LLM International Commercial and Technology Law (Online)

Entry requirements

We require an Upper Second (2:1) Class Honours degree in law (or the overseas equivalent), or a degree with at least 70% law content, or a graduate diploma in law.

A First (1:1) or an Upper Second (2:1) Class Honours in a non-law degree such as finance or business will also be considered, if you have at least three years’ work experience in a law firm as a practicing solicitor or have passed the bar exam and are working as a practicing lawyer.

If you have substantial work experience closely related to law but not substantively legal in nature, for example as a contracts manager, you may also be considered.

English language

IELTS academic test score of 7 overall, including 6.5 in writing with no further component score below 6.5, or equivalent.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Our LLM in International Commercial and Technology Law is ideal for professionals in law, compliance, government, research, and academia. It focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and international commerce and covers subjects in online privacy, financial law, business law, AI and intellectual property.

Throughout your studies you will develop your core competencies in commercial law, gain research and academic skills, and enhance your networking and interpersonal skills.

The course is delivered 100% online and can be completed in 24 months part-time.

Course unit overview

Unit 1: Corporations, Technology and Law (30 credits)

Get to grips with key topics and themes in business organisations law, and understand their implications. Gain a full appreciation of the legal nature of business organisations, the role of technology within them, and the related legal and regulatory issues. Learn how to effectively identify pertinent challenges, understand the technological impact, and evaluate and assess various options from a theoretical and practical standpoint.

Unit 2: Online Privacy, Defamation and Data Protection Law (30 credits)

Consider various legal instruments and jurisdictions, including English privacy and defamation law as well as supranational pieces of legislation on data protection law, such as the GDPR. Explore to what extent should individual autonomy and dignity be protected online as opposed to the pivotal importance of freedom of expression, and build your critical reflection and evaluative research skills.

Unit 3: Financial Law and Fintech Law (30 credits)

Identify and explore the fundamental principles of financial regulation relating to financial institutions, investment contracts, and financial technologies (fintechs). Learn about various regulatory initiatives for technologies such as blockchain, AI and big data in financial market, and cover regulatory fields including conduct of business, financial promotion and investor protection, market abuse, financial crime and data governance.

Unit 4: Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Ecosystem (30 credits)

Explore the foundations of intellectual property (IP) law and the core issues arising in IP policy. Develop your understanding of how IP protection works, examine historical theories underpinning intellectual property law and the socio-economic role that intellectual property law plays.

Project (60 credits)

Develop your critical research skills through conducting a supervised research project on your chosen area of commercial and technology law. The project culminates in a substantive 8,000-word dissertation.

Benefits to your career

• Become an expert in tech law, understanding its impact on commerce and gaining skills to identify risks and opportunities.
• Deepen your knowledge of legal regulations for businesses, especially in the context of AI, blockchain, and digital assets.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of online privacy, defamation, and data protection laws and their current implications.
• Explore the foundations of financial regulation, focusing on markets and financial technologies.
• Learn about the challenges emerging technologies pose to intellectual property law and strategies for effective enforcement.
• Develop transferable skills to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape.
• Learn from global experts and expand your international network.

Information for international students

If you are an international student, and are looking for a general guide on entry and language requirements for your country, please visit our country-specific information pages.

Fees and funding

Please view the course overview page on The University of Manchester website for more details of fees, plus any scholarships and bursaries applicable for this course. Application discount and Alumni discount are available.