Program Overview

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Finance and Investment Management, MScEcon

Introduction

The combination of academic research and practical, professional focus makes the prospect of studying our MSc Finance and Investment Management - featuring optional professional qualifications - highly appealing for those wanting to advance future career and earning potential.

Study Information

Study Options

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MScEcon
• Duration: 12 months or 24 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September or January
• Location of Study: Aberdeen

This well-established MSc is founded on years of financial and investment expertise within the department – and on some powerful global connections with the financial sector. We focus not only on academic success but on helping students to build the broad range of specialist skills and experience that contribute to employability.

The University trading room streams up-to-the-minute data, to enable would-be traders and fund managers to 'practice' investing. It's a hands-on opportunity for you to react instantly to live news feeds and gain the skills required to work productively in the financial services industry, picking up the practical skills required for life at the Stock Exchange before you graduate.

While a background in finance or business-related subjects is not mandatory, proficiency in numeracy will be beneficial.

This programme will provide a thorough grounding in theoretical and practical aspects of finance, economics and investment for both early career finance professionals and those aspiring to enter a finance profession.

The University of Aberdeen is a leader in teaching and research in the field of accounting and finance and this programme builds on our considerable strengths in these areas. The Business School is home to The Centre for Governance, Accountability, and Sustainability. The group produces world-class contemporary and historical research that are of importance to the accounting profession, policy makers, regulators, business etc. and those who have a desire to address deep social, economic and sustainability issues facing the world.

Programme Fees

Fee category	Cost
UK	£15,700
EU / International students	£26,250

Semester 1

Compulsory Courses

• Quantitative Methods (BU5025)
• Issues in Corporate Finance (BU5034)
• Economic Analysis (BU5033)
• Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
• Accounting and Finance for Managers (BU5026)

Semester 2

Compulsory Courses

• Portfolio Analysis (BU5526)
• Empirical Methods in Finance Research (BU5565)
• Financial Analysis and Markets (BU5575)

Optional Courses

• Issues in Corporate Governance and Ethics (BU552G)
• Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Forecasting (BU553C)

Semester 3

Compulsory Courses

• Master's Dissertation in Accountancy & Finance (BU5903)

Available Programmes of Study

• MScEcon
  • Finance and Investment Management
    • Qualification: MScEcon
    • Duration: 12 months or 24 months
    • Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
    • Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
    • Start Month: September
    • Location: Aberdeen

Entry Requirements

• Qualifications: The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
  • Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is an undergraduate degree at UK Honours level (or a degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth).
• English Language Requirements:
  • IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
  • PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
  • Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Careers

A qualification that's gaining momentum, aspiring financiers and junior bankers are taking Masters in Finance qualifications and CFA exams in increasing numbers. Hiring trends in investment banks are shifting, with sales and trading desks looking for a more technical skill set with a higher level of quantitative skills. Finance graduates are highly sought-after, with employer demand showing little sign of slowing down.

Graduates of this programme typically aim for positions in the global corporate and financial sector as a business analyst, asset manager, trader, broker, hedge fund / investment advisor, consultant, credit controller, treasurer, banker, market specialist or accountant.

Accreditation

The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions. Out of over 15,000 business schools worldwide, only around 200 schools across 45 countries have attained this distinction.

Scholarships

All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.

Related Programmes

You may also be interested in the following related postgraduate degree programmes.

• Accounting and Finance
• Corporate Finance and Law
• Finance and Investment Management (with CFA Level 1 Examination)
• International Business Management
• International Finance and Political Relations

Why Study Finance and Investment Management?

• This is a full 'conversion' programme that may be completed in a single year.
• 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
• Ranked 4th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
• You do not require accounting, finance or any quantitative study to be completed at undergraduate level.
• There is a strong emphasis on the practical application of theory.
• You develop an awareness of professional best practice and the principles underlying current thinking in finance.
• Experience world leading facilities - access to our in-house stock exchange provides opportunities to work with a real trading platform, Bloomberg and supports in-depth understanding of finance in practice.
• Develop a well-rounded skillset – gain the tools to succeed in your job search, as well as the communication and professional skills that finance recruiters are looking for along with deep analytical skills.
• Access top-tier global recruiters. Students benefit from employer-led skills sessions from big name global finance brands - Deloitte, KMPG, PwC and Ernst & Young - to explore how to stand out at an interview or assessment centre.
• 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.