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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Law LLM (Business Law)

Course Fact File

Code	LLMBL
Duration	1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Qualifications	LLM
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date	8 September 2025

Course Outline

The course combines a focus on realities of business law in practice with a broader discussion of relevant theoretical and policy issues. The course builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in a broad range of aspects of business law, including banking, commercial, corporate, financial services, and insolvency, and in regulation and compliance in the business area. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to engage with the practical operation of business law. Students also complete a research dissertation in their chosen aspect of business law under expert individualised supervision. Students will also benefit from guest seminars with experts from legal and business practice, relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies and legal practitioners and international experts in this field. 

Applicants for the LLM (Business Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Law. Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Business Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time.  

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 12,500 word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM). 

The course includes a core Business Law in Practice module where students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with business law in practice.  Students can choose from a range of postgraduate business law modules, business modules and undergraduate law subjects.

Modules

Students take 90 credits in total, including 40 credits of core modules and 50 credits of elective modules.

• Full-time: Students take 90 credits.
• Part-time: Students take 90 credits, completing a total of 40 credits (including LW6646) in Year 1 and 50 credits (including LW6594) in Year 2.

Core Modules 

• LW6652 Legal Research Methods and Writing (5 credits)
• LW6659 LLM Dissertation (25 credits)

Taught Module

• LW6646 Business Law in Practice (10 credits)

Elective Modules

Students take modules to the value of 50 credits from the list of electives set out below. At least 40 credits must be chosen from List A. Students may choose up to 10 credits from List B.

List A: LLM (Business Law) Modules

Choose at least 40 credits from the following:

• LW6536 Intellectual Property Law (10 credits)
• LW6574 Intellectual Property and Internet Regulation (10 credits)
• LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
• LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
• LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)
• LW6647 IT Law Clinic for Start-ups (10 credits)
• LW6650 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (10 credits)
• LW6657 Law and Policy of the EU Digital Market (10 credits)
• LW6660 Digital Finance and FinTech: Law and Regulation (10 credits)
• LW6662 Law & the Future of Europe: Critical Perspectives Internal Market & Citizenship (5 credits)
• LW6663 Law & the Future of Europe - Critical Perspectives EMU and Governance (5 credits)

List B: Non-Law Modules and Undergraduate Business Law Modules

Choose up to 10 credits from the following:

• FE6601 Co-operatives and the Third Sector (5 credits)
• FI6001 Treasury Risk Management (5 credits)
• FI6002 Regulation and Compliance in Capital Markets (5 credits)
• LW2254 Commercial Law (10 credits)
• LW2269 Privacy and Data Protection Law (5 credits)
• LW3312 Employment Law: Contracts, Termination, Collective Labour Law (5 credits)
• LW3313 Employment Law: Rights Protection, Equality, Specific Categories of Employees (5 credits)
• LW3316 Financial Services Law and Regulation (5 credits)
• LW3345 Company Law I: Fundamental Concepts and Doctrines (5 credits)
• LW3346 Company Law II: Management, Finance and Insolvency (5 credits)
• LW3347 Contemporary Issues in Corporate Law (5 credits)
• LW3368 Principles of Revenue Law (5 credits)
• LW3369 Income Tax Law (5 credits)

Notes

-Students may not choose a module from List B if they have already taken that module or equivalent subject matter at the undergraduate level.

-Students may not choose modules from List B that involve a timetable clash.

-In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 10 credits from the modules available in the LLM (Taught) (other than those listed above) (see here) in substitution for 10 credits of elective modules from those in List B above.

-In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, you should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. If you wish to deviate from this rule you must seek permission from the Programme Director.

Course Practicalities

LLM classes are in seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. Students receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar.  Seminars generally take place in 2-hour blocks with one seminar per week in each module.  Seminar times are between 9:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. 10 credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5 credit modules run for 6 weeks.  Some modules/classes (1 or 2 only) may be on Saturdays and online.

Part-time

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Assessment

Generally, students are examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and the dissertation must be submitted in September. Individual module assessments can be viewed in the Book of Modules.

Who teaches this course

The course is taught by a team of academic staff with extensive academic, practical and policy experience in all aspects of business law.  Specialisms in the School include banking, commercial, competition, consumer, company and corporate governance, e-commerce, financial services, international trade, corporate and personal insolvency, maritime and revenue law. See our School of Law page for more information.

Why Choose This Course

• The perfect specialist qualification for those seeking to establish a career in all aspects of business law including regulation and compliance.
• An opportunity for professionals who want to enhance their knowledge and skills.
• Includes a core Business Law in Practice module, where students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage the practicalities of business.  
• Students will also benefit from guest seminars with experts from legal and business practice, relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies and legal practitioners, and international experts in this field.
• Opportunity to expand your knowledge by taking business courses in Economics, Food Business, Management and Marketing.
• Allows you to develop specialised skills  in writing, researching and presenting on all aspects of business law.
• The teaching approach is informed by practical experience and academic commitment of teaching School.

Top 100 Ranking

UCC School of Law has been ranked among the world’s best Law Schools in the latest QS World University Rankings by subject, placed 59th in the World and 1st in Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates of this degree will be well placed to seek employment in any area of business law, within Ireland, Europe or internationally.  Employment opportunities include specialist legal practice in the commercial and corporate fields as well as general legal practice, regulatory bodies, business regulation and compliance, the financial services sector, the insolvency sector, law reform and research.  Because of the transferrable knowledge and skills which this programme develops, graduates may also avail of crossover opportunities using their LLM to pursue careers in the business world.

Requirements

Candidates must be approved by the School of Law and must normally:

• (a) hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8); Or
• (b) have such other relevant third-level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Business Law) Degree.

If you are an overseas candidate you are welcome to apply and your qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis as above. 

*Note:  Where appropriate, the Academic Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, certain elective modules to be taken by a candidate admitted under entry criterion (b) above. The taking of specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate’s application. 

The number of places available in any given year is dependent on resources and all qualified candidates may not be admitted.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please enter the names and email addresses of 2 referees. 

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

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