How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Corporate Responsibility and Business Law

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Part-time

Duration: 2 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Essex Law School

What responsibilities do businesses owe to society? How do national law and international law interact and what is their role in Corporate Responsibility? How do companies ensure they operate ethically? How well do organisations understand and address the urgency of sustainable development? Corporate Responsibility is a key global concern and these are all questions of necessity for businesses all over the world.

Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility are concepts which businesses – no matter their size or purpose – must value and adhere to. Our course gives you the tools to identify, analyse and evaluate the main legal rules, principles, models and dimensions of Corporate Responsibility and issues relating to ethical business, corporate and business law, corporate governance, sustainability and human rights.

You'll study topics including but not limited to:

Legal Aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility
Environmental law and policy
Human rights within business
Ethically oriented-practices such as consumer protection and labour standards
Responsibility in global value chains and institutionally challenging environments

Not only will you understand Corporate Responsibility, you'll be able to develop suitable responses and create action plans to tackle complex issues around this. Graduates will be suited to a broad range of corporate, legal, business and environmental protection roles across national and transnational non-profit and public organisations.

Essex Law School has an international reputation for teaching law that matters. We specialise in commercial law, public law and human rights law and our research is valued across the globe. Many of our academics also hold positions advising and working with the UN, the UK government and with EU and foreign governments.

We are ranked 49th for Law in THE World University Rankings by subject 2024, which is 9th in the UK, and we are 3rd in the UK for research power in law (THE research power measure, REF2021).

Why we're great.

<pWe are ranked 49th for Law in THE World University Rankings by subject 2024.
Gain experience working in our Essex Law Clinic and our Human Rights Clinic.
Join an alumni network spanning the globe, who are at the heart of the theory and practice of law and human rights.

Our expert staff

You'll be taught by international experts in the field, teaching specialised modules which will develop your skills in research, litigation and negotiating. Our internationally diverse community of staff and students gives us a breadth of cross-cultural perspectives and insights into law and justice around the world.

Prof. Onyeka Osuji previously practised in corporate and commercial law before a career change into academia. He is currently a Professor in Law and the Head of Essex Law School and his research interests lie within Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Consumer Protection, Development and Corporate Regulation. Prof. Osuji is also qualified as a barrister and solicitor of Nigeria and a (non-practising) solicitor of England and Wales and has advised individuals, corporations, and national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Professor Christopher Willett has taught, researched, published and advised in the areas of UK, EU and global consumer and contract law; commercial law; sales law; food law; digital content law; services of general interest; financial law; and unfair terms and practices law for 30 years. He also regularly conducts studies and research reports and advises on law reform for the UK government, the EU and other bodies.

Dr Stephen Turner is a Senior Lecturer in Essex Law School and has research interests in international environmental law, climate change, global environmental governance and corporate responsibility.

Dr Anil Yilmaz Vastardis is a Senior Lecturer in Essex Law School. Her main research interests lie within international investment law and business and human rights.

Dr Tara Van Ho is a Senior Lecturer in Essex Law School. She has been one of the leaders of our Essex Business and Human Rights Project, through which she advised states, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and businesses on issues of business, investment, and human rights. Her main research interests are business and human rights, investment law and human rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and transitional justice.

Dr Marios Koutsias is a qualified lawyer and member of the Thessaloniki Bar Association, Greece. He is also a Senior Lecturer in Essex Law School, specialising in EU Commercial Law. His main research interests lie within Company Law; Corporate Governance; Comparative Company Law; European Union Law and Privacy and Data Protection.

Specialist facilities

Volunteer at the Essex Law Clinic where you can work alongside practicing solicitors to offer legal advice to clients.
Participate in mooting competitions to develop your skills, particularly important if you hope to become a barrister.
Test your mediation and negotiation skills in our Client Interviewing Competition (sponsored by Birkett Long Solicitors).
Join our Model United Nations Society, which can improve your skills of argumentation, oral presentation and research.
Network at our student-run Law Society, , and Bar Society, which provides legal advice to the Commonwealth Students' Association (CSA).
Take advantage of networking opportunities throughout the year with visiting law firms.

Your future

Essex Law School graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers in international and intergovernmental organisations or employment with governments across the world, in commerce and banking, in non-governmental organisations and, as might be expected, in the legal profession and the judiciary.

During the year, we hold a careers session for our students in which we reflect upon our own careers and how they have been built as well as those from former students. We are always available to discuss career options and if you are interested in a particular area of the law, we can link you up with the relevant alumni to offer advice.

We also work with the university's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 Degree in Law or a joint honours Degree in another subject with Law.

Applicants who do not hold a Law Degree but who have at least six months of relevant professional experience, traineeships, or professional qualifications/certifications issued by professional bodies such as Bar Associations can apply and will be considered. Please provide your CV.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

Corporate Responsibility and Business Law

(15 CREDITS)

This module examines the concepts, theories and models of corporate responsibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their implications and challenges for business law and practice. It examines the role of CSR in as a business strategy and public governance tool in the context of the social and environmental impacts of business activities that suggest interesting dimensions to the role of business in society. In this module you will examine the debates and doctrines of CSR in domestic and transnational environments.The module reflects some degrees of comparative analysis and interdisciplinarity and case study exercises will also enable you to explore the approaches of different disciplines to CSR, including law, management, politics, philosophy, ethics and international relations. You will have an opportunity to discover the strengths and weaknesses of taking global, contextual and comparative approaches to CSR. This module has been designed to enable students to integrate their subject knowledge with an understanding of sustainable development, acquiring the skills and competencies essential for addressing the urgent sustainability challenges of the 21st century.

View Corporate Responsibility and Business Law on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Business and Human Rights

(15 CREDITS)

What are the human rights responsibilities of private companies? And what about public or private institutions financing projects aimed at world development? Evaluate principles regulating human rights and examine how they contrast with principles regulating multinational commercial interests. Consider real-life cases from both national and international courts.

View Business and Human Rights on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Foundation Essay

(0 CREDITS)

The Foundation Essay is a diagnostic essay intended to provide an early opportunity to engage in legal analysis and writing. It is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn and demonstrate independent learning, legal writing, research, methodologies and analysis, necessary for postgraduate study. The Foundation Essay is also a formative exercise for modules in the LLM courses. The mark for the essay does not count towards the final assessment of the degree, but it is a compulsory piece of work.

View Foundation Essay on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: CORE

Dissertation

(60 CREDITS)

You’ll undertake a dissertation of 12,000 words in length for your LLM course. This is a compulsory element of the course.

View Dissertation on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Corporate Governance: Principles and Models

(15 CREDITS)

View Corporate Governance: Principles and Models on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: OPTIONAL

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: OPTIONAL

(15 CREDITS)

Teaching

Postgraduate students in Essex Law School usually attend two-hour workshops, or a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module each week.

Taught through small-group interactive seminars that foster critical debate and analysis
Teaching is supplemented by lectures, where appropriate
Postgraduates are welcome to join the numerous guest lectures held at the School yearly

Assessment

Modules are assessed via a coursework, an examination, or a combination of the two.

Dissertation

Your dissertation is normally 12,000 words in length
You will have the freedom to select your own dissertation topic
A special dissertation module that offers guidance on topic selection and the writing process, as well as one-to-one supervision given from a member of academic staff

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£5,250 per year

International fee

£11,375 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

You will need to provide a copy of your CV with your application.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.