Get the skills and experience you need for a postgraduate degree in finance or economics, designed for international and EU students.
Our Graduate Diploma in Finance and Economics is jointly run by the School of Economics and Finance and the Language Centre. It offers international and EU students a route to postgraduate study at Queen Mary and other leading UK institutions – whether you're changing disciplines, need to improve your level of English, or don’t otherwise meet the academic requirements for direct entry to a master's degree.
Running from either September to June or January to July, this highly intensive diploma incorporates English language and study skills with economics and finance modules, all of which are taught by our expert academic staff.
This programme will help you adapt to academic life in the UK, and successful applicants are guaranteed progression onto postgraduate courses in the School of Economics and Finance at Queen Mary. You'll develop solid knowledge in your chosen academic specialties, and improve your ability to use academic English effectively at postgraduate level.
Start your Graduate Diploma in Finance and Economics in either September or January.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
In the past I never thought the English course would be useful. However, I found my reading and writing skills and the way I think and understand is now very different from the past.
Academic subjects are taught in lectures and seminars. Lectures can contain up to 50 students, but seminars will be divided into smaller groups of up to 18 students. English language and study skills modules are taught in groups averaging 16 students.
You will attend classes for up to 20 hours per week: 12 hours of English Language and Study Skills and up to eight hours of academic subjects. You will also be expected to undertake independent study.
Assessment typically includes a combination of coursework (portfolios, individual and group presentations, written assignments, in-class tests, research projects and seminars) and/or examinations in May or June.
To progress onto Masters programmes at Queen Mary you will need to achieve minimum grades in individual modules.
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
At least a pass in a full first degree that is:
You must have passed all final year modules.
A UK Higher Education Diploma, or the equivalent.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
We require IELTS 5.5 overall including 5.5 in Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking. Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 towards your tuition fees. This deposit will help in applying for your Tier 4 (General) student visa.
Find out more about deposits and read our refund policy.
If your fees are being paid by a government sponsor we do not require a deposit; however, we will need a formal letter from your sponsor confirming the arrangement.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Our pre-masters graduate diplomas facilitate entry into postgraduate study in a number of disciplines at Queen Mary and other leading UK institutions.
Recent students have gone on to earn postgraduate degrees in:
* No progression agreement. Offers are made on a case by case basis.
The Queen Mary careers team can offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
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