Prepare for career success in international trade.

Join an online LLM that gives you a route to specialise in treaty negotiation.

International trade law and trade negotiation are attracting increased interest given economic globalisation, trade wars, world events like Brexit, and emphasis on sustainable development issues in trade policy.

Earn the specialist legal skills you need to succeed in this fascinating and challenging field.

In this unique online law programme, you can choose to graduate with one of two LLM qualifications:

LLM in International Trade Law

  • Study 100% online, or

LLM in International Trade Law and Treaty Negotiation with Professional Skills

  • combine online study with an on-campus Professional Skills summer school in place of a dissertation.

You can also study this degree full-time on campus with a dissertation or Professional Skills option.

Do law differently with Professional Skills

Our online LLMs offer a practical alternative to completing a traditional dissertation.

Choose the Professional Skills route to join our on-campus summer school and learn sought-after industry skills.

Earn your LLM without taking a career break

With flexible part-time hours, you can study this degree around full-time work.

You’ll earn an LLM from a respected UK law school. And you’ll graduate ready to start or progress your career in government, trade finance, law firms, business, industry associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Choose the University of Aberdeen for your LLM in International Trade Law

Study with a university that’s home to one of the largest and most internationally experienced teams of legal experts in any UK or European law school.

Top 5 in Scotland for Law

We’re ranked Top 5 in Scotland for Law in two league tables (Guardian University Guide 2025 and Complete University Guide 2025).

Over 525 years of excellence

Join a university founded in 1495, where Law has been taught for more than five centuries.

Fits around full-time work

This degree fits around full-time work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.

What you’ll study

You can choose to study for an:

  • LLM in International Trade Law – studying 100% online
  • LLM in International Trade Law and Treaty Negotiation with Professional Skills – studying online with an on-campus Professional Skills Summer School, or
  • start with one of the short courses that make up this degree.

How you’ll study

LLM International Trade Law is delivered 100% online, with a dissertation. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.

LLM in International Trade Law and Treaty Negotiation with Professional Skills is delivered via blended learning. It combines flexible online study with a Professional Skills Summer School on campus in Aberdeen in lieu of your dissertation.

Online learning

Your online teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our 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 online lectures, case studies, projects and videos.

You’ll also have online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library and the Taylor Law Library, a dedicated resource for law students. Both have first-class collections of reference works in law and related subjects. Find out more about our libraries.

Your tutors

You’ll learn from an experienced and enthusiastic team of academics and legal practitioners. They’ll challenge you with complex, realistic scenarios as you develop your expertise in this exciting, fast-growing area of law.

Assessment

This degree is assessed online via methods including online discussion boards, essays and quizzes.

If you attend the on-campus Professional Skills Summer School, assessment elements will take place while you’re on campus.

Hours for online courses

If you plan to study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 30 credits per term.

15 credits

  • Around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 8 – 10 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

30 credits

  • Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 15 – 20 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

There may be some activities that are scheduled at a fixed time, such as online meetings with your tutor or assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through each course at your convenience.

Hours for 60-credit dissertation

A 60-credit dissertation is around 600 hours of study time. This is around one term of full-time study.

You will dedicate a full term to your dissertation and work on it full-time.

Hours for on-campus Professional Skills Summer School

The Professional Skills Summer School takes place on campus at the University of Aberdeen for three weeks in early summer.

Study hours for this course are full-time.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your tutors via MyAberdeen and email. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).

Access study spaces, books and journals in your area

The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.

You’ll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.

Find out about the SCONUL Access scheme for libraries.

Your support team

Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Professor Burcu Yüksel Ripley

Burcu is the degree coordinator. She’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Amanda Rose

Amanda is part of the School’s support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.

Get in touch

The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.

Ask us a question

Online learning in the School of Law

Advocates share their experiences of working while studying online Law courses with us.

Where this will take you

Your LLM qualification

You’ll graduate with a respected LLM from the University of Aberdeen, one of the UK’s six ancient universities.

You’ll receive exactly the same LLM qualification online as you would on campus. Your LLM title will not mention online or distance learning.

Your LLM qualification will be recognised by employers and educational institutions around the world, opening up international opportunities.

Careers

You’ll graduate ready to start or further your career in a range of international trade areas, including:

  • diplomacy
  • politics
  • businesses involved in the import or export of goods
  • industry associations
  • government departments
  • NGOs with interests in trade and sustainable development issues.

You can also pursue a career in academia in this area of law and/or conduct a PhD study.

Lifelong career support

Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.

You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

Fees and funding

The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.

We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.

Pay as you go

This is a pay-as-you-go degree.

You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.

You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.

How it works

  • You decide how many credits to study for each term.
  • At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
  • This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.

Your personalised cost breakdown

Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.

On-campus course costs

This degree features on-campus course options. If you take an on-campus course as part of your degree, your fee covers the tuition for this.

However, it does not cover the cost of any travel, accommodation or visa you might require in order to join us on campus. You will have to pay for your own travel, accommodation and visa costs.

Learning resources

Access to all the essential books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.

Printing

You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.

There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

20% Alumni discount

You’re entitled to 20% off our postgraduate taught degrees and short courses if you have a degree from the University of Aberdeen. View Alumni discount details.

How discounts work

Discounts are applied during your application process. You can only use one discount per application.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for flexible online LLM degrees

Earn as you learn

We fit around full-time work, so you can earn qualifications while you keep earning a salary.

You’re in expert hands

We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.

20% alumni discount

University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.

Entry requirements

LLM

  • A 2:1 (upper-second) honours degree (or equivalent) in Law.
  • Relevant practical experience in a related field will also be beneficial.

These are our minimum entry requirements. They are given as a guide and do not guarantee entry.

Short course route to online LLM International Trade Law

If you do not meet these entry requirements, or are not ready to commit to a full LLM, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.

Find out about the short course route to entry

Entry requirements

We welcome students from around the world.

See our minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications for your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to study online with us.

But if you will be joining us on campus for part of this degree, you may need to obtain a visa to do so. You will need to make your own transport, accommodation and visa arrangements to study with us here in Aberdeen. If you have a visa query, email immigration@abdn.ac.uk for advice.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.

English language tests and scores

If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept for this course or degree.

These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 21 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening and speaking
  • 169 for reading and writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening and speaking
  • 65 for reading and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening and speaking
  • 105 for reading and writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.

You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.

There is no application fee for our online degrees.

What you need to apply for this degree

  • Degree transcript
  • Personal statement

Apply now

Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement and how to use our Applicant Portal.

You can apply to start in either September or January.

Apply as early as you can. This is so we have time to review your application and get a decision to you. We also want to ensure you have time to enrol before teaching starts.

January 2025 intake

For our January 2025 intake, the application deadline is 9 December 2024.

You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 18 December 2024.

Teaching starts on 27 January 2025.

September 2025 intake

Teaching starts on 22 September 2025.

Application deadlines will be announced in due course.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

Try our degree scheduler

Choose your courses

Choose your courses

See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.

Manage your study schedule

Manage your study schedule

Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.

Save to your wishlist

Save to your wishlist

Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.

Customise your degree

Master of Laws

180 credits

£16,270

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.

Apply for this programme

Start month
January or September
INDICATIVE COST
£16,270

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.

Apply via our Applicant Portal
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