International Business Law
The LL.M. programme International Business Law covers the legal aspects of international trade and commerce. It is exclusively focused on international commercial law.
Application deadline
non-EEA
1 July 2025
Application deadline
EEA
1 August 2025
Application deadline
Dutch students
20 August 2025
Starting
date
1 September 2025
Why choose International Business Law?
International Business Law covers the legal aspects of international trade and commerce. It is exclusively focused on international commercial law. From the laws regarding the sale and distribution of goods or services to payment and security mechanisms, the rules on the carriage of goods, insurance law and intellectual property rights, the master in international business law covers it all! Because of its encompassing character this LL.M. programme provides you with a comprehensive overview of the legal aspects of international trade.
Offers you an encompassing view on international trade and commerce.
You are educated by excellent teaching staff
We offer small-scale education in an international classroom
You study in one of the leading commercial centers and largest ports of Europe
The master in numbers
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Programme overview
This LL.M. programme offers you an encompassing view on international trade and commerce. In contrast to similar programmes, the focus lies exclusively with the commercial law side of matters and does not go into regulatory or public law aspects. You are educated by excellent teaching staff. They have both a solid (international) academic background as well as a wealth of experience in the commercial and legal practice.
Commercial contracts and trade financing
After the Research & Writing Skills module, you will study commercial contracts. The start of commercial transactions is often a contract for the purchase of goods or services, but there are also important ancillary contracts, e.g. commercial agency contracts, distribution agreements, licensing or franchising agreements, etc. These agreements are studied in the Commercial Contracts course. The goods or services purchased obviously also need to be paid. In an international setting, payment and security for payment are not always simple. The Trade Finance Law course looks into the legal aspects of these issues.
Risks, insurance, transportation and intellectual property rights
Parties involved in business transactions will often enter into insurance contracts in order to cover their risks and liability. You will learn how these risks can be allocated and how they may be averted or minimized for example through insurance contracts. Also, purchased goods usually need to be transported. You will study contracts of carriage, transport documents and related documents, and the liabilities of the carrier and the shipper. Finally, manufacturers need to protect their products against unauthorized copying. In the Intellectual Property Law course you will learn to understand both the business rationale and the legal structure of IPL protection. You will also become familiar with the practical implications (and possibilities) of the law.
The Master International Business Law distinguishes itself from other LL.M. programmes in business or trade law by its exclusive focus on the commercial law perspective. The courses deal with the way the parties themselves structure their commercial interactions. Company law, regulatory- and public law aspects are left aside.
Throughout the master programme aspects of international trade law are considered from a comparative law perspective. Particular attention is paid to differences in approach and outcome between civil law jurisdictions and common law jurisdictions and by reference to the relevant standards in international trade law.
Based in the port of Rotterdam, this programme educates legal professionals that are to become well versed in international trade law. Due to its position in the centre of a large trade hub the programme is able to offer students many opportunities for exploration of trade in practice by combining the theory that is taught with on-site workshops.
- Block 1
Research and Writing Skills International Business Law - Block 2
Commercial Contracts
Intellectual Property Law - Block 3
Trade Finance (& Banking) Law - Block 4
Free Elective
Insurance Law - Block 5
Carriage of Goods
Extra elective: Capita Selecta Trademark Law
Master Thesis International Business Law
For more information, please visit the general education website of Internation Business Law.
Studying in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a city full of surprises. Without tips from a Rotterdam native, it’s hard to find the best spots. We will help you on your way. Read more about student city Rotterdam, see tips for finding the nicest study spots on campus and which student associations there are to enrich your student life. Read more about studying at Campus Woudestein here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer some recurring questions about the master International Business Law. Is your question not listed here? Then please contact us!
- For questions about the program, please contact the master’s coordinator at mastercl@law.eur.nl
- For all admission related questions, please contact Andre van der Schee at informationdesk.llm@law.eur.nl
For the admission requirements we kindly refer you to our admissions page for the most relevant information to your situation.
As a graduate, you will have in-depth and comparative law knowledge of the legal aspects surrounding an international commercial transaction. Graduates will find job opportunities as in-house lawyers at companies that are internationally active, trading houses, banks or insurance companies. They will be attractive candidates for commercial law firms and for any authority or government body that deals with international trade and commerce. Positions of our graduates:
- Lawyer or attorney in the legal practice;
- Business lawyer or legal adviser at (international) companies, trading houses, banks or insurance companies;
- Civil servant, for example at the European Commission;
- Academic teacher or researcher.
The exact tuition fees that apply to your situation can be found on the facts and figures page.
This LL.M. programme is a specialisation of the LL.M. in Commercial Law. As a result, you select Commercial Law in the application process. You will find all the relevant information on how that works on the application page.
- Voor studenten die de Bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid bij ESL hebben afgerond geldt dat ze met deze master Civiel Effect behalen.
- Heb je Bachelor Rechtsgeleerdheid gevolgd bij een ander faculteit in Nederland, dan raden we je aan om contact op te nemen met de studieadviseur. Het is afhankelijk van de vakken die je in de bachelor hebt gevolgd of je Civiel Effect kan behalen.
Looking for all the details in one place? Download the brochure for the master International Business Law!