100% online LLM International Law

Develop the specialist skills and expertise to excel in international law with an online LLM from a University recognised for teaching and research excellence in law

Apply By 11 June 2024

To Start 25 June 2024

180 credits •
Complete within 12 months •
£7,800 total fees •
Internationally Excellent Research in Law

Why Sunderland?

100% online LLM within 12 months
QS 5 star rating for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities*
Law courses ranked 1st in the north-east for teaching quality and student experience**
7th in the UK for social inclusion***
£7,800 total fees, option to pay £650 per module

*QS World University Rankings, 2023
**Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023
***The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

An online LLM in international law for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds

The 100% online LLM International Law from the University of Sunderland is ideally suited to professionals wanting to specialise in public international law and provides you with a firm foundation in the fundamentals of the international legal frameworks and system, and international relations. Open to both lawyers and non-lawyers, this online law degree develops a comprehensive understanding of international law that will prepare you for, or further your career in a wide range of sectors and professional contexts, in both national and international organisations, including government, trade, law firms, businesses, industry associations and non-governmental organisations.

A University recognised on the national stage for research and teaching of law

The University of Sunderland is immensely proud of its leading credentials in the teaching and research of law. Our Department of Law recently received national recognition for its teaching in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020, when its law courses were ranked 2nd in the UK for teaching quality and 3rd for student experience. Its research was described as ‘internationally excellent’ in the latest Research Excellence Framework and our law academics are pre-eminent in important research in their fields.

We have been ranked internationally as a leading university, receiving five stars for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities in the QS World University Rankings 2023, the highest rating that can be awarded to a university. A special recognition of our practical focus on developing the skills that enable career progression for our students all over the world.

What will you study?

The LLM programme provides you with the opportunity to acquire a more sophisticated understanding of core areas of international law, including the international legal system, international law-making processes and the diverse functions of international law in contemporary society. A variety of active and innovative teaching methods combine to equip you with the vital skills of negotiation, persuasion, debating, presentation, teamwork and leadership.

Key knowledge and skills taught on this course:

International law
International human rights law
Business law
Contract law
Land law
Employment law
Dispute resolution
Public law
Tort law
Legal research skills

A cutting-edge online learning experience that enables flexible study globally

Work and family commitments can often be immensely challenging or even impossible to balance with studying for a postgraduate degree. However, the University of Sunderland’s online LLM International Law is very different to other degree programmes. The design of the course is flexible and the academic content can be accessed on demand, enabling you to study at times that suit you. This flexibility makes it eminently achievable to complete your master’s without having to make difficult sacrifices.

You can choose to either study this LLM part-time and complete your degree within 24 months, or full-time and complete your degree within 12 months. With six start dates a year, you’re not restricted to the traditional academic year and can begin postgraduate study within weeks.

The interactive and collaborative online learning environment has been designed to enable peer-to peer learning, with discussion boards, forums and group activities key parts of the learning experience. You will connect with tutors and fellow postgraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds and from countries across the world, representing a unique and valuable opportunity to enhance your global professional network.

The academic support you will receive is underpinned by the allocation of a dedicated Student Success Coordinator, who will actively support you throughout your studies, from enrolment right through to graduation.

A University with a global ambitions and a fast-growing global presence

There is a high percentage of international students at University of Sunderland, and we have students studying by distance learning around the world. Sunderland is also one of the UK’s leading widening participation Universities and was awarded The Times/Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2021. We were also shortlisted as University of the Year by the THE – Times Higher Education.

As with the online LLM International Law master’s degree, the focus of the University of Sunderland is very much on the international, as well as the national stage. We are a truly global university, with campuses in Hong Kong, Sunderland and London, and many global partnerships including in the Caribbean, Greece, Kenya, Malaysia, Lanka, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tashkent and Vietnam. Fundamental to our approach is encouraging and fostering diverse learner cohorts so that the students within them can interact with and learn from fellow students and professionals from different cultures and academic, professional and social backgrounds, engendering a far richer and more meaningful learning experience.

Admission requirements

Applicants must be of age 19 and above and should have or be about to complete:

At least a UK 2.2 undergraduate degree

A UK master’s degree (or international equivalent)

Third-class or ordinary undergraduate degree (without honours) or UK equivalent professional qualification with a minimum of two years’ appropriate work experience

Applicants who do not hold a recognised degree will be asked to provide evidence which demonstrates a minimum of three years’ relevant organisational experience

The work experience must be at a graduate level, in either a managerial or professional capacity which may include voluntary work, placements, internships, or project management

Fees

Total course fees: £7,800
Per 15-credit module fee: £650

If you are based in the UK, you may be eligible for a government-backed postgraduate loan to cover the full costs of the course.

In addition, if you have successfully completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Sunderland, you are eligible for a 10% tuition fees reduction on our postgraduate programmes.

You pay tuition fees for each module taken, either module-by-module or in full at the start of your course.

If you pay module-by-module, you will pay in instalments of £650.

Modules

International Law

This module explores the key principles that comprise international law. It examines the principal sources, subjects and institutions and the manner in which laws are made, together with dispute resolution. You will learn how contemporary legal and political issues in international law affect the wider international community and also operate on a local level. The module develops an understanding of the concepts of defining international law and globalisation and issues regarding jurisdiction, territory and self-determination.

International Human Rights Law

This module provides you with essential knowledge of issues relating to international human rights law. It explores human rights in the contemporary world from an international perspective. In focusing on the international level, the module aims to link the international origins of human rights and the main human rights systems with the actual practice of human rights. You will examine a number of important issues in international human rights protection law, including how the law of war and armed conflict protects the civilian, how minority protection is being regulated by international law, the remedies available in international criminal law, and the extent to which the rights of indigenous people are safeguarded by international humanitarian law.

European Law

This module considers the history and structure of the EU, the development of EU law and the role that law has played in the process of integration. Particular attention is given to the constitutionalisation of the EU through case law, treaty reforms and other mechanisms. The module also focuses on substantive law and the provisions which form the basis of the internal market and international trade: free movement of persons, of goods and of services. The module provides an opportunity to study the constitutional and institutional structures of the EU, the way in which EU law impacts upon national law, and law-making in the internal market.

Legal Research, Skills And Methods

The study of law requires you to be able to develop and deploy a specific skill set involving critical reading and thinking, legal research, appropriate referencing, accurate drafting, note-taking, summarisation, and time management. These skills are indispensable to the successful practice of law. Although the acquisition and honing of the jurisdiction-specific skills and knowledge that are the building blocks of legal study are practiced in other modules, this module gives you the opportunity to learn and develop these more foundational disciplinary skills in a focused and direct way.

Introduction To Business Law

Most people in society realise that the law is designed to help, guide and assist individuals to live together harmoniously by providing frameworks for ensuring an orderly lifestyle. Therefore, the law does not remain static, but grows and develops as the society it serves adapts and changes, and it is its ability to reflect those changes that makes the study and practice of law interesting. Learning the different aspects of law that have an impact on a business is going to be pivotal to your career, not only as an employee but also if you become an employer. The law, even if not obvious, touches every aspect of a business. This module is designed as an introduction to the legal issues and legal skills which are important in a business context. It provides you with the opportunity to develop legal commercial awareness.

Contract Law

The principal aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamentals of contractual formation, incorporation, vitiating factors, discharge and remedies in the context of all areas of contract law. You will consider the implications of legislation in relation to consumer contractual terms and analyse the types of remedy available. It will also introduce you to the nature of commercial contracts and liabilities.

Employment Law

This module introduces you to the main areas of employment law and explores how employment law in practice affects the working relationship between employers and employees.
The module addresses legal regulation of the employment relationship, the working environment and the impact of current employment practice. It also considers the law in relation to the termination of employment, focusing particularly upon the rights surrounding unfair dismissal and unlawful discrimination – the most common substantive claims heard by employment tribunals.

Criminal Law

This module focuses primarily on the criminal law of England and Wales, in addition to considering other jurisdictions to provide a broad understanding of the key principles, approaches and concepts that inform the development of English criminal law. Some of the most important issues in criminal law are analysed, as is the extent to which they can be resolved. The areas that will be considered include criminal responsibility, criminal standard of proof, fatal and non-fatal offences, parties to a crime, and defences.

Alternate Dispute Resolution

The module is designed to develop your understanding of the principles and practice of alternative dispute resolution. It examines the various mechanisms which together reflect alternate dispute resolution. This includes negotiation, mediation and arbitration but also considers the development of collaborative lawyering, early neutral evaluation, summary jury trial and mini-trials. You will also consider the development and value of online dispute resolution and the role of the Ombudsman.

Tort Law

This module is focused on the core concepts, scope of application, and concerns of tort law. It examines a number of different torts such as negligence, nuisance, defamation, as well as the principles of causation and vicarious liability. You will learn to apply the law to different factual situations and will explore some of the theoretical and conceptual issues around the subject. You will also critically examine the rationale and development of these torts and be capable of identifying and analysing the factual situations in which these torts typically arise.

Land Law

The module will provide an introduction to land law, and a detailed examination of the law of property related to land. Students will study what property rights are, how they differ from personal rights and be introduced to a variety of different property rights recognised in English law. The module will focus on the various ways in which new property rights can be generated, existing property rights can be transferred to others and the rules that are used to resolve disputes when two or more people have competing property rights to the same thing. The module requires careful and thorough engagement with statutory material and case law to examine and take account of the legal issues generated by English land law as it relates to real property.

Public Law

This module provides an introduction to the study of public law. It focuses on constitutional and administrative law by using the British constitution as a means to understand a broader, global context of constitutionalism. The module examines the core principles of the British constitution and the role of parliament and the courts within modern society. You will analyse key issues governing the relation between citizens and the state, including sovereignty and the division of powers between legislature, executive and administration (or judiciary).