(Full time) 2023 start
Finance and Investment MSc
Overview
Global capital and money markets are rapidly evolving and critical expertise is highly sought after. If you are interested in a professional career in finance and investment, this Masters will equip you to apply your problem-solving skills to the financial markets.
You will 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 will 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 will 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 strong relationships with the 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.
Exemptions
<p>As part of the <a href="https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/about/universities/university-affiliation#q=leeds&sort=%40titlewithfallback%20ascending&f:CountryRegion=%5BUnited%20Kingdom%5D">CFA® University Affiliation Course</a>, eligible students can apply for CFA® scholarships that cover the cost of registration for the CFA examination. </p>Course content
You will build knowledge of key topics in finance and investment such as financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis and international business finance. You will apply this knowledge of financial theory to solve problems and explore international investment in depth.
Your choice of optional modules will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in areas that suit your career plans.
To demonstrate the knowledge and skills you gain during the course, you will design and carry out your own research dissertation in the final semester. This allows you to focus on a topic of your choice, 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.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Security Investment Analysis 15 credits
- Corporate Finance 15 credits
- Applied Finance 15 credits
- Financial Modelling and Analysis 15 credits
- International Investment 15 credits
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 60 credits
- Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Portfolio Risk Management 15 credits
- International Business Finance 15 credits
- Forensic Accounting and Finance 15 credits
- Behavioural Finance 15 credits
- Financial Derivatives 15 credits
- Discrete Time Finance 15 credits
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, which allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis. You will benefit from access to our Bloomberg Trading Rooms, including two brand new 24-seat suites. The trading rooms allow you to apply your finance theories to decision making in a safe environment using real time information.
Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme 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 not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. 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, fees and funding
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. You could study a part-time online course starting in January, or a full-time course in summer. Find out more about online pre-sessionals.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Application deadline:
We operate a staged admissions process for this course with selection deadlines throughout the year.
If you do not receive an offer in a particular round, you will either be notified that your application has been unsuccessful, or we will carry your application forward to be considered in the next round.
Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application deadlines for each stage.
Documents and information you’ll need
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
- Two academic references
- A personal statement
- An up-to-date CV
- Evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language
- 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 Taught Admissions Policy 2023
Fees
- UK: £16,750 (total)
- International: £31,500 (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 about additional costs.
Scholarships and financial support
We’re offering 50 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2023. 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)
Career opportunities
As a graduate of this course you will 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 from day one. You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, support to boost your employability, and opportunities to develop the professional skills you will 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 Centre, where you can access 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.