Diploma in International Trade Policy

This course will help you understand how government policy, geopolitics, business, and technology impact international trade.

As international trade and policymaking become ever more complex and challenging, now is the time to strengthen your understanding of the global trade landscape with our new Online Diploma in International Trade Policy.

On completion of this course, you will:

Have a critical understanding of trade policy, including the key concepts, theories, actors, organisations, and issues in trade policy
Learn how to apply conceptual and analytical tools to analyse trade policy. This will cover economic foundations, political economy, rules and laws, and international business
Be better equipped to analyse data and evidence to inform trade policy. You’ll study practical applications, data sources and data types/tools
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

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

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.

The course launched in September 2025, with modules running each year as follows:

September 2026 - Trade Policy in a Challenging World
September 2026 - Inclusive Trade
January 2027 - Trade and Sustainability
January 2027 - Trade and Technological Change

Fees

One module is £1,100

The entire course is £4,400

For organisations sending multiple participants, a discount is available. Contact us for more details.

Apply now

Module details

: Gain the strategic knowledge to analyse and respond to emerging challenges in international trade, and understand the complex mechanisms that drive international trade and policy.

Trade policy has become much more complicated, driven by changes in technology and digitisation, the rise in geo-political tensions, and increased concern with issues such as climate change, sustainability and human rights.

This module focuses on the core economic drivers, and the legal framework underpinning the dynamics of international trade policy. Understanding these is central to navigating the complex, rapidly changing global trade landscape. It covers the fundamentals of trade policy including the evolution of patterns and globalisation, the barriers to trade and their impacts, the legal foundations of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the complexities of regional trade agreements. It also addresses one of the key current challenges in the global economy by considering the critical issue of economic security.
: Gain the tools to navigate complex issues related to sustainability. Learn to mitigate risks and seize opportunities in the pursuit of a resilient and sustainable global economy.

Issues of sustainability, ranging from climate change, global warming, environmental concerns, bio-diversity and deforestation are increasingly at the forefront of public, business and policymakers’ concerns. Global demand for environmental goods and services is expected to rise as countries implement economic stimulus packages that include greater resources for climate-friendly solutions.

This module explores the complex relationship between international trade and sustainability, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic forces shaping today’s interconnected economy. The topics covered include global value chains, supply chain resilience, environmental policies, food security, and the transition to a circular economy. Participants will examine how trade impacts on these areas of concern, and the role of trade in tackling environmental challenges and fostering sustainable practices.
: Trade impacts on all of us in a myriad of ways – both as consumers and as workers. As consumers, trade affects the goods and services that are available to us, as well as their quality and price. As workers, trade can influence the productivity and economic growth of the businesses and firms that we work for. There is considerable evidence to show that international trade is important for economic growth and raising living standards overall. Nevertheless, trade will have negative consequences for some and may have quite different impacts on different firms. Public perceptions and views on international trade are generally positive but with numerous qualifications.

This module focusses on understanding the heterogeneous effects of trade on individuals, and the wider socio-economic effects of trade. We will identify the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of trade and investigate the impact of trade policy on developing countries and aid-for-trade initiatives. Examining how trade affects firms and productivity, as well as specific aspects related to multinational enterprises, we will also look at attitudes to trade and the role of trade and trade policy regarding key issues such as gender, labour standards, environmental objectives, and human rights.
: Understand how rapid technological developments are shaping international trade and policy.

This module will rapidly increase your understanding of the technological developments shaping international trade and trade policy. This includes how trade impacts productivity, growth and innovation. Further it analyses the blurring of boundaries between goods and services trade, and examines the role of digitisation, digital trade, 3D printing and AI underpinning world trade. It discusses key issues related to digitisation including data protection and intellectual property rights. It also covers trade agreements on digital trade and the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce.