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LOCATION
University Square Stratford
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
This specialised LLM will equip you with expert knowledge in Financial Technology (FinTech) law and regulation. Recent developments in FinTech are having an increasing effect on the way individuals, businesses and governments save, borrow, spend and invest. This Masters will introduce key alternative finance products and services such as mobile payments, crowdfunding, cryptoassets, private digital currencies, stablecoins, decentralized finance and the approaches to central bank digital currencies. These services have been facilitated by technologies such as distributed ledger technology (DLT) blockchain, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
You will also enhance your professional skills, awareness, and ability to locate, interpret, analyse and criticise laws, rules, policies and practices on international financing, financial markets and the impact of technology in the financial services industry. This programme will also provide specialist knowledge of the key role that the law and technology play in facilitating international financial transactions such as syndicated lending and international bond issues.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
You'll learn about the role that financial regulation plays in key FinTech developments such as mobile payments, crowdfunding, cryptoassets, private digital currencies, stablecoins and decentralised finance. You'll develop an understand of the role that law and technology play in facilitating international transactions such as syndicated lending and international bond issues.
You'll develop the skills to critically engage with the major theoretical legal debates surrounding international financing, financial markets and financial technology You'll be able to deal with policy arguments on international financing, financial markets and financial technology law and have the ability to apply critical and contextual approaches to the developing legal issues emanating from international financing, regulation of financial markets and financial technology.
You will develop the ability to analyse, articulate and write on the subject, by linking previous or current experience with an academic inquiry, particularly via dissertation or work-based project. You'll also develop an advanced knowledge of the legal discourse and doctrines relating to international financing, financial markets and financial technology.
You'll gain detailed knowledge and critical understanding of key concepts, terminologies, practices and structures dealing with international financing, financial markets and technology. You will have detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the topics studied by linking previous or current experience with current scholarly and legal debates on international financing, financial markets and technology, particularly via dissertation or work-based project.
You'll develop the ability to engage with principal debates in the field of international financing, financial markets and technology. You'll build awareness of the contribution of non-legal discipline to debates surrounding international financing, financial markets and technology.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
LLM FinTech Law and Regulation course specification
pdf, 120.09 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
Regulation of Financial Markets CloseRegulation of Financial Markets
You consider the nature and operation of financial regulation in all of its principle areas of application at the present time. The significant changes which are presently taking place in national and global financial markets make this an essential part of a postgraduate study in international law.
Law of International Finance CloseLaw of International Finance
In this module you will examine the legal issues created by the international operations of large commercial banks, merchant banks and investment banks. Although based primarily on a discussion and analysis of current London City Practices, reference to other relevant laws are examined. The course has a strong comparative and international law content and emphasises a study of regulatory issues and private international law considerations in the context of international finance.
Applied Project CloseApplied Project
The aim of the dissertation is to enable you to initiate and carry through an academic enquiry outside the formal structure of the taught LLM modules. Students select their own field of research and build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the taught LLM modules.
Optional ModulesInternational Law and Business CloseInternational Law and Business
The module aims to provide students with an appreciation of the interface between international law and business through an analytical exploration of some key areas of International Law that shape, and is shaped, by business.
You will examine:
a) the role of business in international norm creation and the manner in which international law norms may be
applied to business entities
b) the general principles, rationale and efficacy of global regulation of business
c) the manner in which some principles of domestic business have been elevated to the international arena.
International Corporate Governance CloseInternational Corporate Governance
The module aims to provide you with a comprehensive appreciation of the legal, theoretical and practical underpinnings of the operation and control of contemporary corporations. It introduces students to the evolving framework that seeks to regulate the intricate relationships between, and often conflicting interests of, the corporation and its board of directors, the management, shareholders and the broader society within which they operate. Whilst the module draws from English law, it is international and comparative in focus and exposes students to the evolving global corporate governance regimes.
Economic Integration in the Developing World CloseEconomic Integration in the Developing World
This module focuses on economic integration in developing countries. It seeks to locate the process of regionalism within the framework of economic, legal and political development in economically disadvantaged parts of the world. The methodology of the module is interdisciplinary. You will explore questions of law, politics, economics, history and sociology. Thus, students are expected to understand both legal and non-legal perspectives on economic integration in developing countries.
The Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation CloseThe Law of the World Trade Organisation and Globalisation
The primary aim of this module is to introduce you to complex international trade law and globalization issues. As the approach will be interdisciplinary, at the end of the course you will have an understanding of the history and politics of the post-World War II trading regime in addition to the principles of international trade regulation. You will also interrogate factors and forces shaping globalization and the consequences of this process for the global trading order.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
All our LLM courses are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops with six contact hours a week taking place during weekday evenings from 6 - 9pm. We extensively use problem-based learning, class discussion and case studies to ensure our teaching is brought to life, while all our lectures are issued as podcasts to give you greater access to learning resources and allow you to revisit specific classes.
A variety of teaching methods will be used, and you will be expected to lead discussions based on your own research activities and reflective practice. You will also be expected to work in groups and present findings and solutions to problems. At all times you will be encouraged to reflect on and take responsibility for your own learning. Seminar and workshop groups are a key component of the course and aim to assist you with analysing underlying principles and practices of accounting and assess your application to specific issues.
The main approaches to teaching and learning can be summarised as an emphasis on the role of learners in acquiring knowledge and understanding, the development of skills for self-managed learning and self-assessment and a critical approach to study.
Knowledge is developed through:
- Directed and general reading in the module
- Knowledge based participation in lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops including reflective activities with feedback
- Online discussions and activities
- Research using collection and analysis of research materials.
- The use of information technology to undertake legal research.
- Familiarity with legal concepts, case studies and legal arguments in the selected areas of law.
Thinking skills are developed through:
- Preparation of tasks set for tutorials, seminars and workshops and linking theory to practice
- Satisfactory completion of the assessment process including essays, presentations, reports, case studies and projects
- Preparation for major assignment, such as dissertation/work-based project
- Problem-solving and critical analysis in seminar activities including reflective activities with feedback
- Online discussions and activities
Practical skills are developed through:
- Academic and research skills session, which will take place at the beginning of the semester.
- IT activities with feedback
- Case studies and workshops
- Analysis of legal argument
- Planning and staging presentations
- Research skills-based activities with feedback
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- Time management to be achieved through either working in groups or individually
- Forming and working in teams which will develop organisational, motivational and communication skills
- Being able to produce clearly argued solutions when problem solving
- Academic writing ability
- Oral presentation of arguments
- Planning activities with feedback
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
Knowledge is assessed by:
- Essays
Thinking skills are assessed by:
- Seminars
- Workshops
Practical skills are assessed by
- Forms of formative and summative assessments
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- Group tasks
- Time Management
Breakdown assessment, 100% coursework
We aim to provide feedback on assessments in within two weeks from the announcement of the result of the assessment.
Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss assessments with the Course Leader to ensure they are able to fully engage with all assessment within the course.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

University Square Stratford, University Square Stratford
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Related Courses
What we're researching
At the Royal Docks School of Business and Law we are researching: digital finance and the application of technology to finance in emerging and developing economies; the regulation of FinTech and digital finance. Our research focuses on the mechanisms, potential and risks of digital finance and FinTech, and the approach to their regulation. Current research interrogates existing regulation of cryptoassets; the challenges of regulating decentralised finance and the co-existence of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies.
LLM FinTech Law with Dr Iwas Salami
Hear from Dr Iwa Salami about our newly designed Master of Laws; LLM FinTech Law.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
After completing this programme, you would be able to work in roles including: financial/fintech compliance specialists; lawyers within financial/fintech institutions and law firms that have finance practice areas (they would need to have qualified in their chosen jurisdiction of practice); financial regulators and policy makers within government departments such as the ministry of finance/ treasury.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.