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Finance and Technology MPhil/PhD

London, Stratford (UCL East)

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Finance and Technology MPhil/PhD (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£6,400

£3,200

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£34,700

£17,350

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

February 2026

May 2026

October 2026

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the chosen field, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Institute of Finance and Technology blends industry-led teaching with world-leading academics and cutting-edge research to tackle pressing societal issues and shape the future of finance.

On this degree programme, you'll benefit from a dynamic training environment that promotes interdisciplinary analysis and close collaboration with our industry partners, fostering the development of your commercial competencies.

Our industry partnerships play a vital role in shaping our programmes. We integrate hands-on experiences and industry insights with research excellence, ensuring that you stay at the forefront of financial industry advancements and set new standards.

In addition to regular guidance from your academic supervisor and industry staff, you’ll have access to a dedicated administrative team and a range of support services.

You’ll also benefit from UCL’s skills development programmes, 1-2-1 guidance, and participate in social and community outreach activities to support your research, career, and student life.

We aim to enhance your research project and help you develop both technical and transferable skills, ensuring you’re well-prepared for success after your studies.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for you, if you are motivated to deepen your understanding of financial mechanisms, and to use these to develop complex technological solutions to real-world challenges.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

This degree offers you the following opportunities and benefits:

A research degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2026).
Receive input and advice on your research project from a cohort of industry professionals, academics, and researchers who work alongside academic staff to deliver teaching.
Learn from world-renowned academics and researchers in UCL Institute of Finance and Technology, who specialise in different disciplines including alternative assets, artificial intelligence, banking, blockchain, capital markets, data generation and analytics, and more.
Build strong collaborative skills and gain industry experience by working with UCL experts on research projects and public engagement activities, when applicable, with one of our government and industry partners.
Join the UCL Doctoral Skills Development (DSDP) programme and take advantage of multiple training courses, such as our teaching training scheme, to gain relevant skills for research and your future career.
UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Graduates on this programme are well-suited to careers in universal banks, mutual and pension funds, investment banks, governments, central banks and advisory organisations. Whatever your experience or background, you will leave UCL equipped with the tools to become a high achiever in your chosen field.

Employability

A PhD from UCL is internationally recognised as a high achievement for its intellectual and technical rigour. The IFT experience also speaks to your experience of close collaboration with industry experts to address the world's complex financial problems.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build professional and industry contacts inside UCL and externally as part of your PhD.

Engage with peers, industry experts and faculty members all united in their desire to help shape the future of banking and digital finance.
Get insights into real-world challenges and learn from industry leaders from HM Treasury, World Bank, IMF, BlackRock, and KPMG. Speakers from these companies have formerly spoken at our in-house events, including Conversations with Industry.
Access UCL Careers for a variety of resources and events to support your career development, including CV workshops and 1-2-1 guidance.

Teaching and learning

A diverse range of teaching and learning strategies foster comprehensive skill development and intellectual growth and imbue graduates with the prowess to thrive in research, industry, and various professional domains.

The programme employs a diverse range of assessment methods to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of students' capabilities, understanding, and comprehension across various dimensions, fostering a well-rounded learning experience.

A dissertation of up to 100,000 words for a PhD, or up to 60,000 words for an MPhil, is completed as a part of this programme.

In total, you’ll need to spend approximately 35-40 hours a week on your studies as a full-time student. If you’re studying part time or on flexi-time, you can calculate this study commitment on a pro-rata basis.

The majority of the student's time is dedicated to independent study, allowing for in-depth exploration and self-directed learning.

Research areas and structure

Research environment

We have a very inclusive and collaborative research environment. Our courses attract the best students from all over the world and train the next generation of leaders to transform finance for the betterment of society.

We typically have 25 students enrolled in our PhD programmes at any given time. UCL Institute of Finance and Technology is committed to excellence and innovation in research and teaching. Our aims are:

To pioneer new financial models that integrate technical, environmental, and social dimensions into financial mechanisms and reshape the financial industry.
To become a global knowledge hub of excellence on digital finance and alternative investment in line with UK Government policy and investment decisions.
To bridge theory with real-world application by stimulating collaboration, engagement, and industry-led teaching with industry staff and partners.
To train the next generation of finance leaders and academics who will develop and enhance a financial ecosystem that thrives today and adapts to future changes.

Our research integrates knowledge and skills with industry experience to push the boundaries of innovation. By recognising the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental factors, our holistic approach fosters sustainable practices in the rapidly evolving field of digital finance.

During your registration, you will be able to participate in conferences and research showcase events, which provide you with an opportunity to present your research findings before an audience of academics, industry and your fellow doctoral students. In Year 2 or part-time equivalent, you will be expected to complete the process of upgrading from MPhil to PhD status.

To progress, you are required to submit a short upgrade report, which must be presented and successfully defended in an upgrade viva (oral examination). In your final year, you will submit your thesis and defend it to a panel in a viva.

Within 3 months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research methodology and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback. During your registration, you will be able to participate in conferences and research showcase events, which provide you with an opportunity to present your research findings before an audience of academics, industry and your fellow doctoral students.

In Year 2 or part-time equivalent, you will be expected to complete the upgrade progression process. To progress, you are required to submit a short upgrade report, which must be presented and successfully defended in an upgrade viva (oral examination). In your final year, you will submit your thesis and defend it to a panel in a viva exam.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£6,400	£3,200
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£34,700	£17,350

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Some projects may require additional costs. These will be clearly advertised and/or confirmed through discussions with prospective supervisors at the point of any offer being made.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: China Scholarship Council - UCL Joint Research Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

You are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors before submitting a formal application. It is important that you find a supervisor who shares the same research interest and expectations and is available to take a new student. Supervisors in our institute welcome emails enquiring about your potential MPhil/PhD study.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.