International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice LLM

Overview

Our two-year LLM International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice is the first of its kind and gives you a clear and supported career pathway to qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the professional body governing training and qualification for solicitors, introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as the new route to qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales. The LLM programme addresses this and provides a distinct route to prepare you for the SQE.

The LLM International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice contains specialist preparatory modules (SQE1 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice, and SQE2 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice) that provide you with specific one-to-one support and guidance to perform effectively in both the SRA’s SQE1 and SQE2 assessments.

The LLM International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice also gives you a rigorous legal education with an in-depth grounding in practical legal and transferable skills. The course develops your legal, academic and clinical skills at every stage of your journey.

The programme is taught by academic experts and practitioner lawyers, who put real-world clinical legal experience at the heart of the programme. They'll give you the tools you need to graduate as a capable and reflective practitioner, equipped for qualification as a solicitor in England & Wales.

As an LLM student, you'll benefit from working throughout your degree alongside staff in our Law Clinic who possess national and international legal experience and who have worked both regionally as well as in the City. This will enhance your employability and contribute to the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) required by the SRA for you to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

On graduation with an LLM International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice, you will have:

• gained in-depth knowledge in areas including International Banking and Finance Law, Law of Financial Crime, International Trade and Investment law, Regulation of Capital Markets and Securities, Regulation of Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Virtual Assets, International Law of Taxation
• studied for, and passed SQE1, needed to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales
• studied for, and be ready to sit, SQE2 on completion of your studies with us
• undertaken invaluable work experience in our Law Clinic that will contribute to the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) needed to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 (or above) degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in any discipline from an approved higher education institution. Further guidance can be found in our international section.

English language requirements:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no sub-test less than 5.5.

Alternatively, you may take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course.

Curriculum

The LLM programme consists of 280 credits, made up of core modules and optional modules. Students take 120 credits in Year 1 and 160 credits in Year 2. Each ‘academic year’ of the Master's programme consists of two semesters.

In your first year of study, you will enrol on the core SQE1 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice module and the Law Clinic 1 module. You will then select two option modules in the area of International Banking and Financial Technology Law; one option from Semester 1 and one option from Semester 2 to make up to 120 credits in total. At the end of your first year, you must sit, and pass, the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) SQE1 assessment.

In your second year, you will enrol on the SQE2 Legal Theory & Solicitors Practice module, the Law Clinic 2 module and the Dissertation module. You will then select a further two option modules in the area of International Banking and Financial Technology Law. One option from Semester 1 not previously studied and one option from Semester 2 not previously studied. At the end of your second year, you will sit the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) SQE2 assessment.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Most modules use a mixture of interactive lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Students need to do independent study as part of all modules. We’ll support you through this with reading lists, suggested resources and our Virtual Learning Environment.

You will have regular contact hours and informal feedback from your tutors throughout the course.

Assessments are a mix of coursework assessments and formal examinations, held at the end of each semester.

Students should be aware that the SQE is assessed independently. Students will sit these exams in one of the designated centres in England and Wales.

Throughout your studies, you will benefit from one of the law school’s personal learning coaches who will support your SQE studies and work in our Law Clinic.

You will also gain invaluable work experience in our Law Clinic that will contribute to the two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) needed to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

You will also enjoy a rich variety of extra-curricular activities and opportunities. These include participation in mock trials and moots in our Lady Hale Court Room facility, opened by Baroness Hale of Richmond in January 2020.

You can also take advantage of volunteering opportunities with advice organisations and within the University, court visits, external speakers, and social and law-related events organised by our thriving Student Law Society.

Supported by our dedicated colleagues in the Careers Service, you will have the chance to obtain career mentoring and work experience through our links to our regional legal, business, and not-for-profit communities.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fee

• Home students: £6,328, per year over 2 years
• International students: £16,660, per year over 2 years

Additional Course Costs

The costs of the external Solicitors Qualification Examinations (SRA SQE1 and SQE2) are not covered in the course tuition fee. You'll arrange to sit these examinations when you feel ready to after completing the associated preparatory work.

From September 2025:

• SQE1: £1,934
• SQE2: £2,974

SRA fees also apply for cancellation, resits and appeals of SQE results. Information relating to the additional fees, and any exemptions you may qualify for, can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career Prospects

Our two-year LLM International Banking and Financial Technology Law with Solicitors Practice is designed specifically for those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England & Wales. It is the first of its kind and gives you a clear and supported career pathway to qualification as a solicitor.

As an LLM student, you'll benefit from working throughout your degree alongside staff in our Law Clinic who possess national and international legal experience and who have worked both regionally as well as in the City.

The LLM programme also offers you the unique opportunity to explore a specialist area of the law. The programme is taught by research active staff who have expertise in International Banking and Financial Technology (FinTech), therefore ensuring you have access to cutting-edge research and thinking.

On graduation it is envisaged you will have completed both mandatory Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) examinations, possess an in-depth knowledge of a specialist area of the law, and gained practice experience via the School’s Law Clinic, enhancing your career opportunities.

Career Opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

University of Bradford

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Overview:

The University of Bradford is a public research university located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is known for its strong focus on research and its commitment to social mobility. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university provides a vibrant student life experience with a range of clubs, societies, and events. Students can expect a welcoming and supportive campus environment.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Strong research focus:

The university is recognized for its high-quality research, with 77% of its research impact rated internationally excellent or world-leading.

Social mobility:

The University of Bradford is ranked first in England for its impact on social mobility.

Value for money:

The university's Distance Learning MBA is ranked the best value for money by the Financial Times.

Excellent academic programs:

The university excels in various fields, including Physiotherapy, Forensic Science, and Children's Nursing.

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Academic Programs:

The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Business:

The University of Bradford's Business School is recognized for its support of firms and students.

Nursing:

The university provides financial help for nursing students.

Computer Science:

The university has invested £600k in new computer science labs.

Other:

The university also offers programs in various other fields, including engineering, law, and the arts.

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Other:

The university is a member of Yorkshire Universities and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion. It has also received the Athena Swan Bronze Award and the Queen's Anniversary Prizes.