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Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology MSc (2024), click here

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 (or equivalent overseas qualification) such as economics, finance, mathematics, physics, statistics or engineering. Relevant work experience in the finance industry is highly recommended but not essential. This includes (but is not limited to) experience as an analyst, risk or portfolio manager, trader or business entrepreneur.

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

Join the first programme in the world to combine the emerging field of financial technology with the study of private capital.

Our comprehensive is designed to train you in the fundamentals of venture capital and private equity, valuation concepts and principles, portfolio management and asset allocation, and innovative business modelling.

We also place significant emphasis on skill development in digital tools and technology, offering modules on artificial intelligence, machine learning, portfolio management, asset allocation, regulations, and financial technologies.

Your programme will combine theory with ample opportunities for hands-on experience, preparing you to dive into the opportunities and challenges of rapidly evolving global markets.

You’ll also learn about the social, ethical and environmental implications of new technologies as they intersect with investment strategies. 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 Master's is designed to prepare 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. 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. You'll attend seminars and exhibitions with industry voices from companies including Wells Fargo, Bank of England, and LSEG.
Join the first programme in the world to match the emerging field of Financial Technology with the study of Private Capital, bridging the gap between finance, technology, and new business models.
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 from IFT have gone on to work with employers such as NatWest, Wells Fargo, Barclays, BP, Oliver Wyman, and more.

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

This programme has equipped me with invaluable tools that I am confident will serve as a cornerstone in my future endeavours.

Yang Tian

MSc Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology

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 an investing career, 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.
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 compulsory taught modules. These are delivered in the first 2 terms.

Term 1 modules focus on the fundamentals of Venture Capital and Private Equity; valuation concepts and principles; financial reporting; and regulation and taxation rules and laws.

In Term 2, the focus will be on applying this knowledge in the fields of financial technology; portfolio management and asset allocation; innovative business modelling and start-ups; as well as data analytics and machine learning.

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 part-time students to tailor their learning journey, ensuring a comprehensive education that suits their pace and aspirations.

Compulsory modules

Fundamentals of Venture Capital and Private Equity

Venture Capital and Private Equity Valuation

Financial Statement Analysis

Introduction to Regulation for Fintech, Private Equity and Venture Capital Firms

Foundations of Financial Technology

Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation in Private Equity and Venture Capital

Start-up and Innovative Business Modelling

Data Analytics and Machine Learning

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.

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 Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology.

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.

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.

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.

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

: UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2025

Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 stipend ()

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

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 venture capital and private equity at graduate level
why you want to study venture capital and private equity 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.

This programme 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.