LLM Transnational Dispute Resolution

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Laws (LLM)
Duration
1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
Entry requirements

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent in Law. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in Law modules relevant to the course, including Public Law and Contract Law and achieve scores of 2.1 or above in relevant modules.  

When assessing your academic record, we consider the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
LLM Y Y N N

Course overview

  • Gain an in-depth understanding of different international dispute resolution systems, including international arbitration and ADR mechanisms
  • Move into a variety of future legal careers with law firms, multinational corporations, international courts and tribunals, as well as careers within arbitration and other ADR
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Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.

For more information, see open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • LLM (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £15,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,500
  • LLM (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £7,750
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry).

For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
Postgraduate Taught Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0)161 804 9198
Email
Website
https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/law/
School/Faculty

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent in Law. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in Law modules relevant to the course, including Public Law and Contract Law and achieve scores of 2.1 or above in relevant modules.  

When assessing your academic record, we consider the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

  • IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
  • TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill 

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries

If you are a national of a   majority English-speaking country   (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our   country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

As there is a high demand for our courses we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.

Applications for 2024 entry:

Stage 1:   Application received by  8th December 2023 ; Application update by  22nd February 2024

Stage 2:   Application received by  3rd March 2024 ; Application update by  25th April 2024

Stage 3:   Application received by  5th May 2024 ; Application update by  8th June 2024

Stage 4:  Application received by  1st July 2024 ; Application update by  25th July 2024

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.

Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Please note:  All places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,000 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability.  The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

The LLM in Transnational Dispute Resolution course allows you to develop advanced knowledge of the procedural and substantive law and the rules that govern the settlement of international and transnational disputes.

As such, the course focuses on the contemporary rules, procedures and practices of international courts and tribunals. The course focuses particularly on arbitration and other ADR mechanisms as well as the dispute resolution mechanism of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The programme also offers the opportunity to examine other courts and tribunals, including that of the World Trade Organisation.

The course also deals with mechanisms allowing the settlement of disputes which are of a hybrid nature, eg partly international and partly domestic.

Aims

The LLM in Transnational Dispute Resolution course provides you with advanced knowledge of the rules and procedures along which international and transnational disputes are settled.

In addition to the critical tools to understand, apprehend and analyse the politics and the dynamics of international and transnational disputes.

Teaching and learning

The course is based on introductory lecturers and seminar-style teaching by our research-active staff. Including external experts and renowned practitioners.

This degree is offered part time to allow those with a professional occupation to follow the course.

Coursework and assessment

All course units are assessed by either one written exam, or one coursework essay, or a combination of these two methods of assessment.

The course will be 180 credits in total and has a compulsory research component. 120 credits will be taught units and the remaining 60 credits in the form of a 14,000 to 15,000 word dissertation.

Your dissertation must be within one of your core units. The research element of the course is supported by weekly research methodology lectures delivered throughout semesters one and two designed to improve your legal writing and research skills. For specialised streams, the dissertation topic must be within those streams.

Course unit details

The LLM course typically offers around 30 different course units in any one year, and will always reflect a wide range of subjects across the legal spectrum.

There will usually be course units offered on diverse topics, such as:

  • international trade and corporate law;
  • financial services regulation;
  • European law;
  • international economic law;
  • intellectual property law;
  • human rights law;
  • corporate governance;
  • law and finance in emerging markets.

You will be taking 180 credits in total, 120 of which will be taught course units and the remaining 60 credits in the form of a 14,000 to 15,000 word dissertation.

The course includes two 30 credit compulsory units: International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Law and International Investment Law.

Your dissertation must be within the area of one unit you have chosen. The research element of the course is supported by weekly research methodology lectures delivered throughout semesters one and two, designed to improve your legal writing and research skills. For specialised streams, the dissertation topic must be within those streams.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
LL.M Dissertation LAWS70990 60 Mandatory
International Investment Law LAWS72042 30 Mandatory
International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Law LAWS77082 30 Mandatory
Academic Skills for Legal Studies LAWS50000 0 Optional
International Sale of Goods LAWS63051 30 Optional
International Banking Law LAWS63071 30 Optional
Global Economic and World Trade Law LAWS67031 30 Optional
International Institutions LAWS70021 30 Optional
Transnational Corporate & Capital Markets Law LAWS70081 30 Optional
Intellectual Property Law LAWS70101 30 Optional
Trade Mark Law and Policy LAWS70261 30 Optional
Patent Law and Policy LAWS70271 30 Optional
Foundations of International Law LAWS70431 30 Optional
Displaying 10 of 13 course units

Scholarships and bursaries

The School is offering a number of awards for students applying for master's study. To find out more please visit our  master's funding opportunity search page .

Facilities

You are supported by first-class resources.

In addition to the networked study spaces at the Williamson Building, you can access a specialist moot courtroom, enabling future legal minds to hone your debating skills in a realistic court setting.

As well as The University of Manchester Library , which houses a substantial collection of law books, periodicals and texts to support you.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email dass@manchester.ac.uk .

Careers

Career opportunities

This highly relevant LLM offers you career opportunities with states, government agencies, international courts and tribunals, law firms and multinational corporations who are looking for lawyers with an understanding of international and transnational dispute resolution.

Additionally, the course offers you the opportunity to progress to careers within international arbitration and other ADR mechanisms.

The University also has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .