International Business Law induction information

About your programme

Module information

You’ll complete your course one block or ‘semester’ at a time. In each semester you’ll study modules. Some are core modules you have to take – others you’ll be able to choose between when you arrive, personalising the course to your interests.

In your first semester you will study the following modules:

• International Economic and Business Law 

International Economic and Business Law

Against the backdrop of globalisation this module examines the rules governing international economic relations and transboundary economic conduct by States, international organisations and private actors.

• Credits: 20
• Approaches to Legal Research 

Approaches to Legal Research

This module will explore how legal research can be approached with a variety of perspectives and orientations:

• doctrinal methods seek to engage law on a level of close reading and logic;
• contextual ‘socio-legal’ methods seek to understand the wider influences of law and legal doctrine;
• comparative methods seek to examine the relationships between different legal orders;
• theoretical methods seek to elaborate and question the conceptual structures of law’s doctrines and institutions; and
• critical methods seek to question the political and ideological underpinnings of these doctrines and institutions.

In traversing this wide variety of legal research methods, this module will persistently engage with the underlying examination of what it means to ‘do law’ in both academic and professional contexts, exposing students to the practices of professional legal research and the processes of legal knowledge-making.

• Credits: 20
• EU Competition Law in a Global Context 

EU Competition Law in a Global Context

Competition law plays a vital role in ensuring that global markets remain fair, competitive and innovative. This module explores how competition law regulates business behaviour in the UK, the European Union and the wider international marketplace, examining how legal frameworks respond to economic, political and technological change.

You'll critically evaluate contemporary issues including digital markets, artificial intelligence, pricing algorithms and the power of global technology companies, while exploring the growing importance of international cooperation between competition authorities and organisations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Competition Network (ICN). Through the study of contemporary legal developments, you'll develop a critical understanding of competition law in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

• Credits: 20
• International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law 

International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law

Innovation, creativity and intellectual property are central to international business. This module explores how copyright, trade marks and patents are protected across different jurisdictions, examining the international legal frameworks that support global innovation and commerce. You'll investigate the role of key international agreements, including those administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), while critically evaluating the challenges posed by emerging technologies, digital markets, biotechnology and the online environment. Through a comparative approach, you'll develop a practical understanding of how intellectual property law protects businesses, creators and innovation in an increasingly connected world.

• Credits: 20

Further information about the structure of your course can be found within the programme specification document.