LLM International Commercial Law

Entry standards

Applicants should normally possess a Bachelors Degree (UK Lower Second class (2:2) or higher) or equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas University or institution.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

LLM International Commercial Law - structure and modules

Module Titles

International Commercial Law modules

• Banking Law
• Corporate Governance
• Corporate Law
• Intellectual Property in Employment
• International Carriage of Goods by Sea
• International Trade Law
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• General Principles of Insolvency Law
• Intellectual Property in Catering Industries
• International Carriage of Goods by Other Modes
• Law Corruption and Development

International Commercial Law modules include:

Corporate Law

This module explores legal concepts in corporate law, and the wider debates and concerns surrounding them. It analyses the impact of recent reforms under the Companies Act 2006, and promotes discussion of the policy approach to corporate law prevailing in the UK. While the focus is predominantly on UK law, examples drawn from other jurisdictions provide a setting for the analysis of theoretical and policy issues.

Law, Corruption and Development

This module provides you with a critical and advanced understanding of the impact of corruption on development. An important part of this module will be the use of case studies of developing countries in Africa and Asia to understand the issues and the success of the reform measures undertaken.

International Carriage of Goods by Sea

This module examines the relationships that arise in situations where goods are carried by sea from one country to another. In particular it examines voyage charter parties’ bills of lading and sea waybills. The module also looks at electronic alternatives to bills of lading and sea waybills.

International Carriage of Goods by Other Modes

This module examines the responsibilities and liabilities of transportation involving other forms of unimodal transport – air, rail and road. You will examine various regimes: Warsaw regime and Montreal Convention for air, Convention of Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) for road and Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) for rail. This module will also focus on the use of multimodal transport (that is, door-to-door transportation using a combination of modes of transportation) and examine the legal challenges faced where such transportation is used.

Corporate Governance

This module examines the notion of corporate governance, which is usually described as being the governance of large corporations which dominate modern economic life. From this perspective, the module will be concentrating on debates about the nature of corporations, the role and duties of corporate managers and about the goal of corporations and the interests in which corporations should be run.

International Trade Law

This module provides you with an understanding of the regulation of international trade, the political and ethical influences that shape international trade, the role of international organisations in harmonising the law of international sales and transportation of goods.

General Principles of Insolvency Law

This module provides you with a critical and advanced understanding of the theoretical foundations of insolvency law, as it applies to both insolvent individuals and to corporations.

Corporate Social Responsibility

This module examines the notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It examines the concept from a historical perspective, and looks at the various meanings that have been attached to it over time. Although international in outlook, the module will concentrate on Anglo-American corporate theory in this context.

Optional Modules

•  Environmental Policy and Law
•  EU External Relations
•  European Union Public Law
•  Intellectual Property in Fashion
•  International Criminal Law
•  Law and Policy of the EU Single Market
•  The Law of International Organisations
•  Comparative Criminal Justice Policy
•  EU Counter-Terrorism Law
•  International Human Rights Law
•  Law and Policy of EU External Trade Law
•  Law of Armed Conflict
•  Mobility and Citizenship in the EU
•  Terrorism in International Law
• Criminal Justice System (Sociology Dept)
•  Law, Society and Social Control (Sociology Dept)

LLM International Commercial Law - entry standards

Entry standards

Applicants should normally possess a Bachelors Degree (UK Lower Second class (2:2) or higher) or equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas University or institution.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Start date

Programme Director

• Dr Regina Rauxloh

LLM International Commercial Law - fees and funding

Fees

International Commercial Law (full time):

UK/EU - £5,200 
Overseas - £12,100

www.surrey.ac.uk/pgfees/2012

LLM International Commercial Law - professional context

LLM International Commercial Law - teaching

Teaching hours

Students will participate in approximately 1800 hours of learning time, consisting of approximately eight hours per week of classes on taught modules, with the remainder consisting of independent study.

Teaching

For our LLM modules you are required to actively engage in seminar discussion. Our modules are usually taught by way of weekly two-hour seminars in groups of up to 20 students. Staff usually provide a broad introduction to each subject area, placing the topic in its legal context, and then discussion is opened up so that you are able to demonstrate their extensive preparatory reading. Given that these are postgraduate programmes, the extent of reading is much more detailed than it is for undergraduate study where there is far more focus on independent student learning.

A range of teaching methods will be used in these seminars and at Surrey we are particularly keen on developing student presentation skills. Staff will often require students to present on a particular topic as a way of developing your research and presentation skills You will be asked to read set materials critically and to research current issues with confidence.

Staff perspective

Dr Regina Rauxloh

At Surrey we offer a supportive and friendly environment which gives you the opportunity to study your specialist area in depth.

You are invited to participate in stimulating class discussions, student presentations and other interactive teaching methods. Surrey offers you a wide range of different modules to specialise in your area of expertise but also provides the opportunity to take options from different programmes to widen their horizons. 

We are proud that all our modules look not only at what the law is but also how it works in action, examining how law is relevant to current developments in politics and business. 

All programmes encourage and support the development of research and presentation skills and seek to prepare students for a career in their special field. Thus our LLM programmes provide students with the specialist knowledge that will lead to enhanced career prospects in a variety of different industries, preparing them for research degrees such as a PhD.

I enjoy teaching on the LLM programmes because students are very much involved in the shaping of the modules. The range of students from different countries, professional backgrounds, ideas and interests makes sure that every programme is a new experience where new ideas are discussed. The stimulating class discussion where students experiment with different ideas and arguments never fails to inspire enthusiasm in both students and teachers to find out more.

LLM International Commercial Law - learning

Library Resources

The Library has a substantial collection of materials, textbooks, monographs, journals and anthologies relevant to the study of law at postgraduate level. There is a wide range of online materials which are constantly being added to as a way of maximising student access to learning materials. An effective Library induction will be provided to you when you arrive.

Computing

In addition to general student resources, the School of Law provides you with access to a bank of standard desktop computers with flat monitors within one of the Law student common rooms. 

These PCs have access to a standard office suite, for word-processing and spreadsheet work. All computers are enabled for Internet and email and are available during normal office hours throughout semester time. The IT resource room is Internet- and email-enabled to allow access to the ULearn system (an online learning environment aimed at providing wider access to teaching material and enhancing your teaching and learning experience) and online library resources. 

The neighbouring Surrey Business School building has wide wireless network, which is available for student use.

LLM International Commercial Law - graduate profile

LLM International Commercial Law - more

Research in the School of Law

Legal research has been conducted at the University of Surrey for nearly 40 years. Interests cover a range of subject areas and focus particularly on research groupings in European Law, International Commercial Law and International Law. This established research culture enables the School to provide a stimulating and supportive environment for both postgraduate research or taught programmes. Prominent speakers and visitors contribute to the School’s teaching and research activity.

LLM International Commercial Law - apply

• LLM in International Commercial Law Full-time - starting September 2012
• LLM in International Commercial Law Part-time - starting September 2012