Law - International Business Law - LLM

The course combines a focus on realities of business law in practice with a broader discussion of relevant theoretical and policy issues. The course builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in a broad range of aspects of business law, including banking, commercial, corporate, financial services, and insolvency, and in regulation and compliance in the business area. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to engage with the practical operation of business law. Students also complete a research dissertation in their chosen aspect of business law under expert individualised supervision. Students will also benefit from guest seminars with experts from legal and business practice, relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies and legal practitioners and international experts in this field.



Applicants for the LLM (International Business Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Law. Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (International Business Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 12,500 word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).



The course includes a core Business Law in Practice module where students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with business law in practice. Students can choose from a range of postgraduate business law modules, business modules and undergraduate law subjects.

Modules

Students take 90 credits in total, including 40 credits of core modules and 50 credits of elective modules.



Full-time: Students take 90 credits over one calendar year.



Part-time: Students take 90 credits over two calendar years, completing a total of 40 credits (including LW6646) in Year 1 and 50 credits in Year 2 (including LW6652 and LW6659).



Research Modules (30 Credits)

Core Research Modules - LW6652 Legal Research Methods and Writing (5 credits) & LW6659 LLM Dissertation (25 credits)



Taught Modules (60 Credits)

Students take 60 credits as follows – all listed core modules (10 credits) and 50 credits of elective modules:



Core Taught Module - LW6646 Business Law in Practice (10 credits)



Elective Taught Modules: Students take modules to the value of 50 credits from the following lists of elective modules - at least 40 credits must be chosen from List A and up to 10 credits may be chosen from List B.



List A: LLM (International Business Law) Modules



Students take modules to the value of at least 40 credits from the following:



LW6200 Law of EU Foreign Policy (5)

LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10)

LW6545 Penology (10)

LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5)

LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10)

LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10)

LW6647 Law and Innovation Clinic (10)

LW6650 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (10)

LW6657 Law and Policy of the EU Digital Market (10) edited Course

LW6660 Digital Finance and FinTech: Law and Regulation (10)

LW6668 Business and Human Rights (5)

LW6672 Law, Regulation & Emerging Technology (10)

LW6673 International Trade Law (10)



List B: Non-Law Modules and Undergraduate Business Law Modules



Students may take modules up to the value of 10 credits from the following:



FE6601 Co-operatives and the Third Sector (5)

EC6626 Corporate Treasury Management (5)

FI6002 Regulation and Compliance in Capital Markets (5)

LW2254 Commercial Law (10)

LW2269 Privacy and Data Protection Law (5)

LW3312 Employment Law: Contracts, Termination, Collective Labour Law (5)

LW3313 Employment Law: Rights Protection, Equality, Specific Categories of Employees (5)

LW3316 Financial Services: Law and Regulation (5)

LW3345 Company Law I: Fundamental Concepts and Doctrines (5)

LW3346 Company Law II: Management, Finance and Insolvency (5)

LW3347 Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5)

LW3368 Principles of Revenue Law (5)

LW3369 Income Tax Law (5)

LW3408 Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG): Law, Policy and Practice (5)



For a full list of Course and Module Requirements and restrictions please go to the Academic Programme Catalogue here: LLM (Business Law) | University College Cork, Ireland



Notes -Students may not choose a module from List B if they have already taken that module or equivalent subject matter at the undergraduate level.



Students may not choose modules from List B that involve a timetable clash.



In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 10 credits from the modules available in the LLM (Taught) (other than those listed above) (see here) in substitution for 10 credits of elective modules from those in List B above.



In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, you should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. If you wish to deviate from this rule you must seek permission from the Programme Director.

Applicants must be approved by the School of Law and must have either:



(a) a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8); Or

(b) have such other relevant third-level educational qualification(s) and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies them under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (International Business Law) Degree.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date 7 September 2026

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates of this degree will be well placed to seek employment in any area of business law, within Ireland, Europe or internationally. Employment opportunities include specialist legal practice in the commercial and corporate fields as well as general legal practice, regulatory bodies, business regulation and compliance, the financial services sector, the insolvency sector, law reform and research. Because of the transferrable knowledge and skills which this programme develops, graduates may also avail of crossover opportunities using their LLM to pursue careers in the business world.