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Finance MSc

  • SEF’s flagship professional MSc
  • Comprehensive training in finance combining rigorous theory, quantitative techniques, and real-world applications
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) pathway available which provides intensive preparation for CFA Level I exam
  • Part of the 'CFA university affiliation program'
  • Compare with other MSc courses in School of Economics and Finance

This programme is based in the School of Economics and Finance (SEF) on Queen Mary’s Mile End campus.

School of Economics and Finance

Campus and Facilities

  • Close to London’s financial districts (the City of London and Canary Wharf)
  • Postgraduate accommodation (find out more regarding eligibility, and application deadlines).
  • State-of-the-art building
  • The latest computer labs with mathematical and trading software (e.g. Reuters and Bloomberg)
Master Journey Webinars

Master Journey Webinars

Your Masters Journey Webinars: Join our engaging webinar series designed to guide you through every step of your masters journey.

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Programme structure

Structure

Two weeks of optional modules in maths and statistics before the start of semester A.

For the regular pathway, a choice between:

  • 5 compulsory modules + 5 elective modules + research project (2,500 words)
  • 5 compulsory modules + 3 elective modules + dissertation (7,000 words)
  • 5 compulsory modules + 3 elective modules + Further Topics in Valuation + applied project in valuation (4,000 words)

For the CFA pathway, a choice between:

  • 5 compulsory modules + 4 elective modules + research project (2,500 words) + CFA training
  • 5 compulsory modules + 3 elective modules + dissertation (4,000 words) + CFA training
  • 5 compulsory modules + 2 elective modules + Further Topics in Valuation + applied project in valuation (4,000 words) + CFA training

Academic year timeline (with semester dates, etc.) are available here.

Information about assessment is available here.

Compulsory modules and dissertation/research project

Corporate Finance
This course provides a broad introduction to the key issues in understanding corporate financial policy. In particular, we will investigate how companies should finance their activities by issuing securities (debt, equity and convertible claims) and the interaction of business policy with corporate financial policy. Special consideration is given to tax issues, the possible costs of financial distress, the incentives behind financial decisions and the signalling impact of those for financial market participants. The final part of the course covers some specific topics in corporate finance: dividend policy, the decision to go public, mergers and acquisitions and possibly corporate governance issues.

Elective modules

Financial Derivatives
The purpose of this module is to provide students with an overview of the theory and practice of pricing and hedging derivative securities. These include forward and futures contracts, swaps, and many different types of options. This module covers diverse areas of derivatives, such as equity and index derivatives, foreign currency derivatives and commodity derivatives, as well as interest rate derivatives. This module also addresses the issue of how to incorporate credit risk into the pricing and risk management of derivatives. All the relevant concepts are discussed based on the discrete time binomial model and the continuous time Black­Scholes model. The extensions of the Black­Scholes model are also discussed.

Professional Development Modules

Optional, short, non-credit-bearing modules that typically run for a few weeks at various points during the year and focus on practical skills such as programming or working with trading software. More information about Professional Skills Development.

Amplify Trading

Amplify Trading is a professional trading firm based in London. As well as a trading floor in The City, Amplify Trading have developed unique software to develop and assess new traders whilst making decisions within the uncertainty of live financial markets.

More details about Amplify Trading

Career paths

Wide range of careers in commercial and investment banks, hedge funds, pension funds, governmental financial institutions, companies’ finance departments, etc.

We offer extensive careers support services (one-on-one appointments, practice interviews, careers workshops, etc.) to MSc students during their studies and for 3 years after graduation.

Job placement statistics for graduates from the MSc programmes at the School of Economics and Finance are available here.

Fees and funding

Full-time study

September 2025 | 1 year

Conditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Full-time study (CFA Pathway)

September 2025 | 1 year

Conditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award

Entry requirements

UK

Degree requirements

A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in any subject, provided the degree contains good levels of study of Mathematics and Statistics. Subjects likely to contain sufficient quantitative elements include Mathematics, Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics and Finance.

Students from less quantitatively oriented degrees, such as Accounting, Management and Politics, are welcome if they have focused on the more quantitative elements of those degrees.

Other routes

Weight will also be given to professional qualifications – specifically CFA level 1 and above -  when considering applications.

Candidates that do not currently meet the set entry requirements may also have the option to study the Graduate Diploma in Finance and Economics. Meeting the required grades on completion of this programme will provide a pathway to study MSc Finance and MSc Finance (CFA Pathway).

International

English language requirements

The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.

The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the School of Economics and Finance falls within the following English band:

Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking

We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa.

Apply

Starting in
September 2025
Location
Mile End
Fees
Home: £20,850
Overseas: £33,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Deadline
Home: 8th September 2025
Overseas: 1st September 2025

Required supporting documentation:

  • Degree certificate and transcript
    • To be provided separately for each university qualification that you hold;
    • If you have not yet completed your current studies, provide a transcript of your results to date
    • If grading information such as a GPA scale is shown on the reverse of your transcript, upload a copy of this page
    • For documents that are not in English, provide a certified translation
  • For studies at a UK university that issues electronic Higher Education Achievement Reports (e-HEARS), or similar, provide a copy of the e-HEAR
  • Contact details of (or reference letters with official letterhead from) one referee from your most recent academic institution or from an employer (an employer can be your referee only if you graduated more than three years ago)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
  • English language certificate if applicable (see the “Entry Requirements” tab)

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