Overview
The Brunel International Financial Regulation and Corporate Law LLM is designed for graduates interested in specialising in the growing field of financial regulation and corporate law in an international context.
Our programme, one of the few of its kind in the UK, will give you a solid grounding in the principles, procedures and practices underpinning international financial services regulation and the opportunity, through our range of elective modules, to tailor your studies to your legal interests and career objectives.
As financial services become increasingly global, and with the effects of Brexit on the sector still unknown, employers are looking for job candidates with the specialist skills required to stay on top of the changing regulatory environment. Your International Financial Regulation and Corporate Law LLM will give you that expertise and help you improve your career prospects whether in a law practice, the industry itself or academia.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The International Financial Regulation and Corporate Law LLM consists of compulsory and optional modules and a 15,000 word dissertation on a legal topic of your choice.
- Full-time students should complete four modules per term, excluding the dissertation.
- Part-time students should complete two modules per term, excluding the dissertation.
You can gain valuable work experience while studying postgraduate law at Brunel. Optional work placements (6-12 months) and internships (4-12 weeks) are available and you can choose to start your course in January or September and study full-time or part-time, depending on your needs and specific requirements.
Compulsory
- LX5500 - Dissertation A 15,000 word assignment to enable you to acquire a well-developed knowledge and understanding of an area of law within the scope of your programme and to improve skills in legal research and writing.
- LX5663 - Comparative Corporate Law
This module deals with key issues of corporate law from an international perspective and focuses on theoretical and practical underpinnings of modern corporations that are applicable across the globe.
- LX5609 - Theory of International Financial RegulationThis module addresses the function and significance of national and international financial markets; the international legal framework for international financial markets; the role of international financial organisations; and national financial regulation in a global context.
- LX5664 - Principles of Corporate Law
This module builds on a general understanding of the foundations of UK corporate law and examines particular topics, in particular corporate governance, protection of minority shareholders and directors’ duties.
- LX5619 - Practice of International Financial RegulationThis module addresses the function and significance of national and international financial markets; the international legal framework for international financial markets; the role of international financial organisations; and national financial regulation in a global context.
- LX5672 - Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability and ESG
The module examines and critically analyses corporate responsibility, and the requirements of Sustainability and ESG in modern business and the international dimensions of these concepts.
Optional
- LX5617 - Principles of International Commercial ArbitrationProviding an understanding of the general principles of international arbitration and a comparison of the main alternative dispute resolution processes – arbitration, mediation and adjudication, this module allows you to critically analyse the use of arbitration to resolve international business and commercial disputes.
- LX5613 - World Trade Organisation (WTO) LawProviding a thorough understanding of the basic rules in the world trading system under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and considering them in their economic, historical and political context. This module allows you to critically analyse the theoretical and political bases of trade liberalisation and the institutional background to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO.
- LX5616 - Privacy and Data ProtectionThis module aims to provide you with essential knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for both privacy and data protection.
- LX5624 - Internet Law I - Substantive Legal IssuesThis module intends to examine the nature of the Internet and its impact on commerce. It covers subjective legal issues of Internet Law and it analyses relevant international regulatory framework in response to the development of new technologies.
- LX5528 - International Environmental LawThis module allows you to study and assess the core legal provisions and principles relating to the environmental law of the International community of States and the European Union, and to study and assess developments in specific areas or sectors of concerned with environmental protection.
- LX5658 Banking and Tech LawRecently, banks and other financial institutions have made considerable investments in financial technologies. This is inevitably changing the industry from a business and regulatory perspective. This module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the interplay between the banking industry and the technological world.
- LX5666 Artificial Intelligence, Law and EthicsThis module is designed to explore the legal and ethical concerns raised by AI and innovations centred on it. It covers topics including the ethical compatibility of AI-driven decisions, AI and Credit Scoring, AI and Public Law including Administrative and Judicial Decisions. The aim of the module is to provide students a solid understanding of the most significant legal, policy and ethical debates in these area by examining advanced literature, statutes, judicial and administrative decisions and soft laws (guidelines and recommendations).
- LX5655 International Commercial LawIn this module you will be introduced to the general framework of international commercial law, the law of international sale contracts and related matters, including cross-border dispute resolution, transport, and broader social concerns such as labour and corruption.
- LX5652 - Principles of International Investment ArbitrationThis module aims to provide an understanding of the law governing international investment arbitration.
- LX5671 - International Cultural Heritage Law - Comparative and International PerspectivesThe module provides an overview of different international and regional legal tools which could be deployed for the protection of cultural heritage.
- LX5649 - International Dispute SettlementThe main focus of the module will be on the private international law problems that will arise in a context of commercial disputes with an international element. The specific objectives of the course are to provide advanced instructions in several aspects of private international law that are of particular relevance to international commercial litigation, and to examine critically jurisdictional rules that will be applied by the courts in respect of commercial disputes with an international element.
- LX5657 Governance, Regulation and ComplianceThis module will introduce you to the foundations of compliance in a financial institution and financial department of a corporation, while also providing a comprehensive inspection of governance and regulatory risk approaches.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
You will leave Brunel with a firm grounding in law and with solid legal knowledge, allowing you to be flexible in your future choices. While many of our students specialise to enhance their legal practice work, others are sought after by government agencies, the private commercial sector (such as in-house lawyers) and non-governmental organisations where a background in commercial law is valued.
Our students in recent years went on to pursue careers in range of high-profile organisations such as Dentons, White and Case LLP, Lloyds Banking Group, European Parliament, ECDC- Ocean Accelerator Inc. and Patent and Trademark Clinic (PTC).
UK entry requirements
- A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in Law or related discipline including International Relations, Political Sciences, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Management, Economics and Finance, Accounting, Business Administration.
- Applicants with other qualifications or with relevant work-related experience, will be considered on an individual basis.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2025/26 entry
UK
£14,435 full-time
£7,215 part-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£22,320 full-time
£11,160 part-time
£1,385 placement year
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
You'll be taught by experts in your field of study, and you'll have the opportunity to interact and engage with academics and your fellow students throughout your programme.
Your programme will consist of a variety of learning and studying activities, including lectures and seminars which will be delivered in person on campus. These will be supported by a number of online learning and studying activities when appropriate to provide a rich and dynamic experience. At LLM level students will study four 15 credit modules each term for two terms across the academic year.
Each module will have on average eight two-hour in person contact time per week in seminars, workshops or lectures. After the end of the taught part of the Programme, there is the dissertation. All students will also have the opportunity to seek guidance during the feedback and consultation hours of their lecturers (2 1-hour slot every week).
Additionally, students can seek support in individual meetings with their personal tutors, both on campus and online. There will also be regular cohort meetings and student society events, at both programme and departmental levels.
All lectures, seminars, and other social activities will occur in person on the Brunel campus. Online activities will be used to support your learning when appropriate. It is expected that students will regularly attend these events, as sustained engagement with a learning community is a central dimension of the Brunel experience.
You'll be taught by experts in your field of study, and you'll have the opportunity to interact and engage with academics and your fellow students throughout your programme.
Your programme will consist of a variety of learning and studying activities, including lectures and seminars which will be delivered in person on campus. These will be supported by a number of online learning and studying activities when appropriate to provide a rich and dynamic experience. In Levels 5 students will study four 30 credit modules for two terms across the academic year.
Each module will have on average two-to-three hours in person contact time per week in lectures and seminars. In Level 6 students will study four 20 credit modules and the dissertation module. Each module will have on average two hours in person in lectures, seminars or workshops.
All students will also have the opportunity to seek guidance during module lecturers’ feedback and consultation hours. Additionally, students can seek support in individual meetings with their personal tutors, both on campus and online. There will also be regular cohort meetings and student society events, at both programme and departmental levels.
All lectures, seminars, and other social activities will occur in person on the Brunel campus. Online activities will be used to support your learning when appropriate. It is expected that students will regularly attend these events, as sustained engagement with a learning community is a central dimension of the Brunel experience.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Brunel has a strong research status. The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) rated the majority (72.7%) of our research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. Our research was rated 58th globally for research impact. This robust culture provides a dynamic space for students to learn and contribute to current knowledge.
Your International Financial Regulation and Corporate Law LLM modules will be delivered through seminars, with two hours of teaching per module a week alongside your own self-directed study. Optional modules have class sizes of 10-12 students, and compulsory modules have class sizes of around 25 on average.
You’ll also learn through:
- research centre activities and research trips
- contributing to newsletters
- making oral presentations
- attending law film screenings
- participating in debating events and reading group sessions.
You'll receive your timetable in advance of the course starting. Part-time study is based on a full-time timetable, with one less module per semester.
Assessment and feedback
All modules are assessed through a variety of diverse and authentic assessment methods. Guidance and support is offered to all students ahead of the assessment periods. General and personalised feedback is also available after the assessment periods and the publication of the results.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.