MSc

Finance

Key Facts

Course Code N300

  • Qualification

    MSc

  • Course duration

    1 year

Available for September start 2025

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Suitable for applicants with a background in mathematics, finance, economics, banking, statistics or econometrics, this degree will provide you with analytical and practical skills in the areas of corporate finance, investment, international financial markets, and financial institutions.

This industry perpetually seeks technically competent higher degree graduates to evolve and modernise their business environment.

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2:2 Bachelors (Honours) degree, or equivalent, in any discipline.  Non-graduates will be considered individually based on relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications.

English Language Requirements IELTS 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application.

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Course Overview

At Aberystwyth Business School, you will learn about established and emergent financial markets, be provided with the latest thinking and research insight on contemporary issues such as risk management, ethical standards in banking, international financial regulation, advances in corporate finance, modern portfolio management and innovations in intermediation.

From equities, bonds and other fixed income instruments to futures and options, from mergers and acquisitions to real options, this degree will provide the essential skills and knowledge needed to pursue an exciting future professional career in financial services, or financial management in a wide range of other sectors.

About this course

Duration:

One year full-time. The academic year (September to September) is divided into three semesters: September to January; January to June; June to September.

Assessment:

Assessment takes the form of research proposals including a related bibliographic element, case studies, oral assessments and essays. Each student will complete a MSc dissertation worth 60 credits, which deals with an area of chosen study in the third semester. 

Course Fees:

Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding:

Funding opportunities may be available, please check our funding calculator for details.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

By studying this degree you will develop your problem-solving, decision-making, analytical and creative thinking skills, in addition to teamworking, time management and organisational skills. Graduates of this degree will be well-placed for a career in many finance industry roles. Recent examples include students graduating to become corporate finance and entrepreneurial finance specialists, commercial and investment bankers, managing high net-worth private wealth management and various other roles in the finance and accounting profession.

Potential careers include:

  • Financial strategy
  • Actuarial profession
  • Corporate banking
  • Tax
  • Investment analysis
  • Financial trading
  • Retail banking.

Transferable skills include:

  • Understanding organisational behaviour and structure
  • Improved numeracy skills and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
  • Deep understanding of the causes and effects of economic and other external changes
  • The ability to communicate clearly written and spoken
  • Effective problem-solving
  • Analytical and creative thinking skills
  • Decision-making
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Time-management and organisational skills
  • Self-motivation and self-reliance.

Teaching & Learning

You will be taught by expert academic staff across lectures, tutorials and seminars. In addition to individual essays and written exams in some modules, students are assessed on other activities that require report-writing, presentation and research skills.

Modules include:

  • Advanced Corporate Finance
  • Banking and International Intermediation
  • Financial Econometrics
  • Financial Research Methods
  • International Financial Markets and Investments
  • Portfolio Analysis and Management.

A final dissertation will also need to be submitted for completion of your MSc.

A large component of the taught programme (80 credits out of 120) is shared with the MSc International Finance.