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.
Gain the specialist legal skills you need to succeed in this fascinating and challenging field.
With this unique online law programme, you can choose to graduate with one of two LLM qualifications:
LLM in International Trade Law
- 100% online, with a dissertation, or
LLM in International Trade Law and Treaty Negotiation with Professional Skills
- online, 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.
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).
What you’ll study
You can choose to study for either 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 two-week 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.
Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship
Whatever your legal and educational background, we want to make sure you have the skills to excel in online legal study. So you’ll also work through our preparatory Critical Legal Thinking and Scholarship course. Through it you’ll:
- develop your research, analytical, and writing skills to the highest standard
- cover referencing, and understanding plagiarism
- find out how to access librarian support and the wide range of resources available to you for your course and dissertation work.
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.
Your support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Burcu Yuksel
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.

Ellen Smith
Ellen 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
Our online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.
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Where this will take you
Careers
You’ll graduate with an LLM, 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.

Free careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
Access our free careers service while you study, and for up to five years after you graduate.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
Fees and funding
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2022/23 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2023/24 academic year. The indicative fee above includes this 5% fee rise.

Pay as you go
Don’t worry, you do not have to pay the full degree fee upfront.
You can pay for your degree one term at a time. This gives you a flexible way to spread the cost.
Why study for an LLM 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.

Flexible
Part-time hours and 24/7 access, so you can study when it suits you.

Over 525 years of excellence
Graduate with a respected degree from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.

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.
Master of Laws - 180 credits
You’ll work through 120 credits worth of courses, then take either:
- a 60-credit dissertation, studied fully online, or
- a 60-credit intensive two-week Professional Skills summer school on campus in Aberdeen.
You can start your studies in January or September.
LLM with Dissertation
Your dissertation is completed fully online over the summer with preparatory work required during the January term.
Typically, it takes 24 months to complete the LLM part-time. To study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 30 credits per term. You can take breaks between courses, as long as you complete your degree within six years.
You can also study this degree full-time, completing it in 12 months. You need to dedicate around 40 hours per week to study full-time.
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Master of Laws
180 credits
£14,520
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2022.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- September or January
- INDICATIVE COST
- £14,520
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2022.
Apply via our Applicant Portal