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Banking and Digital Finance MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

Gain advanced understanding of banking and digital finance fields on this one-year MSc. This programme provides the theoretical foundations and practical experiences you need to secure a role in the technology-led financial services.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£43,500
£21,750
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£43,500
£21,750
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics or other highly numerate disciplines. Knowledge of mathematical methods and introductory probability and statistics is also required. Applicants must show an interest in developing thinking and problem-solving skills.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2
Please note that other than UCL's Pre-Masters and Pre-sessional English courses, the only tests accepted for entry to the Institute of Finance and Technology are IELTS and TOEFL.

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

If you’re looking for a specialist Master’s in banking and digital finance, there is no better place to study than here at UCL.

Our comprehensive curriculum will train you in foundational areas such as banking and corporate finance, asset pricing, and financial strategies. We also emphasise digital tools and technology, offering modules on big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, behavioural finance, Web3, blockchain, tokenomics, and decentralised finance. 

The programme combines theory with ample opportunities for hands-on experience, preparing you for the world of work.

You'll also apply a social, environmental and ethical lens to banking and digital finance. This provides opportunity for “Bigger Picture” thinking that will provide a broader context to work, empowering you to lead with a vision of finance that addresses major societal challenges.

This degree will prepare you to meet the increasing demand for financial experts in today’s job market, making you highly valuable to employers. 

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal if you are interested in elevating your expertise in banking and digital finance fields to advance your career or conduct further research.

It is suitable for graduates in finance, banking, computer science, mathematics, economics or other quantitative disciplines. A knowledge of mathematical methods, probability, and statistics will be required for the course. We also welcome those with previous professional experience seeking to develop their knowledge and skillset.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities. 

  • You'll get a postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide. 
  • Study in a dynamic learning environment at the UCL Institute of Finance and Technology (IFT).  
  • Benefit from insights from a cohort of industrial professors, who deliver teaching alongside academic staff.
  • Take advantage of IFT's exclusive research and industry links, and attend seminars and exhibitions with leading voices in academia and industry.
  • Join an MSc developed with input from industry leaders, government, and key organisations, including BlackRock, HSBC, the European Investment Bank, the London Stock Exchange Group, KPMG, the Bank of England, HM Treasury, the World Bank, and the IMF.
  • Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). Our new UCL East campus is designed to promote interdisciplinary thinking and ground-breaking innovation, and boasts accessible, state-of-the-art facilities including shared labs and workshop spaces.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates of this programme have gone on to high-level positions are firms such as PwC, Wells Fargo, Credit Agricole, China Construction Bank, and British Land. 

Find out more about students' experiences of IFT via our website.
 

My transformation was rapid and profound. In just a year, I went from grappling with the basics to securing a Data Scientist position.

Headshot of alumna student Weiwangzi Wei

Weiwangzi Wei

MSc Banking and Digital Finance

Read more student testimonials

Employability

Our programme combines theory, practice, and innovation to give you the strong technical and contextual foundation you need to progress into a banking and digital finance career in industry, or progress to further research.  

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s.  

  • 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, KPMG, and more
  • Take part in our in-house events involving industry leaders, such as Conversations with Industry, where you get the opportunity to ask questions and network with industry speakers after the event.  
  • Join Fintech Connex, a platform that provides our students with unparalleled opportunities and resources in the world of fintech.
  • 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

This MSc programme is delivered through a mix of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, projects and practicals, which frequently draw upon real-life industry case studies.

Assessment is through examinations (short-answer and multiple-choice questions), presentations, essays, coursework, and your individual research project, which you will submit as a dissertation.

Full-time students can expect approximately 14-18 contact hours per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours, composition, and assessment varies throughout the terms.

Please note that some modules run as “intensive weeks” with an industry professor. These weeks will involve 25-30 contact hours in one week, with students expected to put aside additional time for self-directed learning. These modules are coordinated to ensure that no other modules run concurrently.

Modules

The programme consists of 8 taught modules followed by a research based project dissertation. The topics covered in the programme include aspects of:

  • Banking and Corporate Finance
  • Financial Analytics and Machine Learning
  • Asset Pricing
  • Financial Engineering
  • Big Data in Quantitative Finance
  • Behavioural Finance and Artificial Intelligence
  • Decentralised Finance and Blockchain
  • Financial Strategies and Risk Analysis

The programme structure for part-time students encompasses a total of 180 credits over the course of 2 years. This flexible structure allows part-time students to tailor their learning journey, ensuring a comprehensive education that suits their pace and aspirations.

Compulsory modules











Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

The programme consists of eight compulsory taught modules (120 credits) and a project dissertation (60 credits). Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Banking and Digital Finance.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (noon)

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From human rights to the climate crisis, people are at the centre of what we do in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. We drive innovation and design engineering solutions for a sustainable future and for social impact. Join our virtual Open Event where you'll have the opportunity to hear from your future programme directors. Don't miss this chance to learn about our pioneering department, programmes, award-winning facilities, and the UCL advantage!

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (afternoon)

—

From human rights to the climate crisis, people are at the centre of what we do in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. We drive innovation and design engineering solutions for a sustainable future and for social impact. Join our virtual Open Event where you'll have the opportunity to hear from your future programme directors. Don't miss this chance to learn about our pioneering department, programmes, award-winning facilities, and the UCL advantage!

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you - Alumni Perspectives

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Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you? Join us for a panel and Q&A event with UCL Engineering alumni. You'll learn what you can expect from postgraduate study at UCL Engineering and get application advice from previous students! This is an opportunity for all applicants to hear personal experiences of studying with us, but may be most relevant to those applying from the USA, Latin and South America.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £43,500 £21,750
Tuition fees (2025/26) £43,500 £21,750

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs associated with this programme.

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 £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. 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

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study banking and digital finance at graduate level
  • why you want to study banking and digital finance at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver. 

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

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering

ift-teaching@ucl.ac.uk

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