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.
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 structure
Core modules:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Plus two modules in Law from options that in recent years, have included:
Advanced Issues in Corporate Law
Artificial Intelligence and Finance
Financial Products and Contracts
International Finance Law
And two in Finance from options that in recent years, have included:
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
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent in law or a relevant business degree such as accounting, finance, or economics.
Graduates with a 2.1 honours degree who also have other legal qualifications and/or substantial professional legal, regulatory, or finance experience may also qualify.
Students whose native language is not English must show evidence of general proficiency in the English language by normally achieving 7.0 or higher in IELTS with a minimum of 7.0 in the writing component and a minimum of 6.5 in all other components.
Students from EU member states whose native language is not English may show evidence of general proficiency in the English language by normally achieving 102 or higher in TOEFL with a minimum of 27 in the writing component and a minimum of 25 in all other components.
The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only. More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University
Our global reputation for legal research and teaching of the highest quality is reflected in the career trajectory of our alumni.
Graduates serve across the full range of legal professions including solicitors, barristers, judges, members of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and as consultants and in government. Others have secured stimulating and rewarding positions in national and international law firms.
We are fully aware of the degree of competition that exists in securing a role in the legal profession and the School provides a range of resources to help alumni stand out as ideal candidates during the recruitment process. This includes detailed information about the steps involved in becoming a solicitor or barrister, visits from law firms and guidance on preparing for interviews and assessment days.
Department information
Law School
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.
Facilities
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.
Apply
Find out more:
Apply for a postgraduate course (including PGCE International) via our online portal.
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