Keele University

What you'll study

This LLM offers a blend of core and optional modules that explore the substantive legal frameworks governing international commerce and business. Core themes typically include international commercial contracts, international trade law (public and private aspects), cross-border dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation, and comparative corporate and company law.

• International Commercial Contracts — formation, performance, remedies and standard terms in cross‑border contracting.
• International Trade and WTO Law — legal architecture of international trade, trade remedies and regulatory barriers.
• International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution — arbitration law and practice, enforcement of awards and alternative dispute resolution techniques.
• Comparative Company and Corporate Governance — transnational corporate structures, directors’ duties and compliance regimes.
• Competition and EU/UK Regulatory Frameworks — competition law principles as they affect multinational commerce and regulatory compliance.
• Optional modules — these may include intellectual property in commercial transactions, finance and securities law, shipping and maritime commerce, commercial conflict of laws, or data protection and digital economy regulation.
• Research Dissertation or Major Project — a supervised independent research project allowing you to investigate a specialist international commercial law topic in depth.

Teaching methods combine seminars, lectures, workshops and skills sessions (such as contract drafting, negotiation and mooting). Assessment is typically by a mixture of essays, case analyses, practical exercises and the final dissertation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a good undergraduate degree in law (or an equivalent qualification). Applicants holding a degree in a related discipline may be considered where they can demonstrate relevant academic or professional experience in business, commerce or regulatory practice. Candidates with professional legal qualifications and several years’ relevant experience are also welcome to apply.

International applicants must meet Keele’s English language requirements, demonstrated by a recognised qualification or an approved test score equivalent to the University’s standard for postgraduate study. All applicants will be assessed on the strength of their academic record, a personal statement and, where relevant, professional references.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme typically move into careers that require specialist knowledge of cross‑border business law and regulation. Common destinations include:

• International and national law firms (commercial litigation, arbitration, transactional teams)
• In‑house legal departments of multinational corporations (contract management, compliance)
• Regulatory and compliance roles in financial services, competition authorities or trade bodies
• Consultancy practices advising on international trade, investment and dispute resolution
• International organisations, government trade departments and NGOs working on trade policy and economic development
• Further academic study (PhD) or careers in legal research and teaching

The programme emphasises practical skills — drafting, negotiation, advocacy and analytical research — that are valued by employers across the private, public and third sectors.

Why study at Keele University

Keele offers a supportive, campus‑based environment with relatively small class sizes, enabling close interaction with research‑active staff who publish in international commercial law and dispute resolution. The School of Law has experience in teaching both doctrinal material and practical legal skills, and the collegial atmosphere supports peer learning and skills development such as mooting and negotiation workshops.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary opportunities across the University, including access to business and management expertise for modules and projects that intersect with corporate practice. Keele’s teaching emphasises employability, offering careers support, guest practitioner seminars and links with local and national legal employers to help you prepare for an international legal career.