Organisations and managers have to adapt, change and evolve to meet the conflicting, competing and complex business related environmental change factors, whose rate of change is developing at an exponential rate. Irresistible influences fromNational, International and Global Macro. Micro and Operating environments are shaping and influencing contemporary management theories and practice. Today’s managers must equip themselves with new skills and knowledge in order to interact with and respond to the emerging challenges that change brings and where appropriate take the required corrective action. Business leaders are required to develop higher level management skills, especially critical evaluation and decision making within National, International and Global contexts, when needing to respond effectively to the challenges within theseconstantly changing operating environments This module provides professional managers with an opportunity to consider eflect and critically appraise a range of current contemporary management issues, including developing International lenses of reference from a theoretical and practical application whilst relating these factors to the art of management. The course content will provide a framework to assess how these issues impact within organisations and how managers are able to reactto these issues. The module will develop your critical appreciation of the challenges faced by management professionals in developing responses to business environment conditions which are complex, dynamic and diverse. You'll engage with contemporary issues in context with associated links to organisational strategy and management approaches and systems related to information, networks and collaborations as well as organisational learning.In achieving its overall objectives, You'll be encouraged to further develop, engage, evaluate and critique your contemporary understanding with a view to the realities of practice and organisations. You'll consider interactions, theories and frameworks that explain contemporary issues and ground this in organisational and individual contexts. It is widely accepted that such issues are crucial to the viability of organisations across all sectors and contexts and the creation of value (however defined).
View the full module definitionThis module provides an analytical framework within which international trade transactions take place across differing jurisdictions. There is consideration of international sales contracts, carriage of goods by sea and financing of international trade. The legal and commercial rules governing specific trade contracts and accompanying documentation will be examined in the context of English common law, as well as in the context of international rules and conventions concerning international trade. The different methods of financing international trade will also be considered. There is also analysis of the rights and duties of carriers of goods. You will have the opportunity to develop the application of these rules through practical problem solving, demonstrating your ability to apply your knowledge and understanding of your discipline in an original and creative way. You will also be expected to evaluate and critically analyse current legal doctrine and demonstrate advanced legal scholarship. Throughout the module you'll be exposed to and be expected to contribute to a range of skills building activities that underpin your employability. These range from the development of team working activities, communication skills both written and verbal, logical reasoning and the ability to undertake independent research. Criticality is introduced immediately within the module and will be sustained through both formative and summative assessment. The module contributes particularly to complex and creative problem-solving skills and the ability to engage in systematic, conceptual and critical analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary source materials. This module is especially relevant to all students attracted to business, professional or commercial careers, as well as students hoping to work as commercial lawyers.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll examine and critically reflect on the choices businesses need to make about the methods of resolving commercial disputes. This module examines various methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) with particular focus on international commercial arbitration as this is the most popular method of dispute resolution in the international context. The module will address the main procedural and substantial topics related to international commercial arbitration demonstrating the advantages and disadvantages of such methods of dispute resolution. In particular, it will guide you through the main steps of arbitral proceedings, from the arbitral agreement to the recognition and enforcement of the arbitral award. The study of international commercial arbitration will be done by comparison and applicability of the diverse rules and laws from several jurisdictions in order to analyse difference approaches in developed and developing countries. This will also help you to critically examine the reasons why international commercial arbitration is so popular. This module combines theory and practical application relevant to international legal practice and business. You'll role play within alternative dispute resolution scenarios to develop and enhance your team working, negotiation, strategic thinking and employability skills.
View the full module definitionInternational business strategy evaluation and formulation are crucial tasks within all organisations, requiring the analysis of complex information. This module aims to broaden and deepen your understanding of critical and strategic issues and activities in international business. It introduces the tools, theories, and concepts of international business strategy for multinational enterprises (MNEs). Through this module you'll develop an understanding of firms' internal and external environments, critically assessing their strategies and proposing and evaluating strategic options. By learning how to analyse international firm strategy, you'll gain insight into how firms strive to achieve and maintain competitive advantage and what distinguishes successful companies. Additionally, this module aims to develop skills in interpreting and analysing complex real-world issues using theoretical perspectives, concepts, models, and data. The emphasis is on using theory to inform practice and address real-world problems.
View the full module definitionThis module will provide you with a critical knowledge and understanding of research skills, methods and methodology, including surveys, questionnaires, statistical analysis, interviews, in addition to bibliographical research methods in law. This module includes hands-on training on how to access reliable materials both through the University library and from other reliable sources and databases. Further, this module will discuss learning and teaching styles; academic expectations and learning strategies. This is particularly important for students with a multitude of prior learning experiences. Teaching is informed by active learning pedagogies and organised via practical workshops, hands-on library sessions and E-learning, all providing grounding in the various research methods and techniques. The workshops will focus upon selected topics in of International Business and Commercial Law, to which you are required to analyse and apply appropriate methodological skills. The module contributes particularly to research and analytical and critical thinking skills, which are transferable skills highly valued by employers. Understanding of advantages and disadvantages of legal research methods will be beneficial not only when designing and writing Postgraduate Major Project (LLM dissertation), but also when you carry out research in future career or business planning. This module will develop your cultural awareness when conducting research, including how to identify and address research ethics considerations (and follow the relevant procedures) for their Postgraduate Major Project (LLM dissertation), as required by the University and international research associations and societies. During the module, you will be able to build and enhance social networks and relations with their peers, tutors and law librarians. This will be done via designated class team working activities, tasks to enhance your face-to-face and digital professional oral and written communication skills, and when researching the leading scholars for your Postgraduate Major Project (LLM dissertation).
View the full module definitionThis module introduces you to the political, economic, cultural, social, legal and other regulatory mechanisms which govern the activities of corporations. You will consider issues relating to the management of corporations and how to control the activities of management to ensure that the business is run for the benefit of stakeholders and not only for the benefit of the management. This module enables you to engage in an examination and critical evaluation of corporate governance in a global context. You will trace the development of corporate governance and critically consider the theories underpinning corporate governance and how those theories are manifested in practice. You will look at corporate governance practice from various parts of the world. In addition, the nature, scope and effect of corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability will be examined as well as attempts to codify principles of corporate social responsibility at international law. The module will adopt a theoretical and problem-based approach so that you will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate mastery of the subject.
View the full module definitionThe Postgraduate Major Project in Law represents the culmination of your master’s degree and provides an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of independent research within your chosen area of law. Working under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you'll identify a focused research question or problem and design a project that demonstrates originality, critical engagement, and advanced understanding of legal principles, theories, and methodologies. This module enables you to apply and extend the knowledge and skills developed throughout your course, integrating legal reasoning with wider contextual, ethical, and policy considerations. At this level of study, your dissertation is expected to combine theoretical, practical, and policy-oriented dimensions of research. You'll engage critically with existing scholarship and legal principles (theoretical), apply your analysis to professional or real-world contexts (practice-based), and evaluate or propose developments in law, regulation, or governance (policy-oriented). This integrated approach reflects the expectations of advanced postgraduate research, ensuring your project demonstrates rigorous analysis, methodological robustness, and critical insight while evidencing both academic rigour and professional relevance. You'll plan, conduct, and present your research, engaging critically with relevant literature and data, and communicating your findings with clarity, authority, and scholarly precision. The module develops your autonomy, intellectual independence, and reflective awareness, providing a strong foundation for professional, academic, or research-based career progression.
View the full module definitionEntering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You'll be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you'll explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where you collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You'll proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.
View the full module definitionThis module will enable you to develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of the major areas of international intellectual property law including key concepts and principles and such detailed rules as are necessary to illustrate those broad principles as they apply in particular situations. This study will enable you to gain a sound knowledge and understanding of the law relating to information, intellectual property and social media, to suggest solutions to factual problems and apply this knowledge and understanding to the critical analysis of contemporary business and social issues relating to the law of information, intellectual property and social media. Throughout the module, you’ll discuss, apply and evaluate the law as it operates in business and society, developing a wide range of legal skills including those directly linked to employability and in particular employers producing, using and processing personal data information and those initiating or using social media, patents, trademarks and copyright material.
In this module, you'll examine the legal, ethical, and regulatory principles that govern data protection, digital technologies, and privacy in a global context. You'll explore how law responds to technological innovation, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and the growing economic and societal value of data. You'll analyse key legal frameworks such as the UK GDPR and international instruments, alongside comparative approaches in other jurisdictions. The module considers emerging norms relating to cross-border data flows, digital governance, cybersecurity, and the intersection of privacy, human rights, and commercial interests. Through case studies and current debates, you'll critically evaluate how law, ethics, and governance interact to manage risks and promote accountability in the digital environment. By the end of the module, you'll be able to apply complex legal principles to contemporary issues involving data processing, surveillance, algorithmic decision-making, and privacy protection in a connected world.
View the full module definitionKnowledge of the legal regulation of competition is a key tool for anyone involved in businesses operating in a global context. The aim of this module is to examine the purposes and theory of competition law and its relationship to economics, including comparison between EU and US antitrust law. A substantial component of the module considers the extent to which the law operates to regulate the market behaviour of businesses. This is put in the context of the growing internationalisation of competition law. Increasingly, businesses are operating internationally, making cooperation between competition authorities essential. A number of case studies with an international dimension will be included. An examination of EU competition law will provide a practical understanding of the framework of competition law and its enforcement. Not only is Europe a major global market, but EU competition law reaches beyond Europe and may act to prohibit activities (such as mergers between undertakings) which take place outside the EU. Consideration is given to the impact of the law on business practices such as cartels, abuse of a dominant position, distribution agreements, joint ventures and mergers.
View the full module definitionIn this module, you'll explore the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern banking and financial services in national and international contexts. You'll examine the structure and operation of financial markets and institutions, the legal relationships between banks, clients, and regulators, and the mechanisms that promote financial stability and consumer protection. You'll analyse key areas of banking and finance law, including regulation and supervision, lending and security, financial instruments, and the prevention of financial crime. The module will also consider the impact of global financial crises, technological innovation, and emerging regulatory trends such as sustainable finance and fintech. By the end of the module, you'll be able to critically evaluate the principles, policies, and legal mechanisms that shape banking and finance regulation, and apply this understanding to complex commercial and regulatory scenarios in an international financial environment.
View the full module definitionIn this module, you'll examine the legal, ethical, and regulatory challenges presented by the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). You'll explore how AI is transforming decision-making, governance, and accountability across sectors, and assess the adequacy of existing legal frameworks in responding to these changes. You'll engage with international and regional approaches to AI regulation, including emerging frameworks in the UK, the European Union, and beyond. Ethical issues such as bias, transparency, discrimination, privacy, and human rights will be central to your analysis. The module will also consider the responsibilities of states, corporations, and developers in designing and deploying AI systems responsibly. By the end of the module, you'll be able to critically evaluate the complex interactions between technology, law, and ethics, and apply your understanding to the governance of AI in contemporary and future contexts.
View the full module definitionManagement decision making is a complex subject involving many variable factors. The primary objective of this module is to provide a conceptual and analytical framework for looking at organisations operating in capital, financial and operational markets. You'll explore the financial element contained in decisions and the techniques that may be used to assist informed management decisions. You start by considering the availability of financial information that may be relevant to decision making and whether this fits with the information you need to make the decision. This is further developed to the type of decision and differing requirements, leading to a more bespoke deliverable information set that meets the context of the decision. You'll gain an appreciation of core themes prevalent throughout financial management. The module also explores the financial techniques developed by financial and management accountants and how they may be used and applied. Finally, consideration is given to the relevance and weighting of the financial element in the decision-making process and how qualitative issues may be incorporated in the overall decision.
View the full module definitionThis module offers a comprehensive exploration of how organisations can strategically manage technology and innovation to foster competitive advantage and drive market success. You'll gain practical skills in problem discovery, identifying technological opportunities, and creating customer-centric solutions. The course emphasises the development of sustainable strategies for commercialising technology, with key areas of focus including technological disruption, standards battle, platform competition, technology transfer, and market adoption. You'll also build hands-on expertise in intellectual property (IP) management and collaboration strategies, equipping yourself to protect innovations and sustain competitive advantages. Additionally, this module emphasises leadership in managing cross-functional innovation teams, with a focus on agile leadership and navigating the challenges of sustainable technology and organisational change. Through a combination of key frameworks, real-world case studies, and practical activities, you'll develop the skills to analyse and apply strategies for managing innovation in complex, competitive environments. This module ensures that you leave with practical tools for implementing innovation strategies, managing new product development (NPD) processes, and leading technological change in today's fast-paced industries.
View the full module definitionYou'll investigate and critically evaluate historical and contemporary approaches to leadership theory, focusing especially on leadership at junior to middle management level. Classical theories of leadership will be examined including traits theory, behavioural theories and contingency theories. Some contemporary theories will include issues such as emotional intelligence, psychodynamics and leader-led relations. There will be a strong emphasis on applying the theory to your own personal leadership with a view to enhancing leadership performance in preparation for middle management roles within the organisation. Management of change will be another key emphasis, including organisational politics & power, change theories and the implementation of the change process. Issues for consideration will include the organisational context of change, resistance to change and practical management of the change process.
View the full module definitionWithin this module you'll explore the fields of management and strategy, noting how strategic analysis and formulation contribute to an organisation’s performance. You'll explore practically relevant ideas and frameworks that facilitate strategy design and implementation, dealing with the craft of strategy, identifying and choosing superior competitive positions, how to analyse strategic situations and how to create the organisational context to make the chosen strategy work. Practical and problem-oriented, this module places emphasis on the application of concepts and exploration of frameworks to assist you in analysing and gaining insight into competitive situations and strategic dilemmas. You'll also explore the fields of management and strategy, noting how strategic analysis and formulation contribute to an organisation’s performance.
View the full module definition