Program Overview

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Finance (Finance and Investment)

Develop the skills to embark on a career in a specialist area of finance that has the potential to provide life-changing opportunities for people and businesses across the world.

Course Details

Our MSc in Finance (Finance and Investment) is designed to immerse you in a challenging and exciting subject that has the potential to create life-changing opportunities for people and institutions across the globe.

You will develop essential skills and knowledge in finance and investment that employers around the world are constantly seeking and you will also build an understanding of the advanced analytical and technical capabilities required by world-leading PhD programmes. This knowledge will be delivered within the context of our core values of fairness in how we experience the financial world and equality of access to financial services.

The 12-month full-time programme comprises a combination of core and optional modules, culminating in a practice-based business project or a research-based dissertation depending on the learning direction you choose.

Core modules include derivative markets, portfolio management, financial risk management, security analysis, econometric methods and advanced financial theory. The option modules give you the opportunity to tailor the course to your specific interests and career goals.

This course is taught by specialist academics and is affiliated with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA), the leading global association for investment professionals and the accepted benchmark around the world for technical excellence in financial markets.

The School has made a significant investment in database resources, giving you access to live and historical data from providers including Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Thomson Reuters, DataStream and Orbis. These state-of-the-art databases give you the opportunity to interrogate the financial records of millions of companies worldwide and add valuable insight to your research.

Participation in our MSc in Finance (Finance and Investment) will set you on the road to a stimulating and fulfilling career in finance or financial research by equipping you with the necessary skills and experience taught to the highest academic standards within an exciting learning environment.

World-class Business Education

• 11th (UK) 34th (Europe) 60th (Global) - QS World University Rankings: Masters in Finance 2025
• The Certificate in Engagement with Practice in Finance

The Certificate in Engagement with Practice in Finance aligns with our strategic objective to cultivate future leaders in finance who are highly sought after by global institutions and research programmes. This distinctive and comprehensive offering within the MSc Finance programme enables students to build both technical expertise and the essential soft skills required for success in a competitive industry. Through a series of extra-curricular engagements, students deepen their knowledge and develop in-demand skills, such as communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. By completing at least ten targeted activities or a combination of engagements and Bloomberg certifications, participants demonstrate a well-rounded skillset that reflects the high standards of the finance profession. Successful completion results in a certificate of recognition, formally included on the academic transcript, signalling professional readiness to employers.

The programme’s events include "Zero to Hero" bootcamps in areas like Python programming, SQL, Entrepreneurship Finance and CFA exam training, equipping students with valuable, career-focused technical skills. Networking opportunities and workshops, delivered by leaders from industry, provide additional insights and exposure to real-world finance scenarios. Additionally, the student-led Investment Club offers an immersive experience in managing a live investment fund, building practical skills in teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Together, these diverse experiences empower students to apply their academic learning, gain industry insights, and establish connections, ensuring they graduate with the skills, confidence, and network needed to thrive in their postgraduate careers.

Course Structure

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules:

• Derivative Markets
• Portfolio Management
• Financial Risk Management
• Econometric Methods
• Advanced Financial Theory
• Dissertation (on a finance topic of your choice)
• Plus one from:
  • Security Analysis
  • Python for Finance

Optional Modules:

• In recent years, optional modules have included:
  • Bank Management
  • Banking and Financial Intermediation
  • Behavioural and Neurofinance
  • Capital Market Development
  • Climate Finance
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Modelling and Business Forecasting
  • Financial Technologies I
  • Financial Technologies II
  • Fintech Regulations
  • International Study Tour
  • Islamic Capital Markets
  • Market Microstructure
  • Python for Finance
  • A language module

Learning

Learning is delivered through lectures, some given by guest speakers, in seminars, practical sessions and in extracurricular activities. Seminars will see you working in a smaller group to discuss lecture topics and debate and solve issues raised. Practical work comprises medium-sized group sessions, in which you can practise computer software, applying topics from lectures and seminars.

You will undertake a combination of core and optional modules which will enable you to carry out in-depth study of particular topics. You will also complete an independent 12,000-word dissertation.

Typically, you will attend 10 hours per week of lectures in the first term, nine hours per week of lectures in the second term and undertake a one-hour seminar per module every two weeks.

Pre-sessional modules in accounting, economics, and mathematics and statistics, are offered in September and October in the form of five lectures and five seminars per module.

Assessment

Assessment on this course is rigorous and carried out through exams in January, May and June, a range of assignments and a 12,000-word dissertation in which you carry out independent research and develop your analysis skills.

Outside of timetabled contact hours, you will be expected to undertake your own independent study in preparation for exams, seminars, assignments and other forms of assessment as well as general background reading in order to broaden your subject knowledge.

Entry Requirements

Application Deadlines

The application process opens 1 October 2024 for Masters programmes commencing 2025.

We aim to have a diverse student body and recognise that we can only offer places to a finite number of applicants. To help achieve our aim, we look to ensure we offer places to applicants from all nationalities and close applications when we receive the allocated numbers.

The University is under no obligation to make any offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.

What do I need first?

The Masters in Finance programme is designed for new or recent graduates. Certain routes within the Masters in Finance programme may also be of interest to those who already have practical experience in the field of finance. Prospective candidates must hold qualifications equivalent to a UK first or upper second-class honours degree in any discipline. Applicants are also expected to have strong quantitative skills for the programme, which includes fundamental concepts of calculus and statistics. Therefore, having studied a relevant mathematics/quantitative module at university level or a minimum of A level Mathematics (or its equivalent) is a prerequisite for prospective candidates.

How do I apply?

You will need to complete an online application form.

Please note you can only apply for one Masters Finance programme.

Fees and Funding

Full Time Fees

• Home students: £16,000 per year
• EU students: £35,500 per year
• Island students: £16,000 per year
• International students: £35,500 per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

As a Business School Masters student, you'll have access to a dedicated postgraduate careers service offering a wide range of opportunities to help you develop the skills necessary for a global career.

We work in partnership with the University's careers team to connect you with events, organisations, or individuals to help kick-start your career. You will have access to one-to-one support on every aspect of the application process, from CV writing to interview techniques.

Our graduates are highly sought after by global employers. Some of our recent graduates now work in sectors including: financial services, healthcare, government and consultancy amongst many others.

Department Information

Our MSc Accounting is an innovative programme designed to develop your critical thinking skills and provide an essential introduction to a career in accountancy and related fields. It is taught by an outstanding academic team from the Department of Accounting

The Department of Accounting is one of four departments at Durham University Business School. We offer a stimulating learning environment for our Masters students. As an accountancy student you will be joining an academic department with an international reputation for research and teaching excellence.

The one-year, full-time MSc Accounting programme will help you develop key analytical and practical skills and is an ideal programme if you're looking to pursue a career in accounting but have no prior subject knowledge. In addition, the programme carries exemptions from both the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), which can fast track your journey to membership of these organisations, making it easier for you to practice as an accountant.

We are proud of be a part of Durham University Business School, one of the UK’s longest established business schools and one of an elite group of institutions to be accredited by all three major accrediting bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

For more information see our department pages.

Facilities

The MSc Accounting programme is taught across the Durham University campus by world leading faculty. The University is situated in the historic centre of Durham, a city with UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Business School students have access to libraries and study spaces across the University. Many of our learning resources are accessible online, including up-to-date financial information, industry-standard databases and access to over 10,000 journals.