Overview
We live in a society governed by a complex legal framework but how much do we really understand the rights we have and the obligations we must abide by?
Our LLM in Law course will provide you with an opportunity to explore this area and develop your knowledge around Law, particularly in areas affected by international and comparative law. You will be introduced to the relevant rules, values and institutions of comparative and international law, which then feed into, and aim to challenge your learning, through study topics including public international law, international human rights, commercial law, and corporate social responsibility.
Benefitting from over 50 years’ experience of teaching Law and giving you the opportunity to participate in the Coventry University Global Leaders programme (subject to application and fees), as well as our CMI accredited module, our LLM in Law offers plenty of ways to help to develop your skills and stand out in the global graduate market. You can also undertake professional experience of up to a year during your course, which could help to further skills needed in your future career.
Professional experience option
This master's programme provides you with the additional option to apply for a professional experience opportunity during your first semester with us. The professional experience opportunity is designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects.
Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, which for 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2,666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.
Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed, and while you will be responsible for sourcing any opportunity, you will have the support of our Talent Team in doing so. This is subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply. Find out more about the professional experience option or use our enquiry forms for UK and for EU/International students to ask any questions.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
To ensure an optimised and continual student experience, the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The course currently includes the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited module, Global Professional Development – Consultancy. Students who successfully complete the CMI module and meet the CMI evidence requirements will also gain a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management and a Level 7 Award in Professional Consulting. This will enable you to apply for Chartered Manager status via the qualified route, once all CMI entry criteria have been met (please visit the CMI website for full details on the criteria to qualify as a Chartered Manager and applicable fees). Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules, but is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to these modules, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)
Coventry Law School is also a member of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA) with over 250 members from Europe and beyond.
International Association of Law
Coventry Law School is a member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of more than 160 law schools and departments from over 55 countries, representing more than 7,500 law faculty members. Having this status allows our Law students the opportunity to explore a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world.
Wha our alumni say
In addition to my law studies, I’ve travelled a lot, met new people and made lots of friends from different cultures – which makes university life more enjoyable.
Course information
Our LLM in Law course has been designed to challenge and cultivate your knowledge around Law. The focus is on international and comparative law, but the course also draws from the diverse legal topics covered by other courses taught at Coventry Law School.
The course will introduce you to the relevant rules, values and institutions of comparative and international law, which then feed into, and aim to challenge your learning, through study topics including public international law, international human rights, commercial law, and corporate social responsibility. The course allows you the opportunity to acquire substantive and practical knowledge of international and comparative law, which can then be employed in commercial and other practice.
You will be taught by experts in the field of law, with assessment designed to test both critical understanding of the law, as well as its practical application. In addition to this, you will benefit from over 50 years’ experience of teaching law, and have the opportunity to participate in the Coventry University Global Leaders programme and study our CMI* accredited module. Please note that staff are subject to change.
This course can be offered on a part-time basis, with study over two years. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. You can make an enquiry about part-time study using our online forms, for UK and for EU/International students.
Course Specification
Download PDF
Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
Our broad LLM in Law course will focus on international law and comparative law but also offer the opportunity to engage with more diverse legal topics from across other LLMs taught at Coventry Law School.
You will be taught by experts in the field of international and commercial law and have the chance to apply to extend your course with professional experience, which can last for up to a year. With the support of our Talent Team, you can search for a suitable opportunity, which could help to develop the skills needed for your future career. Following your professional experience, you will then return to the university to complete your final semester. Please see the professional experience option section in the Overview tab for further details,
Law has been taught at Coventry University for over 50 years and we are currently staffed by over 40 highly experienced academics and former practitioners, who bring their professional and/or research expertise into teaching; our faculty take pride in providing friendly, accessible support and guidance as well as inspirational teaching. Please note that staff are subject to change.
Our learning facilities, which include modern classrooms, open learning spaces and our moot room allow you the chance to get the most out of your learning experience. Our Moot Room, which is based on the ground floor of the George Eliot building will give you the opportunity to practise your legal skills. You will also have opportunities to advance your legal knowledge through attendance at conferences, special guest seminars, and sessions with guest speakers, many of whom are currently working in the legal industry (subject to availability). Please also note that due to the ongoing situation around COVID-19 restrictions, some teaching spaces may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use. Please refer to the University’s webpages regarding our response to Covid-19, for UK students and for International students.
- Guidance on research, study and writing skills together with exploring research design and methods, in preparation for writing assessments and the final semester Project module.
- Over 50 years’ experience teaching Law at Coventry University.
- Benefit from a Law School who are members of the International Association of Law Schools and European Law Faculties Association.
- Option to extend the course with embedded professional experience, through the professional experience pathway. Please see the professional experience option section in the Overview tab for further details.
- Access to the Talent Team, a dedicated service for those students seeking placements and employment, with employability staff with knowledge of the legal profession and associated careers.
- International perspective provided by staff exchange visits from other universities across the world (subject to availability).
- Opportunities to attend guest lectures from employers who specialise in different areas of the law, building your professional network. Please note guest speakers are subject to availability.
Current established student exchange links with the Universities of Liege in Belgium, Strasbourg in France (French speaking), Castellon and Leon in Spain (Spanish speaking), The Hague in the Netherlands, Orebro in Sweden, Pecs in Hungary (where courses are taught in English), the Universities of Kiel and Rostock in Germany (German Speaking) and the University of the West Indies Law Faculty in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (English speaking).
- International and Comparative in Perspective: International lawyers draw upon both their legal knowledge and practical skills in order to apply them to the various and often complex situations and cases involving the application of international legal norms and frameworks. This course incorporates a practice-orientated approach to study, by challenging you to develop your understanding of international issues and apply your knowledge and skills to contemporary issues affecting the interaction between States, as well as between States and non-State actors with the global community. This course therefore plays a crucial role in aiming to enhance the knowledge and understanding of lawyers and legally-interested individuals.
- Commercial Law in Practice: An ability to place advanced knowledge and understanding into a practical context is crucial for any practicing lawyer or person acting in the commercial arena. Commercial lawyers draw from a broad base of legal knowledge and skills and apply them in situations which are often both contentious and complex. This course allows you the opportunity to develop your critical thinking skills by providing you with the chance to analyse complex scenarios and provide advice; consider the fiscal implications of commercial transactions; and to debate remedies to commercial disputes in a courtroom setting. It also enables you to explore the conduct of international trade both in terms of the content of the international rules and institutional setting, and the wider effect of international trade law on economies, global development, citizens, the environment, and international equity.
- Corporate Regulation and Social Responsibility: The internationalisation of business and commerce over the past century has posed new challenges to the regulation orfcorporations which has been exacerbated further by the growth of the Internet and electronic commerce. It is therefore important in both academic and practical contexts for lawyers to be able to critically appraise the international regulation of multinational corporations and apply knowledge and understanding of such regulation in a practical context. Furthermore, exploring the role of corporations play in our society is of vital importance. The course will therefore allow you to examine the relationship between law, ethics, sustainable development and globalisation in the corporate context.
This course can be studied full-time over one year and may also be taken part-time over two years. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary depending on factors such as the number of enrolled students. If you are interested in part-time study, please contact us using our online forms, for UK and for EU/International students, as the structure of part-time study can vary.
We place great emphasis on our aim to enhance your transferrable professional skills, so you will regularly have opportunities to lead discussions or develop your presentation skills. We will also encourage you to improve your analytical and critical thinking skills, where appropriate, inviting you to participate in role-playing exercises or case simulations.
Teaching will principally be delivered through flexible workshops, which will include expository ‘lecture style’ content, in-class activities, and discursive seminars. These sessions may be delivered through a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials We will draw heavily on real-life case studies and there will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and debate within workshops. You will be expected to prepare in advance of workshops, with the aim to develop your understanding of a particular subject.
We seek to supplement teaching with regular guest lectures – from the UK, Europe, and beyond – bringing new perspectives to the material covered in class (subject to availability).
Teaching methods include: lectures, workshops and tutorials.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include, practical or project work, coursework, tests and essays.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Evidence a critical understanding of the theories, concepts, values, principles and rules of international law within an institutional, social and global context.
- Critically understand the various theories, concepts, values and principles of constitutional law within comparative constitutions.
- Evidence an understanding of contemporary issues and developments within various areas of constitutional law, public international law and human rights, and commercial and corporate law
- Identify, synthesise and critically analyse relevant and in-depth information from primary and secondary legal sources, using both digital and non-digital resources.
- Draw reasoned and critical conclusions through the application of legal principles and knowledge to complex real-life and/or hypothetical legal, political and commercial problems.
- Evidence enhanced intellectual independence including addressing and resolving legal and related questions, acquiring new knowledge, addressing and resolving ambiguity and engaging in critical analysis and evaluation.
- Appreciate and demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility and ethical behaviour in an academic and vocational capacity.
- Communicate effectively, by explaining and conveying information at various levels appropriate to the audience, and demonstrate self-management and an ability to work and research independently and collaboratively in order to enhance employability.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of consultancy and the theories and practices found in leadership.
We set out below the typical teaching contact hours that you will receive on this course. In addition to the contact hours below, we offer the opportunity to attend additional optional sessions, such as guest lectures (subject to availability), or to meet with staff during their advice and feedback hours.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In your first and second semester, you will have up to 12 contact hours of teaching a week. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
A strong emphasis is placed on the Project module in your final semester and therefore total teaching contact hours may be reduced.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of studying and revising in your own time each week, which will be both self-directed, and also guided, through the use of, for example, hand-outs or online activities.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 25 hours of self-directed studying and revising in your own time, including some guided study using handouts, online activities etc.
Our LLM in Law course is international in nature, drawing upon international case studies to provide an international perspective to the course’s content. Some modules are solely focused on international topics, and cover topics such as International Human Rights Law and Public International Law. Further supporting this international focus is the experience of our academic staff, and the typically diverse make up of Coventry Law School students.
We also recognise the difference that both work and an international experience can make to a future career. As well as having an international theme throughout your studies, there will also be opportunities to attend *field trips overseas, which in the past has seen us visit the University of the West Indies Law Faculty in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to experience a different legal system as praxis, and also engage in a moot debate.
We currently have particularly strong links with the South West University of Politics and Law (SWUPL) in Chongqing in China. We have also established current links with The University of the West Indies (Republic of Trinidad & Tobago) and the University of Maryland (USA). These provide opportunities for study exchanges and staff also regularly give guest lectures and host joint ‘live’ online seminars with their students (subject to availability). Previously, we’ve organised seminars on topics such as International Development Law, Oil, Gas & Energy Law, Intellectual Property, International and European Law.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any overseas opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our alumni say
In addition to my law studies, I’ve travelled a lot, met new people and made lots of friends from different cultures – which makes university life more enjoyable.
Entry Requirements
What our students say...
I chose LLM International Business Course due to the high global internationalization of businesses today and because the course feeds directly into my career path. I also find the diversity of this prestigious institution both welcoming and engaging, and I believe this provides a great experience especially for international students.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Course essentials – additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our students say
In addition to my law studies, I’ve travelled a lot, met new people and made lots of friends from different cultures – which makes university life more enjoyable
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
The LLM in Law course aims to provide you with knowledge of international and comparative law and affairs in areas such as constitutional law, international affairs and international commercial and corporate law, which, upon successful completion, could result in career opportunities in various employments, such as companies, government and state agencies and non-governmental organisations, either as a legal adviser or in a non-legal capacity.
To further develop employability skills, and help build on your practical experience, this course offers the opportunity for professional experience, which could see you extend your course by up to a year through a placement in industry. Please note that professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed, and you will be responsible for sourcing any opportunity, although you will have the support of our Talent Team in doing so.
Upon successful completion, the skills learnt and practiced on the LLM in Law course can be utilised by those intending to enter the legal profession (in the UK and overseas). However, the utility of the course is not restricted to those who wish to pursue a career in legal practice, as the skills and attributes developed and acquired throughout the LLM in Law course and upon successful completion are translatable to many other positive career destinations and the course is designed to prepare students for the global jobs market, further graduate level study (PhD) or a career in academia. Please not that further study opportunities may be subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply.
Some previous graduates have chosen to specialise in Business, International and Diplomatic Relations or Human Rights Law as lawyers both at home and abroad, while other previous graduates have gone on to work for international organisations in a non-legal capacity in the areas of international human rights, the environment and for local and national government agencies. Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The University's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have secured roles with employers which include: Brethertons LLP, a growing Midlands firm with six offices; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer a leading multinational law firm; and Ince and Co, a specialist international commercial firm with offices in Dubai, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Le Havre, London, Paris, Piraeus, Shanghai and Singapore.
What our students say...
I chose LLM International Business Course due to the high global internationalization of businesses today and because the course feeds directly into my career path. I also find the diversity of this prestigious institution both welcoming and engaging, and I believe this provides a great experience especially for international students.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
