Law and Finance MSc

1 Years On Campus Postgraduate Program

University College London

Program Overview

The MSc Law and Finance at UCL is an interdisciplinary one‑year (or two‑year part‑time) master’s that merges legal studies, financial economics, and regulatory understanding — ideal for those who want to operate at the intersection of law, corporate finance, and financial markets. If you are interested in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, regulation, or financial‑legal advisory, this program gives you the tools to understand both sides — what the law requires and how finance works.

Curriculum Structure

Core / Foundation Phase

You begin with compulsory modules such as Economic Foundations of Regulation and Government, which introduces key economic concepts around regulation, market structure, incentives, contracts and financial regulation — giving you a solid grounding in how markets and regulation interplay. Another core module, Investments and Asset Management, covers finance fundamentals: how financial assets are valued, risk-return tradeoffs, capital structure and payout policy, helping you understand the financial/economic side of asset valuation and investment decisions.

Also central is Theory and Practice of the Law of Corporate Finance, which focuses on legal aspects of corporate finance, regulation, and corporate transactions — with case‑studies to show how corporate finance deals and regulations are navigated in practice.

Advanced & Transaction/Restructuring Phase

Next, the programme includes a module on Corporate Transactions and Restructuring, which studies mergers & acquisitions, private equity deals, restructurings, bankruptcies, shareholder activism — combining financial‑economics reasoning with real‑world legal and corporate structures.

Final Project / Applied Component (Term 3 / Completion Phase)

To finish, you complete a 9,000‑word dissertation or — depending on eligibility and choice — a practice‑based report based on either a two‑month placement in a financial or legal institution, or intensive deal‑simulation workshops using real transaction documentation. This gives you hands‑on exposure to real corporate finance / financial‑law work and lets you apply interdisciplinary knowledge to a concrete project.

Additionally, you have the option (subject to availability) to choose elective modules (from law‑oriented or finance‑oriented lists) — such as banking regulation and fintech law, private equity, insolvency and restructuring, corporate governance, environmental aspects, hedge‑fund strategies, behavioural finance, international macrofinance, and more — allowing you to tailor the degree to your interests (legal‑centric or finance‑centric).

Focus Areas

Corporate finance law; financial markets and institutions regulation; asset management and investments; corporate transactions, M&A, restructuring; financial economics; interplay between law, regulation, and financial decisions; risk and compliance; applied transaction work and deal analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates emerge with:

A nuanced understanding of how law, regulation and financial markets interact — helping them evaluate corporate transactions, financing decisions, restructurings from both a legal and financial perspective.
Strong ability to analyse financial assets/investments, value firms/securities, and understand financial markets operations combined with legal/regulatory frameworks.
Practical skills through simulations or real‑world placements, preparing them for corporate‑finance deals, regulatory compliance, financial law, advisory roles or consulting where finance and law intersect.
Flexibility to choose electives aligning with their career goals — whether leaning more toward legal practice, corporate finance advisory, investment banking, compliance, or regulatory roles.

Professional Alignment (Career Relevance)

This MSc is especially relevant for careers in corporate law firms, investment banks, financial and corporate advisory, M&A boutiques, regulatory and compliance departments of financial institutions, corporate finance teams, private equity, restructuring consultancies, and roles requiring both legal and financial expertise. It also offers a strong foundation if you aim for consulting, policy advisory, or financial‑legal advisory roles.

Because of its interdisciplinary nature and hands‑on components (deal simulations or placements), it equips you to stand out in competitive global markets — particularly in financial centres or institutions with cross‑border transactions or complex structure needs.

Reputation (Employability & Academic Standing)

UCL’s combined strengths in law, finance, management and economics make this programme globally respected. The MSc Law and Finance attracts students and faculty with diverse backgrounds — law, economics, finance — which ensures a rich learning environment, and graduates are valued for their ability to bridge legal and financial thinking. Its location in London — a global hub for finance, law, and corporate transactions — offers unparalleled access to firms, internships, networks and opportunities to practise in real‑world contexts, giving strong employability advantage.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you join the Law and Finance MSc at University College London (UCL), you’ll get much more than theory — you’ll build practical, real-world skills at the intersection of law, finance, and economics, using a mix of legal training, financial/economic modules, and immersive transactional experience.

Here’s how the experiential learning works — and how you get hands-on:

Applied deal simulations: You take part in intensive workshops modeled on real-world transactions — such as mergers & acquisitions, private equity deals, complex structured finance, or corporate restructuring. You’ll analyse market-standard documentation, negotiate deal terms, assess financial and legal risks, and simulate realistic transactional workflows. This gives you a feel for real transactions — almost as if you were working in a law firm or investment bank.
Work placements at leading institutions: You can choose structured placements working at top-tier corporate law firms or financial institutions on live deals. This gives first-hand exposure to how legal and financial professionals collaborate on major transactions, how deals are structured, and how regulations and financing intersect in practice.
Interdisciplinary coursework combining law, finance & economics: The core modules cover economic and regulatory foundations, investments & asset management, corporate finance law, and corporate transactions/restructuring — so you learn both the legal frameworks and the financial/economic logic behind corporate decisions.
Wide range of optional modules: Depending on your interest, you can pick optional modules spanning corporate governance, banking and fintech regulation, insolvency, private equity, hedge-fund strategies, behavioural finance, or environmental/finance intersections — allowing you to tailor the degree for legal practice, finance-industry roles, regulatory/policy work, or specialised practice areas.
Final project — real research or transaction work: In the final term you complete a substantial project: either a research essay at the intersection of law and finance, or a professional-style report based on either the placement or a series of deal simulations. This ensures that you graduate not just with knowledge but with demonstrated professional-level competence.

🎯 What this degree prepares you for

You’ll be equipped with a rare and powerful blend: deep legal understanding + financial economics + practical transactional skills. That makes you a strong candidate for roles such as:

Legal counsel or associate at top corporate law firms (especially ones dealing with corporate finance, M&A, structured finance).
In-house counsel or legal/advisory roles at investment banks, private equity funds, or financial institutions.
Advisory/consultancy roles on corporate transactions, restructuring, regulatory compliance, or financial-legal due diligence.
Policy, regulatory, or compliance roles — especially because you’ll understand both how financial markets operate and how law shapes/regulates them.
Hybrid finance-law roles in fintech, financial services, or structured finance — where both legal and financial literacy are critical.

You’ll also benefit from the prestige of UCL’s law and management faculties, and be able to network in London’s vibrant legal and financial environment — a big boost if you aim for global or cross-border careers.

Who this programme is ideal for

This MSc is a strong fit if you:

Come from a background in law, finance, economics, business, accounting, or a related discipline (or are willing to take a short pre-course if you come from a different background).
Want to go beyond traditional law degrees or traditional finance degrees — you’re interested in how law and finance interact, e.g., structuring deals, understanding regulatory/financial risk, deal execution, corporate transactions.
See yourself in roles where legal and financial judgments matter together — such as corporate finance law, M&A advisory, investment banking, private equity law, or regulatory roles.
Are comfortable with intensive coursework, seminars, team discussions, and real-world simulations or placements — combining academic study with practical work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you complete the MSc Law and Finance at UCL, you’ll be equipped for roles such as Corporate/M&A Lawyer, Investment-Banking Analyst, Finance & Compliance Consultant, Regulatory / Financial-Services Advisor, or In-house Counsel at major corporations or investment firms.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

University services that support employment: As a UCL student you’ll benefit from in‑house careers support, including CV/interview workshops, employer‑engagement events, and access to UCL’s global alumni and professional network.
Interdisciplinary, industry-relevant training: The programme combines law, economics, and finance — giving you the ability to understand regulatory frameworks, financial markets, corporate financing, and restructurings. This makes you capable of navigating both legal and financial aspects of corporate deals.
Practical, real-world experience: You get a choice of two immersive pathways: deal‑simulations based on real transactions (M&A, private equity, debt‑finance, restructuring) or placements with top global law and finance firms — giving you hands-on exposure to live deals and corporate transactions.
Strong employability across sectors: Graduates are positioned for roles at major law firms, investment banks, private equity houses, regulatory bodies, corporate finance departments, consultancies, or in‑house legal/finance teams.
Global reputation and access to London’s legal & financial ecosystem: With teaching from both UCL’s top Law and Management faculties, and presence in central London + Canary Wharf, you’ll gain exposure to a vibrant network of financial institutions, law firms, and corporate clients — a major advantage for launching an international career.

Further Academic Progression:
After this MSc, you could deepen your specialization by pursuing a PhD or research-based master’s in corporate law, financial regulation, economics, or financial law. Alternatively, you could combine this with professional legal qualification (e.g., bar/admissions training), further finance credentials, or regulatory-compliance certifications — paving the way for senior advisory, leadership, or specialist regulatory roles across global markets.