MSc Law and Finance modules
View the list of modules available for the MSc Law and Finance programme.
Modules in 2025-26
Compulsory modules
| Module name | Credit | Methods of assessment | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSIN0258 - Economic Foundations of Regulation and Government | 15 | 2 hr controlled condition exam (70%) 1500-word group coursework (30% | This module provides the conceptual foundation required for the economic analysis of regulation related to financial markets, financial institutions, and corporate transactions. The module is specifically designed for students in the MSc Law and Finance. By focusing on relevance and intuition rather than the purely quantitative components, it aims to take the students to a mature level of understanding of the key concepts. Specific topics include: foundations of capitalism, competitive markets, imperfect competition, market failure, incentives and contracts, and financial regulation. Case studies and concrete examples will be based both on historical and recent events, episodes, and regulatory interventions. |
| MSIN0259 – Investments and Asset Management | 15 | 2 hr controlled condition exam (70%) 3x500 words group coursework (30%) | This module covers the foundations of finance with an emphasis on financial decision-making. Essential in most decisions made by corporations and investors is the process of valuation, the discussion of which will be an important emphasis of the course. Topics include criteria for making investment decisions, valuation of financial assets and liabilities, relations between risk and return, market efficiency, capital structure choice, and payout policy. |
| MSIN0256 – Corporate Transactions and Restructuring | 15 | 2 hr controlled condition exam (70%) 4x500 words group coursework (30%) | This module examines several major forms of corporate transactions and restructurings: mergers (and acquisitions); asset sales; private equity; reorganizations through workouts and bankruptcy; and shareholder activism. There is a strong financial economics-based approach based on academic papers, and a focus on how transactions and restructurings take place and perform in both the private and public capital markets. To further illustrate relevant institutions and ideas, the module will also make references to current transactions that have been announced in the media, e.g., a takeover or a shareholder activism engagement. |
| LAWS0377 – Theory and Practice of the Law of Corporate Finance | 45 | Group presentation (50%) - in class Coursework (50%) - one month | This module is designed specifically for the needs of students on the MSc Law and Finance and will not be open to other Masters students in the Faculty of Laws. It will cover legal aspects of corporate finance, financial regulation, and regulatory theory. In the first term, these topics will be examined from an interdisciplinary law and finance / law and economics perspective. Teaching in the second term will centre around a series of case studies that will build on the topics discussed in the first term and be based on adapted real-world documentation of different types of corporate transactions. |
LAWS0327 - Research Essay / LAWS0383 – Practice Based Research Project | 45 | 9,000 word dissertation (100%) | Either independent research on a topic agreed with a member of staff of the Faculty of Laws, School of Management, or Department of Economics, or a report on a two-month work placement at a financial institution undertaken by the student that focuses on transactions the students worked on during that placement. In both cases, the dissertation will be supervised by a member of staff of the Faculty of Laws, School of Management, or Department of Economics with relevant expertise. |
Optional modules*
Students will choose optional modules totaling 45 credits from a list of approved modules from the LLM or MSc Finance programmes.
Please note that the following is an indicative list; not all modules will run in all years, and this will depend on the availability of teaching and research staff.
Approved LLM modules:
- Commercial Remedies (LAWS0249) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- Comparative Corporate Governance (LAWS0263) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- The Law and Regulation of Banks and Fintech Services (LAWS0269) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- Insurance Law and Risk (LAWS0234) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring (LAWS0390) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- Private Equity (LAWS0389) 45 credits, Terms 1-2
- International and Comparative Secured Transactions (LAWS0308) 22.5 credits, Term 1
- Corporations, Finance and the Environment (LAWS0324) 22.5 credits, Term 2
Approved MSc Finance modules:
- Valuation (MSIN0224) 15 credits, Term 2
- Influence and Negotiations (MSIN0148) 15 credits, Term 2
- Behavioural Finance (MSIN0225) 15 credits, Term 2
- Hedge Fund Strategies (MSIN0210) 15 credits, Term 2
- International Macroeconomics and Finance (MSIN0301) 15 credits, Term 3
- Further Quantitative Methods (MSIN0302) 15 credits, Term 3
Students may also request to enrol in modules not included on this list; however, such requests will be subject to approval by both the Programme Director and the relevant Module Leader, and will depend on the availability of places.