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Discover the latest specialist knowledge from our experts
Why Lancaster?
Develop the expertise you need to advance your career in this specialist area of law practice
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of UK corporate law in the global context to gain expert insight
Learn from world-class researchers, and be the first to hear about our latest research in international law
Carry out your own research to bring fresh insight into international business and corporate law
Benefit from our strong links to chambers and law firms across the UK, including Magic Circle firms in London
From the rise in FinTech to solving issues around sustainability, this is an exciting time to specialise in international business and corporate law and to access a rewarding career. Join us to learn how to manage new developments and tackle emerging challenges through your legal expertise.
Our experts bring their research into their teaching and you will hear at first hand about the latest developments in the sector.
Studying this course, you’ll complete our ‘Corporations in International Business Law’ module. This covers the international perspective on business law and its impact on corporations, as well as looking at the globalised economy. You will also examine the strengths and weaknesses of UK corporate law.
Expand your expertise Although international business and corporate law will be your focus, you’ll have the flexibility to focus on your particular interests by choosing from a wide range of optional modules. Many students specialising in this area look at law makers and regulators in the international business environment, while others explore environmental issues or intellectual property law and its relationship with international law.
In our ‘Research Methods in Law’ module, we’ll provide an insight into the different methods used, as well as design and ethics. This will prepare you to carry out your dissertation in an area that interests you. Past students have investigated diverse topics from the interaction between human rights and businesses to problems surrounding insolvency law.
Discover the key features of studying LLM Programmes at Lancaster University. Our LLM Programmes will develop your legal expertise – whether you’re new to the field or want to take your career to the next level.
Careers
By combining core and elective modules, you’ll graduate with a keen insight into a wide range of globally and commercially significant issues while also being able to show employers you have specialist expertise.
You might decide to take the next step in your career. Or perhaps you’ll contribute to important legal research to help move forward understanding in international business and corporate law.
The ability to critically evaluate research is in demand in both the public and private sectors. Because of your expertise, you’ll be a good fit for legal departments at many businesses both in the UK and around the world.
Our graduates work in a range of UK and international organisations including:
NGOs
Multinational corporations
Charities
Judicial services
This course is also an ideal stepping stone to PhD study where you can continue to explore an area of law that interests you.
Entry requirements
Academic Requirements
2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Law or any other subject.
We will also consider applications on an individual basis if you have lower qualifications, or a qualification that is not included on our list of international qualifications, or experience in professional legal practice.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
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This module helps you to develop a coherent international perspective on business law as it relates to, and affects, corporations. We use our globalised economy as the context for an in-depth study of corporate law.
You will be asked to consider the view that a national corporate is merely a service which international business can access if it suits their needs. And you will critically assess and discuss the pros and cons of this perspective.
As we continue to interrogate this line of thought, you will have the opportunity to examine the strengths and weaknesses of UK corporate law - taking a comparative view when measuring UK corporate law against international standards. Strong links to practitioners will inform our insights.
The dissertation is an independent, in-depth inquiry into a research topic of your choosing. The topic will relate to a key legal question or issue and may also directly relate to your professional/career interests.
You will:
Identify and define a discrete research topic in Law
Complete and submit a Dissertation Proposal Form, signed by your supervisor
Carry out a literature review of the relevant field, incorporating a comprehensive range of relevant legal materials
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the selected legal issues through independent research
Construct and sustain a cohesive argument within your writing
Outline the implications of your findings and how they may inform further research, policy or practice
This is your opportunity to make a contribution to the legal and academic community with new and original research and writing on a legal issue.
The dissertation is a compulsory component with a 15,000-word limit.
Please note: topics can only be approved if the University has sufficient sources for the research and the necessary staff expertise for supervision.
This module is an essential element in developing skills and understanding of research and writing methods at an advanced level. You will have the opportunity to develop understanding and insights into how to carry out good academic work, what characterises ethical research, how to be conscientious about research methods, and how choices of methods will impact on their research and outcomes. You will also have the chance to address how to design research projects, approach research and writing in an analytical and critical manner, and how to reference correctly. The module will include sessions on critical writing, and how to get one’s own voice through in the text. Typically, the final part of the module will be devoted to preparing you for the dissertation planning and writing.
Optional
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The relationship between business activities and human rights problems have been on the human rights agenda for several decades. This module will be addressing this debate, and you will be able to study the various initiatives that have been taken internationally to hold business enterprises accountable for human rights abuses. The module will in particular address the development of a treaty on business and human rights under the auspices of the United Nations. The module is usually based on seminar/workshops and you will analyse real situations where corporations have impacted upon the human rights of individuals around the world. You will also have the opportunity to carry out a case-study as a basis for your coursework in the module.
The governance of companies and its regulation by the law is of great public, political and academic interest.
This module introduces (and then explores in depth) the main areas of law that relate to the legal regulation of corporate governance. By reflecting on several theories of corporate governance and current corporate governance practices, the module aims to provide you with an insight into the current legal regulation of corporate governance and the academic and policy debates formed around its development.
The module will focus primarily on considering the legal regulation of corporate governance in the UK and the EU, but comparisons will be made with relevant parts of the law of corporate governance in the USA (mainly Delaware and Federal Law), Germany and other jurisdictions. Among other topics, the module will consider issues related to the nature of the company as a form of business organisation, the regulation of the corporate purpose, the role of the board of directors, board diversity, executive remuneration, shareholder activism and stewardship, stakeholder considerations, and corporate social responsibility.
A combination of independent reading, regular seminars and other teaching and reflective activities will provide you with a sound grasp of the major legal regimes of corporate governance. You will also develop a greater understanding of the central questions and debates arising from this area of law.
This module will introduce students to concepts and legal issues related to upholding sustainable development in the context of corporate governance. In addition to elements related to established concepts regarding the consideration of wider environmental and social considerations in business, such as corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investing, the module will consider theories and legal concepts related to corporate governance, and the means by which they reflect on promoting the facilitation of sustainable development. This includes, among others, the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, the EUs pledge to ensuring the internal market's sustainable development, and the regulation of corporate governance on non-financial issues in the UK.
How have the principles of environmental law developed? How effective is the environmental law of England and Wales?
Law students and students from Lancaster Environment Centre study side by side on this module. This presents you with a rare interdisciplinary opportunity to share ideas and perspectives between lawyers and scientists. Together, we will explore the sources, principles and effectiveness of environmental law in England and Wales.
Within your studies you will investigate the efficacy and effect of environmental law. Topics analysed include: water pollution, the history of environmental law, green criminology and the protection of the countryside. The module then builds upon this critical analysis to explain how the aqueous, atmospheric and terraneous environments are protected by law.
Environmental law is typically taught by research-active academics who will introduce you to their research into green criminology, access to the countryside, market mechanisms and environmental protection. This research often informs their teaching and you can choose an essay based on these topics or develop your own question with the support of our lecturers.
This module will enable you to develop your independent research skills in preparation for your dissertation module. It also provides you with the opportunity to study an area of law that is currently unavailable within our optional modules.
You will have the opportunity to:
Identify and define a discrete research topic in Law
Carry out a literature review of the relevant field, incorporating a comprehensive range of relevant legal materials
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the selected legal issues through independent research
Construct and sustain a cohesive argument within your writing
Outline the implications of your findings and how they may inform further research, policy or practice
This is your chance to make a contribution to the legal and academic community with new and original research and writing on a legal issue.
Typically the module structure includes a seminar on Research, Methodology and Writing, workshop sessions and meetings with your supervisor to track your progress and help you to set work plans.
This module provides an opportunity to study an issue of growing social and commercial importance: insolvency. Together, we will take an in-depth look at the fundamentals of insolvency law in the UK, including corporate, personal and cross-border insolvency.
At the heart of this module is a critical appraisal of the current UK insolvency institutions and insolvency law. You will see insolvency as a pervasive issue in business transactions, tracking the role it plays over the lifespan of a company from incorporation to trading to ultimate insolvency.
By the end of your studies you will have had the opportunity to understand the links between companies and viable economies and the module aims to allow you to be in a position to recommend much-needed reforms.
Our Insolvency Law module also covers the EC regulation on insolvency proceedings, which will serve to raise your awareness of a range of current EC commercial policies.
You will be taught by lecturers in the field and who are active researchers. They will help bridge the gap between law in theory and law in practice by introducing you to the faculty’s empirical research (and the central issues it reveals). This approach will encourage discussion and help you to deepen your understanding of this legal area.
This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth evaluation of the UK’s intellectual property law and its interaction with international law.
We will introduce you to the key legal principles and political issues underpinning intellectual property protection. At the heart of our evaluation of the law is a strong focus on technological developments (e.g. film, television, software, the Internet, cloud storage, stem cell research).
Some of the specific themes and topics that you’ll study typically include:
Intellectual property protection – is the legal framework fit for the modern age?
Copyright – UK and EU measures to address the growth of peer-to-peer sharing of copyrighted works
Trademarks – requirements/non-standard marks such as sound, smell or colour/exclusions/Internet auction sites and keywords
Our Law School is home to research-active lecturers, you will have the chance to benefit from some of their expertise as many teach on areas closely aligned with their own research interests.
We live in a world where an increasing amount of business is conducted across international borders. International Business Law and Institutions (WTO) considers the role of law, institutions, law makers and regulators in the international business environment.
In this module we will look at the international legal and institutional framework that regulates transnational business and you will analyse the nature of legal and regulatory arrangements, such as:
national laws affecting international investment (and their regulation)
forms of international law affecting transnational business (bilateral and multilateral treaties, codes of conduct, decisions of international organisations)
the basic principles of GATT
the structure and role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
the interplay between the WTO and other areas of global regulation (health and environmental protection)
product standards
international aspects of intellectual property rights
regulatory aspects of the internationalisation of services (especially financial)
A combination of independent reading and seminars with our research-active lawyers and academics will provide you with the opportunity to gain a sound grasp of this legal area.
The aim of the module is to provide you with knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of cross border commercial arbitration. For this purpose, the law can be divided into three key elements: (i) Arbitral Jurisdiction and Arbitration Agreements including Applicable Laws (ii) International Arbitral Procedures (iii) Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.
Topics typically include:
· The Arbitration Agreement
· Applicable Laws and Rules
· Judicial Assistance for Arbitration
· The Tribunal
· The Arbitral Proceedings and Award
· Attempts to Set Aside an Award
· Recognition and Enforcement of the Award
Three main questions arise when civil and commercial disputes before the English courts contain an international element. These are the questions that you will tackle in this thought-provoking module:
How do we decide which court can legitimately claim jurisdiction in relation to the dispute?
Which system of law will the court claiming jurisdiction apply to the dispute?
And, once a decision has been reached by the courts in one country, under what circumstances will that decision be recognised or enforced in the other country or countries?
For example: a contract between an English company and a French company is to be performed in Germany. Should the French, the German or the English courts hear the dispute? Should the contract be governed by French, German or English law? And, if the dispute is decided in England by an English court applying French law, can this decision be enforced against a German defendant in Germany?
This module is delivered through a series of seminars which aim to facilitate the discussion between you, your peers, and the lecturer who is typically in the field of commercial conflict of laws. The module is informed by the lecturer's research on issues of legal knowledge. You will be encouraged to form your own considered views on contentious issues
Our world is facing an ever-increasing number of global environmental challenges. This engaging module examines the international legal response to those challenges.
We will delve into the socio-economic, political and scientific implications of environmental problems. As we do so, we will assess the impact of those implications on law and policy-making.
The module focuses on a number of contemporary environmental problems: climate change, marine pollution, the protection of international watercourses, fisheries and biodiversity, and the relationship between trade and the environment. You will assess the strengths and inadequacies of the law in regulating each of these issues.
We also typically cover topics such as:
fundamental concepts and principles of international environmental law
sustainable development and the precautionary principle
how international environmental law operates (law-making, environmental governance and institutional structure)
compliance with environmental rules and standards
You will be taught by academics in the field many of whom are active researchers. Typically, research within the teaching team informs this module.
The rules, laws and customs that govern inter-state relationships come into sharp focus in this module. It provides you with a base from which you can further your study of specific areas of international law.
As we explore the essential elements of international law, and the way that they are used to shape the world in which we live, you will have the chance to gain an in-depth understanding of both theory and practice. You will be given ‘real’ examples of international law to critically assess, allowing you to identify its shortcomings and challenges.
We will cover fundamental principles and concepts of international law and some topical issues such as:
the nature and sources of international law
the relationship between international and national law
statehood and self-determination
jurisdiction
immunities
state responsibility
dispute settlement
use of force
Our Law School is home to research-active academics, you will have the chance to benefit from some of their expertise as many teach on areas closely aligned with their own research interests.
This module examines the United Nations in international law. The UN is the only truly global international institution and creates the framework in which much of international law is developed and applied.
The module will explore the UN’s structure, history, legal personality, membership and law-making. It will also look at how the organisation can be legally responsible for its acts, in particular the activities of UN peacekeepers. Lastly, it will investigate the functions of the International Court of Justice as the UN’s principal judicial organ.
The convenor of this module has recently contributed a chapter on International Organisations for the Oxford Handbook on Jurisdiction
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Scholarships and bursaries
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
