Finance MSc/Diploma/Certificate

  • Delivery: Full Time
  • Programme type: Taught Programme
  • Study location:
  • Edinburgh
  • Entry date:
  • September

Overview

Our MSc Finance programme will help you gain a thorough understanding of finance theory and practice, along with along with key business and management skills that allow you to understand not only how the financial markets operate, but also how business and industry operate.

The programme enables students to understand core theories and concepts in finance; understand and use a range analytical techniques, for example the analysis of a company's financial statements or the application of models to value financial assets; evaluate methods of empirical research and empirical findings; develop practical knowledge of financial markets and institutions and financial decisions within companies; carry out original research via a dissertation; and develop transferable skills, particularly in analytical techniques, communication and teamwork, relevant to employment in the financial sector or in academic research.

If you are looking for a career in financial services, or to work a management level with a financial focus then our MSc Finance programme offers you the knowledge and skills you need.

Programme duration

MSc -  12 months full-time;  24 months part-time

PGDip - 9 months full-time;  21 months part-time

 

Graduate opportunities

Typical careers graduates from MSc Finance could go on to include financial and managerial positions within government and public sector, financial institutions, banks, business and industry.

Previous graduates have gone on to successful careers as stockbrokers, foreign exchange dealers, tax consultants, financial advisers, business advisers, and project managers.

Other graduates have also gone on to PhD study at universities both in the UK and abroad.

Overview

Our MSc Finance programme will help you gain a thorough understanding of finance theory and practice, along with along with key business and management skills that allow you to understand not only how the financial markets operate, but also how business and industry operate.

The programme enables students to understand core theories and concepts in finance; understand and use a range analytical techniques, for example the analysis of a company's financial statements or the application of models to value financial assets; evaluate methods of empirical research and empirical findings; develop practical knowledge of financial markets and institutions and financial decisions within companies; carry out original research via a dissertation; and develop transferable skills, particularly in analytical techniques, communication and teamwork, relevant to employment in the financial sector or in academic research.

If you are looking for a career in financial services, or to work a management level with a financial focus then our MSc Finance programme offers you the knowledge and skills you need.

Programme duration

MSc -  12 months full-time;  24 months part-time

PGDip - 9 months full-time;  21 months part-time

 

Graduate opportunities

Typical careers graduates from MSc Finance could go on to include financial and managerial positions within government and public sector, financial institutions, banks, business and industry.

Previous graduates have gone on to successful careers as stockbrokers, foreign exchange dealers, tax consultants, financial advisers, business advisers, and project managers.

Other graduates have also gone on to PhD study at universities both in the UK and abroad.

Programme content

Semester 1 (Sept - Dec)Semester 2 (Jan - April)

Corporate Finance

Derivatives

Corporate Governance

Research Methods

Financial Analysis

Research in Finance

Capital Markets

One from:

  • Comparative Financial Reporting
  • Emerging Financial Markets
  • International Managerial Accounting
  • Modern Portfolio Theory

Between May and August students undertake their MSc dissertation.

Corporate Finance

Semester 1 (mandatory)

This course introduces contemporary topics in corporate finance and looks at the major decisions facing a firm in this area.

Corporate Governance

Semester 1 (mandatory)

Develops understanding of issues relating to corporate governance and the financial research methods used to approach them including principal-agent theory, ownership structure and control, board of directors, CEO turnover, mergers and acquisitions and state versus private ownership.

Financial Analysis

Semester 1 (mandatory)

This course examines how to analyse the financial performance of an organisation through the use of published financial information.

Capital Markets

Semester 1 (mandatory)

Examines the way financial markets and institutions function in practice, with particular emphasis on equities and bonds.

Derivatives

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Develops a thorough understanding of financial derivative instruments, and be able to appraise their application in risk management.

Research Methods

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Looking at both qualitative and quantitative techniques this course will equip students with the means to develop and carry out their own research projects and to evaluate the contributions of others.

Research in Finance

Semester 2 (mandatory)

Covers quantitative methods used in research in the area of finance and financial markets. It will extend knowledge from the main Research Methods course by equipping students with modern methodology applied for the time series analysis. The first part of the course is focused on the theory and the second one on practical applications in the computer lab.

Students will build models of stock and currency prices, evaluate them using different criteria and use them for the forecasts and formulation of trading strategies. They should perform their own work using real data from financial markets. By applying modern econometric methods, students will prepare themselves for their dissertation as well as for further research, either in academia or in the non-academic world.

Comparative Financial Reporting

Semester 2 (optional)

Provides an international perspective to the study of accounting by looking at the reasons for national differences, the tendencies towards harmonisation, the problems of multinational companies, as well as analysis and evaluation of financial reports prepared in other countries.

Emerging Financial Markets

Semester 2 (optional)

Supplements understanding of mainstream finance during the year, and applies it to the specific circumstances of emerging financial markets. This exposure is also designed to assist you with identifying possible dissertation topics and data sources.

International Managerial Accounting

Semester 2 (optional)

Develops understanding and analytical skills of management accounting in an international and comparative context.  Includes the changing roles of accountants in a global environment, culture and complexity in management accounting, and managerial accounting in the strategic environment.

Modern Portfolio Theory

Semester 2 (optional)

Covers asset pricing and portfolio selection models including Portfolio Theory, Models of Asset Returns, Capital Asset Pricing Model and Arbitrage Pricing Theory.

Dissertation

Over the summer months students undertake a dissertation.

Entry requirements

A good Honours degree (first or second class), or its non-UK equivalent, in a relevant subject from a recognised British or overseas university.

Work or project experience in the area of finance will be of further advantage.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not  taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or  equivalent.

We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters programme:

  • 2 semesters English (for IELTS of 4.5 with minimum of 4.0 in all skills)
  • 12 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with minimum of 5.0 in all skills)
  • 6 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with minimum 5.5 reading & writing and 5.0 listening & speaking)

Tuition fees

Fees for this programme can be found on our Tuition fees page.

Scholarships & bursaries