Please note that this degree will NOT be running from 2020/21.

The MSc Finance programme is designed to give students a thorough grounding in finance, covering the most important analytical tools used by professional practitioners in banking, investments and financial market analysis. In addition, students who take the MSc in Finance will acquire a sound understanding of theories in finance and of the workings of financial markets, for a career in finance or for further research at the PhD level. Students will also become acquainted with the main issues and methods in Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Banking, and Financial Econometrics. The programme will present Finance as a scientific discipline with a rigorous methodology, but at the same time will describe the way financial markets and institutions actually work in a variety of contexts.

Our teaching offers you exceptional insights into financial institutions and markets in London and other major cities in the world. In addition, we offer specialist knowledge of financial and management systems in the emerging markets of Africa, Asia and the Middle East – something that will set you apart from graduates of other universities that normally focus on the analysis of Europe and the Americas. You will develop an excellent understanding of key issues shaping international business strategy in a global financial environment.

By joining this programme, you will become a member of the world-leading Centre for Global Finance at SOAS and participate in high-profile events and weekly seminars. This will provide you the opportunity to exchange ideas with leading scholars, practitioners and policy makers who shape local and global developments today.

The MSc in Finance is convened by Professor Victor Murinde, who is the AXA Chair in Global Finance and Director of the Centre for Global Finance, here at SOAS University of London. Professor Murinde combines excellent academic experience, involving teaching and research across many areas of finance, with top-tier practitioner experience in finance at the global level. For further details, click here.

Why study MSc in Finance at SOAS

Learn from world-class financial experts

• we are ranked No. 2 in London and No. 11 in the UK, for Business and Management, by the Guardian University League Tables 2019
• lectures are delivered by bespoke professors in accounting and finance, who regularly publish in top international journals and have extensive experiences in banking, investments, industry, and A-list International Organisations
• we have the Centre for Global Finance (CGF), a world-leading research centre in finance, which hosts cutting-edge research projects that involve students and a global network of experts in generating innovative solution to real-time challenges

Obtain real-world skills in the global financial hub – London

• you will be equipped with strong quantitative and analytical skills to undertake professional tasks such as: financial analysis, risk management, investment appraisal and portfolio allocation
• SOAS is in close proximity to the City of London, a leading financial centre in the world with 75% of the top global companies based in the city, 100% of leading financial institutions represented, and 200 + foreign banks

Benefit from language support and diverse optional modules

• we are proud of our specialists in the delivery of languages, for well over one hundred years
• as the economies of the Global South continue to expand, knowledge of another language and other cultures will be a big asset in the world of commerce and international trade. Your command of a language at SOAS will give you competitive advantage in global job market
• you will be able to flexibly structure your programme using our programme optional modules and/or our open options modules from other departments

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Students must take 180 credits. These are composed of 120 taught credits comprising core and optional modules and a 60 credit dissertation.

The MSc in Finance has three components, each composed of 60 credits:

1. Four core modules
2. Four option modules
3. Dissertation of 10,000 words on an approved topic

The 10,000-word dissertation is worth 33% of your final mark. During term 2 you will submit your dissertation proposal and be allocated an academic supervisor. Over the ensuing months you should meet with your supervisor at least three times before the end of term 3 for guidance. The bulk of your dissertation will be written over the summer to meet the mid-September deadline.

Not all option modules are offered every year; please check your preferences with the Programme Convenor. Also note that where 15 credit modules are selected, these should be balanced between term 1 and term 2.

Part-time Study

Students can take this programme part-time over 2 or 3 years.
Part-time students over two years usually complete their core modules in the 1st year and their options in the 2nd year with their dissertation. Those studying over 3 years will usually complete their core modules in year 1, option modules in year 2 and their dissertation in year 3.

In addition to the Core and Option modules, you will also study the following Preparatory module in September.

Mathematics and Statistics for Finance

Dissertation

Dissertation in Finance: 60 credits

Taught Component

Pre-sessional

Core Modules

• PLUS choose modules to the value of 60 credits from the list below:

List of modules (subject to availability)

IM Options

FFL Options

Programme Specification

• MSc in Finance Programme Specification (pdf; 84kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Modules

In the School of Finance and Management, the modules draw from real life business experience and cutting-edge research. Most undergraduate modules have a one or two-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar every week. Lectures and seminars are often taken by different professors in order to provide a variety of angles on the subject.  The majority of the student’s time will be through their own independent study. Students become more active in class through their reading and essay-writing and should greatly enhance their participation in discussion groups.

Dissertation

Its aim is to provide an opportunity for students to conduct original historical research on their own initiative, to engage in in-depth analysis of particular subjects and to use a range of primary historical sources. It is assessed by a single 12,000-word dissertation (including notes but excluding bibliography).

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 4 tuition fee.

Fees for 2020/21 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second & subsequent years of study will be higher. Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

Graduates from the MSc in Finance will be well equipped for a career in corporate finance, treasury, banking, investments, financial analysis, and other finance-related strategic roles in business.

Students who attain a distinction or merit grade will be well-placed to embark on research towards a PhD. The School of Finance and Management Studies maintains close links with employers in the United Kingdom and its focus regions; the Centre for Global Finance has solid international links with multinational firms, governments and multilateral financial institutions.

Our graduates may wish to consider taking up work in a wide range of organisations, including:

• Deloitte
• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
• KPMG
• Euro Monitor International
• Santander
• Investec
• HM Treasury
• Western Securities Co. Ltd
• Nomura
• UBS

Graduates may also consider taking up the following roles:

• Financial Analyst
• Investment Banker
• Market Research Executive
• Management Consultant
• Vice-President
• Foreign Exchange Trading Business Manager

How to apply

Please note that this degree programme is no longer accepting new applicants, the information is still available for current students who have previously enrolled on it.

You might be interested in our other Finance and Management degree programmes instead.