Program Overview

Overview

The MSc in Finance is an intensive one-year programme designed to deliver a premier European finance education. With January and September intakes, this programme offers a robust curriculum that builds core foundations and advanced knowledge in finance, closely aligned with top professional standards like the CFA and GARP’s FRM.

Programme Structure

The programme is structured as a core learning first semester, followed by four advanced modules in the second semester. Students will also complete a dissertation and have the opportunity to select one optional module.

Core Modules

• Economics for Finance
• Quantitative Methods and Econometrics
• Corporate Finance and Valuation
• Financial Markets and Derivatives
• Financial Statement Analysis and Ethics

Advanced Modules

• Asset Pricing
• Fixed Income Securities
• Financial Risk Management
• Portfolio Theory

Optional Modules

• Sustainable Finance
• Financial Technology and Innovation
• Financial Econometrics

Career Prospects

This programme is designed to prepare ambitious students for the challenges and rewarding career opportunities in the financial services industry. Recent graduates are employed by major financial institutions including UBS, Standard & Poor’s, Royal Bank of Scotland, KPMG, PwC, Boston Scientific, Commerzbank, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Goodbody Stockbrokers, Davy, Geneva Trading, Mercer, Nestle, Citco Fund Services, Standard Life, and BNY Mellon.

Entry Requirements

For admission to the MSc in Finance, candidates must hold:

• A 2.1 Honours degree in a Business discipline, or equivalent international qualification
• A 2.1 Honours degree in a relevant non-business discipline, eg. Engineering, Physics, Maths, or Computer Science or equivalent international qualification
• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language

Fees & Charges

• EU Status: €11,600 per annum
• Non-EU fee: €19,500 per annum

Staff

• Dr. Sandeep Keshava Rao, MSc Finance Course Chair / Associate Professor of Finance

Research Areas

The programme emphasizes practical skills essential for today’s finance professionals, with a focus on:

• Financial asset pricing theory
• Portfolio management
• Financial risk management
• Sustainable finance
• Financial technology and innovation

Programme Aims

The key aims of the overall program are to:

• Help students understand the functioning of capital markets and financial choices made by firms
• Develop mastery of techniques and methods of analysis useful to solve financial problems
• Prepare students for high-level rewarding careers across the spectrum of the financial sector

Programme Rankings

• DCU Business School is ranked in the top 95 Business Schools in Europe in the 2023 Financial Times Ranking
• The programme is ranked among the top 130 MSc in Finance programmes globally (QS Business Master’s Rankings 2025)