LLM International Commercial Law

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions

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Founded in the ancient silk and spice routes, international trade and commerce has spread to become the most significant activity of any modern economy.

The provision of goods and services in other countries increased dramatically in the second half of the 20th century, and today continues to reveal new markets, products and commercial practices.

Our LLM in International Commercial Law focuses on the legal regulation from the perspective of a common law jurisdiction, and the challenges presented through membership of the international and European communities.

“This really is a career-enhancing course, not just within the legal profession but in a variety of industries. Our graduates have gone on to work as patent associates, senior lawyers and associate directors.”
Dr Melanie Klinkner, Senior Lecturer in Law

“The LLM degree gave me a considerable competitive advantage over other applicants when vying for the position during the interview process. Moreover, I am incredibly indebted to BU and the law faculty staff for providing such an incredible intellectual journey - one that I shall not forget.”
Charl Herman, Founder and CEO, Herman & Co

Key information

Next start date:

September 2019, January 2020, September 2020 and January 2021

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus and Lansdowne Campus

Duration:

1 year full-time (September start); 16 months full-time (January start)

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Download the programme specification (pdf 579kb)

Semester 1

Core units

Principles of International Law, International Organisations and the World Trade Organisation (Talbot Campus): Firstly it will provide you with a sound grounding in the principles underpinning international law. Secondly, and building upon the knowledge gained on the principles of international law, the unit will examine the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a prime example of an international organisation.

Option units (choose two)*

Corporate law - Theory & Practice (Talbot Campus): You will examine key issues in contemporary corporate law, this will enable you to evaluate corporate law issues from key theoretical and practical perspectives.
International Dispute Resolution (Talbot Campus): Cross-border and inter-State relations raise complex issues involving the law of more than one country. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers an alternative way of resolving disputes other than litigation. This unit will introduce the key concepts, forms and procedures of ADR and discuss its development and merits compared to litigation relating to both international commercial and public international law disputes.
International Cyber Law & Governance (Talbot Campus): An understanding of the principles of internet law and online policies (addressing principles of human rights law, criminal law, international law and copyright law inter alia) has become indispensable for professionals aiming for a career in the digital economy. This unit will provide you with a thorough grounding and critical appreciation of online policy, regulatory scope for online activities and strategic impact on business decisions.

*Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Semester 2

Core units

Law of International Trade (Talbot Campus): This unit deals with the core of international commercial law: the legal regulation of international commerce from the perspective of transactions relating to the exportation of goods. This allows for an in-depth exposure to international supply, sale and carriage contracts, to considerations associated with multiple transactions and to techniques for the international harmonisation of substantive law.

Option units (choose two)*

International Intellectual Property Rights (Talbot Campus): Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are implicated in most aspects of international commerce. For example: patent laws affect technology transfer, trade mark laws affect branding, design laws affect product development and copyright laws affect all entertainment goods. Through the integration of intellectual property standards into the WTO framework with the 1994 TRIPS Agreement, intellectual property laws have been substantially and controversially harmonised. This unit evaluates the consequences of the globalisation of intellectual property laws.
International Direct Taxation (Lansdowne Campus): The globalisation of business means that firms must not only understand the domestic tax systems in the states in which they operate, but also the ways in which those systems interact. Direct taxes at the federal level usually account for between 10 and 30 per cent of pre-tax profits and this unit aims to foster an understanding of the international tax system and the principal tax planning techniques open to multinational firms.
International Law of the Environment (Talbot Campus): This unit will examine the particular sectors of environmental policy that are the subject of international legal regulation and obligations. This will involve an appraisal of how international legal regulation has developed in these areas, taking into account various challenges, legal and political, that have been influential in shaping their respective evolution.

*Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Semester 3

Core units

Dissertation: This unit will provide you with the opportunity to conduct research on an area of law associated with the knowledge and skills acquired and developed on your chosen pathway. You will develop critical thinking, evaluate new and existing relevant research and develop your conceptual understanding of law. This unit will promote self-managed learning by completion of a significant piece of work.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject
For post-experience and professional qualifications, there may be additional entry requirements set by the association or institute that ultimately administers the qualification in question. The qualification description on the course information pages should tell you what these are but please get in touch with the Future Students Enquiry team.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry team for more information.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Your application

For International Commercial Law we are looking for applicants who:

Have a legal background or demonstrate true passion for law
Are enthusiastic about issues surrounding international commerce and international legal provisions
Can evaluate legal situations, develop arguments and contribute to group discussions and debates
Are prepared to work hard to meet strict deadlines and rise to the challenge of postgraduate study.

What we're looking for

We encourage applications from individuals with excellent research, analytical skills and enthusiasm for debates. We are looking for self-managed learners who are happy to work hard to meet the demands of this rewarding course. Furthermore, we seek individuals with a keen interest in developing new skills and who will draw upon their existing experiences, to enhance their legal expertise and careers prospects

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Careers

The course will provide a challenging and stimulating opportunity to enhance your career prospects within a variety of industries and/or the legal profession.

In particular, the course will appeal to:

International students looking for an understanding of commercial trade
Lawyers seeking a specialism or an accreditation to advise commercial clients
Managers in the banking, insurance, carriage and other constituent industries
Recent or mature Graduates (and equivalents) seeking more focused career opportunities
Academic lawyers seeking to expand their knowledge base.

Typical starting job roles

Our students have previously worked for*

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the new Postgraduate Loans Scheme, offering up to £10,000 of support (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

One set of study-related consumables such as a memory stick/ DVD
Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.

Repeat units

Deposits

International (non-EU) students need to pay a non-refundable £2,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Dr Sascha-Dominik Bachmann - Programme Leader

Sascha-Dominik Bachmann joined Bournemouth University as Associate Professor in August 2013. His teaching and research focus is on international legal subjects and work on research projects involve colleagues from the UK, South Africa, Israel, Sweden, the USA and Australia. Prior to joining Bournemouth Sascha-Dominik worked as a Senior Lecturer in International and European Law at the University of Portsmouth and as a Reader in International Law at the University of Lincoln.

Sascha-Dominik was educated in Germany (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München), South Africa (Stellenbosch University and University of Johannesburg) and the United Kingdom (University of Portsmouth). As a Lieutenant Colonel in the German Army Reserve he served as a peacekeeper in the Balkans (Kosovo) on three occasions while completing his LL.D with the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Trained as a Mountain Warfare Officer, Sascha-Dominik also had the privilege to be seconded to the 23rd Marines as an exchange officer as part of the official US-German Reserve Officers Foreign Exchange Officer Program. Prior to completing a LL.M at Stellenbosch University, he was admitted as a German Rechtsanwalt (attorney at law) at the High Court of Munich. Particular research interests are in the fields of Human Rights Litigation, Historical Justice Litigation, Holocaust/Shoa, Terrorism, Law of Armed Conflict, Hybrid Threats and holistic responses to new 21st century security threats.

Particular research interest are in the fields of Human Rights Litigation, Historical Justice Litigation, Holocaust/Shoa, Terrorism, Law of Armed Conflict, Hybrid Threats and holistic responses to new 21st century security threats. I am at the moment working with colleagues from the Swedish Defence University and the UK Armed Forces on Hybrid War and how NATO and the West is confronting Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine.

View Sascha-Dominik Bachmann's staff profile

Course changes

Changes in 2018

Date	Changes to this course
24/10/18	Where the change was made: Key information Change: Location changed to Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus and Lansdowne Campus Previous text: Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus.

LLM International Commercial Law

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Course details

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Programme specification

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

International entry requirements

Your application

What we're looking for

Selection methods

How and when to apply

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Our students have previously worked for*

Further study

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Deposits

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

Dr Sascha-Dominik Bachmann - Programme Leader

Course changes

Changes in 2018