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Finance

MSc

Key facts

Start dates

January 2023 / September 2023

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 12 months

Part time: 24 months

Overview

Our MSc Finance programme balances technical knowledge with practical skills. You are taught in small interactive groups by experts from the finance industry as well as leading researchers.

Throughout this course, you can:

  • understand how business decisions are made from a financial perspective
  • explore how different financial markets, banks and foreign exchange operate
  • acquire professional and digital skills to prepare you for your career
  • develop practical skills in financial modelling and mathematical techniques
  • appreciate broader issues including corporate social responsibility
  • engage with our guest speakers such as the Deputy Chair of KPMG

Our students have gone on to work with prestigious global organisations such as Deutsche Bank, Societé General, the Share Centre, KPMG, Wiley and EDF Energy. They have careers such as financial trader, investment banker and financial analyst.

Students listening to lecture

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification.

Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development.

This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development.

Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university’s English language requirements:

  • IELTS minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
  • if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

Go

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,400

Home (UK) part time
£5,200

International full time
£16,200

Home (UK) full time
£10,800

Home (UK) part time
£5,400

International full time
£16,800

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£10,400

Home (UK) part time
£5,200

International full time
£16,200

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£10,800

Home (UK) part time
£5,400

International full time
£16,800

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

You will study the compulsory modules listed below and choose from a range of elective modules. You will then complete a research project.

Lecturer presenting to class

Start this course in January

You have the option to start this course in January. You will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Analytical Techniques for Finance

This will help you acquire the essential skills to study finance in depth. You will study areas of mathematics, statistics and the interpretation of accounting statements.

Corporate Finance Concepts

You will acquire theoretical knowledge on the elements of company value including how financial decisions contribute to meeting a corporation’s objectives. By having practical focus, the module contributes to your understanding of how financial decisions are taken by companies.

Financial Markets and Institutions

This module compared how international markets and institutions link the users and providers of funds within financial systems. It focuses on issues of asset pricing and market efficiency, and the effects of globalisation on organisations, technical innovation and regulatory change.

International Finance

Focusing on the operation of foreign exchange and derivative markets, you will examine the main theories of exchange rate determination and speculative attacks. It will consider the issues with currency risk management and hedging instruments.

Finance and Strategy

You will investigate the relationship between finance and corporate strategy. It will help you understand how financial decisions are affected by strategic issues and how corporate strategies need to take into account financial considerations.

Optional modules

Applied Financial Econometrics

Corporate Governance

Corporate Social Responsibility

Financial Modelling

Strategic Business Simulation

Final project

Compulsory modules

Research Project

This module incorporates research methods and a research project. This is a key component of the master's degree. The project provides you with an opportunity to explore a specialist area in depth. You have a choice to undertake a traditional dissertation or follow a structured research project which incorporates both theoretical and applied research. You will be provided with guidance and advice throughout the process.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Download course structure chart

Learning and teaching

Our teaching and learning methods include:

  • small interactive seminars
  • workshop activities
  • discussions
  • problem-solving activities.

You will develop critical enquiry skills and a firm grounding in practice. And gain confidence so you can take on graduate jobs in leading organisations.

Our teaching staff are researchers and/or from an industry background. They have in-depth practical experience of business and management issues. You will also learn from visiting speakers from:

  • business
  • industry
  • consultancies
  • research bodies.

Students on our Accounting, Finance and Economics courses can gain certification and experience of trading on the financial markets by making mock transactions using real-world financial market data. Read our in-depth news story to find out more.

Bloomberg Trading Suite News Article

Field trips

The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.

We also run a study trip to Chengdu, China. If you choose the study trip (which runs in July), we will give you all the details by March so that you can make your decisions ahead of the trip in July.

If you successfully complete this non-credit bearing module, it will be recorded on your transcript as P58335 International Business in Practice: Study Trip.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

We will assess you on the quality of written or visual presentation work during your modules. Verbal presentations can also form part of the assessment.

The majority of assessments are based on individual assignments but there is some assessed group work.

You may also be assessed with:

  • reports
  • seminar papers
  • formal written examinations.

Research

There are two research clusters in the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies and the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice which relate to this subject.

Two researchers in a meeting

After you graduate

Career prospects

This course helps you develop both academically and professionally providing you with a strong foundation for a career in finance. It offers you an opportunity to create global business links with fellow students, teaching staff and professionals you may meet during your time at Brookes.

You will develop skills which are embedded in the programme, such as:

  • digital literacy
  • communication
  • presentation skills
  • team working.

The MSc in Finance develops your ability to compete for challenging and interesting roles in finance or general business.

Our students are attractive to employers both in the UK and internationally and have gone to work in prestigious corporations such as:

  • Citibank
  • Apple
  • HSBC
  • Accenture
  • IBM.

The roles they have taken up are varied and include:

  • investment banker
  • financial analyst
  • fraud detection
  • treasurer.

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.