Finance MSc

Birkbecks MSc Finance combines academic rigour with a solid grounding in the practical, problem-solving skills that employers value. The course will give you excellent, specialist knowledge and training in finance and financial economics, including basic portfolio theory, corporate finance, and pricing theory applied to derivatives and government bond markets. You will also learn the latest econometrics and numerical analysis skills. All of these skills are increasingly valued in the marketplace, banks, commercial firms and government, so this course could help you stand out in a competitive job market. <br/><br/>Birkbecks postgraduate finance courses are built around our long-running experience in research-led evening teaching. Many of our students work in the finance industry, which generates a lively atmosphere in class and ensures that youll be studying alongside committed, enthusiastic students with a wealth of experience. <br/><br/>Our students appreciate the flexibility of this course and the valuable support and direct interaction (face-to-face or online) with experienced lecturers who are also active researchers at the forefront of their discipline. They are also experienced professional practitioners, giving specialist advice and in-house training to government departments and banks and firms in the City of London. This course is challenging and demanding, so you should demonstrate strong intellectual ability in your application and be willing to work hard.<br/><br/>On this MSc Finance you will gain access to resources for each module via our Moodle virtual learning environment, for example, typed lecture notes with worked examples and practice exercises, recordings of lectures, opportunities for interaction with lecturers and classmates via discussion forums or through our online teaching platform, Blackboard Collaborate. You will also have access to electronic textbooks and other digital resources via the library. In the past we have had students successfully complete our modules remotely from as far away as Antarctica!<br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- This Masters degree combines a high level of academic rigour with a solid grounding in practical problem-solving skills.<br/><br/><br/>- The course is part of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Recognition Program.<br/><br/><br/>- The course is delivered via high-quality, face-to-face teaching in the evenings or via distance learning, so that you can study without putting your life or your ambitions on hold.<br/><br/><br/>- We are a small and friendly team, and our academics are available for you to ask questions and discuss your ideas. Watch an interview with Professor Vittorio Grilli, one of the founders of this programme.<br/><br/><br/>- We bring together research and teaching across economics and finance, mathematics and statistics in a single department, which creates significant interdisciplinary synergies.<br/><br/><br/>- Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Economics and Econometrics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.<br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability**<br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in banking and finance, the public sector, industry, and research and analysis. Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- financial risk analyst<br/><br/><br/>- economist<br/><br/><br/>- purchasing manager<br/><br/><br/>- management consultant<br/><br/><br/>- actuary. <br/><br/><br/>We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.