Finance and Investment MSc

Year of entry

Postgraduate Virtual Open Day

Join us on Saturday 16 November to learn more about studying your postgraduate degree at Leeds. Book your place

Start date
September 2024
Delivery type
On campus
Duration
12 months full time
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject
Full entry requirements
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
UK fees
£18,000 (Total)
International fees
£34,750 (Total)

Course overview

Two female students looking and a computer screen, one is pointing

Watch our recorded talk

Hear from current students how a Masters pre-sessional helped them adapt to study and life in the UK.

Global capital and money markets are rapidly evolving, and critical expertise is highly sought after. If you’re interested in a professional career in finance and investment, this Masters degree will enable you to apply your knowledge and problem-solving skills to the financial markets.

You’ll be introduced to advanced concepts and practices in essential topics, including international investment, financial modelling, corporate finance and security investment analysis.

Thanks to our excellent links with industry, commerce and professional bodies, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how essential financial theory is applied in practice. Case study exercises and simulations test your knowledge in real business scenarios, connecting you with the latest challenges and issues in the financial markets.

You’ll learn from highly qualified academics with research and consultancy expertise to gain a qualification valued worldwide in the finance and investment industry.

Course Highlights

  • This course is shaped by the latest knowledge and critical thinking through the work of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance, the International Banking Institute, and the Credit Management Research Centre.

  • Benefit from our established relationships with finance, credit and accounting professions, providing a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments.

  • You’ll have access to our two, on-campus trading rooms, and the world’s top financial databases, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, CSMAR, Refinitiv Eikon and Datastream.

  • Substantial quantitative skills training designed to prepare you for the graduate labour market.

  • Guest lectures from high-profile speakers from industry or regulatory bodies share current trends and valuable real-world insight. Recent speakers have included the Chief Risk Officer from the Royal Bank of Canada, and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.

Find out more about studying your Masters at Leeds University Business School.

Accreditation


Leeds University Business School has triple accreditation from the three leading bodies AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

As part of the CFA® University Affiliation Program, eligible students can apply for CFA® scholarships that cover the cost of registration for the CFA examination.

Course details

You’ll build knowledge of key topics in finance and investment, such as financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis and international business finance.

This will enable you to apply financial theory to solve problems and explore international investment, while optional modules allow you to tailor your degree to suit your career plans.

To demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained during the course, you’ll design and carry out your own research dissertation in the final semester. This allows you to focus on a topic of your choice, further developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Throughout the course, we support you to develop the professional skills that will be critical for a successful career in the financial services.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Finance and Investment MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Security Investment Analysis 15
Corporate Finance 15
Applied Finance 15
Financial Modelling and Analysis 15
International Investment 15
Accounting and Finance Dissertation 60
Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Module Name Credits
Portfolio Risk Management 15
International Business Finance 15
Forensic Accounting and Finance 15
Behavioural Finance 15
Financial Derivatives 15
Discrete Time Finance 15
Python Programming for Finance 15

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, allowing you to develop your skills in research and analysis.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies. This is a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the school, your course and modules.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise both knowledge and essential skills development. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject such as accounting, finance, economics or mathematics.

You should have a strong grounding in quantitative subjects with high scores in these subjects.

International qualifications

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Economics and Finance (6 weeks) and Language for Business: Economics and Finance (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadline:

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

International applicants: Thursday 26 June 2025

UK applicants: Friday 15 August 2025

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you’ll need

  • A copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
  • Contact details for two academic references
  • A personal statement
  • An up-to-date CV
  • Your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
  • A letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £18,000 (Total)

International: £34,750 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

We’re offering up to 50 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2024. These scholarships offer a 50% fee reduction and will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

You do not have to submit a separate application for our Excellence Scholarships – you will be automatically considered when your course application is reviewed.

International Excellence Scholarships (International applicants)

Masters Excellence Scholarships (UK applicants)

Read more about Masters Funding and Scholarships.

Career opportunities

From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career. As a graduate of this course, you’ll be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core finance and investment principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.

Graduates have a broad appeal to employers in the worldwide finance sector. Many have gone on to careers such as traders, risk managers, portfolio managers and security analysts.

Our unique combination of business and mathematics modules enables you to perform successfully in a business environment by making the best use of your analytical and quantitative skills.

Careers support

Careers support and professional development activities are built into your course. You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, and support to boost your employability. We offer support on how to develop the professional skills you’ll need to start a successful career, and how to evidence these to prospective employers.

As part of the Accounting and Finance Department you can benefit from commercial awareness networking events and guest lectures from high-profile speakers from industry or regulatory bodies. Students have had the opportunity to develop their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation with Amplify Trading.

You’ll also benefit from the University’s award-winning Careers Service, where you can access a range of support to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions, even after you graduate.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

Student profile: Sanya Shrivastav

The modules in this subject are already preparing me for the real world and the simulation exercises make it even better!
Find out more about Sanya Shrivastav's time at Leeds