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Responsible Finance and Alternative Assets MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£25,300

£12,650

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£46,700

£23,350

Duration

1 calendar year

2 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

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

The English language level for this course 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

On this programme, you'll explore digital finance, public and environmental finance, and social entrepreneurship, all while developing global perspective on alternative assets.

This MSc will combine theory with ample opportunities for hands-on experience, preparing you to dive into the opportunities and challenges of rapidly evolving global markets, such as responsible finance, asset allocation, and portfolio construction.

This MSc emphasises digital tools and technology, offering modules on artificial intelligence, machine learning, portfolio management, asset allocation, regulations, and financial technologies.

Drawing on our research in sustainable and impact finance, you’ll learn to manage investments that address climate change, the effects of disruptive events, poor management of energy and water resources, and social inequality. This “Bigger Picture” element will deepen your understanding of the context behind your work, empowering you to lead with a vision of finance that addresses major societal challenges.

You'll gain the latest knowledge and emerging practices in financial resilience and sustainable finance, preparing you to meet the increasing demand for a new class of investors 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 investment to advance your career or conduct further research.

It is suitable for graduates in finance, banking, computer science, mathematics, economics or other quantitative disciplines.

We welcome those with previous professional experience seeking to develop their knowledge and skillset. Relevant work experience in the finance industry is recommended but not essential.

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 2026), 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. You'll attend seminars and exhibition series, at which we've previously hosted industry voices including Bank of England, EBRD, OECD World Bank and J.P. Morgan.
Draw on the Institute’s research in sustainable and impact finance such as the EPSRC Plastic Waste Innovation Hub and the Horizon 2020 Circular Models for Investment in Cultural Heritage.
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 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

Our programme combines theory, practice, and innovation to give you the strong technical and contextual foundation you need to progress into career in finance or investing, or to conduct 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.
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. Previous speakers include industry leaders from HM Treasury, World Bank, IMF, BlackRock, KPMG, and more.
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. Outside these sessions, students are expected to engage in significant self directed study and complete assessments of around 20-25 hours per 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 compulsory taught modules. These are delivered in Term 1 and Term 2.

Term 1 modules focus on the fundamentals of environmental and public finance and quantitative analysis.

In Term 2, the focus will be on impact investment, corporate finance, quantitative environmental finance and machine learning and digital assets.

In Term 3 you will undertake independent research in a specific area of interest, culminating in a dissertation.

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

Compulsory modules

ESG Investing: Principles and Practices

Corporate Finance

Alternative and Sustainable Assets - Creating Outperformance

Quantitative Environmental Economics and Finance

Public Finance and Innovation

Sustainability and Digital Finance

Data Analytics and Financial Strategies

Social Enterprise and Impact Investing

Dissertation

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 Responsible Finance and Alternative Assets.

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)	£25,300	£12,650
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£46,700	£23,350

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, 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.

The programme may involve some additional costs, which can vary depending on the specific modules and activities chosen. Not all of these will apply to every student, but these could include expenses for course materials, participation in site visits, necessary equipment for certain settings, or other project-related needs.

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

: Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

Deadline: 9 December 2025

Value: Full fees, flights, stipend, and other allowances (1 year)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 25 June 2026

Value: Tuition fees plus £17,096 stipend ()

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

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

why you want to study responsible finance and alternative assets at graduate level
why you want to study responsible finance and alternative assets 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 courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. 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.