Select the year

Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time

About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • You'll follow a curriculum tailored for the global marketplace of the 21st Century.
  • You’ll benefit from the use of our mock court room to gain real world experience in presenting legal cases.
  • You’ll be taught by internationally experienced staff from a variety of legal backgrounds, who will draw on their experience in your teaching.

Looking to build a successful career in international law and diplomacy? Our LLM in International Law will deepen your understanding of the critical issues shaping global governance today, equipping you with the skills to thrive in international affairs, diplomacy, or global policy-making.

Whether you aim to work with international organisations, global think tanks, or pursue a career in diplomacy, this course provides an opportunity to explore the origins, structure, and real-world impact of international law. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of legal doctrines, state formation, the right to self-determination, and the circumstances under which states or individuals may lawfully use force.

Our balanced curriculum incorporates three core themes: international law, business law, and social justice, allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests through bespoke core modules and a dissertation. Through an in-depth exploration of landmark international court cases and the rules that govern state behaviour, you’ll develop both academic and professional skills to address the pressing legal issues that affect the global landscape.

If you're looking to excel in international law, this programme will provide the theoretical foundation and practical knowledge needed to navigate today’s complex and evolving global legal environment.

Career opportunities after the course *

Conveyancing Assistants

Paralegals

Legal Assistants

Conveyancing Paralegals

Patent Paralegals

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • An Honours degree (2:2 or above) in any subject.
  • Other experience or qualifications that demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills at graduate level may be acceptable. Suitability for acceptance onto the course will be assessed through interview.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page. If you have alternative qualifications or do not meet the IELTS requirement we also offer a range of Pre-Sessional English Programmes.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module will provide you with an introduction to legal and academic skills covering research approaches, critical evaluation skills, analysis of both primary and secondary sources of law and an introduction to English and International legal systems. Compulsory for all students joining the LLM programmes and particularly useful if you have not previously studied law or come from a non-common law background, the module will equip you with knowledge of sources and institutions of law, which is essential to allow you to successfully complete the LLM.

International Law is one of the most vibrant, interesting, and topical fields of study influencing personal, national and global perspectives on how the world works. In this module, you will study where International Law has come from, why the law is constructed the way it is and the rules around how states should engage with each other. Essential to how International Law operates in the Twenty-first Century are questions of power, politics and dominance and the ideological separation of the global North and South and of the East and West. Along with the foundational doctrines in International Law, you will examine how peoples can self-determine, how states are formed and when states can use force against other states or individuals, as well as learning about landmark international court cases and their outcomes and effects in today’s world.

The effective management and regulation of the use and consumption of environmental goods and natural resources is a global concern as it is vital to sustainable development and energy justice. In this module, you will critically examine the various legal perspectives of environmental law, natural resources management, energy transitions, net-zero goals and sustainability issues at the domestic, regional and international levels. You will analyse key legal concepts in environmental law, discuss essential elements of environmental protection and sustainable development and consider important issues in global environmental law and regulation. You will also study the concept of environmental rights, the constitutionalisation of environmental rights and the global adoption of environmental rights protection. Lastly, you will examine key stakeholders in environmental protection including the judiciary and corporations and will discuss transnational environmental litigation, its impact on environmental protection and the role of corporations in promoting environmental goals through inclusive capitalism.

International criminal law is a relatively new and dynamic area of law. The governance of international criminal law is complex, involving the interaction of global and regional bodies in an effort to hold individuals accountable for global atrocities. In this module you will examine the foundations of international criminal law and how it is prosecuted, exploring the relationship between the International Criminal Court and national criminal courts. You will consider a number of specific international crimes such as genocide and war crimes. You will also evaluate international punishments, such as the use of the death penalty, as well as defences to international crimes. You will explore the challenges of international criminal law, and how this area of law may continue to evolve and develop in the future.

Commercial transactions are complex in their nature and stretch beyond the national borders. Since the emergence of disputes from these transactions is normal, the stakeholders rely on arbitration to decide these disputes conclusively and this is due to so many very obvious reasons including, skilled and neutral arbitrator, flexible and speedy procedure, privacy and confidentiality, and enforcement of arbitrator’s decision worldwide due to the New York Convention. London is one the most popular seats of arbitration which hosts a large number of arbitrations and its courts entertain a good deal of foreign awards for enforcement. In this module, you will be introduced to all the major legal issues pertaining to arbitration agreement, arbitrator, arbitral procedure and arbitral award which London seated arbitral tribunal and the English courts face. To that end, you will explore the relevant provisions of English Arbitration Act 1996 along with UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention which have made a great impact on the Arbitration Act 1996. Furthermore, you will also evaluate the ICSID regime for the resolution of investment disputes arising between a state and foreign investor.

In this module, you will explore not only legal standards for human rights protection but also the various mechanisms established under international human rights law. You will study the conceptual, historical, and normative developments within this field since the creation of the UN. Besides focusing on the core human rights treaties and their corresponding human rights obligations imposed on States Parties, you will examine the way in which human rights are being understood and monitored by UN treaty bodies as well as the Human Rights Council and Special Rapporteurs. You will not only have the opportunity to apply knowledge of international human rights law to concrete situations of human rights violations but also engage in key debates in the field of international human rights law in light of on-going discussions on improvements and reform.

The LLM Dissertation will enable you to explore the field of International Law deepening your understanding of current problems and exploring new insights in the field. By applying legal research skills and methods acquired during the course of the LLM, you will be able identify and define theoretical concepts, principles and rules relevant to your area of research and the broader social, political, environmental or economic context in which the law operates. You will be expected to select and research an area of law specifically related to International Law. The work undertaken must demonstrate appropriate design, methods and techniques along with interpretation and evaluation of the findings reported to a high professional standard and also within a defined word limit. Your project will be either a literature review of a focused topic using a systematic approach or an empirical study that draws on and makes a contribution to knowledge.

Additional information: Tutors are experts in their field and with many having practical experience in industry and the professions which helps combine your academic knowledge with practical application. Many aspects of teaching and assessment are grounded in real life situations.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Paralegal, Solicitor, Barrister, Costs Lawyer, Local Government Officer and Chartered Legal Executive.*

*Source: Prospects

98%
Percentage of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled.

£38.5k
Average salary of our postgraduate students fifteen months after graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, mean salary, UK domiciled, full-time UK employment as main activity.

Studying the LLM in Law gave me legal expertise, critical thinking, and a global view of corporate law. My favourite module, International Business Law, deepened my knowledge of trade and dispute resolution. I aim to qualify as a solicitor specialising in international corporate law.

- Tamanna Goswami
Law LLM, currently works at Pinsent and Masons Law Firm.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£10,305 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£18,700 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible postgraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

Find out more about careers support

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Law School may teach you on this course.

Find out more about our staff

Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.

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