MA in International Commercial Law
Overview
The field of International Commercial Law (ICL) is one of the academic areas that yet remains underdeveloped not in KRI alone, but even in Iraq. Therefore, the KRI will greatly benefit from professional development in the field of commercial law through the engagement of its academic institutions, as this step will contribute to strengthening its economic ties with other governments, international business organisations, and institutions. It is for this reason that the University takes an active role in leading from this angle, and offers postgraduate programme in ICL.
In its broadest sense, the field of international commercial law encompasses a wide range of topics. It begins with international commercial contracts, trade law, investment law, corporate governance, the role of the World Trade Organisation, international commercial arbitration, e-commerce, comparative business law, human rights, international law, and economic migration, carriage of goods by sea, governance of the global digital economy, international and comparative company law, international business and human rights, transnational corporate finance law among other topics. Since postgraduate curricula are unable to cover all of these topics, academic institutions only offer a selected number of these courses based on the institution’s goals, market demands, national needs …etc.
Accordingly, the MA in International Commercial Law offered by UKH is especially designed to get students ready for the current circumstances and fill professional needs in Iraq and the KRI, as well as other countries in general. It focuses on developing students’ intellectual ability by providing an intensive and interrelated curriculum relevant to commercial law concepts, which help them gain a broad understanding of how these concepts can be applied to various real-world issues. A unique aspect of this programme is the ability for students to specialise in international business and investment law.
Admission Requirements
- Undergraduate Degree: a related field with an overall average of 60% or above.
- nglish Language Proficiency: Minimum English Language requirement is 58 in PTE – 6.5 in IELTS or 86 in TOEFL iBT or 105 in Duolingo.
- Completion of an undergraduate degree from a recognised university at the Bachelor level (or equivalent) in law, OR a. The University accepts any other relevant field provided that such field has its major in law (subject to the school’s assessment and approval). b. The degree and transcript must be equalised according to the KRI or Iraqi rules and regulations.
- For students who have graduated from international institutions: The degree and transcript must be equalised according to the KRI or Iraqi rules and regulations.
- References: Two references which indicate capacity to undertake postgraduate studies, at least one of which will be from an academic who has taught the applicant.
- Note! Applicants dismissed for any reason from any university, school or college will not be considered.
- Application Form: Online application form is required.
- Official Transcripts: a copy of the applicant’s undergraduate transcript along with the application.
- A copy of your Passport and national ID.
Curriculum
Modules Offered for Semester I
There are four modules offered in Semester I, each module weighs 15 credits, as follows:
- Legal Research Methodology
This course has been designed with the aim to provide the groundwork for some of the basic ideas in thinking about legal research methods.
- Economic Migration & Labour Law
This module will introduce students to the economics of immigration; how and why people decide to migrate; what the impacts of migration are on labour markets, public services, and other aspects of the countries to which they move; and what drives public attitudes and political decisions on immigration management and control.
- World Trade and Global Economic System
This module is offered as one of the foundational subjects to help postgraduate students understand how the modern world trade and global economic system functions. This module is the first step towards a more thorough understanding of international commercial law.
- International Commercial Contracts
International commercial contracts is offered to the students with the aim of providing an in-depth understanding how commercial contracts at the international level are established, executed, and enforced, including the laws and principles that govern the contracts, as well as the structures and methods for resolving disputes and enforcing dispute decisions.
Modules Offered for Semester II
There are four modules offered in Semester II, each module weighs 15 credits, as follows:
- International Commercial Arbitration
Upon taking this module, students will gain knowledge and expertise regarding the arbitration procedure for conflicts resulting from international commercial contracts. It also focuses on how arbitration can be used as a dispute resolution process, how Iraq’s regulatory framework differs from other countries, and the types and essential characteristics of international commercial arbitration, as well as the relationship between arbitration and national judicial systems.
- International Environmental Law
This module is offered to understand the key legal concepts in environmental law, the effective management, and regulation of the use and consumption of environmental goods and natural resources, which is a global concern as it is vital to sustainable development and energy justice. In addition, students will discuss elements of environmental protection and sustainable development, examine global environmental law and regulation, and examine key stakeholders in environmental protection, including the judiciary, corporations, and transnational environmental lawsuits.
- International Intellectual Property Law
This module, as it is known, focusses on international standards for intellectual property and how they are used, applied, and managed in various national contexts. It also covers the international enforcement of copyrights, patents, and trademarks. This module also covers the differences and similarities between the different national IP laws, mainly in Iraq and the UK. Students will learn about the evolution of national, regional, and international intellectual property laws as a supplemental subject for the international commercial law programme. Particular topics covered will include the protection of individuals, trademarks, and copyrighted works.
- Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Contracts
Modern commercial contracts have seen developments and are written in clearer English than they were decades ago, yet the complexity of particular provisions and contract lengths has increased. The increased pressure to conclude contracts and reduce the number of procedures and people involved makes it even more difficult to construct a well-written and logically clear one. That is why commercial contract drafters must be updated, trained, and provided with well-drafted templates, processes, and rules. In this context, this module, as a practical course, is intended to provide students and legal professionals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and proficiency in drafting international commercial contracts, with a practical understanding of the drafting and negotiation of international commercial contracts in the modern era.
In Semester III and IV, i.e. during the academic year 2025-2026, students will write graduation dissertation which weighs 60 Credits.
Skills Development
1) The key aim of this degree scheme is to produce high quality graduates who are able to think critically and creatively and are able to apply their acquired knowledge to the developmental challenges of the region and beyond.
2) Graduates learn the fundamentals of international commercial law.
3) Graduates develop a deeper understanding of how international legal frameworks are used to address specific issues and problems facing international businesses today.
4) Graduates become familiar with the various regional economic blocs and their legal frameworks for business and commerce.
5) Graduates gain more insight into current legal developments and scholarly discussions.