Home

Finance MSc

London, Canary Wharf

UCL School of Management's MSc Finance programme offers a world-class generalist training in finance. Building on the foundations of quantitative finance, it combines theory and practice in a variety of finance-related topics including corporate finance, portfolio management, asset pricing, derivatives, hedge funds, private equity, big data analysis, behavioural finance, investment banking, and fintech. The programme is very selective and attracts outstanding students from all over the world.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£41,500
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£41,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

Applications open

Notification

Application closes at 17:00 (UK time).

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper-second class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in one of the following subjects: finance, mathematics, business, accounting, engineering, economic theory, science or statistics. Degrees from other disciplines may be considered if they are related to finance and/or mathematics. Applicants are also required to submit a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) result as part of their initial application. A Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) will be accepted as a substitute if required. No application will be considered complete unless a GRE or GMAT test is provided.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3. Please note that when applicable, students must meet Level 3 English in one single test.

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. International Preparation Courses

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


MSc Finance students will acquire a firm grasp of fundamental finance-related concepts and be able to apply their knowledge to practical tasks by, for example, utilising mathematical models to price financial securities.

Graduates will acquire the skills and knowledge required to work in any of the major global financial centres like New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong – indeed, globally.

Who this course is for

The Finance MSc is for those with a strong quantitative and mathematical background, seeking a potentially high-profile career in the financial sector, or further advancing an established career path.

This programme is suitable for those who have a passion for finance and a clear drive to work in the finance industry.

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

What this course will give you

This programme draws upon the combined strengths of two highly-rated departments: UCL School of Management and UCL Economics. Academic staff's knowledge and expertise combine to provide a repository for students to draw upon as they identify and respond to challenges and issues in real-world scenarios.

UCL School of Management is based at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, London’s financial hub, offering students a myriad of opportunities to network with industry professionals.

UCL Economics has long-established links with leading financial institutions, reflected within hard-edged, meaningful research.

It provides students with in-depth knowledge and understanding of business analytics, preparing students for working in complex, interconnected, data-driven environments.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

As an MSc Finance graduate, you will be able to demonstrate deep knowledge and understanding of the specialist subject area while placing that subject within a wider organisational and contextual framework.

You will understand current issues and thinking along with techniques applicable to research in the subject area.

Upon graduating you will have both theoretical and practitioner perspectives and will be able to apply a range of specialist skills to the organisations – as well as the context – in which you as a specialist may operate.

Employability

The scope of the financial industry at national and international levels is extensive and includes commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, asset management companies, insurance companies, credit rating agencies, broker-dealers, and boutique financial advisory companies specialising in generic and bespoke products and services including advisory, M&As, divestments, and restructuring among others.

The aim of the MSc Finance programme is to prepare individuals for effective roles in any of these different organisations within the financial industry.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars. Assessment is through written examinations, individual/group coursework, and a 7,500-word dissertation.

Students typically study 4 compulsory modules in Term 1 and 2 compulsory modules in Term 2. Students also study 4 optional modules which may take place in Term 2 or 3. In Term 3 all students undertake a business research project (dissertation).

Each taught module in Terms 1 and 2 is delivered over 10 weeks, with 3 contact hours per week comprising lecture content and interactive components. Optional modules in Term 3 are delivered intensively with 10 x 3-hour sessions over a period of 5 weeks.

In addition, students spend approximately 7-12 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars.

The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the module and the weekly activities being undertaken.

For a full overview of the programme structure please visit the UCL School of Management website.

Modules

In Term 1, you will take 4 compulsory modules x 15 credits each.

In Term 2, you will take 2 compulsory modules x 15 credits each.

You will also take 4 optional modules from a choice of 13 possible optional modules x 15 credits each. Optional modules run in Terms 2 and 3.

Terms 1 and 2 compulsory modules provide the basis and foundation in key finance theories and models. Optional modules in Term 3 give you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about more specialised areas of finance.

There is a compulsory research methodologies seminar in Term 3. This seminar will prepare you for writing up the research project, which is worth 30 credits. Most of the research and write-up for the research project will likely take place in Term 3 and over the summer.

You will also have access to two non-credit-bearing courses as follows.

An online camp in Mathematics will take place before Term 1 starts. This mini online course aims to standardise the mathematical base of students before any teaching starts given that different students come from different academic backgrounds.

A series of optional workshops called “Frameworks for Finance Essentials” allowing you to gain a deeper knowledge in financial accounting. You will need this training to be able to understand more complex concepts to be delivered in Corporate Finance and in some of the electives offered in the programme.

Please note that the optional modules, Big Data Analytics, Hedge Fund Strategies, Corporate Finance Practices, Behavioural Finance, Fintech, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Wealth Management and Private Banking and Further Topics in Mathematical and Computational Finance are delivered specifically by the MSc Finance teaching team. 

The remaining optional modules are delivered by faculty from across programmes at UCL School of Management. 
 

There is no option to study this programme part-time.

Compulsory modules









Optional 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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Finance.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: An introduction to Finance MSc

—

Join Programme Director George Namur for an introduction to MSc Finance at UCL. This Master's programme, taught at UCL School of Management's home on Levels 38 and 50 of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, right at the heart of London's finance district, provides individuals with the knowledge, understanding, skills and networks to enable them to engage with specialist roles in the modern global financial industry.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £41,500
Tuition fees (2023/24) £41,500

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

All full time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £2,000 for this programme.

This programme may include opportunities for students to undertake optional international study trips. The costs of such trips are usually covered by students although some elements may be subsidised or grants available depending on the destination, organisational and support responsibilities. On average, costs would be around £1,000 to £1,750 depending on the trip destination, personal flight preferences and spending habits as well as the prevailing currency exchange rates.
 

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

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

Brown Family Bursary

Deadline: 8 June 2023
Value: £15,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines. A staged admissions process is in place for this programme. This means that when you apply, your application will be considered with all others that have submitted before the deadline. This enables us to ensure that all applications are considered fairly and equally. Applications submitted, and considered complete by 11th December 2022 can expect to receive a response on their application by 8th February 2023. Applications submitted, and considered complete by 19th February 2023 can expect to receive a response on their application by 21st April 2023. Applications submitted, and considered complete by 17th April 2023 can expect to receive a response on their application by 2nd June 2023. Please note that our 'response' may include being informed that your application is being held for further review against other applicants. ALL applicants will receive a response no later than 2nd June 2023.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £160 for both online and paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:


• why you want to pursue a postgraduate degree in finance
• what particularly attracts you to the UCL School of Management MSc Finance programme
• how your academic and professional background prepare you to meet the challenging demands of this programme
• what your career aspirations are post-graduation from the programme.

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: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL School of Management
UCL School of Management

mgmt-finance@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.