Best Public International Law Textbooks for UK LLB Students (2026)
Quick Answer: Shaw’s International Law (10th ed, Cambridge UP) and Brownlie/Crawford’s Principles of Public International Law (9th ed, OUP) are the two leading PIL textbooks for UK LLB students. Shaw is the more accessible and widely prescribed undergraduate text. Crawford/Brownlie is the more authoritative treatise, preferred by postgraduates and practitioners. Dixon is the concise, accessible introductory option.
Check your reading list. Shaw (10th ed, ISBN 9781009662192) is the most widely prescribed PIL textbook at UK universities — authoritative yet accessible. Crawford/Brownlie (9th ed, ISBN 9780198737445) is the leading academic treatise, better for research essays. Dixon (7th ed) is the concise introductory option for students who find Shaw too long.
📋 In This Guide
1. Shaw — International Law
| Author: | Malcolm N. Shaw QC |
| Edition: | 10th Edition (2025) |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| ISBN: | 9781009662192 |
| Price: | £50.00 |
| Best for: | Most UK LLB PIL students — widely prescribed |
International Law by Malcolm N. Shaw QC (Essex Court Chambers; Senior Fellow, Lauterpacht Centre, Cambridge) is the indispensable single-volume public international law text — now in its 10th edition (2025). Shaw has long been established as the leading authority in the field, offering an unbeatable combination of clarity of expression and academic rigour, explaining the leading rules, practice, and case law in an engaging and authoritative style while retaining detailed referencing for further research.
10th edition (2025): Updated to reflect the most recent developments including expanded coverage of the law of outer space, the law of the sea, the International Court of Justice, and international humanitarian law; additional material on cyber operations and non-state actors.
Coverage: Sources of international law; subjects (states, international organisations, individuals); jurisdiction; state responsibility; law of the sea; international environmental law; international human rights law; international humanitarian law; international criminal law; peaceful settlement of disputes; use of force. The complete PIL curriculum in one volume.
Prescribed at: Most UK law schools with a public international law module, including Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, UCL, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Manchester.
2. Crawford — Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law
| Author: | James Crawford (formerly ICJ Judge, Cambridge) |
| Edition: | 9th Edition (2019) |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| ISBN: | 9780198737445 |
| Price: | £62.80 |
| Best for: | Academic treatise — research essays, postgraduate, practitioner |
Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law — originally by Ian Brownlie and now maintained by the late James Crawford (formerly Judge of the International Court of Justice and Whewell Professor at Cambridge) — is the other great PIL treatise alongside Shaw. The 9th edition (2019) is completely updated following extensive developments in international law since the 8th edition (2012). Where Shaw is the more accessible teaching text, Brownlie/Crawford is the more authoritative academic treatise, engaging more deeply with academic commentary and controversy.
Key difference from Shaw: Crawford goes deeper into the theoretical and doctrinal controversies within PIL — the contested status of custom, the relationship between treaty and customary law, the limits of jurisdiction — in ways that are invaluable for research essays and dissertation work but may be more than most undergraduate modules require as a primary text.
Who it’s for: LLB students writing PIL research essays or dissertations; LLM students; practitioners. Shaw is the right primary text for most undergraduates; Crawford is the research supplement.
3. Dixon — Textbook on International Law
| Author: | Martin Dixon (Cambridge) |
| Edition: | 7th Edition |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| ISBN: | 9780199574452 |
| Price: | £47.99 |
| Best for: | Concise introductory text — supplement to Shaw |
Dixon’s Textbook on International Law by Martin Dixon (Queens’ College Cambridge) is the concise, student-friendly alternative at around 350 pages. It covers all the core PIL topics in a more accessible, less exhaustive style than Shaw, with helpful glossaries and chapter summaries. Best used as an introductory supplement where Shaw feels overwhelming, or as a first read through each topic before engaging with Shaw’s full treatment.
Head-to-Head
| Feature | Shaw | Crawford/Brownlie | Dixon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Authoritative yet accessible | Academic treatise — in depth | Concise — introductory |
| Edition | 10th (2025) — most current | 9th (2019) | 7th |
| Best for | Primary text — most UK students | Research essays, postgraduate | Concise supplement |
| Publisher | Cambridge UP | OUP | OUP |
| Price | £50.00 | £62.80 | £47.99 |
| Textbook | Waterstones | Amazon | AbeBooks | Blackwells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Law (10th) | £50.00 | £50.00 | £97.38 Used | £61.83 | Check → |
| Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (9th) | £67.99 | £67.99 £62.99 | £62.80 Used | £62.99 | Check → |
| Textbook on International Law (7th) | Check → | £47.99 | Check → | Check → | Check → |
Prices updated from retailer feeds. Always verify before purchasing. We earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Our Verdict
⚖ The Verdict
Buy Shaw (ISBN 9781009662192, 10th ed 2025) as your primary PIL text. It is the most widely prescribed, the most current, and the right combination of authority and accessibility for LLB study.
Add Crawford/Brownlie (ISBN 9780198737445) for research essays and dissertation work where you need the deeper academic treatment.
Add Dixon (ISBN 9780199574452) as a concise introductory supplement if Shaw feels overwhelming at the start of your PIL module.
💰 Save Money
A used 9th edition of Shaw (ISBN 9781108733052) is available on AbeBooks for £20–35. The 10th edition (2025) adds coverage of outer space law, cyber operations, and updated humanitarian law content. For most undergraduate PIL modules, the 9th edition remains adequate. Check your module reading list before buying.
Which public international law textbook is most widely prescribed at UK law schools?
Shaw’s International Law (10th edition, ISBN 9781009662192, Cambridge UP) is the most widely prescribed PIL textbook at UK law schools. Crawford’s Brownlie’s Principles (9th edition, OUP) is the leading academic treatise, preferred for research essays and postgraduate study.
Is Shaw or Crawford better for public international law?
Shaw is the better primary teaching text for most UK LLB students — accessible, comprehensive, and the most widely prescribed. Crawford/Brownlie is better for research essays and dissertation work requiring deeper academic analysis. For most undergraduate PIL modules, Shaw as primary text with Crawford as a research supplement is the right combination.
Which edition of Shaw International Law should I buy?
The 10th edition (ISBN 9781009662192, Cambridge UP, 2025) is current. A used 9th edition (ISBN 9781108733052) covers the same core PIL curriculum and is significantly cheaper. The 10th edition’s main additions are updated outer space law, cyber operations, and humanitarian law content.
Is Dixon Textbook on International Law a good PIL textbook?
Dixon’s Textbook on International Law (7th edition, OUP, ISBN 9780199574452) is a concise, accessible introductory text at around 350 pages. It is best used as a supplement alongside Shaw rather than as a standalone primary text for most LLB PIL modules.
Last Updated: August 2026 | Author: Textbooks.co.uk Editorial Team
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