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Why study International Commercial Law at Northumbria?

An increasingly globalised economy requires international commercial law professionals to have a wide range of knowledge on issues relevant to international commerce. This includes the World Trade Organisation and the law of international trade, and in areas such as international finance, intellectual property or international energy law.

Northumbria Law School is one of the largest law schools in the UK, and houses academics with an international reputation for research in International Commercial Law. You will benefit from our strong links with the North East legal community, and learn from staff who continue to undertake high profile work in legal practice. 

 

What can I expect from this course?

It is not necessary to have an undergraduate law qualification and there are no jurisdictional restrictions, so you will be part of a diverse and intellectually stimulating cohort. You will learn from each other’s experiences in a relaxed and collaborative environment.

As part of Northumbria’s innovative and flexible LLM Law framework, the International Commercial Law specialism has been designed to meet the needs of legal practitioners within this field, as well as finance professionals who may benefit from a deeper contextual understanding.

 

How will this course prepare me for my career?

Studying on this Masters and engaging in the LLM Law’s specialist areas of contemporary and innovative legal study, within an established postgraduate legal qualification, provides you with a remarkable opportunity to enhance your career.

 

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Full Time

Department
Northumbria Law School

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Funding and Scholarships

Discover the funding options available to you.

Find out More / Northumbria Law School News

Take a look at our Law school and the opportunities available to you.

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Explore our immersive 360 tours, informative subject videos, inspirational student profiles, ground-breaking research, and a range of life at university blogs videos and articles.

Videos / Law

Watch Senior Lecturer Emmanuel Guinchard discuss the International Commercial Law Masters in a Minute (or so), and then discover more about the wider academic experience at Northumbria Law School.

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in any subject. Relevant professional qualifications or suitable work experience will also be considered.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

Full UK Fee: £11,000

Full International Fee: £19,350



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

GD7000 -

Academic Language Skills for PG Law Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.
• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, dissertations and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.
• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

More information

LW7039 -

Intellectual Property (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of UK and European Law governing intellectual property rights. You will examine intellectual property rights in a variety of international and domestic contexts. You will look at both common law and statutory rules. This detailed content of the module includes the following topics: (1) the nature of IP rights, (2) copyright and related rights, (3) Trademarks, (4) Designs, (5) Patents, (6) Confidentiality. These topics will all be discussed within both a theoretical context and also in respect of practical scenarios that are drawn from work-based practice.

More information

LW7088 -

Research for Advanced Legal Studies (Core,20 Credits)

This module offers a critical introduction to legal research methods. It is designed to ensure that you will be able to confidently embark on legal research on your Masters programme whatever your academic background or jurisdiction. Your lectures are designed to refresh and develop your understanding of legal research techniques, referencing and evaluating sources. In your workshops you will be provided with opportunities to undertake and obtain feedback upon a series of legal research and writing tasks, thus enabling you to develop critical understanding of what it meant by effective legal research, and how you yourself can become an effective legal researcher.

More information

LW7089 -

Legal Research Project (LLM Framework) (Core,60 Credits)

In this module you will draw on your skills and knowledge acquired from the taught elements of the LLM branch specialism and will develop and refine these in the context of a self-chosen area of independent specialist study. You will develop; (1) your understanding and use of legal research techniques, (2) An ability to critically analyse and evaluate legal data, (3) the ability to handle complex legal material systematically and creatively including material at the forefront of the field of study, (4) a conceptual understanding of the research topic, (5) skill at showing a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current legal issues, (6) the ability to communicate legal information, arguments and conclusions within accepted academic conventions.

More information

LW7091 -

Commercial Contracts (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about the key issues and consequences relevant to conducting business successfully in the modern world. You will learn how commercial contracts can be used as a risk management tool, how to exercise professional judgement and you will become more commercially aware. You will also learn about how businesses use marketing arrangements to increase sales and how competition law impacts on these arrangements. As you examine commercial contracts in realistic practical contexts you will learn about drafting issues and consequences in standard form contracts, how to allocate risk and you will develop an awareness of current issues and developments in the commercial environment. The areas covered include; (1) commercial sales of goods contracts, (2) passing of property and allocation of risk in commercial contracts, (3) express terms, (4) implied terms and exclusion clauses, (5) performance of the contract, (6) consequences of breach of contract, (7) agency and the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993, (8) distribution agreements, (9) EU competition law - Article 101 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.

More information

LW7092 -

International Dispute Resolution (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to international dispute resolution. You will examine: cover a range of key theoretical and practical concepts in international dispute resolution. You will examine the Jurisdiction of European Courts (including English Courts). The module will also examine the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements within the European Union, Arbitration and Arbitral Awards and the Law applicable to Obligations (Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations). This module will combine a doctrinal focus with an examination of real-world problems that require the engagement of international dispute resolution mechanisms. The awareness of such significant systems for dispute resolution will be attractive to employers and businesses who trade on a global level.

More information

LW7095 -

International Commercial Law (Core,20 Credits)

This module has an overall aim to provide students with an understanding of how an international sale of goods contract works, i.e., which law will be the governing law of the contract; which trade term will be incorporated into the contract and why; and how the goods will be financed and which law will govern the financing of the goods; as well as the transport of those goods from the Seller to the Buyer by means of sea or inland waterway carriage. As 80% of all international sale of goods contacts may be negotiated by means of applying the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), major emphasis is placed on when the CISG must apply automatically as the governing law of the contract and when the CISG may apply automatically as the governing law of the contract. Carriage of goods by sea by means of charter parties and under bills of lading are also studied including the Hague and the Hague Visby Rules. The topics covered will include: (1) Difficulties of Parties Entering into Cross-Border Agreements and Contract Clauses Generally Included in Written Agreements for the Sale of Goods, (2) Articles 1-29 and 95 of the CISG: When the CISG is the Governing Law of the Contract and Formation of a CISG Contract, (3) Articles 30-51 and 66-70 of the CISG: Obligations of the Seller and Passing of Risk, (4) Articles 53-68 and 71-88 of the CISG: Obligations for the Buyer and Obligations Common to the Seller and the Buyer Including Damages, (5) Trade Terms and INCOTERMS 2010, (6) Financing the Goods and Letters of Credit, (7) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Common Law Charter Party Contracts of Affreightment and Statutory Bill of Lading Contracts of Affreightment, (8) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Implied Obligations and Exceptions to Liability, (9) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Hague and Hague Visby Rules, (10) Summary of International Sale of Goods and Carriage of Goods.

More information

LW7096 -

Law of the WTO (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). You will examine: (1) History: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). This historic international convention was the only multilateral instrument governing international trade from 1948 until the establishment of WTO in 1995. Principal Rounds, specifically Uruguay Round (1986-1994). During a series of multilateral negotiations, efforts were made to reduce tariffs. The last one, the Uruguay Round, was the most extensive of all. It led to the creation of the WTO. (2) Institutional WTO Law: Agreement establishing the WTO. Presentation of the ministerial conference, the general council, the dispute settlement body, the trade policy review body, the council for trade in goods, the council for trade in services, the council for trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights. Dispute settlement understanding. The WTO provides a unique and efficient disputes settlement system, where rulings are adopted by negative consensus. (3) Substantial WTO Law: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. Study of the most-favoured-nation treatment, national treatment, rules for regional agreements, anti-dumping rules etc. General agreement on trade in services (GATS). Study of market access, national treatment, special treatment of least-developed countries. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

GD7000 -

Academic Language Skills for PG Law Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.
• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, dissertations and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.
• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

More information

LW7039 -

Intellectual Property (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of UK and European Law governing intellectual property rights. You will examine intellectual property rights in a variety of international and domestic contexts. You will look at both common law and statutory rules. This detailed content of the module includes the following topics: (1) the nature of IP rights, (2) copyright and related rights, (3) Trademarks, (4) Designs, (5) Patents, (6) Confidentiality. These topics will all be discussed within both a theoretical context and also in respect of practical scenarios that are drawn from work-based practice.

More information

LW7088 -

Research for Advanced Legal Studies (Core,20 Credits)

This module offers a critical introduction to legal research methods. It is designed to ensure that you will be able to confidently embark on legal research on your Masters programme whatever your academic background or jurisdiction. Your lectures are designed to refresh and develop your understanding of legal research techniques, referencing and evaluating sources. In your workshops you will be provided with opportunities to undertake and obtain feedback upon a series of legal research and writing tasks, thus enabling you to develop critical understanding of what it meant by effective legal research, and how you yourself can become an effective legal researcher.

More information

LW7089 -

Legal Research Project (LLM Framework) (Core,60 Credits)

In this module you will draw on your skills and knowledge acquired from the taught elements of the LLM branch specialism and will develop and refine these in the context of a self-chosen area of independent specialist study. You will develop; (1) your understanding and use of legal research techniques, (2) An ability to critically analyse and evaluate legal data, (3) the ability to handle complex legal material systematically and creatively including material at the forefront of the field of study, (4) a conceptual understanding of the research topic, (5) skill at showing a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current legal issues, (6) the ability to communicate legal information, arguments and conclusions within accepted academic conventions.

More information

LW7091 -

Commercial Contracts (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about the key issues and consequences relevant to conducting business successfully in the modern world. You will learn how commercial contracts can be used as a risk management tool, how to exercise professional judgement and you will become more commercially aware. You will also learn about how businesses use marketing arrangements to increase sales and how competition law impacts on these arrangements. As you examine commercial contracts in realistic practical contexts you will learn about drafting issues and consequences in standard form contracts, how to allocate risk and you will develop an awareness of current issues and developments in the commercial environment. The areas covered include; (1) commercial sales of goods contracts, (2) passing of property and allocation of risk in commercial contracts, (3) express terms, (4) implied terms and exclusion clauses, (5) performance of the contract, (6) consequences of breach of contract, (7) agency and the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993, (8) distribution agreements, (9) EU competition law - Article 101 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.

More information

LW7092 -

International Dispute Resolution (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to international dispute resolution. You will examine: cover a range of key theoretical and practical concepts in international dispute resolution. You will examine the Jurisdiction of European Courts (including English Courts). The module will also examine the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements within the European Union, Arbitration and Arbitral Awards and the Law applicable to Obligations (Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations). This module will combine a doctrinal focus with an examination of real-world problems that require the engagement of international dispute resolution mechanisms. The awareness of such significant systems for dispute resolution will be attractive to employers and businesses who trade on a global level.

More information

LW7095 -

International Commercial Law (Core,20 Credits)

This module has an overall aim to provide students with an understanding of how an international sale of goods contract works, i.e., which law will be the governing law of the contract; which trade term will be incorporated into the contract and why; and how the goods will be financed and which law will govern the financing of the goods; as well as the transport of those goods from the Seller to the Buyer by means of sea or inland waterway carriage. As 80% of all international sale of goods contacts may be negotiated by means of applying the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), major emphasis is placed on when the CISG must apply automatically as the governing law of the contract and when the CISG may apply automatically as the governing law of the contract. Carriage of goods by sea by means of charter parties and under bills of lading are also studied including the Hague and the Hague Visby Rules. The topics covered will include: (1) Difficulties of Parties Entering into Cross-Border Agreements and Contract Clauses Generally Included in Written Agreements for the Sale of Goods, (2) Articles 1-29 and 95 of the CISG: When the CISG is the Governing Law of the Contract and Formation of a CISG Contract, (3) Articles 30-51 and 66-70 of the CISG: Obligations of the Seller and Passing of Risk, (4) Articles 53-68 and 71-88 of the CISG: Obligations for the Buyer and Obligations Common to the Seller and the Buyer Including Damages, (5) Trade Terms and INCOTERMS 2010, (6) Financing the Goods and Letters of Credit, (7) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Common Law Charter Party Contracts of Affreightment and Statutory Bill of Lading Contracts of Affreightment, (8) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Implied Obligations and Exceptions to Liability, (9) Carriage of Goods by Sea: Hague and Hague Visby Rules, (10) Summary of International Sale of Goods and Carriage of Goods.

More information

LW7096 -

Law of the WTO (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). You will examine: (1) History: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). This historic international convention was the only multilateral instrument governing international trade from 1948 until the establishment of WTO in 1995. Principal Rounds, specifically Uruguay Round (1986-1994). During a series of multilateral negotiations, efforts were made to reduce tariffs. The last one, the Uruguay Round, was the most extensive of all. It led to the creation of the WTO. (2) Institutional WTO Law: Agreement establishing the WTO. Presentation of the ministerial conference, the general council, the dispute settlement body, the trade policy review body, the council for trade in goods, the council for trade in services, the council for trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights. Dispute settlement understanding. The WTO provides a unique and efficient disputes settlement system, where rulings are adopted by negative consensus. (3) Substantial WTO Law: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. Study of the most-favoured-nation treatment, national treatment, rules for regional agreements, anti-dumping rules etc. General agreement on trade in services (GATS). Study of market access, national treatment, special treatment of least-developed countries. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.

More information

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

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* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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