Postgraduate Diploma in Finance and Law is designed to give you a sophisticated understanding of the legal and regulatory framework for the local and international financial sector, by taking an integrated approach to finance and law. Financial institutions need leaders who have extensive knowledge relating to the legal issues in international finance and banking.
 
This PGDFL creates a new kind of financial services professional: graduates who are trained in both finance and law. You will develop an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of relevant legal and financial contexts and combines a highly analytic academic core with applications informed by current practice.

​Programme Aims and Objectives

This dual-discipline programme is specially geared towards the integrated study of finance and law  The programme aims to emphasize the importance of the inter-relationship between law and financial services, and provides an assessment of their interplay in the structure and operations of financial markets.  On completion of the programme, students should be able to critically assess the function of law and corporate financing in the protection and management of financial risks, apply essential quantitative techniques to analyse financial risks and gain wide insights in a globalised financial environment.

Career opportunities

PGDFL graduates having developed finance and legal skills can lead to very successful and lucrative careers.  You will be well prepared for working in the financial services sector or as a regulator with responsibility for financial institutions. Graduates can gain employment in leadership positions in both foreign and domestic financial industries. Hiring organizations include law firms, the government, financial institutions, corporations and non-governmental organizations.

Target Student

This programme would appeal to graduates and professionals aspiring to enhance their existing career in financial services.  Practitioners engaged in legal and compliance work are also welcomed to study this programme.

To complete this programme, students are required to study a total of 5 modules, with 2 modules from the law stream, plus 3 further modules chosen from the finance stream. Students are encouraged to study 2 modules per semester, if they wish to complete the programme in one year.  

The Modules are:

Law Stream (choose 2 modules) 

• Legal Institutions and Business Law *
• Contemporary Legal Challenges in the Business Environment 
• Current Issues in Finance Law

* Compulsory for candidates without prior equivalent qualifications.

Finance Stream (choose 3 modules)

• Introduction to Finance *
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Markets and Regulatory Framework
• Investment and Venture Capital
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Compliance

* Compulsory for candidates without prior equivalent qualifications.

Assessment

Assessment for each module will comprise continuous assessment (1-3 module assignments/projects) and examination.

Lecturers

Mr. Law is Director of New Spring Capital, a SFC licensed entity that specializes in corporate finance advisory work as well as providing Sponsorship, an activity regulated by the SFC Hong Kong, for companies seeking IPO in Hong Kong. He is also Managing Director, TIC Associates, a professional firm that provides corporate training and advisory services in corporate governance, risk management, M&A, leadership, due diligence and corporate finance. Prior to joining TIC Associates, he was General Manager, Finance, Hong Kong Productivity Council, the largest consulting company in Hong Kong.  As head of Finance, he handles the overall financial management functions as well as the establishment and development of the PRC JVs and WFOEs. In his 30 years of finance and operational experience, Mr. Law has dealt with IPO (Australia), fund raising (USA and Hong Kong), venture capital investment (PRC), M&As’, business development in Asia Pacific region including the PRC.  

Dr. Ringo Chan has extensive experience in programme development and administrative management of both full-time and part-time programmes ranging from sub-degree to Master degree level in business and finance. He obtained his EdD from the University of Leicester. With more than 12 years of teaching experience, he has specialised in teaching investment management, global financial markets and behavioural finance. He is a financial writer at China Daily and serves as the member of advisory group of Investor Education Centre, mentor of the University of Hong Kong and honorary flight lieutenant of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps. His current academic research focuses on lifelong education, educational psychology and financial management. His articles have published in journals such as Active Learning in Higher Education and International Journal of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning. 

• Minimum of 12-18 months and a maximum of 4 years

SYLLABUS

Legal Institutions and Business Law  

• Sources of law
• Legal System of Hong Kong
• Legal reasoning and precedent doctrine
• Setting up business entities, agency and partnership law
• Fundamentals of Contract Law
  • Elements of Contracts and their Essential features
  • Vitiating factors, Breach of contract and Remedies
• Tort of Negligence
  • Tort Law, Examples of Torts and the development of negligence in particular
  • General principles of Tort Liability and Vicarious liability
  • Negligence, Duty of care, Breach of Duty and Causation,
  • Statutory Torts, Nuisance
  • Defences - Remedies and Risk Management
• Law in Capitalization, financing, capital re-construction and liquidation

Contemporary Legal Challenges in the Business Environment 

• The changing business landscapes due to technology and social trends.
• Social media and legal implications for business
• Legal considerations regarding freelancers (Independent contractor- employee relationship)
• Race, gender, and sexual orientation and the law
• Anti-corruption and bribery in Hong Kong
• Use of data, security and privacy
• Climate change and the law
• Vulnerable adults and aging population

Current Issues in Finance Law 

• Regulatory environments and role of regulators e.g. Australia royal commission, HKMA, MAS)
• Corporate governance, corporate culture and whistleblowing e.g. Barclays whistleblower, Tipper X)
• Financial crime, money laundering, fraud, sanctioned countries e.g. China IPOs, 1MDB)
• The power of information (confidentiality, banking secrecy, personal data (incl EU directive), info security, market manipulation e.g. JP Morgan princelings, LIBOR, rogue traders)
• Fintech (digital banking, crypto currency, bitcoin etc.)
• Conflict of interest, suitability, mis-selling, KYC, cross border, AEI, US Person, remuneration of bankers.
• The role of banks, pawnbroking, shadow banking, crowd funding, shariah financing.

Introduction to Finance 

• Finance & The Finance Systems
• Concept of Time Value of Money, Annuity & Perpetuities
• Financial Analysis
• Cost of Capital
• Investment Appraisal – Capital Budgeting
• Risk and Portfolio Management
• Efficiency of Capital Market
• Interest Rates and Bond Valuation
• Equity Markets and Stock Valuation

Corporate Finance 

• Corporate Finance & Role of Financial Management
• Investment Principles and Capital Budgeting Decisions
• Choice of Capital Structure
• Information Asymmetries & Agency Cost
• Dividend Policy
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Long-term Financing
• Options, Futures and Corporate Finance
• Case Studies

Financial Markets and Regulatory Framework

• Structure, Role & Mechanism of Financial Markets (money market, capital market, equity market & Foreign Exchange market)
• Types & Role of Financial institutions/Participants in Hong Kong
• Types of Financial Instruments in Hong Kong Financial Markets – Securities, Options and Futures
• Regulatory Overview of Hong Kong Financial Industry - Role & functions of Securities and Futures Comission (“SFC”), Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”), Hong Kong Securities Institute (“HKSI”) and Hong Kong Exchanges (“HKEx”) as well as principles of relevant Hong Kong Law and the Companies Ordinance
• Scope of Securities and Futures Commission Ordinance (“SFO”) and Banking Ordinance
• Market Misconduct, Improper Trading Practices and Compliance
• Future Development of Hong Kong Financial Markets

Investment and Venture Capital

• Overview of Alternative Investments
• Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Role of Venture Capitalist and types of Venture Capital
• Business Planning
• Fund Raising: Venture Capital Fund Operations
• Deal Structuring
• Investing: Valuation Techniques
• Post Investment Management – oversee and manage the firm after fund injection
• Exiting: Potential Exit Strategies
• New Frontier: Recent Development in Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Other types of Alternative Investments (hedge funds, real estate, mortgage-backed securities)
• Case Studies

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Compliance

• Elements of Anti-Money Laundering compliance
• Building an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) risk management system
• Suspicious Transaction Monitoring and Reporting
• Application of the risk-based approach
• Law Enforcement Investigations
• Managing stakeholders effectively

Jan 2025 Intake - Tentative timetable 

* Compulsory Module for Non-Law candidates.

Venue: 

HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College (HPSHCC) Campus (at Causeway Bay) or other Learning centres at Hong Kong Island.

2025/26 Tentative Schedule

* Compulsory Module for Non-finance or Non-law candidates.

The above tentative timetable may be subject to change without prior notice.

HK$200 non-refundable

• HK$7,700 per Finance module
  HK$10,900 per Law module
  

Applicants shall hold a bachelor’s degree awarded by a recognized institution.

If the degree or equivalent qualification is from an institution where the language of teaching and assessment is not English, applicants shall provide evidence of English proficiency, such as:

i.      an overall band of 6.0 or above with no subtests lower than 5.5 in the IELTS; or

ii.      a score of 550 or above in the paper-based TOEFL, or a score of 213 or above in the computer-based TOEFL, or a score of 80 or above in the internet-based TOEFL; or

iii.     HKALE Use of English at Grade E or above; or

iv.     HKDSE Examination English Language at Level 3 or above; or

v.      equivalent qualifications.

Applicants who hold the Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level) would be eligible for entry.

Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on individual merit. 

• The CEF Institution Code of HKU SPACE is 100

More information of application procedures: https://hkuspace.hku.hk/cef/application-procedures

	Continuing Education Fund This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
	Continuing Education Fund Reimbursable Course (selected modules only) Some modules of this course have been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
	Postgraduate Diploma in Finance and Law This course is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF Level [6])

Online Application Apply Now

Application Form Application Form

Online Enrolment

HKU SPACE provides 24-hour online application and payment service for students to apply to selected award-bearing programmes and to enrol in most open admission courses (courses enrolled on a first come, first served basis) via the Internet.  Applicants may settle the payment by using either "PPS by Internet" (not available via mobile phones), VISA or Mastercard online.  Online WeChat Pay, Online AliPay and Faster Payment System (FPS) are also available for continuing enrolment in the same programme, if online service is offered.

1. Complete the online application form

   Applicant may click the icon  on the top right-hand corner of the programme/course webpage to make online application, and then follow the instructions to fill in the online application form.
   
   This programme requires applicants to provide electronic copy of academic qualification documents (e.g. proof of qualification).   Only file format in doc, docx, jpg and pdf are supported. 

2. Make Online Payment

   Pay the application or programme/course fees by either using:

   "PPS by Internet" - You will need a PPS account and a PPS Internet password. For information on how to open a PPS account and how to set up a PPS Internet password, please visit http://www.ppshk.com.

   *Credit Card Online Payment - Course fees can be paid by VISA or Mastercard including the “HKU SPACE Mastercard”.
   
   * HKU SPACE Mastercard cardholders who wish to enjoy 10-month interest free instalment scheme must pay their tuition fees in person at any of our HKU SPACE Enrolment Centres.

To know more about first-time online application/enrolment and payment, please refer to the user guide of Online Application / Enrolment and Payment:

- Award-bearing Programme

In Person

Submit the following documents in person to HKU SPACE enrolment counters.

1. Cheque or Bank Draft

Course fees can also be paid by crossed cheque or bank draft made payable to "HKU SPACE". Please specify the programme title(s) for application, student's name, and student card no. (if applicable). You may either:

bring the completed form(s), together with the appropriate course or application fees in the form of a cheque, and any required supporting documents to any of the HKU SPACE enrolment centres.

2. VISA/MasterCard

Applicants may also pay the course fee by VISA or MasterCard, including "HKU SPACE MasterCard", at any HKU SPACE enrolment centres. Holders of HKU SPACE MasterCard can enjoy a 10-month interest-free instalment for courses with a tuition fee of HK$2,000 to $40,000. The cardholder must also be the course applicant himself/herself. For enquiries, please contact our staff at any of the enrolment centres.

Notes

1. Fees paid are not refundable except under very exceptional circumstances, subject to the School's discretion.
2. In addition to the published fees, there may be additional costs associated with individual programmes. Please refer to the relevant course brochures or direct any enquiries of the relevant subject area for details.
3. Fees and places on courses cannot be transferred from one applicant to another. Once accepted onto a course, the student may not change to another course without approval from HKU SPACE. A processing fee of $120 will be levied on approved transfers.
4. Receipts will be issued for fees paid but HKU SPACE will not be responsible for any loss of receipt sent by mail.
5. For additional copies of receipts, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with a completed form and a crossed cheque for $30 per copy made payable to "HKU SPACE". Such copies will normally only be issued at the end of a course.
6. Classes are expected to be held at HKU SPACE learning centers. The health and safety of our students is our top priority. If the situation in Hong Kong requires. HKU SPACE reserves the right to move some classes to other locations, including online teaching platforms.

Please refer to the SPACE enrolment centre for opening hours and address.