Course Content
The course begins with an induction week with a range of sessions introducing the course, library resources, the optional modules (with a view to assisting you in your choice of options), research skills and general orientation sessions. You will also be allocated a personal tutor.
Following the induction week, you will study two core modules:
Introduction to Comparative Business Law – introduces you to common law and civil law legal systems, and compares and contrasts their different approaches to legislative interpretation, use of precedent and codification. It also examines the role of European Union law in attempting to harmonise the law relating to contract.
Research Methods – this module looks at the main methods of social science research, including qualitative and quantitative. It considers the elements of valid and reliable research and the various approaches that can be considered in designing a research strategy. Technical skills of research in law in the UK and EU will also be covered.
You must also select a further 90 credits of taught modules for study in the first and second semesters in accordance with your interests and needs from a range of 15 and 30-credit optional modules. If you choose the International Business Law pathway, at least 30 credits must be selected from one or more of the following modules with an international business law emphasis:
- International Carriage of Goods (15 credits) - looks at bills of lading and other shipping documents, international carriage of goods conventions, including Hague Visby, Hamburg and Rotterdam Rules as well as problems of multimodal transport
- International Exploitation of Intellectual Property Rights (15 credits) - examines the nature of intellectual property (IP) law, evaluates its justifications and explores the global structure of international IP law. You will focus on: the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of IP (TRIPS) 1994; the Berne Convention; the Madrid Protocol and the European competition law that effects its exploitation. This module also investigates: the Community Design Regime, the Community Trade Mark; the national structure of copyright and patent; issues of international enforcement specific to IP; and the comparative differences in US law. You will also look at the international agreements for IP licensing and distributorship, including the impact of EU competition law upon them and review of the exploitation of image rights across all IP fields
- Private International Law (15 credits) studies domicile, jurisdiction under EU and traditional rules, choice of law and enforcement of judgments
- European E-Commerce Law (15 credits) - looks at how the internet works and the legal problems that arise from it. You will explore how contracts are formed electronically, the Brussels Regulations on Jurisdiction, the Rome Regulation on choice of law and the EU’s e-commerce regulations and directives. This module also covers e-signatures, payment for goods and services over the internet, the Distance Selling directive, the sale and supply of goods to consumers, spam, data protection, on-line market places and what to do if a transaction goes wrong
- International Arbitration (30 credits)
You must also complete a 15,000 word dissertation (60 credits) over the summer period on a topic that is relevant to an aspect of international business law. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to study an aspect of international business law that is of particular interest to you.
