Course requirements
Master degree in Law. This course is part of the International Financial Law.
More information: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/international-financial-law
Course information
The financial sector is a key pillar of the real economy. It has a significant impact on society. Therefore, the sector is subject to strict regulation and close scrutiny.
This course explores the fundamentals of financial regulation as an introduction to the International Financial Law programme. The aim of the course is for students to obtain a solid understanding of important basic concepts underlying international and European financial law. To that end, the course will cover the origins of the 2007/2008 global financial crisis and the European sovereign debt crisis that was resolved in 2013 and how they led to increased regulation and supervision. The course will also analyse the background, policy goals and choices, principles and assumptions that shape financial law-making in the EU. The course addresses the role and function of the different international standard-setters, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). In particular, the course covers how EU financial regulation has been influenced by these standard-setters. In addition, the course explores how EU financial regulation is structured as well as how it is supervised and enforced by financial authorities, focusing on the EU.
The course will also cover recent developments, such as how the Action Plan on Sustainable Finance of 2018 as complemented by the EU Green Deal of 2019 and the Strategy for Financing the Transition of 2021 affect the financial sector. Further, the course will outline the EU digital finance strategy of 2020, in particular how Europe can support the digital transformation of finance in the coming years, while regulating its risks. More recent developments, such as the push for the establishment of a Savings and Investments Union (the latest iteration of the Capital Markets Union), will also be discussed during the course.
Course learning objectives
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course.
Students understand the function of the financial system and can explain the rationale for financial regulation.
Students can describe the EU architecture of financial regulation and identify the roles of the various EU institutions.
Students are able to explain the EU model for supervision of the financial sector and the various methods of enforcing financial regulation.
Students can critically reflect on the EU policy agenda for the financial sector
Mode of instruction
Lectures and seminars will be held in a weekly schedule in a classroom setting with mandatory class attendance. Only when required by government regulation or decided by the Programme Board, teaching will be conducted in an online setting.
Number of (2 hour) lectures & interactive seminars: 12
Names of lecturers: Dr Annika Galle, Dr Marnix Wallinga, Ms. Peggy Bracco Gartner LLM, Prof. Rogier Raas, Ebbe Rogge M.Sc. M.A. LL.M. Ph.D.,
Required preparations by students: reading of prescribed materials, preparation of case studies and any other assignments.
Examination method
- The assessment of this course is based on a Final exam: 100%
The final exam will be a written exam. The final exam covers all the material delivered during the lectures and the seminars. The retake exam may either be a written or an oral exam.
Further information about the exam will be communicated to students through Brightspace closer to the exam date.
The final grade is based on a scale from 1 (poor) to 10 (outstanding). Grade 6 (5.5 rounded) is a pass.
Brightspace
Course reader and additional literature is distributed through Brightspace.
Submission of written assignment via Brightspace using Turnitin.
Course materials
The course will require reading of materials consisting of introductory chapters and scholarly articles which will be published or made available via the library as specified in the Course Reader.
Course reader will be available to be downloaded from Brightspace.
Contact
Course Coordinator:
Ms. Peggy Bracco Gartner LLM
Programme Coordinator:
Ms. Orsolya Kalsbeek-Bagdi
Email address: internationalfinanciallaw@LAW.leidenuniv.nl
Disclaimer: Currently these pages are being updated to reflect the courses for 2025 - 2026. Until these pages are fixed as per 1 September 2025 no rights can be claimed from the information which is currently contained within. Should there be any future extenuating circumstances which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2025 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.