The LL.M, focused on international business law, combines preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) with BARBRI, a leading provider of professional training, offering a dual Franco-British legal qualification.
The Dauphine London LL.M is a unique offering, at the intersection of the French academic tradition and common law professional legal training, with no direct equivalent amongst LL.M programmes currently offered.
Teaching for the LL.M will be delivered in English by leading international and UK academics from the London Campus of Université Paris Dauphine-PSL as well as visiting professors from the UK’s leading law schools. The specialisation in international business law is a flagship discipline at Dauphine, and the LL.M programme will include modules such as comparative commercial contracts, international commercial dispute resolution, financial market regulation, international business law and competition law.
Please note that the LL.M is awarded by Université Paris Dauphine-PSL and is thus a French diploma rather than a UK awarded degree.
Course Structure
The LL.M in International Business Law is structured over two semesters lasting an entire academic year, with each semester worth 30 ECTS credits, making a total of 60 ECTS credits for the full year. All teaching is delivered in English.
The programme is designed to combine in-depth academic training in international business law with preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Passing the SQE is one of the requirements for admission as a solicitor in England and Wales, alongside qualifying work experience (Qualifying Work Experience).
The SQE is divided into two distinct stages:
- SQE1, which aims to assess fundamental legal knowledge (Functioning Legal Knowledge) through standardised multiple-choice questions, covering a wide range of subjects (including contract law, tort law, business law, property law and criminal law);
- SQE2, which assesses practical skills required to practise as a solicitor (legal writing, drafting, advocacy, interviewing & case analysis) in simulated professional situations.
In this context, the inclusion of preparatory modules for the SQE within the LL.M. programme aims to provide students with structured teaching for this professional qualification, whilst enhancing their employability in international legal environments.
The allocation of credits and modules for the programme is organised as follows:
- Semester 1 focuses on core modules linked to preparation for SQE1 ;
- Semester 2 offers specialised and practice-oriented modules, including SQE2-related aspects.
Semester 1
The first semester is devoted to the fundamentals of business law and comparative analysis, enabling students to acquire a solid foundation in the common law. It also includes preparation for SQE 1, the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
In this context, the teaching during Semester 1 aims to provide students with the substantive and methodological foundations necessary to sit the SQE 1 successfully.
| Subjects | ECTs | Number of hours |
| Introduction to common law | 10 | 66 |
| Comparative Commercial Contracts | 4 | 24 |
| Business Law | 4 | 24 |
| Comparative Torts | 2 | 18 |
| SQE1 Preparation | 20 | 200 |
Semester 2
The second semester focuses on specialised, practice-oriented modules in international business law, providing students with an in-depth understanding of key areas of contemporary legal practice. Students explore International Business Law, International Commercial Dispute Resolution, and Financial Markets Regulation, developing both advanced legal knowledge and the analytical skills needed to address complex cross-border commercial and regulatory challenges. It also includes preparation for the SQE2.
| Subjects | ECTs | Number of hours |
| Specialised courses | 15 | 108 |
| International Business Law | 4 | 24 |
| International Arbitration | 2 | 18 |
| Competition Law: EU and the UK | 4 | 24 |
| International Commercial Dispute Resolution | 3 | 24 |
| Financial Markets Regulation | 2 | 18 |
| SQE2 Preparation | 15 | 150 |
Please note that if you are not a UK resident and do not hold a settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you will need a student visa to be able to study in the UK with us for more than 6 months. For the latest information about it, please consult our student visas page.
Teaching Approach
The programme adopts a comparative and international approach to international business law, aiming to bridge the traditions of civil law and common law. It combines academic teaching with a professional focus, notably through its integration with preparation for the SQE, in order to enhance students’ employability in British and international legal environments.
The academic modules will be accompanied by professional-focussed activites such as law clinics, interational moots, law firm & court visits, and conferences given by speakers from the London legal world.
Preparation for the SQE will be organised via a dedicated learning platform, operated by the specialist provider BARBRI. As part of this, students will have access to structured online learning materials (lectures, interactive resources, practical exercises and assessments), specifically designed to prepare them for the SQE1 and SQE2 exams. This learning approach is based on supervised independent study, allowing students to progress at their own pace whilst following a clearly defined learning pathway.
The academic calendar is structured to enable students to sit the SQE1 exam in January and the SQE2 exam during the summer session (usually between July and August).