LLM International Commercial and Technology Law

Our online LLM is designed for legal professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve in the fast-paced world of digital commerce and boost their career prospects in areas like online privacy, intellectual property, and AI law.

Whether you're a lawyer, compliance officer, civil servant, or researcher, this programme will equip you with the expertise to navigate the complex legal landscape.

Developed by the scholars of the Manchester Law Department, known for their expertise in international law, this programme fosters valuable connections with legal professionals and international experts.

If you’re a busy professional, keen to excel in your career, this online course gives you the flexibility to take the next steps while you continue to work, the know-how to think differently as you face new challenges, and the international connections to build sophisticated understanding of the global context.

During the course, you will:

• Develop an understanding of some of the emerging topics and prevalent themes in business organisations' law with a focus on technology such as AI, blockchain and securities tokens offering to provide students with a strong foundation in the legal regulation of business organisations.
• Understand the background and content of online privacy, defamation & data protection law, whilst developing an awareness of contemporary issues in the area.
• Develop the ability to identify and explore the fundamental principles of financial regulation relating to financial markets and financial technologies.
• Grow an understanding of the current challenges posed to the development and enforcement of intellectual property law by emerging technologies.
• Enhance the ability to recognise and implement different research practices, including formulating research questions, critically appraising the current scholarship, choosing appropriate research methods, planning individual project outlines, practising research ethics, and communicating the research results via a recorded video presentation that includes a poster or a set of slides.

Corporations, Technology and Law

Get to grips with key topics and themes in business organisations' law, and understand their implications. Gain a full appreciation of the legal nature of business organisations, the role of technology within them, and the related legal and regulatory issues. Learn how to effectively identify pertinent challenges, understand the technological impact, and evaluate and assess various options from a theoretical and practical standpoint.

Critically evaluate how companies and company law are affected by technology, and delve deeper into the principal features of company law, as well as blockchain technology and AI law. Build specialist skills to comprehensively identify, explain, assess and analyse the issues covered, and learn how to apply relevant legal rules and theories.

Online Privacy, Defamation and Data Protection Law

The rise of social media, cloud computing and widely-available internet-enabled devices, have made the world increasingly digital and connected. Examine one’s ability to control personal information online in the World Wide Web context. Consider various legal instruments and jurisdictions, including English privacy and defamation law, famously influenced by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as supranational pieces of legislation on data protection law, such as the GDPR.

Explore to what extent should individual autonomy and dignity be protected online as opposed to the pivotal importance of freedom of expression, and build your critical reflection and evaluative research skills.

Financial Law and FinTech Law

Identify and explore the fundamental principles of financial regulation relating to financial institutions, investment contracts, and financial technologies (FinTechs). Learn about various regulatory initiatives for technologies such as blockchain, AI and big data in the financial market, and cover regulatory fields including the conduct of business, financial promotion and investor protection, market abuse, financial crime and data governance.

Analyse the legal, regulatory and policy issues associated with cryptocurrencies, initial coin offerings, online lending, new payments and wealth management technologies. Consider the evolving relationship between FinTechs, regulators and traditional financial institutions, and scrutinise liabilities.

Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Ecosystem

The internet posed new threats regarding privacy, access and intellectual property, which prompted the development of technical solutions to restrict copying and unauthorised access. At the same time, policymakers were persuaded that such copyright protection mechanisms needed legal protection against circumvention. Examine the legal and technological framework that emerged from this situation to protect digital intellectual property.

Project

Write and research a supervised dissertation project.

Your dissertation project involves:

• A 700-word research plan (10%)
• An 8,000-word supervised individual research project (dissertation/research paper submitted in September (60%), and
• A 10-minute recorded video presentation with a poster or PowerPoint slides (30%).

• Explore the legal context, risks and opportunities arising from the digital revolution.
• Get to grips with the principles and rules of commercial and tech law, and understand related legal systems.
• Cover a range of contemporary issues surrounding technology and commerce, including fintech, AI, big data, cryptocurrency, intellectual property and cyberspace.
• Evaluate different approaches to regulation and legislation to address new challenges collaboratively, in a global context.
• Gain a broad understanding of commerce and tech, and a nuanced appreciation of the role of law for a safe and effective digital future.

• As the commerce world goes digital, specialised skills will become indispensable, putting you in a prime position for promotion or a higher-level role elsewhere.
• Teaching informed by the latest research will guarantee up-to-the-minute knowledge, and encourage leading-edge thinking and debate.
• Sharpened problem-solving skills and fine-tuned critical thinking will prepare you to address new challenges and shape new approaches.
• The relevance and breadth of the issues covered will help you understand the big picture, enabling you to transfer your skills and adapt to an inevitably changing landscape.
• Build relationships with academics and professionals across the world to create a global network that opens up exciting new opportunities.

Delivery - 100% online learning

Duration - 24 months, part-time

Academic teaching start date - 15 September 2025

Application deadline - 1 September 2025

Workload - Approximately 20 hours per week

Teaching and learning

This course is entirely online, with a combination of delivery methods so you can work at your own pace and have a balance of real-life interaction with peers and academics.

A range of interactive material is available through your online virtual learning environment (VLE), including recorded videos, downloadable documents, graphics and discussion boards which you can access whenever you need, and can go back to again and again. Like all University students, you’ll have access to our extensive library services, including e-books and journals about commercial and technology law.

You’ll also benefit from live lectures and seminars delivered online where you can interact with fellow students and ask your course leaders questions in real-time.

At this level, we’ll expect you to manage your own time and work independently to complete set tasks, reading assignments, research and revision.

Throughout your course, you’ll have a dedicated Study Support Advisor who can help with course-related questions, and support you with the VLE.

The welcome event and induction take place one week before the academic teaching start date. Our admissions team will confirm your induction date closer to the time.

Please ensure that you complete your registration ahead of your chosen entry date to gain access to the online learning material and library services.