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Why Lancaster?
Develop the expertise you need to advance your career in international law
Benefit from our strong links to chambers and law firms across the UK, including Magic Circle firms in London
Choose from a wide range of optional modules that reflect our diverse range of legal expertise
Learn from world-class researchers and be the first to hear about our research into international human rights law, international commercial arbitration and the law of the United Nations
Carry out your own research to bring fresh insight into international law
As perspectives shift, we’re seeing significant developments in the way law operates at an international scale and how it can help us address pressing issues like the climate crisis. Be part of the change and specialise in this exciting area of the legal field.
Specialise in international law
Studying this course, you’ll be taught by world-leading experts in this field. Zone in on the rules and customs that govern inter-state relationships as you increase your knowledge and understanding of international law. Examine how the essential elements are used to shape the world we live in while exploring theory and practice.
Thanks to our diverse expertise you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules. What you focus on will depend on your interests – perhaps you want to take a closer look at the United Nations, or maybe you want to understand how terrorism threatens peace, stability and security.
Carry out research with confidence
Research is important for progress in law. You'll learn about their latest research from our expert academics. We'll also make sure you have all the skills you need to carry out your own research and investigate the issues that matter to you. We’ll look at different approaches and designs, as well as discussing ethics.
Your dissertation will focus on an area that is linked to a legal question or your career interests. Whenever you need support, you’ll be able to turn to your supervisor who will guide you through the process and help you confidently carry out your own research from start to finish.
Formed in 1959, and based in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, the Richardson Institute is the oldest peace and conflict research centre in the UK. Since 2012 it has provided an internship programme that gives students the opportunity to work with different organisations on issues of peace and conflict.
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 modules with your choice of elective modules, you’ll graduate with an insight into a wide range of global issues while also being able to show employers your insight into international law.
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 of this area.
The ability to critically evaluate research is in demand in both the public and private sectors. You might even unlock opportunities in international associations such as the UN and address matters on an international scale.
Our graduates work in a range of areas at organisations including:
Judicial services
Multinational corporations
NGOs
Charities
The LLM is also an ideal stepping stone for further studies at postgraduate research level (PhD/ MPhil) on issues that are prevalent in international law.
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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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
What are the merits of international criminal justice? And what are the main challenges that present themselves in this area of law?
This module provides you with an opportunity to consider these key questions as you benefit from an introduction to substantive international criminal law.
You will explore the central theme of international crimes, deepening your understanding of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Within your analysis, you will address the role of international courts and tribunals, mixed and hybrid courts and tribunals, as well as developments in national courts.
This is your chance to critically engage with stimulating examples of prosecution and punishment, which are central to the subject of international criminal law. Your studies will be informed by the convenor’s cutting-edge research on transitional criminal justice and retrospective justice.
A combination of independent reading and regular seminars will provide you with a sound grasp of this fascinating legal discipline.
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.
How do international laws protect, govern and shape your human rights?
This module provides an overview of the various rights that are protected through international instruments: civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
You will also be given a general introduction to regional and universal systems for human rights protection and promotion. This will focus on the UN human rights system but you will be encouraged to take a comparative view of regional human rights protection systems.
You will have the opportunity to gain a substantive and procedural knowledge of human rights through the international system. And you’ll engage with some key debates in this legal arena, such as the development of human rights and the human rights obligations of non-state actors.
To get the most from this module, you will have some knowledge of general international law and have a law or social science background.
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.
Terrorism continues to be one of the greatest global challenges we face in the pursuit of international peace, stability and security.
This is a stimulating module that explores concepts from many areas of the law, including civil liberties, international law, criminal justice and human rights.
During the course of your studies you will look at the legal definitions of terrorism – from a regional, national, and international perspective. And you will have the opportunity to use counter-terrorism case studies to examine specific aspects of preventative justice measures.
This is a fast-moving and unpredictable area of law, so the material that we cover may change in order to track the prevailing issues and latest developments. However, typically you will consider civil liberties alongside some of the contemporary challenges facing domestic and international legal systems.
The examination of the topics is carried out through a vigorous interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach – offering you greater understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.
Our Law School is home to lawyers and research-active academics - you will benefit from their expertise as they teach on areas closely aligned with their own research interests.
StreetLaw is an international network that promotes the teaching of law to schools and community groups. It allows you and others to put together a presentation on topical issues of the law that will be of interest to a selected audience (which may include primary school children, secondary school children, college students, university students, SureStart or other community groups including domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters etc). You will identify a relevant topic and research the practical aspects of that law, before putting together a presentation that is accessible to the audience, setting out the key issues they need to know about.
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
National and ethnic tensions lie at the heart of many contemporary international conflicts. But what are the rights of peoples, national minorities and indigenous peoples under international law?
Our Rights of Peoples module takes an in-depth look at this key question and encourages you to critically explore the idea of a national identity and relations between groups within states.
Typically, you will examine:
questions of statehood
the borders of states
their form of government
the allocation of resources
protection of the environment
A combination of independent reading and seminars with research-active lawyers and academics will provide you with the opportunity to gain a sound grasp of this legal area.
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.
