Program Overview

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Finance, MA

Introduction

This degree is designed to provide students with an extensive knowledge and understanding of the world of Finance. In particular, the course explores relevant theory in the business world and how it is applied to the world of finance.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: N300
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Academic Writing for Business (AW1003)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Finance 1: Finance, Risk and Investment (FI1004)
  • The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006)
  • Accounting and Entrepreneurship (AC1517)
  • The Global Economy (EC1506)
• Optional Courses: Plus 60 credits points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Finance 2: Business Finance (FI2004)
  • Financial Markets and Regulation (FI2501)
  • Understanding Statistics (PO2508)
  • Building Skills and Experience for Career Success (PD2002)
• Optional Courses: Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • FI3009 - Corporate Financial Theory (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3512 - Empirical Asset Pricing (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3008 - Applied Corporate Finance (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3515 - International Financial Management (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3010 - Empirical Methods in Finance I (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3514 - Fixed Income Securities (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3011 - Financial Analysis (15 Credit Points)
  • FI3513 - FinTech and Business Analytics (15 Credit Points)
• Optional Courses: Plus 30 credit points from level 3 Finance (FI) courses. Plus 30 credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.

Year 4

• Compulsory Courses:
  • FI4006 - Advanced Corporate Finance (15 Credit Points)
  • FI4510 - Derivatives and Treasury Management (15 Credit Points)
  • FI4009 - Empirical Methods in Finance II (15 Credit Points)
  • FI4511 - Green and Sustainable Finance (15 Credit Points)
  • FI4008 - Machine Learning in Finance (15 Credit Points)
  • FI4007 - Dissertation Research Methods (15 Credit Points)
  • Dissertation in Finance (FI4501)

How You'll Study

• Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
  • Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
  • Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and
  • Written examinations at the end of each course.
• The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
• Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Learning Methods

• Lectures
• Research
• Seminars
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

• Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
  • coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
  • practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and
  • written examinations at the end of each course.
• The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
• Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study Finance?

• The University of Aberdeen was ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 and 15th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• 4th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 1st Scotland in Student Positivity for Business Studies and Management Studies in the National Student Survey 2024
• Aberdeen is the main European centre for the oil and gas industry, and international accountancy firms, multinational companies and financial services all have offices in the city
• Professional training facilities, including our virtual trading floor, integrating real activity in financial markets into our students’ courses
• With a community of over 130 nationalities at the University of Aberdeen, students are immersed in an environment that enables international discourse creating truly global exchanges, generating deep insights that spark innovative change.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers:
  • Standard: AABB
  • Minimum: BBB
  • Adjusted: BB
• A LEVELS:
  • Standard: BBB
  • Minimum: BBC
  • Adjusted: CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.
• PLEASE NOTE: National 5/ Standard Grade/ GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics / Applications of Mathematics is required in addition to the requirements noted above.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

• Fee information:
  • England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
  • EU / International students: £20,800
  • Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme
  • Home Students: £1,820

Careers

• Graduates from Finance are highly in demand by UK and Overseas employers.
• Our recent graduates have gone to the following careers:
  • Finance and Banking:
    • China Construction Corp
    • Lloyds Bank
    • Bank of America
    • Citigroup Inc.
    • Banco Santander
    • HSBC Holdings,
    • JPMorgan
    • Chase & Co.
    • Goldman Sachs
    • Royal Bank of Scotland
    • Wells Fargo & Co.
  • Accountancy and professional services:
    • KPMG
    • Deloitte
    • PricewaterhouseCoopers
    • Grant Thornton
  • Government:
    • HMRC
    • National Audit Office
    • Government Economics Service
    • NHS
  • Other:
    • Plus-Warner Bros
    • Discovery
    • BBC
    • BAE Systems
    • IBM

Accreditation

• The University of Aberdeen courses are accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
• The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions.

Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024

• Our results speak for themselves with 97.9% of graduates from the University of Aberdeen Business School in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024)

Our Experts

• For more details on academic experts and those who will be teaching within your programme discipline please visit the People section of the Business School website.
• Programme Leader: Dr Laura McCann

World Class Facilities

• The University of Aberdeen, established in 1495, is Scotland’s third oldest and the UK’s fifth oldest University.
• The university’s ancient campus reflects its long-standing academic tradition, with historic buildings such as King's College, which dates back to the 15th century.
• This blend of ancient architecture and modern facilities creates a unique atmosphere where students can experience the best of both tradition and innovation.

Related Undergraduate Degrees

• MA Accountancy
• MA Accountancy and Finance
• MA Business Management and Finance

Discover Uni

• Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study.
• You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.
• 72% of students were satisfied overall with their course.
• 84% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.