Law and Finance MSc

Course overview

In an era of unprecedented global challenges, mastering the intricacies of law and finance is more essential than ever. The MSc Law & Finance course is tailored to provide this expertise, combining deep academic insights with practical applications to bridge the gap between these interrelated disciplines. 

Delivered jointly by the School of Law and the Business School, the course ensures an unparalleled educational experience. Drawing on the robust expertise of the School of Law, it covers areas such as financial, corporate, tax, competition, commercial, and banking law. This solid foundation is complemented by the Business School’s proficiency in economics, finance, accounting, and risk management, providing a unique and comprehensive educational journey. 

The MSc Law & Finance course is both analytical and practical, designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to unravel complex topics such as contracts, financial regulation, corporate governance, and risk management.

Our integrated approach enables students to understand and navigate the legal frameworks and financial systems that govern global transactions, equipping them to tackle contemporary challenges and adapt to the evolution of financial technology. 

Irrespective of whether your background is more in law or finance, we ensure you’ll develop the necessary skills to succeed. This is facilitated through ongoing support throughout the course, including language support for international students. 

Practical experience

This course gives you the chance to gain practical, real-world experience through a host of professional activities and cutting-edge facilities aimed at developing your practical skills. 

We offer a one-week trading simulation in partnership with Amplify Trading to enhance your understanding of financial markets and develop crucial professional skills. This simulation, utilised by industry giants such as HSBC, JPMorgan, and Bank of America, will put you in the shoes of a City trader, applying key financial theories to live market prices at a state-of-the-art trading desk. 

You’ll also have access to the Business School’s financial markets lab, equipped with Bloomberg terminals and a virtual trading platform. This facility opens a myriad of opportunities for skills enhancement and research activities. 

Research excellence and professional insight

You’ll be taught by leading scholars across the complementary disciplines of Law and Finance. 

Within the School of Law, the Centre for Business Law and Practice (CBLP)  is well known for its research across a wide range of relevant areas. Its members are distinguished academics in specialised fields such as financial law, corporate law, insolvency law, trade law, tax law, and competition law. They’ve served as consultants to law firms, accounting bodies, national law reform bodies, government departments in several countries, and international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations, and Transparency International. 

Our Business School is exceptionally privileged to have received triple-accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). It maintains robust connections with the finance, credit, and accounting professions, linking you to the latest practitioner and policy developments. This means you’ll benefit from a postgraduate course that is highly relevant to the current business environment. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to access the knowledge of the Business School’s advanced specialist research units, which have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe, and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the International Banking Institute (IBI), the Centre for Financial Technology (Fintech), and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). 

Specialist facilities

The MSc Law & Finance provides access to first-rate facilities within both the School of Law and Business School, in addition to the broader amenities available across the University of Leeds.

The School of Law is housed in the Liberty Building—a purpose-built professional environment that integrates our dynamic student community with our globally recognised research hubs. Here, you will have access to seminar rooms, research spaces, and spacious learning and social areas. Our moot courtroom will play a pivotal role in refining your legal advocacy skills and offering opportunities to engage with leading figures from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies.

Located on the western edge of the University of Leeds campus, the Business School spans five buildings. These include the elegantly renovated 19th-century Maurice Keyworth building, the Newlyn Building that opened in 2019, and the recently refurbished Charles Thackrah and Clarendon buildings. The Esther Simpson Building, a new and exciting addition to the Business School’s infrastructure, was officially inaugurated in September 2021. 

The facilities at the Business School encompass modern lecture theatres, cutting-edge seminar and syndicate rooms, a variety of study spaces with dedicated computer clusters, collaborative teaching spaces, specialist behaviour labs, as well as an executive boardroom and trading room.

The School also houses a financial markets lab equipped with Bloomberg terminals and a virtual trading platform, providing unparalleled opportunities for skills development and research activities. The facilities are designed to offer a simulated environment for the practical application of your theoretical knowledge, further boosting your professional skills.

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Studying in the School of Law

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Course details

Students enrolled in the MSc Law & Finance course undertake five compulsory modules (15 credits each) and the modules aligned with their chosen dissertation pathway (60 credits). In addition, students are expected to choose from a range of optional modules (totalling 45 credits). There is also ongoing language and academic skills support throughout the academic year. In studying both the compulsory and optional modules, you will be learning alongside students from the School of Law and Business School’s other postgraduate programmes. 

Compulsory modules 

The five compulsory modules are spread over the two semesters of the academic year.  

The School of Law compulsory modules aim to foster your understanding of corporate finance and securities law, as well as foundational principles of international financial law. Simultaneously, the Business School compulsory modules build upon these legal foundations with key theoretical principles of corporate finance related to risk, investment appraisal, and corporate financing decisions, as well as quantitative methods, financial and management accounting. 

Optional modules

The School of Law offers a wide selection of business law-oriented modules. These modules, designed to complement each other and the MSc Law & Finance course, provide a comprehensive understanding of both domestic and international legal developments from practical, regulatory, and policy perspectives. Additionally, the Business School offers an optional module focused on forensic accounting and finance, for which basic accounting knowledge is required for enrolment. 

Dissertation pathways

The course offers two unique dissertation pathways - Law and Finance or Accounting and Finance - depending on your proficiency in quantitative methods. For students with a good background in quantitative subjects, the choice of dissertation is flexible, whereas those needing further enhancement in these areas are guided towards the Law and Finance Dissertation. This allows a personalised exploration of areas best suited to your skills and interests. 

Academic skills and language support 

Throughout the academic year, the School of Law offers ongoing academic support delivered by our Skills Enhancement Fellows. This course aids students in honing vital academic skills necessary at the postgraduate level, including critical thinking, legal research, academic writing, assessment planning, communication, time management, and referencing.

Support is available through weekly skills seminars delivered during each semester on a range of topics relevant to your studies and assessments. Moreover, you can book one-to-one appointments to discuss your individual work in more detail. 

For international students, the University of Leeds Language Centre provides free English language workshops and one-to-one consultations that you can take alongside your degree to develop your confidence in using academic language.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Law and Finance MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

You will also choose 45 credits from the below. Please note candidates are not permitted to choose LUBS5019M Forensic Accounting and Finance if they have chosen to study LAW5637M Financial Crime due to the partial overlap in content. Similarly, students studying LUBS5019M Forensic Accounting and Finance cannot study LAW5637M Financial Crime.

Learning and teaching

The MSc Law & Finance course offers a sector-leading, inclusive, and active approach to learning. You’ll engage in a variety of learning formats designed to optimise your educational experience. These include stimulating lectures, interactive seminars, collaborative team activities, and presentations.

We blend traditional hands-on, face-to-face teaching methods with innovative digital technologies for a diverse learning experience.

Seminars form a critical part of our course structure, where active engagement is highly encouraged. We promote a sense of belonging through open discussions, fostering a learning environment that values every voice. This is an opportunity to ask in-depth questions, delve deeper into complex topics and engage with fellow students and instructors. 

Outside of these formal teaching sessions, extensive independent study is a key component of our course. We both encourage and expect students to read widely, deepening their knowledge and understanding of course materials. 

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The assessment structure of the course consists of various components across two semesters, supplemented by a dissertation to be completed over the summer period.

This multifaceted approach allows us to measure your aptitude and development in several areas, providing a comprehensive evaluation of your academic attainment. 

Assessments within most of the School of Law modules, whether compulsory or optional, are primarily conducted through essays, submitted either during or at the end of each course. In some subjects, assessments could involve alternative formats, such as presentations or practical work, to evaluate a range of skillsets. Modules offered by the Business School are predominantly assessed via timed examinations at the end of each course. The specific details of the assessment methods used in each module are detailed on the respective module pages. 

Your dissertation, a significant piece of written work that exhibits your in-depth research and understanding of a chosen topic, is submitted after the summer period. The dissertation is a critical aspect of your degree, demonstrating your ability to synthesise information from a variety of sources, critically evaluate contemporary debates, and articulate your findings effectively. 

We’re committed to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in our assessments. As such, we have procedures in place to accommodate students with special needs and provide necessary support. Additionally, we’re continually reviewing and updating our assessment strategies to guarantee they remain relevant, meaningful, and engaging for all students.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent in law or a relevant business degree such as accounting, finance, economics or mathematics. Applicants without a law degree will be expected to have taken some law modules at undergraduate level or during previous postgraduate study.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

Please note that meeting the entry requirements of this course doesn't guarantee an offer of a place.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read  Language for Law (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Law (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

We operate a staged admissions process for this course with selection deadlines throughout the year.

If you do not receive an offer in a particular round, you will either be notified that your application has been unsuccessful, or we will carry your application forward to be considered in the next round.

Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application deadlines for each stage.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you will need include:

• Original or certified copies of your transcripts
• Original or certified copies of your degree certificate
• Original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language)

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Law
Leeds University Business School

Contact us

School of Law Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: pglaw@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,750 (Total)

International: £30,750 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

The School of Law usually offers a number of scholarships each year. Find out further details on the School scholarship page.

Career opportunities

The MSc Law & Finance course equips students with a unique combination of legal and financial expertise, an intersection of skills that is in high demand in today’s job market. Our alumni have successfully established careers both in the UK and abroad, spanning various sectors and professions. 

Our graduates typically go on to secure employment within the legal sector, particularly within large corporate law firms based in London or internationally. Alternatively, the financial sector also attracts many of our graduates, with roles in areas such as investment banking, private equity, commercial banking, hedge fund management, and venture capitalism. In addition, the diverse skillset developed during the course opens up opportunities in related sectors, including market regulation, compliance, accountancy, and management consultancy.

Many of our graduates have chosen to make their mark in government, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international media or journalism. There are also those who have ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing their own businesses. 

Each year, a proportion of our graduates opt for a career in academia, capitalising on their MSc to delve deeper into research and higher education. 

Careers support

As an MSc Law & Finance student at the University of Leeds, you will benefit from a comprehensive careers support network through the School of Law and the Business School. 

You’ll have the opportunity to book one-to-one appointments with our dedicated Employability Officers and Careers Consultants throughout the year. These sessions can help you shape your career strategy, prepare for applications, and perform well in interview processes. 

The University’s award-winning Careers Centre further complements our School-specific career services. It offers individual appointments, advice on launching your own business, career events, mentorship schemes, and assistance with your CV, applications, and interviews. 

Our proactive approach to careers development also includes a host of extracurricular activities. The School of Law organises community engagement (pro bono) activities, work experience opportunities, career development workshops, careers fairs, and guest speaker events throughout the year. These engagements are designed to help you develop new skills, enhance your career prospects, and network with potential employers. 

To supplement our programme, we also run additional speaker events that connect you with senior practitioners in law and finance. Upon graduation, you’ll become a part of the University’s alumni network, further extending your professional reach. 

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.