience

• At Birmingham, students will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills, and make friends for life.
• The university offers a huge variety of accommodation options, exciting activities to get involved in outside of studies, as well as all the support and advice needed.
• The campus is green and spacious, with a range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.

Student Stories

• Careers and alumni: Read about how the LLM is preparing students for their future legal careers.
• University life: Find out about taking part in a mooting competition and what it's like to return to university for postgraduate study after taking time away from education.