International Law LLB (Hons)

Undergraduate

Explore how law operates across borders. Build your understanding of domestic and international legal frameworks and the systems that shape the global legal landscape.

Course option

Degree with foundation year

Year of entry

2026-27 2027-28

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

M224

Start date

September 2027
November 2027
January 2028
March 2028
May 2028
July 2028

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Your UCAS Guide

Course overview

International Law LLB (Hons) explores the role of law in a globalised society while giving you a strong foundation in the law of England and Wales. You’ll examine domestic and international legal frameworks and develop a broader understanding of how law operates across different contexts.

The course aims to help you:

develop knowledge and understanding of legal doctrines, concepts, principles, rules and values in the core and specialist areas of international law
understand the context in which law operates, including its dynamic nature, uncertainty and need for reform
apply your legal knowledge and skills to both the theory and practice of law in domestic and global contexts.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

You may have opportunities to explore the law in other jurisdictions through activities such as our international field trips and to collaborate with students and legal academics from around the world through initiatives such as our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects.²
Submit your legal writing to be considered for publication alongside other expert legal academics and professionals.
Apply to volunteer in the Employment Law Clinic, Advocacy Clinic or complete a summer placement at the Coventry Law Centre. Selected students can gain practical legal experience under the supervision of trained solicitors and lawyers.²
Grow your networks and get to know members of the legal industry through our 'Raising the Bar' scheme.²

Memberships

Coventry Law School is currently a member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of around 250 law schools from over 60 countries, representing around 12,000 law faculty members. Having this status allows you to access a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world.

Coventry Law School is also currently a member of the European Law Faculties Association with over 150 members from Europe and beyond.

Memberships are reviewed on an annual basis and are not guaranteed. Applicants and students will be informed of any changes as soon as possible¹.

Collaborations

Central England Law Centre

Coventry Law School collaborates with the Central England Law Centre in order to offer a professional element to your learning, through our Law Employment and Advocacy clinics. Students who are selected to participate in the clinics get involved with many aspects of what the solicitors do at the Law Centre, with supervisors who are currently working in practice and experts in specific areas of law. They get hands-on experience doing reserved legal activities, providing supervised advice and assistance to members of the public.

Law QWE

Coventry Law School also collaborates with Law QWE, a careers portal that connects individuals in search of qualifying work experience with top employers to support their route to qualification.

Breathing life into the law

Law students joined forces with journalism, paramedic and acting students as a dramatic court case gave them hands-on, industry-relevant experience.

What you'll study

Your first year is shared with students from closely related courses. This approach allows you to learn alongside other disciplines, broaden your perspective and develop strong collaboration skills from the very start.

The common first year also offers flexibility. If you discover a stronger interest in another subject area, you may have the opportunity to transfer to a related course at the end of the year, subject to meeting progression requirements.

Common first year courses

Commercial Law LLB (Hons)
Criminal Law and Justice LLB (Hons)
International Law LLB (Hons)
Law LLB (Hons)
Law with Professional Practice MLaw

Modules

English and EU Legal Systems – 30 credits

This module explores the sources, institutions and structures of the English and European legal systems. Develop a critical awareness of the wider political, social and globalised context in which the law operates, and the principles and values underpinning these systems. Gain an insight into the workings of the civil and criminal justice system while exploring key challenges in providing access to justice for all. The module will introduce you to the sources of law, judicial precedent and statutory interpretation. You will also explore legal personnel and the growing role of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and tribunals within the legal system.

Compulsory

Criminal Law and Justice – 30 credits

Learn key principles of criminal law and the operation of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Unravel the principles of criminal liability, exploring how the law defines and responds to wrongdoing. From serious crimes like homicide to non-fatal offences against the person and property-related crimes, you’ll examine the legal boundaries of criminal behaviour.

Delve into defences, attempts, and the complexities of justice in practice and gain a deeper understanding of how the law balances punishment, responsibility and fairness in a modern society. Understand the criminal process, from investigation and prosecution to trial and sentencing, considering the roles of key institutions such as the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the courts.

Compulsory

Contract Law – 30 credits

This module introduces the key legal principles and rules governing contracts under common law, as affected by statute, and how these give rise to legally protected rights and enforceable obligations. Examine the formation, operation, and termination of contractual obligations, and how contractual relationships function in practice and interact with other areas of law.

Examine the factors which have influenced the development of contract law and the factors that may affect its future direction (both in the UK and globally), including technological advancement, social change, and changing commercial priorities.

This module aims to develop your legal skills, particularly the ability to conduct effective legal research, advise clients from a practical perspective and provide reasoned legal solutions to contract law problems.

Compulsory

Public Law – 30 credits

Understand the constitutional arrangements for the jurisdiction in which you are studying. Learn about the legal system and the process by which the law is made, executed and adjudicated upon, together with its limits.

Explore the constitution and constitutional law and their fundamental concepts such as the rule of law, legal accountability and human rights. Learn about the global significance of a specific constitution and the role that international and comparative law can play in setting standards of constitutional behaviour.

Gain an understanding of the law regulating state institutions, their interactions with each other and their relationships with the individual citizen. At the centre of this is the United Kingdom’s uncodified constitution, and how the law accommodates those factors by balancing the rights and obligations of each state institution to ensure the protection of individual rights.

Explore how governments and various state institutions are held to account by the area of administrative law, with particular reference to judicial review, and how individual rights are protected and enforced against the state.

Compulsory

Modules

Tort Law - 30 credits

Tort law is the name given to the branch of law that imposes civil liability for breach of obligations owed by both individuals and organisations to one another. It encompasses a wide variety of different legal actions and serves as a means by which an individual can obtain compensation where a wrong is committed against them.

Explore the foundational tort of negligence, which has led to the growth of this discipline. Examine the kinds of damage for which the law permits recovery and those which it does not, and the rationales for imposing restrictions on recovery. Explore other torts such as nuisance, occupiers’ liability, employers’ liability, trespass to the person and privacy/defamation. Learn how the law of Tort has developed in a changing economic, social, and political climate and how it relates to other legal areas such as contract, criminal law and human rights.

Compulsory

Land Law – 30 credits

With a particular focus on land law, this module aims to introduce you to the terminology, concepts, policy objectives, and statutory schemes necessary to understand modern property law in England and Wales. Learn how to identify and understand practical problems in property law and identify those sources, both statutory and common law, which can be used to resolve those practical problems. Understand how to utilise these sources in the wider land law context and appreciate the underlying rationales which explain the current design and shape of the law of property.

Compulsory

Legal Practice and Professional Ethics – 30 credits

Develop essential practical legal skills while fostering professional ethical awareness. Gain hands-on experience in core areas of legal practice such as client interviewing, negotiation and advocacy, and engage with key ethical principles related to client care, confidentiality and integrity. The module covers civil procedure rules, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and solicitors' accounts, providing a well-rounded foundation for legal practice. With an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility, you should be better prepared to navigate real-world legal challenges with confidence and integrity.

Compulsory

Public International Law – 30 credits

Learn principles and key concepts of public international law. Explore the legal framework by which states regulate their relations with each other. Understand the foundations of public international law by exploring areas that include the sources of international law and how international rules are created, implemented, and enforced. Further, this module will examine international legal personality, statehood and jurisdiction. Get an understanding of, and evaluate, how international law has responded to global challenges. This module demonstrates the role of international institutions, such as the United Nations, and how they have responded to contemporary challenges, such as armed conflict, climate change and human rights.

Compulsory

A placement year² provides optional first-hand industry experience and helps you discover where your skills and interests truly lie. Taken between your second and final years, it allows you to step into a professional environment, apply your learning and gain valuable insight into your chosen sector.

By spending an extended period in industry, you should develop confidence, build professional networks and strengthen the transferable skills that employers value most. This experience offers a powerful way to explore career paths and return to your final year with real -world expertise and a clearer sense of direction.

Key opportunities

Complete an approved work placement: gain practical experience aligned with your course and career ambitions, typically lasting at least 26 weeks.
Reflect on professional development: recognise and document the specific skills, knowledge and experience you gain during your time in industry.
Broaden your global perspective: optionally undertake an international work or study placement to experience a different professional or cultural context.

While this optional year is non-credit-bearing, successful completion ensures your experience is formally recognised on your final degree certificate to showcase your expertise to future employers.

Students sponsored by the University who opt for an international work placement must ensure they comply with the UKVI immigration regulations and should contact us for further guidance.

Modules

Equity and Trusts – 30 credits

This module will introduce you to the equitable principles governing the creation, operation and administration of public and private trusts. Examine the reasons for creating trusts in the contemporary social, economic and international contexts. Examples of contemporary issues in this area include the legal problems raised by crowd-funding and surplus funds, the potential problems of joint ownership of property by those outside a family relationship (for example, friends buying a flat together) and how philanthropy through the creation of charitable trusts provides funding that supports and advances UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Gain an understanding of the trust concept, the requirements in the creation of a valid trust, the different types of trust that may come into operation, the nature of trusteeship and liability for breach of trust. Get an appreciation of the flexibility of the trust concept, its traditional function concerning family property and its contemporary role in commercial contexts.

Compulsory

Project – 30 credits

Carry out a substantive piece of independent research into a legal issue relevant to your study. Draw upon the knowledge you have acquired, and the intellectual, technical and analytical skills developed throughout the course. The research will culminate in an individual research-based dissertation project or an individual project report approved by your supervisor. This may be based on your engagement with approved clinical legal opportunities, subject to availability and competitive application.²

Compulsory

International Criminal Law – 30 credits

From the great wars of the first half of the 20th century to the killing fields of Rwanda, the invasion of Ukraine and onwards, international criminal law has a crucial role to play in the enforcement of fundamental rules of international law and in bringing accountability to those responsible for atrocity crimes. This module builds on public international law by focusing specifically on international criminal law, looking closely at the main crimes it covers. This includes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. This module examines the historical development of international criminal prosecutions, the establishment of historical and modern institutions, the definition of international crimes and the ongoing efforts to respond to atrocities committed and being committed around the world. Develop a critical understanding of the concepts and legal requirements for establishing international crimes and bringing prosecutions, with an appreciation of the current and future potential of international criminal justice.

Compulsory

Optional modules

Choose one from the following two:

Family Law and Practice – 30 credits
Develop your knowledge and understanding of family law and how these areas of law operate in practice in their socio-legal context. Understand how English law regulates relationships between adult partners (in marriage, civil partnership, and cohabitation) and relationships between parents/carers and children. Gain an understanding of the operation of human rights law principles in family law. How both private and public law operate to safeguard children and adults from violence and abuse in a family context will be examined, referencing the rights guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Company Law, Employment and Taxation – 30 credits
Get a critical understanding of the statutory provisions and common law principles governing business models, including Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships, with a focus on registered companies. Registered companies conduct most of the economic activity of the United Kingdom. Therefore, lawyers and other professional persons require an understanding of the concepts that shape company law and the rules that govern corporate activities. This module examines the legal regulation of the formation, administration, financing and governance of businesses, including how they may come to an end through insolvency. Moreover, the module examines and assesses the law governing the employment relationship, from recruitment to termination.

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional

We regularly review our course content to keep it relevant and current for our students. Consequently, we may update modules to reflect the latest industry standards.

How you'll learn

The International Law LLB (Hons) degree has been designed so that it is capable of satisfying the academic component of Bar training as required by the Bar Standards Board. For further details of the requirements of the academic component of Bar training, please visit the Bar Standards Board website.

The course is delivered through a combination of live/asynchronous lectures, workshops, online activities and directed readings.

Lectures tend to be expository in nature, introducing you to basic concepts and core principles. Workshops provide you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the subject matter through active exploration of legal issues, for example through debates, discussions, presentations, and other practical activities. Teaching sessions are designed to be interactive and may involve exploring real-world and hypothetical problems, considering case studies and analysing contemporary or more theoretical legal issues. This interactive approach enables you to develop your legal skills throughout our degree and immerse yourself in authentic legal experiences.

Throughout the course, your learning will be supported through Aula, our mobile-first virtual learning environment and you will receive specialist training in the use of a variety of legal databases (our online learning platform is subject to change).

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 12 and 15 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

courseworks
portfolios
reports
presentations
practical assessments
exams
multi-choice quizzes
phase tests.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

Throughout the International Law degree, we aim to expose you to a wide variety of international opportunities.²From undertaking an international field trip to working with students from international universities in a Collaborative Online International Learning project, we aim to offer an international opportunity for everyone.

Throughout the course, you will explore aspects of international law and develop cognisance of diverse cultural and global perspectives. The Law School is a diverse community of legal academics and students, which brings depth and vibrancy to your student experience.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed².

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement	What we're looking for
UCAS points	112
A Level	BBC
GCSE	GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards
BTEC	DMM
T level	Overall grade of Merit in the T level qualification in any subject.
IB Diploma	24 Points
Access to HE	The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Offer, you could automatically receive a contextual offer which is 16 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Offer.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year	Not available
International	2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £17,600 per year	Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement² or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee³ to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2028/29 will pay £1,575 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,900 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the table above for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university 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 the Retail Price Index (RPI), a UK measure of inflation that tracks changes in the cost of living.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement or study abroad year, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2028/29. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above RPI.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) you may be charged the tuition fees in force at the time you take that additional period of study, and/or in line with any legislative changes that apply at that time.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad) which may include costs of travel, accommodation, equipment or uniform required for the placement and any visa-related costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We assess your fee status using the information in your application. This status determines your tuition fees and the scholarships or financial support you can get. The Department for Education sets the rules for who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees in England.

The regulations list which students can pay the home fee rate. Because these rules are complex, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides fee status guidance to help you find the right category. If you meet all the criteria for one category, your institution must charge you the home rate.

Facilities

The International Law LLB course is delivered at the main Coventry University campus, where you'll benefit from our dedicated law facilities⁴.

Moot Room

Our Moot Room gives you the opportunity to develop practical legal skills in a realistic setting. You can practise presenting legal arguments in our mock courtroom and may have the opportunity to take part in mooting competitions.

Legal Clinic

Use the Legal Clinic to develop your practical legal skills and help you stand out in your future career. You will have access to 'real' clients and work alongside trained solicitors and lawyers.

A lawyer stands in a court room, with people behind we assume make up the jury, and two judges to his left

Routes into a Legal Career

Find out more about how Coventry University can kick start your legal career through our preparation courses.

Facilities are subject to availability⁴. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

critically analyse theories, concepts and principles of laws across diverse substantive legal areas, appreciating the role of law within a globalised context.
appreciate and apply principles of sustainability, social responsibility and professional ethics, whilst being cognisant of diverse cultural and global perspectives.
identify and synthesise relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources, using both digital and non-digital resources, whilst adhering to principles of academic integrity.
draw reasoned conclusions through the application of legal principles and knowledge to complex problems, whilst tolerating ambiguity and recognising alternative legal outcomes.
communicate effectively and professionally, by conveying and explaining legal information, ideas and arguments appropriately in a variety of contexts.
demonstrate self-management and work independently or collaboratively as appropriate.
demonstrate intellectual independence through the acquisition of specialist knowledge and understanding of current legal thinking and emerging research.
apply a range of practical or clinical legal skills, including those applicable in an international context.

Law graduates can pursue a wide variety of careers both in the UK and overseas. Many graduates enter the legal profession as solicitors, barristers, paralegals or legal executives (additional education/courses and training required). However, the skills learned are also transferrable to career paths outside of law such as recruitment, management, teaching or finance. Many of our law graduates also go on to pursue a career in academia or undertake further academic study.

Where our graduates work

Previous law graduates from Coventry Law School have gone on to work at a wide variety of organisations and firms including:

DAC Beachcroft
NFU Mutual
PwC
Deloitte
Linklaters
Countrywide Tax and Trust Corporation
Oracle
Squire Patton Boggs
Stobbs
Co-op Legal Services

Further study

Two students sat at a desk working on a laptop

Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

Learn more about Phoenix+

How to apply

LLB (Hons) with foundation year

Apply via UCAS

C85

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

You can now register and start your application in your UCAS Hub. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 6565

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
CBLU029

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 6565

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University, Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

Some of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the University maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. Before seeking an overseas placement, read our visa advice page.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first academic year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year.

For UK (home) students, if the Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

For international students, we may increase fees annually but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (for example to repeat a year or resit examinations) you may be charged the tuition fees in force at the time you take that additional period of study, and/or in line with any legislative changes that apply at that time.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised. Availability and access may be reduced or restricted when the University is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders or internal health and safety requirements.

Student Contract

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 current 2025/26 contract is available for information purposes only. The 2027/28 contract will apply to the 2027/28 intakes and may differ from the current version. 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 applicable Student Contract carefully before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the University.