Online Diploma in International Trade Policy

Professional development for trade policy professionals

Designed for professionals working in government, international organisations, business, think tanks, and NGOs who need a deeper understanding of contemporary trade policy.

Learn directly from leading researchers shaping the debate on international trade policy.

How will this qualification make me more capable or valuable professionally?

After completing the Diploma, you will be able to:

Analyse complex trade policy issues
Understand and evaluate complex trade policy issues using economic, legal and political perspectives.
Understand how trade policy is made
Make sense of rapidly changing developments in global trade, and understand the forces shaping the international trading system, from tariffs and trade agreements to digital trade, at national, regional and international levels.
Apply economic, legal and political analysis
Use your knowledge to assess real-world policy challenges and develop evidence-based recommendations on trade policy and strategy.
Communicate and engage
Explain complex trade policy issues clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences and engage more effectively with trade professionals and policy processes.
Advance your career
Build specialist expertise and gain a recognised qualification in international trade and economic policy, with CPD hours.

You should consider this diploma if you…

work in government and want a deeper understanding of trade policy
advise businesses on international trade
work in a trade association or think tank
are moving into international trade or economic policy
work in international law or diplomacy
want to understand the geopolitical forces reshaping global trade

The course brings together academia, think tanks, and the private sector, fostering a collaborative network where participants can engage and share expertise online.

Modules run each year as follows:

September - Trade Policy in a Challenging World
September - Inclusive Trade
January - Trade and Sustainability
January - Trade and Technological Change

Next courses commence 28 September 2026.

Fees

One module is £1,100.

For modules running in 2026/27, the diploma is £3960 when paid in full at the start of the course.

For organisations sending multiple participants, we offer a discount. Please contact us for more details.

Trade policy is changing faster than ever. Build the expertise to understand and respond.

Apply now

If you have any questions, please contact the course team directly:

internationaltradepolicy@sussex.ac.uk

Module details

Each module includes seminars with distinguished guest speakers—ranging from practitioners and professors to professionals in the private sector—offering participants the opportunity to learn from and interact with experts from diverse backgrounds.

Through four comprehensive modules, you’ll gain knowledge spanning economics, law and international business. The modules can be taken in any order, giving you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. You can study all four modules to complete the full Diploma, or choose individual modules on their own, based on your needs and interests. The anticipated study time is an average of three to four hours, or half a day per week.

Gain the equivalent of 45 CPD hours per module, 180 hours for the whole course (subject to your employer’s approach to recording professional development), with each week normally equivalent to 5 CPD hours.