llm international and commercial law

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course outline

the underlying philosophy of the llm is to develop specialists in the field of international and commercial law. the programme attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds with different experiences. it stresses the importance of interaction between staff and student, as well as between student and student. we believe this is an essential element in the development of effective lawyers in this area.

following successful completion of the llm in international and commercial law, you should have developed a range of skills, which include:

• a sound understanding of each of the chosen areas of the law
• confidence in the analysis of complex case-law
• the ability to make your argument convincingly, orally and in writing
• the ability to take a co-operative approach to problem solving

start dates

students may take the llm over

• 12 months starting in september; or
• 9 months starting in january.

specialist designations

students can select specific modules to have their llm designated as specialising in:

• international trade and maritime law;
• corporate law
• financial services law

each designation requires the following to be taken:

• 20 unit advanced legal research module;
• 40 unit core module; and
• 120 units of options.

full details in the curriculum handbook

september start

the september start allows students to take more time to adjust to postgraduate studies. in the first term students must take the advanced legal research module and choose money laundering, offshore banking and asset recovery, commercial conflict of laws, or law of world trade. all the modules  are then available from january onwards, subject always to there being sufficient students opting for them

applicants are normally expected to have a first or second class honours llb.

mature students

age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.

international students

we are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

the university is a ukvi student sponsor.

english levels

if english is not your first language, please check our postgraduate english language requirements. if your english levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our pre-sessional english language foundation programmes.

selection process

wherever possible, you will be invited to the university to meet the admissions tutor for an informal interview and to have a tour of our campus. if you are an international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so if the admissions tutor has any queries about your application you may be conducted by skype, email or phone.

our admissions team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online form.

terms and conditions for prospective students

when you are offered a place at the university you will be notified of the terms and conditions between the university and students on our courses of study. when you accept an offer of a place on the course at the university a legal contract is formed between you and the university on the basis of the terms and conditions outlined in your offer letter. your offer letter and the terms and conditions contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the admissions terms and conditions > >

quality teaching

we offer high quality, traditional oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. the standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the uk – who approve and moderate assessed work.

high calibre staff

most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.

teaching methods

seminars are the primary teaching method for this course. they encourage the development of clear analytical skills and create a forum where you can test your ideas against the arguments of your peers. whether you enter the legal profession or business world you will find it is essential to have developed persuasive abilities. llm options are taught in the form of three hours of seminars spread over each of the teaching weeks of the course. llm seminars for subjects which are also taught at llb level take place in two hour blocks every fortnight.

you are expected to read the cases and other materials relevant to the particular seminar in advance. at the seminar you will be asked to support your opinions and discuss your analysis of the area with your fellow students. in some modules you may be expected to make a presentation on a topic given to you by your tutor. whilst these tasks may seem daunting at the beginning of the year, you will rapidly gain confidence as your debating skills develop.

where seminars are on a fortnightly basis, the course will be supported by three hours of lectures per week during the lecturing period. seminars will complement the lecture series.

course material is available on the university’s own virtual learning environment (vle), moodle. this allows students to download lecture notes, submit assignments and share resources in an electronic forum both within the university’s computer network and remotely.

assessment methods

the assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. please check module information for more details.

preparation for work

all our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.

an annual legal workshop is held, in partnership with current practitioners, allowing you to practise advising clients and to present short cases as though in court.

see the law curriculum handbook for further course details.

graduate employment

our graduates have gone on to further study at most of the world’s leading universities, including harvard, london, oxford and cambridge and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. among our alumni we have a graduate who became the head of his country’s civil service and one who became a leading formula one motor-racing driver. another secured a position as the minister of sabah and one female law graduate became the first british lawyer to become a french advocate.

what our alumni say

“i graduated from buckingham with an llb degree and returned straight after to study for the llm. buckingham’s january entry allowed me to complete both my llb and llm degrees in under three years.

“the flexible nature of the llm programme allowed me to study taught modules as well as having the opportunity to write a dissertation in intellectual property law, an area (in) which i have become very interested and will pursue in a phd.”

“since successfully completing his llm ben has been accepted to commence research for a phd at exeter university.

benjamin carter

“i completed my master’s degree and these were the best days in my life. i miss my tutors, professors and friends. after i finished my llm study at buckingham, i returned to my country, jordan. i am now working as a lawyer in an international jordanian bank. i am a member of a human rights organisation and the jordan bar association.”

basher alyousef

please note that the university of buckingham has four terms per year. the tuition fees quoted are for the degree (e.g. if you start a degree at buckingham in january 2019, you will pay the same termly fee for the duration of your degree – you will not be affected by the price increase in september 2020). students will pay the same termly fee for the duration of their studies, unless studies are interrupted and resumed later. the tuition fee quoted is therefore the total cost of the degree. fees are normally paid in termly instalments.

please click here for associate student fees (or here for international associate student fees).

postgraduate loan scheme

a new system of postgraduate loans for masters degrees in the uk was introduced in august 2016 with support from the uk government. the loan will provide up to £10,609 for taught and research masters courses in all subject areas. the loans can be used for tuition fees, living expenses or both.  find out more >>

postgraduate first-class scholarship

a first-class scholarship is available to both home and international students studying a taught postgraduate degree at the university. the scholarship will reduce tuition fees by 33%. the scholarship will be automatically awarded to applicants who already have a first class honours degree that is recognised to uk standard.

details of other scholarships can be found on our main bursaries and scholarships page. you should make an application to study at the university and receive an offer letter confirming our acceptance of your application before applying for a scholarship.

you may also find it useful to visit our external funding page.

on-campus accommodation

we guarantee on-campus accommodation to all new students for their first four terms of study, as long as it is booked and paid for in good time, so you’re assured of a safe and secure home from home when you arrive at the university. most new students choose this option.

living on campus enables you to become involved in university activities, make friends, and integrate with the university community. for some of you this will be your first time in the uk; for others it will be the first time living away from home – and independence brings its challenges as well as its excitements. whatever your circumstances, we know how important it is for you to feel comfortable in your accommodation.

what’s included?

all our study bedrooms are fully furnished, centrally heated, and connected to the internet. with few exceptions they have a wash basin and small refrigerator. we have a large number of ensuite rooms, and are upgrading more rooms each year. there are shared kitchens for when you wish to cook for yourself.

find out more

if you’d like to find out more, visit our accommodation pages or get in touch with our accommodation team.

we recommend that all prospective students visit our campus if they are able to, and campus tours include a typical student room. arrange a tour via your admissions officer.

apply directly

you can apply directly using our online application form – all you need to do is click the ‘apply’ button at the bottom of this page.

help and support

if you need any help making your application or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the form below, or by phone on +44 (0)1280 820227. we are available between 09:00 and 17:00, monday to friday.

you may find it useful to download these great tips from which university? on writing your personal statement.

if you would like to make any changes to your current application, please contact admissions using the form below.