Law and Finance MSc

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Queen Mary University of London

Program Overview

The MSc in Law and Finance at Queen Mary University of London gives you a unique edge by combining legal knowledge with financial expertise. It’s perfect if you want to understand both how the law shapes markets and how finance operates in real-world business—ideal for anyone looking to work in law firms, banks, or regulatory bodies.

Curriculum Structure

Year/Stage 1 – Core Foundations

In your first stage, you’ll build the essentials in law and finance. Modules like Regulation of Financial Markets show how financial markets are controlled and monitored, while Principles of Accounting and International Finance teach you to interpret financial statements and instruments. This combination gives you a strong foundation to approach complex financial and legal issues confidently.

Year/Stage 2 – Applied Integration

Next, you’ll start bringing law and finance together. With modules such as International Finance Law and International Finance Law Applied, you’ll explore cross-border financial regulations and learn to solve real-world challenges at the intersection of law and finance. By the end of this stage, you’ll be comfortable making decisions that require both legal insight and financial understanding.

Year/Stage 3 – Dissertation and Independent Research

Finally, you’ll take on your Law and Finance Dissertation, carrying out an independent research project on a topic you’re passionate about. This is your chance to showcase everything you’ve learned, demonstrate your analytical skills, and prepare for a professional career or further academic study.

Focus Areas:

Financial regulation, market law, international finance, legal risk, accounting principles, interdisciplinary research.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduate with the ability to navigate complex legal frameworks in finance, analyse financial systems with legal precision, conduct independent research, and communicate insights effectively to stakeholders in law, banking, or regulatory sectors.

Professional Alignment (accreditation):

The programme is jointly run by the Centre for Commercial Law Studies and the School of Economics and Finance, ensuring it’s directly relevant to careers in law, banking, regulation, and international finance.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Queen Mary Law School is internationally recognised, consistently ranked among top law schools globally, and part of the Russell Group, giving you excellent employability and academic credibility.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Queen Mary, the MSc in Law and Finance is designed so you don’t just learn theory—you actually use it. You’ll get hands-on experience with real financial tools, legal research databases, and interactive seminars that mirror the work of professionals in law firms, banks, and regulatory bodies. Small group projects, presentations, and expert-led discussions help you develop practical skills, while access to world-class facilities gives you the confidence to tackle real-world challenges in finance and law.

Here’s how that comes to life in your studies:

Trading Room Access: Work with Bloomberg, Reuters, and other professional financial software to analyse live market data and run simulations like a financial analyst.
Legal & Financial Databases: Use LexisNexis, Westlaw, Justis, Eur‑Lex, and Hein‑Online for in-depth legal and regulatory research.
Specialist Libraries: Queen Mary’s Law Library and European Documentation Centre support your coursework and dissertation with extensive resources.
Group Projects & Seminars: Collaborate on discussions, presentations, and problem-solving exercises that mimic real-world law and finance challenges.
Short Courses & Pre‑sessional Modules: Strengthen your technical skills in areas like financial statistics and legal writing before diving into the main programme.
Dissertation Research: Apply your skills on a substantial independent project, tackling a topic that combines law and finance in a practical, professional context.
Industry Insights & Networking: Learn from guest speakers and practitioners with current experience in financial markets, law, and regulation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MSc Law and Finance opens doors to careers where law meets finance. Many alumni move into roles like Compliance Analyst, Financial Risk Consultant, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, or Banking & Finance Advisor, working for investment banks, law firms, consulting companies, or government and international organisations. The programme equips you with both legal insight and financial know-how, giving you the confidence to step straight into professional environments:

Personalised career support: Queen Mary’s Careers and Enterprise team offers one-to-one guidance, CV and interview workshops, and exclusive events with top employers to help you find the right role.
Strong employment outcomes: Around 94% of postgraduate students from Queen Mary are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating, and law graduates see around 96% employed or continuing their studies.
Competitive salaries: Alumni in finance and law roles typically report starting salaries averaging £35,800, reflecting the strong demand for graduates with this dual expertise.
Industry exposure: You’ll hear from and work alongside experts from the World Bank, IMF, Bank of England, EU, and other global organisations, giving you insights that textbooks alone can’t provide.
Prime London location: Being in the heart of the City and near Lincoln’s Inn Fields means access to law firms, banks, and regulators for networking, internships, and events.
Long-term professional value: The combination of legal and financial skills is highly sought after, helping you qualify for specialist roles and professional certifications down the line.

Further Academic Progression:

If you want to continue learning after your MSc, you could pursue a PhD in Law, Finance, or interdisciplinary studies, or take professional qualifications like the CFA or legal practice courses. Some students also choose an LLM with a focus on financial regulation or corporate law, giving them extra expertise to excel in advisory, policy, or analytical roles.