Join an online arbitration course accredited by the CIArb that fits around full-time work.
Develop your expertise and qualifications in arbitration, a dispute resolution method growing in popularity internationally and across sectors.
Learn from experts in international law and arbitration as they guide you through this complex, technical area of the law.
You’ll gain a full understanding of how it operates, essential if you’re advising clients or framing contracts that carry arbitration clauses.
- Enhance your skills, experience and career as a lawyer working in private practice, in-house, or in a government organisation.
- Join us online from anywhere in the world.
- Set your own study hours so you can continue to earn while you learn.

This course is accredited by
We’re a recognised course provider for CIArb Membership and Fellowship on the Mediation and International Arbitration and Pathways.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards either of these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
Arbitration is an adjudicative process leading to a binding decision. But it differs significantly from litigation in several key respects – not least its flexibility, confidentiality and use of decision-making expertise.
You’ll gain a thorough grounding in the principles and content of international arbitration law, using the UK arbitral system as the template. You’ll also cover other systems, including some of the institutional rules and key concepts that apply across all arbitration regimes.
You’ll look at the rules and principles underpinning the following:
- the arbitration agreement
- sources of arbitral rules: legislative and institutional
- jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal
- appointment of arbitrators
- the arbitral process pre-hearing
- the arbitral hearing
- arbitral costs
- the award and challenge
- enforcement of the award.
Why study Law online with the University of Aberdeen?
Study at a university with one of the largest and most internationally experienced teams of legal experts in any European law school.

2nd in UK for student satisfaction
Our Law School ranks 2nd in the UK for Overall Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2021).

CIArb accredited
The content of this course is prescribed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).

20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off this online course.
How you’ll study
Online learning
Our distance-learning International Arbitration Law course is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.
Part of two of our LLM programmes, this course is taught at Masters level.
Your teaching
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- video lectures
- online tutorials
- slide presentations
- reading materials
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Taylor Law Library
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from lawyers with extensive international experience and experts working in practice in the field of international arbitration.
Your course coordinator

Professor Derek Auchie
Derek leads our LLM in Dispute Resolution. A practising civil and criminal litigation solicitor before moving into teaching, he’s a CIArb Fellow who’s written and taught extensively on dispute resolution processes (court, tribunal, arbitration and mediation).
View Derek’s profileOnline learning in the School of Law
Advocates share their experiences of working while studying law online with us.
Where this will take you
Towards an LLM
You’ll earn 30 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

LLM in Dispute Resolution
Enhance your non-court dispute resolution skills with this online Masters accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
View LLM Dispute Resolution
LLM in International Trade Law
Develop the knowledge to practise trade law or work for governments, international businesses and NGOs. Join this flexible online LLM you can study part-time, with the option to attend Professional Skills training.
View LLM International Trade LawBuild your learning
We offer a wide range of specialist online Law short courses you can use to build your skills.
Many are part of existing Masters degrees and can be used to build up credits towards postgraduate qualifications.
Careers
The course will give you significant professional benefit as a lawyer advising clients on international activity, or if you work in a related capacity in a government department or a multinational private company.
Previous graduates have gone on to senior positions in legal firms, in industry, NGOs, and with government organisations across the world.
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
You can access our free careers service while you study.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
Entry requirements
The minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- an 2:1 (upper-second-class) Law degree (or equivalent).
Relevant practical experience in a related field is also beneficial.
Apply for this course