MSc International Trade and Economic Law

• You should hold a law honours degree (minimum 2:2) from a recognised Higher Education institution or equivalent from a recognised overseas institution.
• Candidates who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or the Common Professional Examination (CPE) will also be considered for admission onto the course.
• Non law graduates will  be considered for admission if they have relevant experience or if they have a degree in a related area of study such as business, politics or international relations.

English Language Requirement:

• IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all components

• Research Methods - We develop your approach to legal research by introducing you to key skills and concepts.
• Globalisation and the Law - This introduces you to what globalisation means in economic, political, cultural and social terms, and the legal consequences that derive there from. You will assess whether international law is equipped with instruments and institutions to regulate the consequences of globalisation.
• International Contracts - This provides you with a sound knowledge of the main principles of international contracts and their application, and an overview of the different legal and economic elements involved in an international transaction.
  OR
• World Trade Organisation Law - This examines the laws, law-making and adjudicative institutions of the World Trade Organisation. Particular attention is given to the procedures for dispute resolution and other 'covered agreements' relating to international economic law.

Option modules (choose five):

• Natural Resources Law - We examine the legal regulation related to natural resources, looking at the sources and legal concepts applicable to natural resource activities, with a particular focus on the oil, gas, water and forestry sectors.
• International Law and Institutions - This module covers the principles and scope of international law and its main institutions. You will explore the dynamics of the international community and the increasing role played by non-governmental actors.
• International Employment Law - This centres on employment law in an international context. The module relates to many of the themes explored in the materials of the International Labour Office (ILO), in particular globalisation, flexicurity (flexibility v security), human rights and sustainability.
• Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility - This focuses on the difference between the concepts of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, enabling you to assess the effectiveness of corporate governance and self-regulatory schemes.
• Information Technology Law - This takes you through the complex legal issues created by the use of information technology, with particular application to the UK, the European Community and the USA.
• International Commercial Disputes - This develops your understanding of the international legal principles and concepts relating to international commercial disputes, and how to apply them in a variety of practical contexts.
• International Intellectual Property Law - This covers the law relating to intellectual property (copyright and patents) from an international and European perspective.
• International Environmental Law -This covers international legal principles and concepts relating to environmental protection in the context of wider political, ecological and economic issues.
• International Banking and Finance Law - This covers the law relating to the international banking and financial sectors. You will consider the historical development of the sectors, the policy adopted by the UK and the USA towards financial regulation, and the impact of the credit crunch on financial institutions.
• International Competition Law and Policy - This provides you with the opportunity to develop a thorough awareness and understanding of competition law and policy in an international context.
• Shipping Law - This module gives you an understanding of the issues, constraints, interests and risks involved in the shipping industry and the role that sea transportation plays in international trade.
• International Financial Crime - This provides you with a critical understanding of the international legal principles and concepts relating to financial crime. You will evaluate and discuss the effectiveness of European Law relating to the prevention and detection of financial crime.

Dissertation

You will need to write a 15,000 word dissertation. This needs to be an original piece of work. You can satisfy this requirement by:

• carrying out empirical work that has not been done before
• synthesising issues not put together before
• looking at topics that have not looked at before by people in the discipline
• examining existing knowledge in an original way, or
• bringing new evidence to bear on an old issue.