Course description

The LLM in International Financial Law offers students an opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in one of the most topical and high-profile areas of legal studies today. Taught by experts in the field of financial regulation and securities markets, this course provides you with insights into the different specialist areas of financial law, and a deeper understanding of this complex discipline.

This course introduces the major regulatory and transactional issues in international financial and banking law, and is focused around two mandatory modules that deal with core aspects of international financial law, namely the regulation of financial markets and the law and practice of securities markets. This LLM strikes an ideal balance between theory and practice to the benefit of both future practitioners and those looking for a career in academia.

Aims

Provide students with an in-depth understanding of the complex discipline of international financial and banking law.

Inform students about the current international financial services and banking sector.

Develop analytical and research skills for the writing of a dissertation based on topics such as international trade and corporate law, financial services regulation, European law, international economic law, intellectual property law, human rights law, corporate governance, and law and finance in emerging markets.

Special features

The School of Law works in partnership with institutions outside the higher education sector to enable our postgraduates to produce research with a wider relevance and to develop their knowledge and expertise. It is dedicated to shaping policy-making and practice in diverse areas; from national healthcare guidelines, to influencing police procedures in countries such as Norway, Australia and Brazil.

Teaching and learning

Our taught postgraduate courses include classes run by Manchester academics and a programme of assessed work. These are particularly suitable if you want to gain specialist knowledge in your chosen subject area. You may continue your studies in order to pursue an academic career, or go on to pursue your chosen field.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units are assessed by standard methods - either one unseen written examination, or one coursework essay, or a combination of these two methods of assessment.  The assessment method of each individual course unit is listed in the course unit description on The School of Law website.

The course has a compulsory research component, in which students have to submit a 14,000 to 15,000 words dissertation (60 credits). The research element of the course is supported by weekly research methodology lectures delivered throughout semesters one and two designed to improve students' legal writing and research skills. For specialised streams, dissertation topic must be within those streams while for general LLM dissertation topics must be within one of the modules chosen by the student.

Course unit details

You will be doing 180 credits in total, 120 of which will be taught modules and the remainder 60 credits in the form of a dissertation.

The LLM course will typically offer around 30 different course units in any one year, and will always reflect a wide range of subjects across the legal spectrum. There will usually be course units offered on such diverse topics as international trade and corporate law, financial services regulation, European law, international economic law, intellectual property law, human rights law, corporate governance, and law and finance in emerging markets.

Course units are of the value of 15 or 30 credits. You will be required to select course units to a total of 120 credits, and so must choose a minimum of four course units or may be able to choose a maximum of eight course units to make up your course of study.  This involves taking one core course unit ( International Financial Services Regulation ) of 30 credit value, and the remaining 90 credits from an approved list of commercial law options.

The course has a compulsory 14,000 to 15,000 words dissertation (60 credits). The taught element of the degree programme will total 120 credits and the research element of the degree programme will total 60 credits i.e. you will study 180 credits for a master's programme.The dissertation must be within the area of one units you have chosen. The research element of the course is supported by weekly research methodology lectures delivered throughout semesters one and two designed to improve your legal writing and research skills.