Postgraduate course
International Business Law LLM
Further your knowledge of international business law with a postgraduate course that can be tailored to suit your interests and career goals.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/student-law-study-learning-4-(wecompress.com).jpg)
Develop advanced expertise in the principles, frameworks, and practice of international business law, to prepare you for navigating complex legal challenges in an increasingly interconnected commercial world. You will study 2 core modules in business law and choose from a range of optional modules in topics including cyber law and international corporate governance. This allows you to study topics that interest you and suit your career goals.
York campus
- Duration – 1 year
- Start date – September 2026, February 2027
- School – York Business School
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 honours degree in a related subject
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £12,500 full time
International 2026-27 £14,900 full time
Course overview
Cultivate the analytical, research and professional capabilities required for diverse legal and business careers. Gain an in depth knowledge of international business law and apply this to real industry issues. Areas of study will include cross border transactions, corporate governance and global business operations. You can choose the optional modules that best fit your interests.
Work related learning is embedded in this course. You will be able to participate in workshops, simulations and problem based learning activities that reflect the demands of professional practice. These sessions will allow you to enhance your skills in negotiation, regulatory analysis and legal drafting.
You will join a close knit and supportive academic community. Receive career support and build networks with practitioners and business leaders operating internationally, gaining insight into the practical demands faced by global organisations. Our support doesn't end when you graduate because you will be able to access our careers services for life.
Course structure
How you will study
If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:
- 1 compulsory module
- 3 optional modules
- 1 year long Capstone Project
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Gain an advanced knowledge of the legal frameworks governing international business operations. There will be a particular focus on cross border employment, corporate responsibility and dispute resolution. You will examine the legal implications of multinational enterprise, jurisdictional challenges and equality and labour standards.
Credits: 30
Optional module
You will be introduced to the principles of international corporate insolvency and the key theoretical frameworks that underpin the field. This will include territorialism and universalism. Understand how complex cross border insolvencies of international companies are addressed within England Wales as well as comparative jurisdictions. Evaluate the relative merits and limitations of different approaches to corporate insolvency within the context of private international law. You will also engage in fortnightly 1 hour Problem-Based Learning (PBL) tutorials centred on complex case studies in international corporate insolvency. These sessions provide an opportunity to analyse, research and resolve cross border insolvency issues, culminating in an assessed output prepared for an industry partner.
Credits: 30
Optional module
Learn how to identify and apply principles of Company law, critically analyse core concepts and evaluate them in the context of contemporary developments in the corporate environment.
Credits: 30
Optional module
Develop an advanced doctrinal and practical knowledge of contemporary data protection and privacy law (the UK and EU core frameworks). You will also establish the skills required to advise organisations, assess compliance, and litigate/advocate on privacy problems. This combines legal theory and policy with practical application, covering:
- Data Protection Impact Assessments.
- Subject access requests.
- Regulatory involvement.
- The privacy implications of AI, algorithmic processing, and cross-border transfers.
Credits: 30
Optional module
Examine governance frameworks across jurisdictions, analysing the interaction between domestic corporate governance regimes and international standards. Gain an advanced knowledge of:
- Governance models
- Soft law mechanisms
- Regulatory harmonisation
- Sustainability governance
- Stakeholder capitalism
Credits: 30
Optional module
Gain an understanding of the intellectual property system, facilitating critical evaluation of current issues in this dynamic area of law. The module will have a particular emphasis on:
- The laws of copyright
- Patents
- Passing off
- Trademarks and breach of confidence
Credits: 30
Optional module
You will engage with the challenges posed by international trade in a legal context. Learn about the fundamental legal rules, methodologies, concepts, models, principles and institutions of international trade law. This will include the trade of goods and services, and of the various contexts in which international trade law functions. Solve problems relating to commercial transaction across borders, involving different jurisdictions and systems of law, and develop an appreciation for the limits of scholarship in this field.
Credits: 30
Optional module
This module addresses existing and emerging legal challenges and situates them within domestic and cross border regulatory frameworks and their associated ethical dimensions. You will learn about a range of topics, including:
- Cybercrime
- Privacy and data protection regimes
- Internet and cyber surveillance
- Cross border data flows
- The governance structures shaping digital regulation
Develop advanced skills in identifying and analysing complex legal problems in rapidly evolving technological contexts. Strengthen your capacity for critical inquiry, independent legal research and effective communication of nuanced arguments in both written and oral forms.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
You will conduct an independent research project looking into an area of business law that interests you. In Semester 1, you will have weekly workshops that introduce you to research design and methodology, helping you to identify an appropriate focus and develop a research plan. In Semester 2, you will have further workshops to provide tailored support as you carry out your research and analyse your findings. You will also benefit from individual supervision from an academic with expertise in your chosen area. This is an opportunity for you to show the knowledge you have gained throughout the course and demonstrate your research skills.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You will typically be taught through a weekly 3 hr workshop per module. There will also be a general weekly 2hr surgery that offers extra support if you have come from a non-law background. Workshops incorporate interactive technologies such as Mentimeter, enabling anonymous contributions to whole group discussion and allowing tutors to assess understanding of key concepts in real time. Workshops, usually capped at 25 students, provide opportunities for collaborative groupwork, discussion, and applied activities.
Fortnightly you will also have a 1 hour small group Problem Based Learning (PBL) tutorials. These sessions provide a work-related learning experience in which you research and analyse a real-world scenario set by an industry partner operating in international trade. The PBL format develops your problem solving, research, and negotiation skills, and the work you produce contributes to an assessed element requiring you to present your findings and recommendations back to the industry partner.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a range of methods that reflect real industry scenarios and aim to help you develop your knowledge and skills. This can include:
- Essays
- Presentations
- Portfolios
In each module there will be 2 assessment workshops dedicated to helping you prepare and providing feedback to help you improve. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will support you towards your career goals.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 honours degree in a related subject
If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK 2026 - 2027 entry
The tuition fee for 2026-27 entry to this postgraduate course is:
- £12,500 for full time study
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
International 2026 - 2027 entry
The tuition fee for 2026-27 entry to this postgraduate course is £14,900 for full time study.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Tuition fees
UK 2026-27 £12,500 full time
International 2026-27 £14,900 full time
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Career outcomes
Where could International Business Law LLM take you?
This degree could lead you to a career directly related to International Business Law, such as working in a law firm, or it could take you in a completely different direction, using the many transferrable skills you will develop. Popular career paths for International Business Law graduates include:
- Business Analyst or Consultant
- Contract Negotiator
- Policy Advisor
- Civil Servant
- Compliance Officer
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market.
Our careers service, Future You, provides support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Course highlights
Follow your Career Goals
Choose optional modules that suit your interests and professional aims, including intellectual property, cyber law and corporate insolvency law.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/Law-Students-Business-School-53-(wecompress.com).jpg)
More to explore
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/500-x-500/Humanities-1.jpg)
Discover postgraduate study
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/500-x-500/POSTGRAD-PG-4.jpg)
Open Evenings
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/500-x-500/Campus-grounds---Lord-Mayors-Walk-7.jpg)
