Program Overview

Finance and Economics (MSc) 2025 entry

Overview

Provides advanced training in the theoretical tools and empirical techniques for economics and finance, preparing you for a professional career in international banking, the finance industry and governmental agencies.

Key Details

• Application deadline: Thursday 7 August 2025
• Starts: September 2025
• Duration: One year full time
• School: Business School
• Fees:
  • UK: £14,850
  • Rest of the world: £29,990

Why Study This Course?

The programme focus is to provide a self-contained, rigorous but relevant learning experience that prepares you either to start employment at a senior level in a wide variety of economics or finance-related activities, or to pursue further research.

Highlights

• Experience a warm and friendly learning environment with small group teaching allowing a high level of student-teacher interaction
• Receive advanced training in essential elements of an Economics Masters degree (macroeconomics or microeconomics) combined with essential training in finance (investment analysis, corporate finance), supplemented by a wide variety of applications.
• Prepare for jobs at a senior level in a wide range of areas: economics, finance, commerce, insurance, academia, diplomatic service and banking
• Explore financial management, econometrics, corporate finance, portfolio management, and financial data analysis using Bloomberg tools
• Take part in a live trading floor workshop with Amplify Trading, guided by two seasoned traders
• Have the opportunity to obtain two certifications without additional costs: Bloomberg Market Concept (BMC) and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG)

Teaching

Traditional lectures, tutorials, seminars and computer lab work in small groups.

Assessment

Continuous assessment and end-of-semester exams.

Dissertation

A 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice which is relevant and appropriate to the MSc.

Modules

The St Andrews degree structure is designed to be flexible. You study compulsory modules delivering core learning together with optional modules you choose from the list available that year.

Semester 1 - Compulsory

• Investment Management: fundamental principles of financial markets, financial instruments and modern security valuation techniques.
• Econometric Methods and Applications: advanced level training in econometric methods.
• Applied Financial Econometrics: training in econometrics with a focus on finance and time series methods.
• Macroeconomics: advanced treatment of the core models and concepts used in modern macroeconomics.
• Microeconomics: advanced treatment of the core models and concepts used in modern microeconomics.

Semester 2 - Compulsory

• Advanced Corporate Finance: investigates the relationship between corporate liabilities and corporate actions.
• Portfolio Management: studies key issues in asset allocation, and portfolio composition and management at an advanced level.

Optional

• Behavioural Finance: examines the effects of behavioural biases in financial markets.
• Financial Technology: studies FinTech, including blockchain, machine learning and AI technologies.
• Causal Inference in Econometrics: teaches cutting-edge econometric methods used in many empirical economics fields to establish plausibly causal estimates of phenomena like the minimum wage or the impact of immigration.
• Corporate Governance: covers three key components: corporate governance, risk management, and financial management.
• Econometric Time Series Analysis: provides an advanced treatment of the core theory and practice of time series econometrics.
• Game Theory: provides a thorough advanced treatment of the core models and concepts used in modern game theory.
• Industrial Economics: focuses on the structure and mechanisms governing markets and on the way firms compete against each other in the pursuit of profit maximisation.
• Monetary Policy: studies key issues in monetary policy.
• Risk Management: teaches standard techniques in risk and insurance problems.

What It Will Lead To

Careers

There is a long-standing tradition of Finance graduates working in a wide variety of challenging and rewarding posts including:

• Academia
• Banking
• Commerce
• Diplomatic service
• Economics
• Finance
• Government
• Industry
• Insurance

Further Your Education

Many graduates pursue PhDs at St Andrews or beyond. Funding includes ESRC awards and Business School studentships, offering RCUK-level stipends and fee waivers for home and EU students.

Why St Andrews?

Industry Connections

The Masters Extra (MX) is a programme of events focused on careers and personal and professional development, designed specifically for taught Masters students in the University of St Andrews Business School.

Trading Workshop

In collaboration with Amplify Trading, a leading global financial trading and training firm, you will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a day-long trading workshop in a live trading floor environment.

Bloomberg Trading Suite

You will also benefit from accessing the Bloomberg Trading Suite, an invaluable resource that facilitates dynamic learning through real time streaming of data.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 Honours degree from a recognised UK university in Economics or Finance with a significant Economics component; or a 2.1 joint Honours in Economics and another subject that includes substantial training in microeconomics, macroeconometrics and econometrics.
• English language proficiency.

Application Requirements

• CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
• A detailed personal statement which includes (1) an explanation of why you want to study the programme (2) why you want to enrol at St Andrews and (3) future career plans
• One original signed academic reference
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates

Fees and Funding

• UK: £14,850
• Rest of the world: £29,990

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:

• Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
• GREAT Scholarship
• St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship
• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)