The law of international business, taught by UK practitioners
Two semesters, 180 hours, taught entirely in English by native-speaker barristers, solicitors and academics — including from Cambridge University.
Dr Stephen Terrett
The course is led by Dr Stephen Terrett
“English law is the most frequently chosen governing law in international commercial transactions. Our goal is to give Polish lawyers a confident, working command of it.”
English-qualified lawyer and academic. Director of the British Law Centre — a long-standing partnership between the University of Cambridge and the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw. Teaches English commercial law and contract law in Warsaw and at Cambridge University, with extensive experience designing comparative-law programmes for Polish and CEE lawyers.
Classes are delivered by native-speaker barristers, solicitors and academics — including teachers of the British Law Centre and guest lecturers from the University of Cambridge and leading London law firms.
Two semesters, 180 hours of lectures and workshops. Participants may attend in person at WPiA or online — 14 weeks of evening lectures and 8 Saturday workshops between October 2026 and June 2027.
Certificate of completion of postgraduate studies issued by the University of Warsaw.
For lawyers working across borders
English commercial law is extremely useful for anyone conducting international business — or advising those who do. The programme is open to graduates of any field (Master's, Bachelor's or engineering degree) with English at B2 level or higher.
- 01Practising lawyers advising on cross-border deals
- 02In-house counsel in international businesses
- 03Polish lawyers working with UK or US clients
- 04Trainee advocates and legal advisors (aplikanci)
- 05Compliance, banking and finance professionals
- 06Public-sector lawyers handling international contracts
- 07Academics and PhD candidates in comparative law
- 08Graduates of any field with English at B2 or higher
What an alumnus knows and can do
Graduates leave with a significantly enhanced command of the core principles and documents of English commercial law — and the ability to advise clients on a wide variety of legal and practical issues affecting international business.
Core principles of English commercial law
A working command of the central doctrines, documents and remedies of English commercial law as applied in international practice — from formation of contract to commercial dispute resolution.
Confident advice on cross-border deals
Ability to advise clients on a wide variety of legal and practical issues affecting businesses governed by, or exposed to, English law — including contracts, corporate structures and transactions.
English company law in practice
Detailed understanding of UK company law: incorporation, governance, directors' duties, shareholder relations and the most common deal structures encountered in M&A and joint ventures.
Intellectual property in commerce
Practical knowledge of English intellectual property law — protection, licensing and exploitation of IP rights in a commercial context, including comparative perspectives relevant to Polish practice.
International litigation & arbitration
Insight into international commercial litigation and arbitration governed by English law, including jurisdiction, applicable law, enforcement and the leading institutional arbitration regimes.
A new comparative perspective
A fresh comparative lens on familiar Polish commercial law — equipping graduates to bridge civil-law and common-law thinking when advising clients, drafting contracts or negotiating internationally.
180 hours, two semesters, four core modules
The programme is built around four main modules — Company Law, Commercial Transactions, Intellectual Property, and International Commercial Litigation & Arbitration. Additional topics are introduced each year by visiting UK guest lecturers.
Each module concludes with a multiple-choice test, prepared for in advance by the lecturers.
- 01Company law in the UK
- 02English commercial contracts
- 03Intellectual property
- 04International litigation
- 05International arbitration
- 06Comparative common-law perspective
- 01
Company law in the UK (part I)
Foundations of UK company law — incorporation, types of company, the corporate veil and the legal status of directors and shareholders.
36 h12 ECTS - 02
Company law in the UK (part II)
Advanced topics: directors' duties, shareholder remedies, share capital, corporate transactions and key features of UK M&A practice.
36 h12 ECTS - 03
Commercial transactions (part I)
Formation, terms and interpretation of English commercial contracts — including key boilerplate, warranties and indemnities.
18 h6 ECTS - 04
Commercial transactions (part II)
Performance, breach and remedies; selected transaction types relevant to international trade, banking, finance and shipping.
18 h6 ECTS - 05
Intellectual property law
English law on copyright, trade marks, patents and confidential information — protection, exploitation and licensing in commercial practice.
36 h12 ECTS - 06
International commercial litigation and arbitration
Dispute resolution governed by English law: jurisdiction, applicable law, enforcement, and leading institutional and ad hoc arbitration regimes.
36 h12 ECTS
Barristers, solicitors and Cambridge academics
Three Warsaw-based UK lawyers deliver the majority of lectures and workshops, supported by guest lecturers from Cambridge University and leading London firms. Click a lecturer for a short profile.
Delivered in partnership with the British Law Centre — a long-standing collaboration between the University of Cambridge and WPiA UW.
2 semesters
180 hours, evening lectures + Saturday workshops
PLN 5 000
total cost of studies
Hybrid
attend in person at WPiA, or fully online
Admission 2026/27
08.07.2026
24.10.2026
25.10.2026
PLN 85
Programme Office
For all enquiries about admission, the programme and organisation, please contact the programme office.
Address
Postgraduate Studies in English Commercial Law
Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw
Collegium Iuridicum IV
ul. Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 47
00-347 Warsaw
Frequently asked questions
Join the next cohort of the English Commercial Law programme
Admission is by order of application via the UW IRK system. Approximately 50 places.