How long does the Diploma in International Law take?

The Diploma in International Law runs 9 to 12 months at UK Level 4. The Diploma in International Law uses the same weekly seminar timetable across all three study modes.

How is the Diploma in International Law delivered?

The Diploma in International Law is available on-campus in central London, online in live seminars, and by distance learning with recorded seminars and named tutor contact.

Is the Diploma in International Law recognised in the UK?

Yes. The Diploma in International Law is a UK Level 4 award aligned with IBA and CIArb coverage of public international law, articulating into the LSLPE Higher Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

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

A Level 3 qualification or an LSLPE Certificate, GCSE English and Maths at 4/C, and IELTS 5.5 for non-native English speakers, to join the Diploma in International Law.

What are the fees and funding options for the Diploma in International Law?

Fees for the Diploma in International Law vary by mode and intake. LSLPE admissions publishes the current schedule and can arrange instalment options and employer sponsorship.

Diploma in International Law | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Diploma in International Law at LSLPE is a UK Level 4 practitioner qualification running 9 to 12 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. Content is calibrated to the way public international law is actually invoked: treaty and custom as sources, state responsibility, jurisdiction, immunity, use of force, human rights and the interaction between the international legal order and the UK's domestic law.

By graduation you are drafting structured international law memos, reading International Court of Justice judgments and arbitral awards with confidence, arguing state responsibility and jurisdiction points in seminar, and completing a small guided research task that prepares you for the Advanced Diploma or Higher Diploma.

Key Features

Content aligned with International Bar Association (IBA) coverage of public international law.
Themes aligned with Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) coverage of state-to-state and mixed disputes.
Aligned with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Bar Standards Board (BSB) foundation coverage.
Three intake windows a year with admissions responding within one working day.
Structured articulation into LSLPE's Advanced Diploma and Higher Diploma in law or international relations.
Distance and online cohorts share the same weekly seminar timetable as on-campus students.

What You Will Learn

Sources of international law: treaty, custom, general principles, judicial decisions.
Statehood, recognition and self-determination.
Jurisdiction and immunity.
State responsibility and the law of countermeasures.
Use of force and jus in bello.
International human rights and the UN treaty system.
The interaction between international law and domestic UK law.
Argument structure for an international law audience.

Who This Course Is For

Certificate graduates progressing into practitioner international law work.
Paralegals in firms with international caseloads.
International applicants seeking a UK Level 4 international law credential.
Policy officers in FCDO, embassies and NGOs.
Career changers moving from journalism or defence into legal-adjacent international work.

Career Pathways

Paralegal in an international disputes team
Legal Executive on cross-border matters
Legal Adviser trainee in an NGO
Compliance Officer with an international remit
Legal Researcher on international law themes
Legal Analyst on multilateral work
Immigration Adviser at intermediate level

The LSLPE careers service links Diploma graduates to entry-level roles across international disputes teams, NGOs, embassies and multilateral offices, and refreshes content annually against IBA and CIArb guidance.

Entry Requirements

A Level 3 qualification (A-levels, BTEC, Access to HE) or equivalent, OR a relevant Certificate at LSLPE.
GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C or equivalent.
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers, or equivalent.
A personal statement outlining your progression aims into international law work.
Applicants with relevant paralegal, policy or research experience are encouraged to reference it at application.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE teaches international law from central London, within a short tube ride of the Royal Courts of Justice, chambers with international caseloads, the FCDO and embassy row. That geography turns Diploma case work into something practical: awards, judgments and diplomatic notes are read as this week's material.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, paralegals and international applicants complete the Diploma in International Law without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with chambers with international practices, NGOs and embassies.

Apply for Diploma in International Law

The Diploma in International Law is a working practitioner credential with a clean articulation route into higher LSLPE awards. It is a strong foundation for international legal work, though the SQE and Bar routes for domestic practice remain separate qualifications. Step up to a UK Level 4 Diploma at LSLPE — three intake windows a year, admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now