Key information
For:
starting September 2026
Accreditation:
This course is Accredited
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Develop your specialist knowledge and understanding of corporate governance, risk management, compliance and liability as you maximise your career potential on this course.
Corporate governance is fundamental to corporate performance and accountability, and professionals in this field are in high demand across all sectors of industry.
As you study you'll gain the legal foundations you need to make decisions and learn to apply your skills in the workplace. You'll also take part in a one year placement in your second year of study that will hone your industry skills and give you that key hands-on experience in the sector.
Thanks to our strong connections with industry partners including the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGI) you’ll be well placed to pursue your chosen career when you graduate.
This LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad.CG degree is designed for law and non-law graduates, practising lawyers and business professionals alike. You do not need to have studied law before. If you graduated from a subject other than law, you’ll be brought up to speed in a compulsory law module to introduce you to some core principles of English law.
Once you’ve completed this Master in Laws Corporate Governance degree course you'll be eligible for the Grad.CG qualification from the CGI. If you have relevant work experience, you may also be able to apply for ACIS status (Associate in the Chartered Institute of Secretaries).
If you'd prefer not to do an additional placement year as part of your studies, you could apply for our LLM Corporate Governance and Law GradCG instead.
Join us online to find out more about our Corporate Governance and Law course.
Discover why corporate governance is fundamental to business performance and accountability with our webinar.
Date: 25 June 2026
Time: 2pm-3pm
Cost: Free
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Accreditation
Graduates of this course are eligible for Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGI) graduate status. This requires the payment of a fee to CGI. Once the fee is paid the successful graduate receives CGI 'graduate' status and is permitted to use GradCGI after their name.
Number 6 in the UK for teaching and student satisfaction
Our law courses are ranked sixth in the UK for teaching and for student satisfaction in the 2024 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
This is a new course and we're finalising the detailed information for this page.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2026 start
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree or see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
See alternative English language requirements.
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2026 start)
- Full-time: £11,850 (may be subject to annual increase)
- Placement fee: £2,000 (may be subject to annual increase)
- Full-time: £18,600 (may be subject to annual increase)
- Placement fee: £3,000 (may be subject to annual increase)
If you're an EU student you may be eligible to receive our EU Scholarship.
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
You'll need to study modules worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 1 module worth 60 credits and 4 modules worth 120 credits.
What you'll study
On this module you'll develop an understanding of the role of the company secretary and its importance within organisations
You'll examine key corporate governance principles and learn how to use sound judgment when advising on expectations and compliance
You'll also critically explore how boardroom dynamics influence relationships, decision making, conversations, culture and diversity, helping you understand how effective governance supports strong leadership and organisational success.
Students will be expected to identify the relevant legal and governance issues and provide advice to the company's directors on the application of the law. Students will identify possible breaches of legal rules and governance principles and explain the likely remedies or punishments.
It is assessed by a single piece of coursework.
ICSA. The aim of this module is twofold. From the perspective of the financial statement preparer, students will develop the technical skills that will enable them to produce individual and group accounts to communicate the firm¿s economic performance to stakeholders. From the perspective of the financial statement user, students will gain a critical understanding of how to evaluate externally produced financial information to advance their decision making in issues of capital allocation, investment appraisal and profits distribution. The module provides opportunities for students to acquire key graduate skills including: research and critical analysis skills, a range of communication skills (written & oral), and problem solving (quantitative and qualitative) skills. The mode of delivery comprises seminars and structured opportunities for independent learning, undertaken either individually or in collaboration. The seminars are designed to provide students with key concepts and essential background information to support independent learning. The module addresses the following Hallmarks through delivery and assessment: 1. Have a critical and reflective knowledge and understanding of the subject, with both the ability and readiness to question its principles, practices and boundaries 2 .Think independently, analytically and creatively, and engage imaginatively with new areas of investigation within and across discipline boundaries. 4. Be intellectually curious, embrace challenges and seize opportunities for development. 6. Be informed citizens, with a sense of responsibility allied to a commitment to ethical practice and social justice issues, such as equality, respect and sustainability. 11. Be proactive in recognising and addressing personal development needs, and able to make informed career decisions.
On this module you'll study how company law and corporate governance operate in the united kingdom
You'll learn how legal rules shape the way organisations are run and how decisions are made
You'll also develop practical legal research skills, using a wide range of reliable legal sources
Throughout the module, you'll practise explaining laws and governance principles clearly and accurately, helping you communicate complex ideas in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.
You'll critically evaluate risk approaches to advise governance teams on appropriate strategies.
By exploring the evolution of risk and overcoming barriers, you'll champion transparent and accountable practices.
You'll analyse how business environments and cultures influence risks — so that you finish this module ready to evaluate impacts and provide professionally-sound guidance across sectors.
Students will appraise the theoretical underpinning of the tools,concepts and techniques on which the recommendations are based in order to discriminate between sense-making devices and empirically based theories. Students will explore a range of perspectives in strategic management to provide an open-minded view of the subject area in order to develop a good basis for decision making.
In your second year of the course, you'll gain hands-on experience in your career field, applying everything you've learned during your first year in a practical work setting.
With support from our Placement and Careers teams, you’ll be responsible for securing your own professional experience opportunity - whether it's an internship or work placement.
You'll develop professional connections and employability skills while preparing for life after your degree.
Selecting a Work Placement Year offers you the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills accumulated on their course in real-world scenarios, enhancing understanding and boosting career trajectory.
You'll be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, based on the successful application of your skills and acquired knowledge within your chosen placement, be it in the UK or abroad.
The Faculty Placement Team will provide continuous support in both identifying and securing you a suitable placement.
If you are unable to secure an external placement, you will participate in an internally organised placement working in a consulting capacity for three different organisations (each for three months).
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How to apply
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in September 2026
Apply now (Full-time) - 2 years
Start this course in January 2027
Apply now (Full-time) - 2 years
Note that 2 year full-time study includes a work placement. If you don't want to do a work placement as part of your studies, you can apply for our Corporate Governance and Law GradCG course.
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2025, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.