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Law and Finance MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£47,900

£23,950

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£47,900

£23,950

Duration

1 academic year

2 academic years

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Academic requirements: A high 2:1 which will normally mean an average of at least 68% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study. We may consider applicants who are close to but have not met this threshold if they have extensive practical experience and where spaces on the programme are available.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4
Please check the Faculty of Laws website to see which tests we accept.

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MSc Law and Finance will provide you with a cutting-edge education at the intersection of law and finance delivered by the UCL Faculty of Laws, School of Management, and Department of Economics.

In today’s complex global economy, the expectations placed on legal and finance professionals—especially those in corporate and financial law—have changed dramatically. Employers are no longer looking for experts who can solely advise on legal issues or financial strategy in isolation. Instead, they seek professionals who operate fluently across legal, commercial, and financial domains.

Employers seek experts who understand the legal, economic and regulatory drivers that underpin complex corporate and finance transactions, who can evaluate the commercial logic driving such transactions, understand how the law responds to and mitigates those financial drivers, and apply impact legal analysis to inform high-stakes, strategic decision-making.

The transdisciplinary approach taken by this course is designed to meet that demand head-on. You will acquire the necessary skills to navigate the complex interplay between law and finance and confidently tackle complex issues that arise in today's international corporate and financial markets. You will learn key concepts of financial economics, the operation of financial markets and financial institutions, as well as the regulatory framework applicable to corporations and markets. The course will enable you to identify connections between finance and law and comprehensively evaluate the financial and regulatory implications of complex financial transactions, such as financing decisions of corporations, mergers and acquisitions, take-public and take-private transactions, and corporate reorganisations and restructurings.

A distinctive feature of the course is its emphasis on applied learning. In close partnership with leading global firms, you can choose from two immersive training pathways: deal simulations based on real transactions - using authentic documentation used in the market, and placements (subject to availability) with leading international law and finance firms, where you gain hands-on experience working on live transactions (subject to students meeting the eligibility criteria and a selection and matching process). Both pathways are designed to sharpen legal and economic reasoning and commercial fluency.

At its core, the MSc treats law as a practical tool—shaped by and responsive to the markets, institutions, and transactions it governs. Taught by a combination of leading academics and practitioner and industry experts from the worlds of law, finance, and banking, the course challenges you to explore legal issues within broader economic and regulatory frameworks. The result is a robust academic foundation, underpinned by applied learning, an appreciation of commercial and financial market drivers, and professional relevance.

Who this course is for

The programme is open to students with either a background in law, finance, economics, or a subject closely related, looking to excel in roles in legal, financial, consulting and regulatory sectors.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

You will benefit from UCL's global excellence in law and business education. UCL Laws is ranked 1st in the UK for Law (Times Good University Guide 2025) and 9th globally (QS World University Rankings 2025), while the UCL School of Management is ranked 4th in the UK and 9th globally in Business & Management (Times Higher Education 2025).

Whether you come from a background in law, finance, or economics, you will graduate with an integrated skill set that is both unique and highly valued.

Through this course, you will gain:

Advanced transdisciplinary training from internationally renowned academics and expert practitioners who work in the international law and finance markets
Deep expertise in corporate and finance transactions, including public and private M&A (including private equity), international debt finance and complex restructuring
The ability to apply legal knowledge within financial and commercial contexts, grounded in a solid understanding of how legal, economic, and financial frameworks interact in major corporate, finance, and restructuring transactions
Hands-on experience with current market documentation, including materials from the London-based Loan Markets Association
Applied learning opportunities through immersive deal simulations and placements with leading financial and legal institutions
Flexibility to tailor your studies via a broad of modules, allowing you to develop expertise aligned with your career goals
Exposure to a dynamic global network of alumni, practitioners, and industry professionals through UCL’s location and connections in London’s financial and legal sectors.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

From the moment you arrive at UCL Laws, you will benefit from dedicated, in-house career support designed to prepare you for roles in law, finance, consultancy and regulation. Through workshops on CV writing, interviews, and networking skills, you will gain the confidence and insight to stand out in a competitive job market.

The course’s applied training—through deal simulations and structured placements—bridges academic study with practical experience. Combined with UCL’s global reputation and London’s unparalleled access to financial and legal institutions, this support lays a powerful foundation for a successful and impactful career at the intersection of law and finance.

Employability

Graduates of the MSc Law and Finance will stand out in a competitive market with this unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise which will enable them to thrive in roles across legal, financial, consulting and regulatory sectors.

You will gain:

Strategic, transdisciplinary thinking that bridges legal frameworks and financial analysis
Real-world experience through deal simulations or placements that reflect the demands of top-tier firms, combined with the ability to apply transdisciplinary thinking in practice
Strong familiarity and in-depth understanding of current practice in the international corporate and finance markets
A competitive edge in applying for roles focusing on international mergers and acquisitions, complex financing (including capital markets), financial services, private equity, regulatory bodies and rating agencies
Preparedness to advise on complex global transactions, investment decisions, and policy reforms including those within both the public and private equity market, loan and debt capital markets and corporate restructuring
Networks and professional credibility developed through close contact with our distinguished teaching team including market leading practitioners in the corporate and finance markets, as well as London’s legal and financial industries

We expect graduates of this course to be well-positioned to pursue careers at leading law firms and financial institutions, as finance professionals or in-house counsel for private equity funds and investment banks. They may go on to roles in mergers and acquisitions, consultancy, policy-making, risk management, and financial regulation.

Graduates from similar UCL courses have gone on to roles at leading organisations such as Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Allen & Overy, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, HSBC, McKinsey, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (UCL Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017–2021).

Networking

You will join a diverse and experienced cohort, bringing together individuals from legal, financial, and economic backgrounds. This wealth of perspectives fosters a collaborative learning environment where ideas are shaped by real-world insight and peer-to-peer exchange. Throughout the course, you will gain exposure to leading practitioners through practical learning opportunities, including placements, deal simulations, and guest lectures. You will also benefit from UCL’s extensive network of alumni and industry contacts, with numerous opportunities to take part in networking events, careers fairs, and professional development workshops.

Teaching and learning

To successfully complete the course, you will need to obtain 180 credits over the year. Of these, 135 credits will be made up of compulsory modules, and 45 for optional modules.

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials across all three terms, and you will be expected to prepare in advance and actively participate in class discussions, especially during seminars and tutorials. You may also work in teams and deliver presentations to your class.

Assessment in taught modules is usually by examination, but may also include a coursework essay, or other methods of assessment, such as an oral presentations.

During the programme, you can choose from two practice-focused trainings: deal simulations or placements. For the deal simulation option, you will be required to submit a written portfolio analysing the legal and financial dimensions of a series of practitioner-led transactional simulations. For the placement option, you will be required to submit a written report focusing on the intersection between law and finance with a financial/legal institution.

You also have the option to write an independent research dissertation at the intersection of law and finance supervised by an expert academic, instead of a practice-focused training.

For full-time students, typical contact hours will vary between 7-14 hours per week, depending on your chosen modules. Outside of lectures and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time, between 22-29 hours, for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Modules

Full-time students will study 180 credits to complete the MSc Law and Finance over 12 months.

Students are recommended to complete advanced transdisciplinary training before the start of the course. This training is designed to give everyone a strong foundation in core concepts and essential knowledge. This includes quantitative methods for those without a degree in a quantitative subject, and legal methods for those without a law degree.

In Term 1, core modules include:

Economic foundations of regulation and government
Investments and asset management
Theory and practice of the law of corporate finance

In Term 2, core modules include:

Corporate transactions and restructuring
Theory and practice of the law of corporate finance (Continued)

The course emphasises applying learned theory through practical experience and professional development, enabling students to gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills and build valuable connections. Deal simulations and placement opportunities will take place towards the end of Term 3, to ensure you have the fundamental skillset acquired from the year. An independent research dissertation is also an option in place of practical opportunities, giving you the opportunity to explore a topic in depth and demonstrate independent research and critical thinking skills.

The placement opportunity will involve a selection and matching process to ensure students are not only aligned with their personal skills and interests but also meet the specific needs and expectations of the relevant financial/legal institution or practitioner and industry expert leads.

Part-time students will study 180 credits to complete the MSc Law and Finance over 24 months. Part-time students will follow the same course as full-time students above, except students are expected to take the four compulsory core modules in year one and the optional modules, together with the work placement, deal simulations or dissertation, in year two.

Compulsory modules

Economic Foundations of Regulation and Government

Investments and Asset Management

Corporate Transactions and Restructuring

Theory and Practice of the Law of Corporate Finance

Optional modules

Insurance Law and Risk

Commercial Remedies

Comparative Corporate Governance

The Law and Regulation of Banks and Fintech Services

Regulation of Financial Markets

Corporations, Finance and the Environment

Private Equity

Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring

Influence and Negotiations

Hedge Fund Strategies

Valuation

Behavioural Finance

International Macroeconomics and Finance

Further Quantitative Methods

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students take modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Law and Finance.

Placement

Deal Simulations and Placements

In close partnership with leading global firms, we have developed two immersive training pathways that bridge academic study with professional practice:

Deal simulations – Intensive workshops based on real transactions in areas such as M&A, private equity, complex structured finance, and restructuring. Developed in collaboration with leading practitioners and academics, these sessions involve analysing market-standard documentation, testing legal arguments, and negotiating deal terms—often held at the offices of participating firms. Students are required to submit a written report or make an oral presentation reflecting on the simulations undertaken.

Placements – Eligible students are matched with leading firms to gain meaningful experience and to deepen their understanding of corporate transactional practice. A written report on the placement experience focusing on the intersection between law and finance will be delivered at the conclusion of the placement.

In 2025/26, placement partners included: Clifford Chance; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Interpath Advisory; Norton Rose Fulbright; Sidley Austin; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Travers Smith.

We expect all applicants to state their preferred pathway on their personal statement. Work placements are subject to students meeting the eligibility criteria. A selection and matching process will ensure that students’ skills and interests align with the specific needs and expectations of the relevant financial or legal institution, practitioner, or industry expert lead.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Law and Finance MSc

Welcome to the UCL School of Management's online series of talks on postgraduate study in Finance, Accounting and Law. Discover how our unique programmes prepare students to lead with expertise in finance, accounting, law, data science, risk management and more, setting them up to thrive in global careers. You'll hear from programme directors, with alumni and student insights, career pathways, and a chance to have your questions answered.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£47,900	£23,950
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£47,900	£23,950

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

It is recommended that students take the advanced interdisciplinary training prior to the course starting and you may need to arrive a couple of weeks before the beginning of term. There are no costs associated with the course, but you will need to cover costs for earlier accommodation.

Most of the core reading materials can be accessed through the library; however, students may be expected to purchase specific textbooks or supplementary materials. The cost of these items can vary depending on the course but typically ranges from £200 to £400 per academic year. In addition, students may incur printing and photocopying costs, which are estimated at around £20 to £50 per year, depending on individual usage.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

We have established a variety of scholarships to increase access for those with outstanding academic achievements. For more information on available scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year please see the UCL Laws website.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship

Deadline: 16 April 2026 at 12pm

Value: £25,000 maintenance and full fees (1 year)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: UK

UCL200 Laws Future Scholars' Award

Deadline: 16 April 2026 at 12pm

Value: Full fees and £15,000 living costs (1 year)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

UCL200 Laws LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27

Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

UCL200 Laws LLM Opportunity Scholarships

Deadline: 16th April 2026 at 12pm

Value: Full fees and £15,000 living costs (1 year)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

When we assess your application, we would like to learn through your personal statement:

Why you want to study Law and Finance at graduate level and at UCL
How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
Where you would like to go professionally with your degree
The modules you would like to take as part of this degree
Whether you would be interested in deal simulations, a work placement opportunity; or researching and writing an independent research dissertation, including the topic you would like to explore.
We expect all applicants to state their preferred pathway on their personal statement. Work placements are subject to availability and students meeting the eligibility criteria. A selection and matching process will ensure that students’ skills and interests align with the specific needs and expectations of the relevant financial or legal institution, practitioner, or industry expert lead.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.