Trade, contracts, and a researched problem
Online only
You work through instruments and a problem. The collegiate setting is Durham, online or in the city. Professional admission is separate. Durham University teaches this award online and, where a cohort is formed, on campus. The 36 credit hours on this page are the sum of the modules listed in the curriculum, so the transcript and the prospectus describe the same load. LL.M. International Commercial Law is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 18 months, and the credit total is 36. Students move from The Instrument through The Instrument; Cross-border Facts; A Second Order; Researched Answer, and finish on Researched Answer. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read. Reading is a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. The artefact a marker expects is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Extract a rule Apply it to a cross-border fact pattern Note a second legal order Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Assessment is coursework on each taught module plus the final project named in the curriculum. Results are recorded as credit hours against each module. Fees are the figures published by Durham University for this award; this page does not add a separate tuition claim.
Faculty spotlight
Durham Law pathway at Durham University supervises the modules and the final project. Supervision is assigned from that school, not from a visiting name shared with another institution.
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 18 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study. Collegiate campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately.
Accreditation & recognition
