International Commercial Law with Dissertation (LLM)

Programme Fees

UK

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year

£11,900

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (University of Aberdeen Graduates *)

£7,000

University of Aberdeen graduates are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, reducing tuition fees to £7,000 - matching the current SAAS tuition loan - See full terms and conditions

EU / International students

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year

£23,000

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *)

£15,000

The above fee includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship provided to self-funded international students. Full terms and conditions apply.

Semester 1

Information for part-time students: This route will run over three academic years. Candidates can take up to 60 credit points in Year 1, 120 credit points in Year 2, and 60 credit points in Year 3. LS551T and PD5506 must be taken in Year 1, and LS5904 must be taken in Year 2. Candidates must take a remaining 120 credit points. At least 90 credit points must be obtained from the courses listed in the optional course sections of semesters 1 and 3. The remaining credit points may be obtained from the list below or any LLM 30 credit on-campus course.

Semester 1: Compulsory Courses

Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship (LS551T)

This course provides students from diverse legal and educational backgrounds with a common understanding of the core research, analytical, and writing skills which will be required for LLM-Taught courses. The course is delivered as a series of five interactive lectures with two individual assessments designed to encourage critical thinking and provide opportunities for early feedback. It also incorporates a library workshop to provide students with hands-on experience with the resources available for course and dissertation work.

Detailed course information

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5506)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.

Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Semester 1: Optional Courses

International Investment Law and Energy Arbitration (LS555L)

30 Credit Points

The complex interaction between investment protection and the sovereign right of states to regulate has been most acute in the energy sector. On the one hand, investors require strong guarantees that states will respect the “rules of the game” that constitute the basis of their investments. On the other, states can be tempted to interfere with foreign energy investments because of their strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines and international investment protection framework, are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century and how best to avoid disputes and manage them.

Detailed course information

Corporate Governance (LS5582)

30 Credit Points

This course will discuss the trajectory of the development of corporate governance over the past three decades, especially in the UK and the US, with a view to understanding the extent to which underlying theoretical assumptions and policy decisions impact legislative, regulatory and self-regulatory arrangements as well as reform options. Students will gain an understanding of why the company as a legal entity has the shape and form that it does; why certain actors are regarded as internal to corporate governance arrangements and others external; and why ongoing (and sometimes apparently futile) reform efforts take the form that they do.

Detailed course information

Semester 2

The compulsory dissertation provides the opportunity to research and explore in more detail a specific legal area of your choice.

Please note that all January Start Students must produce their Dissertation during the Summer Semester, preparation for which begins in January.

Semester 2: Compulsory Courses

Master of Laws Dissertation (LS5904)

60 Credit Points

Between May and mid-August students prepare a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their specialist LLM programme. Students are instructed through the delivery of a preparatory lecture, two supervisory meetings and a two hour dissertation planning workshop in a small group setting. Students are expected to spend considerable time on independent research throughout the course of the dissertation module, including; preparation of dissertation plan, amendment of plan in accordance with supervisory comments, preparation for the dissertation workshop, and, of course, in the final 10,000 word dissertation itself.

Detailed course information

Semester 3

Semester 3: Optional Courses

Students have to take two of the following courses:

International Tax Law and Policy (LS504C)

30 Credit Points

The course will examine the law and principles of cross-border taxation. It will cover core subjects on international tax law, including the concepts of source and residence taxation, double tax conventions, allocation of taxing rights, transfer pricing and thin capitalisation rules, and international tax avoidance (schemes and prevention).

Attention will be paid to topical issues around international taxation and the efforts being made to modernise the international tax system. This includes an examination of the tax challenges of the digital economy and the solutions introduced by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. The progress and challenges associated with the recent resolution to establish a new UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation will also be examined.

The course content fulfils the core requirements of Module 1 of the ADIT (Advanced Diploma in International Tax) qualification offered by the Chartered Institute of Taxation. The course is also essential for those aiming to practise tax in an international context, either as academics, government officials, or general tax advisors.

The course will be taught from a legal and policy perspective. No prior knowledge of tax is required, but students should be willing to engage with the tax literature and tax affairs.

Detailed course information

Corporate Finance Law (LS504H)

30 Credit Points

This course will explore issues within the law of corporate finance, with reference to different legal systems. It will provide students with a wider and deeper understanding of various debt and equity finance issues that are crucial to the law of corporate finance.

Detailed course information

International Commercial Arbitration (LS5083)

30 Credit Points

The course is designed to offer in-depth theoretical insights and practical knowledge essential for navigating the field of international commercial arbitration.

The seminar topics have been selected to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international commercial arbitration law. The topics include:

1. Arbitration Agreement and Arbitral Jurisdiction
2. The Role of the Seat
3. Applicable Substantive Law
4. The Arbitral Tribunal
5. Arbitral Procedure and Evidence
6. The Arbitral Award

Additionally, the course features a podcast introducing the fundamentals of international commercial arbitration.

Detailed course information

International Trade and Finance Law (LS508A)

30 Credit Points

This course considers issues relating to international trade and finance law and addresses the legal and commercial aspects of export-import transactions. It covers trade risks and risk assessment, the law and practice relating to international sale of goods, carriage of goods and insurance matters, international trade finance, digitalisation of international trade and international commercial dispute resolution.

Detailed course information

Global Competition Law (LS504D)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces students to one of the most dynamic and highly discussed areas of law in modern societies: global competition law. While competition law and policy offer essential tools to curb market abuses and protect consumers, enforcement faces complex, cross-border limitations.

Moving beyond a single-country focus, this course explores the global spread of competition law by comparatively analysing the regulatory frameworks of multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. It focuses on the core pillars of antitrust: anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominance, and merger regulation. Furthermore, the course offers critical insights into the modern application of competition law in digital markets and of international enforcement.

By taking a truly global and comparative approach, the curriculum is designed to be highly practical. It is particularly useful for those aspiring to or currently working in private practice, as in-house counsel, or as governmental and regulatory officials around the world who must navigate the overlapping complexities of international markets.

Detailed course information

Comparative and International Perspectives on Company Law (LS501G)

30 Credit Points

This is an optional course at postgraduate level and offers a selective and critical examination of company laws in the UK and other systems. It is an appropriate course for students with an interest in working in the corporate sector or who wish to learn more about how company law operates in different countries. Key issues in comparative company law shall be examined and a range of topics will be covered, dealing with corporate entities, their ownership, management and activities.

Detailed course information

International Commercial Litigation (LS503M)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces international commercial litigation, the major means of commercial dispute resolution for many sectors of industry and the default means of dispute resolution against which international arbitration is positioned. The course demonstrates the relevance of a venue’s Private International Law (PIL) to its attractiveness for dispute resolution and provides advanced instruction in the relevant post-Brexit aspects of PIL to parties engaged in litigating international commercial disputes.

Detailed course information

Programme Fees

UK

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year

£11,900

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (University of Aberdeen Graduates *)

£7,000

University of Aberdeen graduates are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, reducing tuition fees to £7,000 - matching the current SAAS tuition loan - See full terms and conditions

EU / International students

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year

£23,000

Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *)

£15,000

The above fee includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship provided to self-funded international students. Full terms and conditions apply.

Semester 1

Information for part-time students: This route will run over two years minimum. Candidates can take up to 120 credit points in an academic year. LS501T and PD5006 must be taken in Year 1, and LS5904 must be taken in Year 2. Candidates must take a remaining 120 credit points. At least 90 credit points must be obtained from the courses listed in the optional sections of semesters 1 and 2. The remaining credit points may be obtained from the list below or any LLM 30 credit on-campus LLM course

Semester 1: Compulsory Courses

Global Competition Law (LS504D)

Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship (LS501T)

This course provides students from diverse legal and educational backgrounds with a common understanding of the core research, analytical, and writing skills which will be required for LLM-Taught courses. The course is delivered as a series of five interactive lectures with two individual assessments designed to encourage critical thinking and provide opportunities for early feedback. It also incorporates a library workshop to provide students with hands-on experience with the resources available for course and dissertation work.

Detailed course information

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.

Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Detailed course information

Semester 1: Optional Courses

Four optional courses must be selected. Two should be selected from semester 1 and two from semester 2.

International Tax Law and Policy (LS504C)

30 Credit Points

The course will examine the law and principles of cross-border taxation. It will cover core subjects on international tax law, including the concepts of source and residence taxation, double tax conventions, allocation of taxing rights, transfer pricing and thin capitalisation rules, and international tax avoidance (schemes and prevention).

Attention will be paid to topical issues around international taxation and the efforts being made to modernise the international tax system. This includes an examination of the tax challenges of the digital economy and the solutions introduced by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. The progress and challenges associated with the recent resolution to establish a new UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation will also be examined.

The course content fulfils the core requirements of Module 1 of the ADIT (Advanced Diploma in International Tax) qualification offered by the Chartered Institute of Taxation. The course is also essential for those aiming to practise tax in an international context, either as academics, government officials, or general tax advisors.

The course will be taught from a legal and policy perspective. No prior knowledge of tax is required, but students should be willing to engage with the tax literature and tax affairs.

Detailed course information

Corporate Finance Law (LS504H)

30 Credit Points

This course will explore issues within the law of corporate finance, with reference to different legal systems. It will provide students with a wider and deeper understanding of various debt and equity finance issues that are crucial to the law of corporate finance.

Detailed course information

International Commercial Arbitration (LS5083)

30 Credit Points

The course is designed to offer in-depth theoretical insights and practical knowledge essential for navigating the field of international commercial arbitration.

The seminar topics have been selected to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international commercial arbitration law. The topics include:

1. Arbitration Agreement and Arbitral Jurisdiction
2. The Role of the Seat
3. Applicable Substantive Law
4. The Arbitral Tribunal
5. Arbitral Procedure and Evidence
6. The Arbitral Award

Additionally, the course features a podcast introducing the fundamentals of international commercial arbitration.

Detailed course information

International Trade and Finance Law (LS508A)

30 Credit Points

This course considers issues relating to international trade and finance law and addresses the legal and commercial aspects of export-import transactions. It covers trade risks and risk assessment, the law and practice relating to international sale of goods, carriage of goods and insurance matters, international trade finance, digitalisation of international trade and international commercial dispute resolution.

Detailed course information

Comparative and International Perspectives on Company Law (LS501G)

30 Credit Points

This is an optional course at postgraduate level and offers a selective and critical examination of company laws in the UK and other systems. It is an appropriate course for students with an interest in working in the corporate sector or who wish to learn more about how company law operates in different countries. Key issues in comparative company law shall be examined and a range of topics will be covered, dealing with corporate entities, their ownership, management and activities.

Detailed course information

International Commercial Litigation (LS503M)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces international commercial litigation, the major means of commercial dispute resolution for many sectors of industry and the default means of dispute resolution against which international arbitration is positioned. The course demonstrates the relevance of a venue’s Private International Law (PIL) to its attractiveness for dispute resolution and provides advanced instruction in the relevant post-Brexit aspects of PIL to parties engaged in litigating international commercial disputes.

Detailed course information

Global Competition Law (LS504D)

30 Credit Points

This course introduces students to one of the most dynamic and highly discussed areas of law in modern societies: global competition law. While competition law and policy offer essential tools to curb market abuses and protect consumers, enforcement faces complex, cross-border limitations.

Moving beyond a single-country focus, this course explores the global spread of competition law by comparatively analysing the regulatory frameworks of multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. It focuses on the core pillars of antitrust: anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominance, and merger regulation. Furthermore, the course offers critical insights into the modern application of competition law in digital markets and of international enforcement.

By taking a truly global and comparative approach, the curriculum is designed to be highly practical. It is particularly useful for those aspiring to or currently working in private practice, as in-house counsel, or as governmental and regulatory officials around the world who must navigate the overlapping complexities of international markets.

Detailed course information

Semester 2

Semester 2: Optional Courses

Comparative Contract Law (LS555K)

30 Credit Points

This course is aimed to help commercial lawyers working in transnational settings to understand how different legal traditions offer different viewpoints on key contractual challenges that emerge in all commercial contracts: how agreements are formed, interpreted and enforced; what remedies are available to aggrieved parties; under what circumstances can parties avoid liability. Thus, national contract laws will be seen as variations on a theme. The course will cover the main rules and doctrines of a range of legal systems, as well as transnational contract law mechanisms

Detailed course information

International Investment Law and Energy Arbitration (LS555L)

30 Credit Points

The complex interaction between investment protection and the sovereign right of states to regulate has been most acute in the energy sector. On the one hand, investors require strong guarantees that states will respect the “rules of the game” that constitute the basis of their investments. On the other, states can be tempted to interfere with foreign energy investments because of their strategic and social importance. This course aims to analyse if existing investment disciplines and international investment protection framework, are adapted to the specific regulatory risks that investors face in the energy landscape of the 21st Century and how best to avoid disputes and manage them.

Detailed course information

Corporate Governance (LS5582)

30 Credit Points

This course will discuss the trajectory of the development of corporate governance over the past three decades, especially in the UK and the US, with a view to understanding the extent to which underlying theoretical assumptions and policy decisions impact legislative, regulatory and self-regulatory arrangements as well as reform options. Students will gain an understanding of why the company as a legal entity has the shape and form that it does; why certain actors are regarded as internal to corporate governance arrangements and others external; and why ongoing (and sometimes apparently futile) reform efforts take the form that they do.

Detailed course information

Semester 3

The compulsory dissertation provides the opportunity to research and explore in more detail a specific legal area of your choice.

Semester 3: Compulsory Courses

Master of Laws Dissertation (LS5904)

60 Credit Points

Between May and mid-August students prepare a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their specialist LLM programme. Students are instructed through the delivery of a preparatory lecture, two supervisory meetings and a two hour dissertation planning workshop in a small group setting. Students are expected to spend considerable time on independent research throughout the course of the dissertation module, including; preparation of dissertation plan, amendment of plan in accordance with supervisory comments, preparation for the dissertation workshop, and, of course, in the final 10,000 word dissertation itself.

Detailed course information