Master's · Oxford Law and Finance
Oxford's MSc in Law and Finance is a ten-month, full-time taught master's taught jointly by the Law Faculty and the Saïd Business School. For 2027-28 entry its page asks for a first-class or very strong upper second-class degree in law, or a law equivalent, not a degree in economics or finance. Applications close at midday UK time on 27 January 2027 and are judged mainly on the references, a 2,000-word legal essay and the academic record, with a short 300-word statement that carries less weight.
2027-28 entry · Official information
Taken from the University of Oxford graduate course page for the MSc in Law and Finance and read on 2 November 2026. The page describes 2027-28 entry; confirm every date and rule on the page before you rely on it.
The minimum is a first-class or very strong upper second-class honours degree in law. A master's in law, a postgraduate diploma in law or another law professional qualification may count as equivalent. For US degrees the page says the minimum overall GPA normally required is 3.6 out of 4.0.
The course asks for Oxford's higher level of English. For the IELTS Academic that means 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component.
Applicants register three referees, submit one essay of up to 2,000 words on a legal topic and write a personal statement of up to 300 words. The statement generally carries less weight than the references, the essay and the academic record.
The page says interviews are not normally held, so the written application does most of the work.
The final deadline for 2027-28 entry is 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 27 January 2027. The expected start date is 27 September 2027.
The course is full-time and ten months long. After three core courses, students take the law stream or the finance stream.
Official sources
Read on 2 November 2026 on the University of Oxford graduate course page for the MSc in Law and Finance, which describes 2027-28 entry. The module reading lists, the Law Faculty's own pages, the Application Guide, the fee and living-cost sections, the college information and the graduate destinations were not read and are not stated.
Fit
The official page describes the course as a combination of a highly analytic academic core with practical applications drawn from collaboration with professional and regulatory organisations, for students with a prior background in law. The entry rule follows from that: a law degree or a law equivalent is the stated minimum.
That is the profile the page describes. The core includes First Principles of Financial Economics and Law and Economics of Corporate Transactions, and pre-sessional courses in maths and financial reporting are part of the course.
The page sets a law degree, or a master's, diploma or professional equivalent in law, as the minimum. A degree in economics, finance or mathematics is not listed. Read the page and the Application Guide before you plan around this course, and consider whether a different master's matches your degree.
Relevant work experience may be an advantage but is not required. The page adds that the longer you have been out of full-time education, the more attention is paid to relevant professional experience.
Streams
The streams share the three core courses. The difference is in the electives.
Two law electives from a tailored list of about 10 courses, shared with students taking the Bachelor of Civil Law. The page says the list is business-law-oriented, and most law electives are assessed by timed examinations at the end of the course, with some assessed essays.
One law elective, a mandatory Corporate Valuation course in the second term and one finance elective, studied at the Saïd Business School alongside MBA and MFE students. The page says this stream is anticipated to be available in future years, subject to notice, so treat it as an option to confirm, not a certainty.
Choose on the work you expect to enjoy and be assessed on. The finance stream moves you into coursework and practical work alongside business-school students, while the law stream keeps you in law examinations.
Application
The page lists the documents and says what each is assessed for. This section reports it and adds Avandy's reading, which is labelled.
One essay of at most 2,000 words, in English and on a legal topic. Academic work from your most recent qualification is preferred, and professional work is acceptable if academic work is not readily available. The page strongly recommends that it is not co-authored. An extract from a longer piece is allowed if it is prefaced by a note that puts it in context.
Up to 300 words, explaining your motivation, your relevant experience and education and the areas that interest you. The page says it generally plays a less important role than the references, the written work and the academic qualifications.
Three referees, of whom at least two must be academic. The department may start assessing once two references are in by the deadline, but the third may still be required.
Because the statement is short and carries less weight, the essay is where a clear argument can be seen. Choose a piece on a legal topic that you can defend and, if it is an extract, give it the contextual note the page asks for. Brief referees early on what you want them to be able to evidence.
Planning
This page describes the 2027-28 cycle, the cycle now open. The dates and rules below belong to that cycle only.
The final deadline is 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 27 January 2027, and the expected start date is 27 September 2027. The page says applicants who apply by the January deadline and receive an offer are considered for Oxford scholarships, and that funding is not considered when the application is assessed.
Check your degree against the law requirement first. Then choose the essay, brief your referees and draft the statement. Re-read the course page before submitting, because Oxford can change a course page and the University says it may change provision.
Support
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Oxford or any of its departments. Support sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the published requirements of each course. No outcome is promised.
Questions
The page sets a first-class or very strong upper second-class honours degree in law as the minimum, or an equivalent such as a master's in law, a postgraduate diploma in law or another law professional equivalent.
One essay of at most 2,000 words, in English and on a legal topic, a personal statement of at most 300 words and three referees, at least two of them academic.
The page says interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.
The final deadline is 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 27 January 2027. The expected start date is 27 September 2027.
Yes. Students take three core courses and then follow either the law stream or the finance stream. The page says the finance stream is anticipated to be available in future years, subject to notice.
Students and families
Tell us about your degree, your grades, your relevant experience and the master's courses you are weighing. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare the application.
