How long is the Advanced Diploma in International Law?

The Advanced Diploma in International Law runs for 12 to 15 months on-campus, online or by distance learning, with the international moot scheduled into an on-campus block at the end of the programme.

Can I study the Advanced Diploma in International Law fully online?

Yes. The Advanced Diploma in International Law is delivered on-campus, fully online with weekly live moots, and by distance learning, with the capstone moot completed in person at the Inns of Court.

Is the Advanced Diploma in International Law recognised in the UK?

Yes. The Advanced Diploma in International Law is a UK Level 5 qualification mapped to SRA, Bar Standards Board and CILEx standards where relevant, supporting onward SQE and BPC preparation.

What are the entry requirements for the Advanced Diploma in International Law?

A Level 4 Diploma, Foundation Year, or two years' legal or policy experience. IELTS 6.0 for non-native English speakers. The Advanced Diploma in International Law particularly welcomes prior study of law.

What does the Advanced Diploma in International Law cost and is funding available?

Tuition for the Advanced Diploma in International Law varies by route. Means-tested bursaries and merit scholarships are offered each intake — contact LSCT admissions for the current fee schedule and eligibility.

Advanced Diploma in International Law London | LSCT | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Advanced Diploma in International Law at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a 12-15 month Level 5 qualification for legal-sector professionals, paralegals and post-conversion graduates moving towards an international practice. The syllabus covers public international law, international human rights, international trade and dispute settlement, with practical drafting modules built around the work that the Inns of Court, the Government Legal Department and London's international arbitration bar actually produce.

You will draft a memorial for a mooted international tribunal, write a trade-dispute opinion under UK practice and analyse a major recent decision of the International Court of Justice. The diploma is mapped to SRA, Bar Standards Board and CILEx standards where relevant, and structured to support onward progression into the SQE and BPC.

You will study in small, tutor-visible cohorts; meet visiting professionals fortnightly; and work to deadlines that mirror professional practice in the law & social sciences sector. UK public institutions are undergoing a sustained programme of reform that touches central government, the devolved nations and the courts, and the syllabus is updated annually to reflect the most recent constitutional, regulatory and policy changes affecting practice.

Key Features

Syllabus mapped to SRA, Bar Standards Board and CILEx standards where relevant, with guest sessions from working London barristers and government lawyers.
Three study modes — on-campus in London, fully online with weekly live moots, or distance learning with structured cohort deadlines.
International moot court capstone — draft and present a memorial in a mooted ICJ-style proceeding.
UK practice module — how international law actually shows up in UK courts, government and arbitration.
WTO and trade-dispute drafting taught with current UK post-Brexit case material.
Top-up route into a Higher Diploma in International Law and Bachelor's-level study.
Doctrinal peer review — fortnightly written argument review with cohort and a named tutor across the cohort programme.

What You Will Learn

The Advanced Diploma combines doctrinal rigour with practical drafting. You will graduate able to read a treaty critically, draft a memorial, analyse a recent ICJ decision, and explain to a UK client where international law sits in their case strategy.

Public international law — sources, statehood, jurisdiction.
International human rights law — ECHR, UN treaty bodies.
International trade law — WTO, FTAs, UK post-Brexit practice.
International dispute settlement — ICJ, arbitration, ISDS.
International criminal law — ICC and hybrid tribunals.
Law of treaties — VCLT and interpretation.
UK practice of international law.
Capstone moot — memorial and oral round.
Legal research and citation at OSCOLA standard with weekly reading-list drills.
Written advocacy for tribunal and committee work — concise, structured, persuasive.

Across every module you keep a structured working portfolio of advisory notes, mooted submissions and case analyses — a single source of truth you can show at interview and continue to maintain after graduation. Programme assessment combines coursework, in-class exercises and a substantial practice-led piece of work assessed by a working senior practitioner.

Who This Course Is For

The Advanced Diploma suits learners with a legal background moving into international practice.

Paralegals and legal executives moving towards an international caseload.
International lawyers seeking UK-context international-law training in English.
Career changers from policy, diplomacy or the civil service into international legal work.
Law graduates preparing for the SQE or BPC who want an international specialism.
Returners to work re-entering legal or policy roles after a career break, with refreshed UK-context training.

Career Pathways

LSCT Advanced Diploma graduates move into international-practice roles across UK law firms, the government legal profession, NGOs and the arbitration bar. Typical destinations include:

Paralegal (international team, City firm)
Trainee Solicitor (post-conversion, international team)
Government Lawyer (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
Caseworker (human rights, refugee, immigration)
Policy Officer (international affairs, professional body)
Compliance Officer (international sanctions and trade)
Public Affairs and Government Relations Officer at a UK trade body or NGO

The Advanced Diploma in International Law is a recognised step into a Higher Diploma and Bachelor's-level study and supports SQE and BPC preparation.

LSCT careers service maintains a working contact book of UK law firms, government legal teams and policy employers, hosts at least one industry-careers day per academic year and offers structured one-to-one application support during your final stage. Many graduates also build long-term professional networks through the Inns of Court, the Bar Council and Political Studies Association events that LSCT students are encouraged to attend.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of professional experience in a legal, policy or international-relations role — prior study of law is particularly welcome for the Advanced Diploma in International Law.
GCSE English Language at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
English language: IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short statement of intent and one academic or professional reference.
Applicants with prior legal study, policy or paralegal experience are particularly encouraged to mention these on the application form for the programme.

Why Study at LSCT

The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom. For international law students, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Inns of Court at Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, and the international arbitration centres around Fleet Street are part of your weekly study route.

Our law and social sciences students complete observation weeks at Westminster, the Royal Courts of Justice and council scrutiny meetings as part of the assessed coursework. Students also benefit from our partnership with Harold International College of London, with shared library access, careers-service connections and the option to take a small number of elective modules across the wider Harold International programme catalogue subject to availability.

Whichever study mode you select, you will join a single, intake-aligned cohort with weekly tutor visibility, a named programme tutor for the duration of your studies, an institutional access plan offering peer support and structured careers advice, and the full library and online-resource subscription package of Harold International College of London. Many students travel to London for two short on-campus residentials per academic year — these are optional for online learners but supported by LSCT for students who can attend.

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