The programme will offer candidates the opportunity to study the role of public international law in the regulation of financial markets. The programme will explore the doctrines and institutions of public international law, and the form and environment of the regulation of financial markets. There will be an emphasis on the relationship between the international rule of law and international operation of finance in the context of globalization focusing on accountability, transparency and good governance. Students will take two core modules: Current Issues and Research in International Law and the Regulation of Financial Markets and two options: one from a list of international law options and another from the list of financial and economic law modules. The programme will be completed with a 15,000 word dissertation that can be written in the areas of either public international law or the regulation of financial markets.

• The School of Law has expertise in the area of international law and 80% of its research was rated as ‘of international recognition or above’ in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008.
• LLM programmes were rated “commendable” (highest grade) in Quality Assurance Agency reports in 2003 and 2006.
• The School of Law is the home to the Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
• The programme is taught by experts in the fields of international law and financial law and sustained by regular publications and consultancy

Candidates must have a good honours degree in law, economics, international relations or the social sciences.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English or who have not studied to first degree level in English, they will require IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent). International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students who apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have attained the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

The programme is one year full-time or two years part-time. Two modules are taught in each of two semesters for full-time students and one module in each of four semesters for part-time students. The dissertation will be researched and written during the summer period between semesters (June-September). The programme will consist of four taught modules and a dissertation. Two of the taught modules will be core and required: Current Issues and Research in International Law and the Regulation of Financial Markets. The other two modules will be options.  One module will be chosen from a list of international law modules and another from a list of financial and economic law modules. Each module is rated at 30 credits. The dissertation is rated at 60 credits.

Teaching will be conducted through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. Specialist seminars will also be held in the field.  Students benefit from:

• 24 hour access to UEL libraries during teaching time
• membership of the library of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
• excellent on-line resources
• podcasts of lectures and electronic teaching support on UEL PLus.
• supervision for the dissertation

Assessment in the modules is research based with candidates normally writing on an essay topic negotiated with their tutor. In some modules this is supplemented by research diaries, case studies and oral presentations. The grading for the programme is as follows: a pass mark is 50-59%; a merit 60-69% and a distinction is 70% or above.

Most of the assessment is research-based and there is an emphasis on the development of excellent research-skills and good communication skills, especially through writing. Students will be encouraged to apply for internships at appropriate international, regional and national organizations (both state and non-governmental organizations).

The LLM International Law and Financial Markets offers a good grounding for work in the finance sector of the legal profession, in financial institutions, the public services, business, NGO’s and the media.

Every student is allocated a personal tutor and all staff teaching modules hold regular office hours to advise students individually about their academic programme. Generic study skills workshops take place providing instruction on module assessment and dissertation research and writing. At induction, all students are introduced to the library, electronic resources and electronic teaching provision (UELPlus). Students also have access to UEL’s counselling and advisory services.

The LLM in International Law programme includes day Schools, special seminar series led by experts in the field and the possibility of an international study trip.