Program Overview

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Financial Economics MSc

The Masters in Financial Economics explores the key macroeconomic and microeconomic forces shaping financial markets. Grounded in the latest developments, this programme will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and monetary policy. Tailored for aspiring policy analysts, you'll benefit from rigorous training and real-world applications, paving the way for a successful career.

Why this programme

• Financial Economics will provide you with rigorous training in macroeconomics, microeconomics and quantitative methods, and develop your understanding of financial theory and empirical applications.
• You will learn how macroeconomic factors, such as monetary and fiscal policy, growth and risk, interact and influence financial markets and the pricing of financial assets, such as stocks and bonds.
• You will develop a strong understanding of the functioning of financial markets and the channels through which monetary policy decisions affect them. You are taught to analyse the market both technically and fundamentally.
• You will develop your expertise in topics relevant with financial markets, empirical and quantitative finance, macro and microeconomics, and international applied economics.
• We are now partners with Bloomberg Experiential Learning. The ELP program recognises and celebrates academic institutions that are leaders in experiential learning through the integration of Bloomberg terminal exercises into curriculum.
• Take advantage of our individualised skills development programme, which will ensure you balance academic theory with crucial employability skills to help you maximise your potential and achieve your career goals.

Programme structure

You will take four core and two optional courses and complete a substantial independent piece of work, normally in the form of a dissertation on a topic related to your research interests in financial economics.

Core courses

• Asset Pricing: Theory and Empirics
• Corporate Finance and Investment
• Financial Econometrics
• Microeconomics for Financial Markets

Optional courses

• Agent-based Modelling in Finance
• AI & Digital Economics
• Behavioral Economics: Theory and Applications
• Business Strategies and Competition Policy
• Economic Growth and Productivity
• Financial Risk Analytics
• International Finance And Money
• Macro-Finance
• Mathematical Finance
• Sustainability and Green Finance

Research project

• Dissertation GCDS or Dissertation GCEFS

Career prospects

As a graduate you will have developed the essential knowledge and practical experience to work in the financial market as, for example, a financial economist, data analyst, policy analyst or financial analyst. Recent graduates have been employed by companies including KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Standard Charted Bank. We have a dedicated careers and employability team who provide 1-2-1 support and advice, group workshops, employer events on campus and networking opportunities throughout the year to help you with your career prospects.

Fees & funding

MSc

Home & RUK

• Full-time fee: Ł15,156

International & EU

• Full-time fee: Ł34,470

Fee status

• Fee status guidance

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of Ł2,000 when an offer is made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated.

• Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
  1. Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
  2. Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  3. SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  4. Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the students applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
  5. Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicants control.
  6. If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.
• Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
  1. An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
  2. Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
  3. Applicant has decided to defer in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicants account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
  4. There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
  5. Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
  6. Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
  7. The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): Ł370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: Ł350
• Registration/exam only fee: Ł170

Funding opportunities

• ASBS Entrepreneurial Leaders Award
• ASBS India Achievers Award
• ASBS Chinese Pathway to Purpose Award
• ASBS Scottish Excellence Award
• ASBS Global Impact Scholarship
• Beit-Glasgow Scholarship
• Banco de Mexico
• The Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship
• CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement
• ANID (la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo)
• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award
• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship
• Global Leadership Scholarship
• GREAT Scholarships 2026
• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia
• Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes
• India Excellence Award
• Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)
• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Masters grant
• Sanctuary Scholarships
• Alumni Discount
• The Clan Gregor Society Prize
• Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants
• The Dima Alhaj Scholarship
• Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

Entry requirements

• 2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Physics, or another highly mathematical discipline.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:

TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)

• 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
• Only tests taken before January 2026 can be accepted for entry
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
• Online PTE not accepted for entry
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

• 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online

• 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

• 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

• Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Kaplan Test of English

• Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
  • students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
• Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
  • students must have completed their final year of study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

Application deadlines

International & EU applicants

Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.

Round 1 application dates: 1 October 2025 to 5 November 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 16 January 2026.

Round 2 application dates: 6 November 2025 to 17 December 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 4 March 2026.

Round 3 application dates: 18 December 2025 to 4 February 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 15 April 2026.

Round 4 application dates: 5 February 2026 to 25 March 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2026.

Round 5 application dates: 26 March 2026 to 13 May 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 17 June 2026.

Round 6 application dates: 14 May 2026 to 8 July 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2026.

All international applications submitted by 17 December 2025 will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 18 December 2025, priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.

Home applicants

• 21 August 2026