Bournemouth University

What you'll study

This LLM combines core legal doctrine with practical skills in IP strategy, enforcement and commercialisation. You will explore the law governing patents, trade marks, copyright, designs and database rights, and examine their interaction with competition law, technology transfer and digital media.

• Core themes: foundations of intellectual property law; comparative and international IP frameworks; enforcement, remedies and dispute resolution.
• Typical modules: Patents and Biotechnology Law; Trade Marks and Passing Off; Copyright and the Creative Industries; Designs and Semiconductor/Database Protection; IP Enforcement and Litigation; Licensing, Commercialisation and Valuation; Digital Economy, Data and IP; Competition Law and IP.
• Skills training: advanced legal research methods, drafting licensing agreements, negotiation and mooting/simulated dispute resolution focused on IP disputes.
• Research project/dissertation: a substantial independent dissertation or a practice-based project on an IP topic of your choice, supervised by academic staff with expertise in the field.

Entry requirements

Applicants ordinarily hold a UK undergraduate law degree (LLB) with a good honours classification (typically a 2:1 or equivalent) or a non-law degree plus a postgraduate conversion in law. Professionals with substantial practical experience in IP or related fields may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English to the level required by the University; equivalents to standard academic English tests are accepted. You will also need to provide transcripts, a personal statement explaining your interest in IP law, and references. Admissions interviews may be used for some applicants.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme progress into a wide range of roles that require specialist IP knowledge and commercial awareness.

• Legal practice: aspiring solicitors and barristers specialising in IP litigation, advisory work or transactional practice.
• IP professional roles: trademark and patent attorneys (candidates with relevant technical backgrounds typically pursue patent training), licensing managers, IP portfolio managers and paralegals.
• In-house and industry: in-house counsel, rights management and legal compliance roles within technology, media, creative and pharmaceutical companies.
• Policy, research and academia: positions in government agencies, non-governmental organisations, think-tanks and further postgraduate research leading to academic posts.
• Commercial and entrepreneurial paths: IP strategy and commercialisation roles in start-ups, technology transfer offices and innovation hubs.

Why study at Bournemouth University

Bournemouth University combines applied learning with academic rigour and places emphasis on employability and industry engagement. The university attracts staff who research and practise in areas relevant to IP, and the course integrates practical activities—such as drafting, negotiation and simulated dispute resolution—to build workplace-ready skills.

Students benefit from career support services, events and networking opportunities with legal and creative sector employers, reflecting the University’s strong ties to the region’s media and technology industries. Flexible study pathways and personalised supervision for the dissertation help you tailor the programme to your career goals.