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International Financial Law LLM

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The pathway in International Financial Law is a widely respected specialist LLM with an international reputation. It focuses on the law, documentation and legal issues affecting major transactions in global financial markets and their regulation. It benefits from an unrivalled London location, and is taught by a practitioner-led faculty providing cutting edge teaching expertise in the field.


Key benefits

  • Reputed teaching team made up of senior academics with a strong practitioner background, giving the specialist LLM its strength and credibility.

  • Wide-ranging selection of modules, many unique in this area, covering fields which are major practice areas in global and regional law firms in major financial centres and with investment banks.

  • Opportunities to listen to and meet with a range of guest speakers, including partners from global law firms.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two years or four years PT, September to September.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Programme accreditations Law Society CPD points

Course intake 360 overall for the LLM (FT and PT)

Course leaders Professor Ravi Tennekoon

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, King’s College London Admissions Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty The Dickson Poon School of Law

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Course detail

Description

The International Financial Law LLM focuses on the law, documentation and legal issues affecting major transactions in global financial markets (International loans and Bonds, International Project Finance, Derivatives and Securitisations), corporate mergers and acquisitions and their regulations under key legal regimes (EU, US and the UK), as well as international investment.

It will give you an in-depth understanding of many of the cutting edge transactions in this field (eg credit derivative structures and synthetic securitisations) as well as the volume of anticipated regulatory law now being enacted both in the EU and in the US in response to the financial market crisis of 2008. It will also cover allied legal disciplines strongly related to these topics such as Comparative Corporate Insolvency.

The LLM is strongly oriented towards a problem-solving approach, both as to legal rules and their practical use. It consequently has a clear practice orientation, but also employs critical analysis of the law and its development to the issues of the global financial market.

The leader of this pathway is Professor Ravi Tennekoon.

Course purpose

The LLM in International Financial Law consists of a strongly practice-oriented set of modules providing you with both the necessary legal knowledge and practical orientation necessary to practice in this field. While providing and expecting the highest level of academic rigour many of the modules will seek to train you to problem-solve and advise as practitioners in the global law firms or as investment banking counsel. The teaching in this area will be strongly international in outlook, in addition to being practice-oriented and intellectually challenging.

Aimed at recent law graduates (or graduates of joint degrees with a substantial legal content) as well as established legal or other professionals who may have graduated a number of years ago, the programme is rigorous and demanding.

Further literature

International Finance Law LLM Brochure

 

Course format and assessment

In the first and second semester you study your selection of taught modules (half and full). These are in most cases assessed in the third semester (May/June) by written examination, or in some cases by the submission of an assessed essay. 

Dissertation or research essays must be submitted in September, after the May/June examinations.

Structure

Year 1

Required Modules

You are required to take one of the following writing projects: 

  • 10,000 word Dissertation (40 credits) 

  • 15,000 word Dissertation (60 credits) 

  • 10,000 word practice or research module (40 credits) 

 

Optional Modules

In order to meet the 180 credit requirement, students must select at least 120-140 credits from a range of optional modules. Students taking the International Financial Law pathway must ensure that at least 120 credits are taken within that pathway. This can consist of optional modules alone or a combination of optional modules and a writing project, providing its content is relevant to the pathway. 

The range of optional modules may typically include: 

  • Law of International Finance 1 (40 credits) 

  • Law of International Finance 3 - Securitisations Derivatives and CDOS (20 credits) Prerequisite: Students must also take Law of International Finance 1 

  • Law of International Finance (Practice Module) (40 credits) Prerequisite: Students must also take Law of International Finance 1, Law of International Finance 3 

  • Banking Law (40 credits) 

  • EU Financial Regulation (40 credits) 

  • Competition Law in Financial Services (20 credits) 

  • Transnational Bank Resolution (20 credits) 

  • Financial Risk Stability & Regulation (20 credits) 

  • International Investment Law (20 credits) 

  • Transnational Corporate Restructuring (20 credits) 

  • Law of Private Equity Finance (40 credits) 

  • Legal Issues in Corporate Finance (20 credits) 

  • Regulation of The Conduct of Mergers & Acquisitions (40 credits) 

  • Corporate Governance (20 credits) 

  • Law and Regulation of Financial Advice Portfolio Management and Trading (20 credits) 

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to- date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates. 

 

Entry requirements & how to apply

LLM Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements

High 2:1

(65%)

Undergraduate degree with high 2:1 honours (i.e. overall average of at least 65%) in Law or a degree with at least 70% law content, or an equivalent international qualification and grading.

Exceptionally, you may be considered where a comparable academic level has been achieved through other graduate studies (such as a Graduate Diploma in Law) and where work or experience (at least three years legal work experience) has made you a suitable candidate for the LLM.

Please note: Meeting the minimum requirements for your application to be considered does not guarantee an offer. Applications for this programme are competitive.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £100 applies.

All applications must be made to the generic Master of Laws (LLM) programme. If accepted, and once you have enrolled onto the LLM programme, you will have the opportunity to choose one of our specialist LLMs. At the start of the semester you will have the opportunity to attend taster lectures and to speak to programme/module leaders before you make a decision on whether to do a specialist or tailored LLM.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement Yes A personal statement of up to 4,000 characters (maximum 2 pages) is required
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References No Please note: References are no longer required to assess candidates for the LLM Master of Laws, though references may be requested in borderline cases.
Other Optional You may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. For programmes with spaces remaining, no further applications will be accepted from non-EU (Overseas) nationals after 31 July 2020 or from UK/EU nationals after 28 August 2020.

 Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £17,310 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £27,390 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: £8,655 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time overseas fees: £13,695 per year (2020/21)

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March 2020, payment is due by 30 April 2020.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1st August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer in late August, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.


Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies and/or binding costs
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Transcription costs
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel to and around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs 

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

In a competitive world we can give you the competitive edge to take your career to the next level. That's why you'll find our LLM course is supplemented by opportunities to develop your skills and professional networks. 

The result is that students are presented with a wide range of employment destinations when they leave; from positions with global law firms located in London and other major financial centres and positions as in-house legal counsel with investment banks as well as positions at the European Central Bank, European Commission and UN. 

Career destinations

In a competitive world we can give you the competitive edge to take your career to the next level. That’s why you’ll find our LLM programme is supplemented by opportunities to develop your skills and professional networks.

The result is that students are presented with a wide range of employment destinations when they leave; from positions at the European Central Bank, European Commission and UN to commercial roles as investment bank analysts, tax or public affairs advisers, as well as careers in the legal profession; accountancy; management consultancy; human rights organisations and other voluntary bodies; academia.

Testimonials

Diego

Diego

"My focus is on financial law, there was really no place else to go, as King's professors in this field are amongst the best in the UK, which makes sense when you realise that London is one of the financial capitals of the world."

Lina

Lina

"Most of the lecturers perfectly combine academic background with up to date practical experience in legal scope from the leading law firms. In addition the students who come to study LLM are invaluable with their background and experience, representing major law firms of the world."

Petra

Petra

"The courses are taught by practitioners, who give a good insight on market practices. Furthermore, lectures are lively with students participating. I can really recommend the programme."

Professor Ravi Tennekoon

Professor Ravi Tennekoon

Professor Ravi Tennekoon was appointed Executive Director and Global Head of Legal for Financial Markets with a major European investment bank responsible for global legal work in the Banks major legal centres from London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and several other major global centres. 

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