MSc in Finance
Bedford, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Sep 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 29,650 **
STUDY FORMAT
* for UK and Irish students
** for overseas students | £15,500 - for home students
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Finance at Cranfield gives practical training in finance, investment and international markets. You'll study financial modeling, statistical analysis, portfolio management, investment management, economics and ethics through case studies, trading simulations, group work and an individual project. Faculty and speakers share real-world experience and you'll use live Bloomberg data; activities may include the CFA Institute UK Research Challenge.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into investment banking, financial services, corporate finance, asset management, consulting, risk. Roles include analyst, private equity, consultant and risk manager. Employers include PwC, Barclays, Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley. Career opportunities include investment banking and asset management.
Our Finance MSc is a top-ranked finance master’s course. The course provides you with a solid grounding in finance and investment and offers extensive training in the relevant tools and techniques, and how to apply them practically in the global finance workplace.
Why this course?
- The course is distinctive in covering the principles, tools and techniques of both finance and investment, as well as how to apply them in real work situations.
- You will gain an in-depth understanding of finance and investment, economics, international financial markets and ethics, statistical analysis, financial modelling and investment and portfolio management.
- You will apply financial and investment management theories, tools and techniques in a variety of contexts, including case studies, trading simulations and the individual project.
- Modules focus on real-world challenges, and include a combination of case studies, participative exercises, interactive lectures, and group projects.
- You may also have the opportunity to take part in activities, including the CFA Institute UK Research Challenge.
- You will be taught by faculty with experience in the real world of finance and business, as well as having the opportunity to listen to guest speakers.
- You will have access to highly effective infrastructure, including Bloomberg live financial data via our Bloomberg Suite.
- You will have the opportunity to study within a truly international environment, with students and academics coming from all over the world.
The course comprises ten core modules and two elective modules. This enables you to tailor the programme of study to suit your personal career plan.
Throughout the course, you will have access to a comprehensive collection of resources, including Bloomberg terminal, BoardEx, Capital IQ, CRSP, Datastream, Eikon, EBSCO, Factiva, FAME, Financial Times, ORBIS Bank Focus, ProQuest, Science Direct, and SDC Platinum. You will use real-world, international case studies to support your learning. The culmination of the learning process is your opportunity to undertake research for your individual project.
Compulsory Modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
- Corporate Financial Management
- Financial Data Analytics
- Accounting and Finance
- Responsible Banking
- Economics of Markets, Competition and Strategy
- Valuation and Financial Modelling
- Research Methods for Business Impact
- Investment and Portfolio Management
- Derivatives and Financial Risk Management
- Financial Markets, Regulation and Ethics
Elective Modules
Two of the modules from the following list, or the Digital Banking, Fintech and Artificial Intelligence module only, need to be taken as part of this course
- Private Equity
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring
- Fixed Interest Securities and Credit Risk Modelling
- International Finance
- International Public Finance and Taxation
- Digital Banking, FinTech, and Artificial Intelligence
- Investing for Environmental and Social Impact
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff. As a result, they may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have detailed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
This course is recognised in International Business Rankings, consistently ranking top 12 in the UK across them all.
These include:
- 11th in the UK and 70th in the world: QS World University Rankings: Masters in Finance Ranking 2026
- 8th in the UK, top 50 in the world and 5th in the UK for International Mobility: Financial Times Masters in Finance (MiF) 2025 Rankings
What are the aims of the course?
- To prepare students for a career in financial services and the investment industry.
- To provide students with a high level of financial skills.
- To give students a rounded view of business and an understanding of the investment sector.
To help students find and secure appropriate funding, we have collated details of a range of scholarships and bursaries available, which contribute towards fees and/or living costs for graduates applying for full-time Master's courses in business and management.
- Excellence Scholarships for January 2026 intake
- Merit Scholarships
- International Scholarships
- Prodigy Finance Student Loans
Visit our website for more information.
Cranfield graduates are highly valued in the job market and aim for careers in investment banking, financial services or the financial function of a diverse range of global corporations.
Our Finance MSc graduates have secured jobs with organisations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Barclays Investment Bank, Bloomberg, Bank Indonesia, Lloyds Banking Group, Credit Agricole, Diageo, Ernst & Young, Thomson Reuters, Toyota, UBS and Morgan Stanley. Their roles have included Data Analyst, Financial Planner, Consultant, Private Equity Analyst and Financial Risk Manager.
- Graduates with a desire to develop their knowledge and skills in finance and investment before seeking their first professional role.
- Professionals with work experience in finance or investment who are seeking to take their career to the next level.
- Individuals who want to be taught by faculty who have experience in business and industry can bring their knowledge to the programme.
Taught modules 60%, Individual Project 40%
Overall, the aim is to provide a varied, stimulating, and experiential learning environment. All taught modules consist of formal lectures, in-class discussions, group work, and self-study. Group project work, reflective practice and class exercises are used to develop problem-solving skills. The course will be supported by an electronic learning environment (VLE - Canvas), which will be the central repository for all information related to the course and available to the students.
This will be supplemented by online module case packs. Additional practical expertise will be provided by visiting fellows and guest speakers. Each core module comprises 20 hours of class contact time with a further 80 hours of study time to consolidate learning and carry out assignments, giving 100 notional learning hours per module. Each elective module also has 100 notional hours consisting of 20 class contact hours and a further 80 private study hours.
Individual Project
You will undertake research for your individual project, enabling you to apply the knowledge and skills you have learnt during the course. This provides the opportunity to work in an original way.