MSc FINANCE & FINANCIAL LAW - Preparatory Course for

Preparatory Course for
MSc FINANCE & FINANCIAL LAW
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME
Lead College: The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

The University of Hong Kong
School of Professional and Continuing Education
College of Business and Finance
http://hkuspace.hku.hk/cbf                                        May 2013

Preparatory Course for
MSc FINANCE & FINANCIAL LAW
THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION (HKU SPACE)
The University of Hong Kong’s Department of Extra Mural Studies (DEMS) was established in 1956/57, the first continuing education unit
in a university in the region. DEMS played a significant role in the provision of lifelong learning opportunities for the wider community. In
1992, it was renamed as the School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE). The University has a recognised role in lifelong
learning and, as the continuing education arm of the University, HKU SPACE fulfils this part of the University’s mission by providing learning
opportunities for personal, professional and career advancement for people from all walks of life.

With over 1,000 full-time staff members and around 2,100 part-time teachers, HKU SPACE is the leading local provider in continuing
education. Course enrolments since 1956 have well exceeded two million and annual course enrolment often has exceeded 100,000. In
2010/11, this was equivalent to some 22,000 full-time equivalent students. The School collaborates closely with the other faculties and
departments of the University to offer timely and relevant courses that meet society’s needs to update education and skills for the knowledge
economy.

HKU SPACE will strive to maintain its leading role in continuing education in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the region. It acts as an
extension arm of the University to deliver HKU’s mission and role in providing lifelong learning opportunities to the community.

SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the University of London, is the world’s leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa and
the Middle East. Founded in 1916, SOAS is consistently ranked among the top higher education institutions in the UK and the world and it
also offers a friendly, vibrant environment for students in a diverse and close-knit community. The University stresses that the standard of the
degree awarded to ALL of its students, wherever they are studying, is the same.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND HKU SPACE
The collaboration between the University of London and HKU SPACE (formerly the Department of Extra Mural Studies – DEMS) is a longstanding
one. From its outset, over 50 years ago DEMS offered preparatory Law courses. The linkage with the University of London was later extended
to cover studies in Accounting, Banking, Business, Computing, Economics, Finance and Management from Diploma to Postgraduate Level.
Programmes are fully supported by both academic and administrative staff. With effect from September 2009, HKU SPACE is an Affiliate
Centre of the University of London in Hong Kong. This is to recognise that HKU SPACE has demonstrated a sustained commitment to
developing high standards in respect of teaching, support and administration.

PREPARATORY COURSE FOR MSc FINANCE & FINANCIAL LAW
The Preparatory Course for MSc Finance & Financial Law takes an integrated approach to finance and financial law, including risk management,
regulations, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, bond issues, and loans. The MSc Finance & Financial Law programme also
provides the professional knowledge required in international banks and investment firms, legal practices, regulatory institutions and the
academic world.

The course is offered as full preparatory course and it aims to help students in terms of academic learning experience and examination-based
skills for the MSc Finance & Financial Law programme offered by SOAS, the University of London.

The MSc Finance & Financial Law examinations will be arranged by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority each year that
all examination questions will be set by the faculty at SOAS. Upon successful completion of the examinations, students will be granted the
award of MSc Finance & Financial Law degree by SOAS, and the degree will be of same academic standard as those who study on campus.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The Preparatory Course for the MSc Finance & Financial Law is an intensive and engaging curriculum of the core modules of the MSc Finance
& Financial Law programme.

The programme enables students to acquire the understanding and knowledge of:
• Finance and financial law domestically, internationally and on a cross-border nature
• The issues arising from the operations of the largest commercial banks, merchant banks and investment banks on the international banking
  and capital markets
• The structure and content of the main international financial transactions and contracts involved
• Current international principles, and the relevant laws, having a strong comparative and international content as well as being based on
  current market and practitioner insight and best practice in each area

FEATURES OF THE PREPARATORY COURSE FOR
MSc FINANCE & FINANCIAL LAW
• Face-to-face lectures conducted by senior academics at HKU SPACE and experienced practitioners in the field
• All classes will be held at HKU SPACE Learning Centres
• Online learning support by SOAS is available for students who have enrolled in the MSc Finance & Financial Law programme with SOAS. Each
  student will be individually assigned an academic tutor for the duration of each module with whom he/she can discuss academic queries at
  regular intervals during the study session
• All modules are designed in line with the syllabus of the MSc Finance & Financial Law programme with SOAS

                                Modules

 Core                           Introduction to Law & to Finance
                                Corporate Finance
                                Financial Law
                                Risk Management: Principles & Applications
                                Legal Aspects of International Finance

 Elective                       Legal Aspects of Corporate Finance
                                Finance in the Global Market
                                Banking & Capital Markets

The above programme structure is intended to be used as a guide by prospective students.
HKU SPACE reserves the right to vary the structure.

Study mode:                     Part time
Duration:                       24 months
Teaching hours:                 36 hours per module
Medium of Instruction:          English
Tuition Fee:                    $5400 per module
Application Fee:                $150

Module content would be developed in relevance to programme syllabus at SOAS with emphasis on key and important topics selected by
local programme team.

ASSESSMENT
• For students who applied for the MSc Finance & Financial Law programme at SOAS, each module will be assessed by a combination of
  written assignment, an unseen examination and research dissertation.
• Examination registration will be held by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority

LIBRARY FACILITIES
Students are eligible for a reader’s card for access to the HKU Library

MODULE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to Law & to Finance
This module is designed to introduce you to the basic concepts of finance and law and it intends to be an entry point in the world of finance
and the law upon which finance is based. You will learn some of the basic principles of law and of financial techniques as foundations for
the detailed study of finance and financial law that you will study in subsequent modules of the programme.

Corporate Finance
In this module you will study the main issues in modern corporate finance. The subject ‘corporate finance’ is a well-established discipline,
which is concerned with corporations large enough to have issued shares that are ‘quoted’ on a stock market. This module enables you to
relate principles and practice to the financing decisions of enterprises in modern economies. The module analyses the decisions firms make
about financing their investments in productive capital.

Financial Law
This module builds upon the introductory course, Introduction to Law and to Finance, and provides an understanding of the essential
elements of financial law, examining the legal principles governing both the relations between financial institutions and their customers
and also the financial relations between commercial entities. The module is based on English law, although it may occasionally adopt a
comparative perspective of the laws of other jurisdictions with key international financial centres. It includes such topics as bank deposits
and accounts, the law relating to money and payments, and the law covering both secured and unsecured lending.

Risk Management: Principles & Applications
This module examines the techniques and the foundation of risk management in corporations. It covers the use of derivatives, portfolio
allocation, the value of risk, and the management of credit risk and operations risk. The module includes cases and applications.

Legal Aspects of International Finance
This module covers the legal aspects that complement the financial modules Finance in the Global Market and Banking & Capital Markets.
The teaching is based on English law and makes reference to the law of other jurisdictions where this is relevant. You will be shown how
contractual principles are applied to commercial fundraising transactions and how to differentiate between legal principles and the market
practices that shape these transactions.

Legal Aspects of Corporate Finance
This module provides an understanding of the essential elements of the legal principles and institutions governing corporate finance at
the national and international level. It complements the finance module, Corporate Finance, which together provide a comprehensive and
coherent appreciation of the financial and legal aspects of the subject. The teaching is based on English law, with reference to the law of
other jurisdictions where relevant.

Finance in the Global Market
This module engages with one of the most prominent features of modern finance: its globalisation. The main objective of the module is to
enable you to understand some of the main characteristics of that globalised financial world. Because of the centrality of foreign exchange
markets to international finance, we regard understanding foreign exchange markets as the core of that objective.

Banking & Capital Markets
This module examines the underlying principles and characteristics of banking and financial markets that are the foundation for understanding
both their normal role in economies and the headline events. It concentrates on the theoretical and empirical scientific knowledge produced
by modern research on banking. Since such knowledge is never fully established or ‘proven’, it enables you to examine opposing points of
view and to discuss the published studies.

PROGRAMME ENQUIRIES
HKU SPACE College of Business and Finance, HKU SPACE
34/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong

Tel : 2867-8408        E-mail : soas.finlaw@hkuspace.hku.hk

WEBSITE AND ONLINE APPLICATION
http://www.cefims.ac.uk/cgi-bin/programmes.cgi?func=programme&id=24#6

 Information in this publication is as of HKU SPACE. Every care has been taken to insure its accuracy; however, the School will not be responsible for errors and reserves the right to
 amend programs, requirements and policies at any time without further notice.

 The School is applying for exemption under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance for this course. It is a matter of discretion for individual
 employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead.