MSc
MSc Law and Finance
An exciting interdisciplinary programme taught jointly by the Law School and the Business School where future financial lawyers and finance professionals will explore the legal, regulatory and economic aspects of banking and capital markets.
How to apply Apply via UCAS
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MSc
Program Code
M1KK09
Course length
1 year full-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £13,600 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £29,600 per year
Overview
The MSc in Law and Finance combines two highly technical and evolving sectors into one distinctive study programme. Ideally suited to aspiring financial lawyers or regulatory compliance professionals with a limited background in mathematics and statistics, the course provides an understanding of the fundamental legal and financial concepts needed to work in the modern financial industry. The interdisciplinary course is taught jointly by the Law School and the Department of Finance. Starting out with an intensive induction you will learn the basics of statistics and mathematics and the fundamentals of UK law. Following the induction, the course takes in key concepts from across the legal financial landscape including Banking Regulation, Capital Markets Law, Corporate Finance and Fundamentals of Finance. Academic theory is brought to life through the Case Study in Financial Regulation, an innovative module which transports current national and international issues from the financial law/regulation or policy world into the classroom. Much of the case study content is delivered in conjunction with industry professionals from the banking, capital markets, and legal sectors, to strengthen the bridge between academic theory and practical industry application. You will extend your real-world knowledge during a two-day London tour which takes in regulators, financial institutions and law firms. Added to this, our database resources, including Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Thomson Reuters, DataStream and Orbis will develop your practical skills. The dissertation draws together the knowledge and skills gained through the course. By the end of the course, you will be fluent in not only the regulatory aspects that govern the world of finance, but also the core financial theory that underpins capital market and banking transactions and the financing of businesses more generally.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
MSc
Program Code
M1KK09
Course length
1 year full-time
Typical offer
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £13,600 per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £29,600 per year
What you'll study
Core modules
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Capital Markets Law
introduces the structure and functioning of capital markets, including actors, regulators, infrastructures, core products, services and instruments offered in capital markets. You will learn about the nature of securities and develop an awareness of the social and economic contexts and the systemic goals that influence the regulation of capital markets.
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Case Study in Financial Regulation
analyses real scenarios in financial regulation in a learning environment. Guest lectures by practitioners are an integral part of the module. The innovative format enables you to learn from experts and practitioners the practical problems typically found in the day-to-day application of financial regulation.
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Corporate Finance (MSc Finance)
explores the theory and practice of corporate finance at an advanced level and provides a thorough examination of key areas of research in corporate finance, with an emphasis on real-world applications. Areas converted include capital budgeting, capital structure, corporate financing, payout policy and mergers and acquisitions.
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Dissertation in Law and Finance (Law)
is an in-depth study on a topic in financial law, regulation, corporate finance or finance theory of your choice. You can either choose to complete a theoretical written piece of research or conduct an in-depth analysis of a real case scenario. The dissertation can also be linked to a summer internship or project to be agreed with the programme director.
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Financial Regulation
introduces the structure and functioning of the financial system, including banks, investment firms, payment firms, investors, consumers and regulators. The module examines the basic institutional architecture, governance and regulatory obligations from the UK financial system and further afield.
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Fundamentals of Finance
provides a rigorous grounding in the theory of modern finance and examines the most important current research in finance, with an emphasis on applying theoretical principles to the practice of financial management. Areas covered include valuation, risk and return, portfolio theory, asset pricing models and market efficiency.
Optional modules
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Plus two modules in Law from options that in recent years, have included: Advanced Issues in Corporate LawArtificial Intelligence and FinanceFinancial Products and ContractsInternational Finance Law
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And two in Finance from options that in recent years, have included:: Islamic Banking and FinanceMultinational FinanceClimate FinanceFinTech Regulations
Learning
We use a variety of teaching methods to help you achieve the most from your learning. They take the form of lectures supported by interactive seminars and workshops, and blend face-to-face teaching with online methods. The dissertation in Law and Finance is an opportunity to pursue in-depth research study or a real-world analysis of a topic of financial law, regulation, corporate finance or finance theory of particular interest. The dissertation will be conducted under the supervision of an academic from an appropriate area from the Law School or the Department of Finance. Outside of timetabled contact hours, you will be expected to undertake independent study in preparation for exams, seminars, assignments and other forms of assessment as well as general background reading to broaden your subject knowledge.Assessment
The majority of compulsory modules are assessed by essays of around 3,000 words to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts and principles, with some of the finance modules assessed by written examination. Depending on the options chosen, some modules may also include elements of practical work. The 8,000-word dissertation is worth one-third of your total mark.Entry requirements
Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£13,600 per year
International / EU Students
£29,600 per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £ per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £ per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
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Durham Law School is a global leader in the development and framing of law. Led by academics who are experts in their field, we carry out cutting-edge legal research that feeds into our Masters and research qualifications, building knowledge and nurturing the skills needed to help shape law in the future. The reputation of the School means our legal know-how is respected by parliamentarians and policy makers around the world. Our academics have been called to give evidence in Parliament and have had their research work quoted by courts and international bodies. International law and questions of global policy and governance are an area of special interest at Durham, but our expertise extends to other areas including criminal law and criminal justice, ethics, human rights, European law, gender and law, Chinese law, Commercial and Corporate law and Global Justice. The research-led learning environment in the School is one of commitment, innovation and passion for the subject. Our highly respected research groups organise lectures and seminars offer opportunities to hear from eminent scholars and practitioners. Speakers have included judges from the UK Supreme Court, from the European Court of Justice and leading officials from national and international institutions.
Read moreFacilities
Situated close to a number of academic departments and University services with views of the magnificent Durham Cathedral as well as offering easy access to the historic city, we believe that we have one of the most striking and best-equipped law buildings in the UK. The Law School is located in the University’s award-winning flagship Palatine Centre, part of a £48.4m sustainable building development. The School’s facilities are purpose-built and state-of-the-art, featuring a moot court, pro bono room, Harvard-style Hogan Lovells lecture theatre, spacious dedicated work suites and modern wireless and audio-video-enabled research spaces and attractive social areas.
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