Program Overview

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Finance MSc

Course overview

The Finance MSc course builds a sound theoretical foundation that comprehensively explores the complex, dynamic interactions between corporations, financial markets and investors.

Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the course encourages you to assess governance and ethics, question norms and build systems-thinking skills.

Key course content includes:

• Asset pricing: learn to value equity, debt and derivatives using industry standard techniques. Develop skills crucial for investment management and financial analysis roles, focusing on the accurate assessment and pricing of complex financial instruments.
• Governance and sustainability: understand the financial and ethical challenges corporations face. Explore corporate governance, sustainability, and how businesses meet stakeholder expectations while addressing long-term social and environmental impacts, preparing you for responsible roles in diverse settings.
• Data analysis: master key statistical techniques, including estimation, hypothesis testing and modelling. These skills should enhance your ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Study one module at a time, with six weeks of learning followed by one week of assessment per module.

What you'll study

Key areas of study include the valuation of equity, debt and derivative securities, addressing the financial and ethical challenges facing modern corporations, and applying statistical techniques for estimation, hypothesis testing and modelling. You’ll also explore contemporary issues in finance such as behavioural finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Modules

• Special Topics in Finance – 30 credits
• Engage with advanced literature to develop a robust understanding of key topics in behavioural finance, mergers and acquisitions and institutional finance. Through case-based learning, you will apply theory to current global issues of policy and practice in the field of finance. You will analyse topics from multiple standpoints, such as influences of human behaviour in fund management and capital allocation, and tactical motivations behind mergers and acquisitions in complex scenarios.
• Capital Markets and Security Analysis – 30 credits
• Use Bloomberg and LSEG Workspace databases to analyse bonds and stocks, building a solid understanding of relevant theories and application. Working with real market data, you can experience hands-on learning that mirrors investment professionals’ environments. By exploring equity investment strategies, market timing and stock-picking based on fundamental and technical analyses, you should strengthen your skills in analysing complex systems, evaluating future scenarios, handling uncertainty and making responsible, data-driven decisions.
• Data Analysis and Research Methods – 30 credits
• Build essential skills for independent research, learning key quantitative methods used by financial analysts, economists, and investors. Using global financial data, you’ll practice descriptive analysis, estimation, hypothesis testing, and modelling, with a focus on interpreting results for economic and financial decisions. Set clear research goals, choose effective methods, and gain experience designing and evaluating research projects. Working with varied data sources should sharpen your analytical and reflective skills, preparing you for tomorrow's data-driven challenges.
• Corporate Finance and Risk Management – 30 credits
• Critically examine pivotal issues in the global corporate finance landscape. From finance, accounting and economic perspectives, you will explore the relevance of issues such as financial management, asset pricing, capital structure and pay-out policies. The module emphasises the implications of risk exposure and management in dynamic political, economic, financial, operational and regulatory environments.
• Governance, Ethics and Sustainability – 30 credits
• This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal issues concerning sustainability, ethics and governance for the global financial and economic landscape. You will examine the influence of national and global regulations, corporate governance frameworks and ethical principles that drive sustainable and responsible business practices.
• You will critically analyse the prevailing corporate governance norms, the allocation of decision-making powers, and their implications for businesses, economies, financial markets and society. Module content is designed to teach you the importance of balancing the needs of shareholders with the needs of society.
• It will use the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to help you become a responsible leader who considers the ethical, social, and environmental impact of your decisions.
• Postgraduate Project – 30 credits
• Apply knowledge and insights from across the course to develop into an independent and ethical researcher. You will conduct a substantive research project related to your choice of topics in economics or finance to evidence intellectual, technical and analytical skills. You will receive personalised support and guidance from a dedicated supervisor and benefit from critical discussions and cross-fertilisation in group supervision sessions.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• presentations
• group projects
• workshops
• practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching and learning hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours will vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent learning

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through: guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you’ve learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

• reports
• tests
• essays
• exams
• practical coursework
• assignments
• presentations.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

• UK
• International

An honours degree 2:2 or above in any discipline or appropriate work experience in the financial sector together with relevant professional qualifications.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Africa

Americas

Central Asia

East Asia

Europe

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above in any discipline or appropriate work experience in the financial sector together with relevant professional qualifications.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 overall with at least 6 in each component area

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student | Full-time | Part-time
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UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,350 | Not available
EU | £9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary** | Not available
International | £18,600 | Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

• Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
• Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Facilities

The Trading Floor allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Featuring contemporary dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, Fitch Connect and LSEG Workspace, the facility adds a dynamic practical element to your course.

Our Digital Economics lab (EconLab) is designed to model decision-making, market dynamics and policy impacts to teach core principles such as resource allocation, opportunity cost, and cooperation. It houses economics games which are used in education, research and policy testing, and provides you with specialist econometrics support.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions in the following job roles: investment analyst, financial services, corporate treasurer, compliance officer, wealth manager, risk officer, banking or finance manager.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

• demonstrate a critical understanding of financial theories and principles, and the ability to constructively challenge their assumptions
• appraise financial risk and associated risk management strategies and identify appropriate applications and limitations of portfolios and derivative instruments to manage risk exposure
• evidence of the application of advanced mathematical and statistical methods for financial analysis, interpretation and decision-making
• demonstrate critical awareness of the role and importance of effective corporate governance, ethical responsibility, professional accountability, civic contribution, and sustainability
• execute research using critical judgement in the selection of methodological approaches, research techniques and tools
• critically examine the operation and function of international financial markets and institutions and assess the significance of contemporary and innovative developments in finance
• critique, interpret and apply financial frameworks and models to real-world unstructured finance scenarios
• diagnostically deal with financial and investment complexities to produce viable solutions and utilise a variety of methods to communicate conclusions from both quantitative and qualitative analysis.