University College London (UCL)
Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
This MSc program offers a specialized blend of venture capital, private equity, and financial technology, designed to prepare students for careers in high-growth investment sectors. The course covers key topics such as fund management, valuation techniques, and the latest trends in fintech, giving students a strong foundation in both finance and innovative technology. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, including case studies and industry projects, to help students understand how to evaluate investment opportunities and manage funds effectively.
The program emphasizes real-world applications, ensuring students gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in the investment industry. It also explores how technological advances are transforming finance and investment practices. Through a combination of academic learning and industry engagement, students develop the analytical and decision-making skills needed to succeed in competitive markets. This course aims to equip future professionals with a clear understanding of how to navigate the evolving landscape of venture capital, private equity, and financial tech innovations.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
This MSc programme is delivered through a mix of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, projects and practicals, which frequently draw upon real-life industry case studies.
Assessment is through examinations (short-answer and multiple-choice questions), presentations, essays, coursework, and your individual research project, which you will submit as a dissertation.
Full-time students can expect approximately 14-18 contact hours per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours, composition, and assessment varies throughout the terms.
Please note that some modules run as “intensive weeks” with an industry professor. These weeks will involve 25-30 contact hours in one week, with students expected to put aside additional time for self-directed learning. These modules are coordinated to ensure that no other modules run concurrently.
Modules
Full-time
The programme consists of 8 compulsory taught modules. These are delivered in the first 2 terms.
Term 1 modules focus on the fundamentals of Venture Capital and Private Equity; valuation concepts and principles; financial reporting; and regulation and taxation rules and laws.
In Term 2, the focus will be on applying this knowledge in the fields of financial technology; portfolio management and asset allocation; innovative business modelling and start-ups; as well as data analytics and machine learning.
In Term 3, you will undertake independent research in a specific area of interest, culminating in a dissertation.
Part-time
The programme structure for part-time students encompasses a total of 180 credits over the course of 2 years. This flexible structure allows part-time students to tailor their learning journey, ensuring a comprehensive education that suits their pace and aspirations.
Compulsory modules
- Fundamentals of Venture Capital and Private Equity
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Valuation
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Introduction to Regulation for Fintech, Private Equity and Venture Capital Firms
- Foundations of Financial Technology
- Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation in Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Start-up and Innovative Business Modelling
- Data Analytics and Machine Learning
- Dissertation
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
The programme consists of eight compulsory taught modules (120 credits) and a project dissertation (60 credits). Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Venture Capital and Private Equity with Financial Technology.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
What this course will give you
- You'll get a postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide.
- Study in a dynamic learning environment at the UCL Institute of Finance and Technology (IFT).
- Benefit from insights from a cohort of industrial professors, who deliver teaching alongside academic staff.
- Take advantage of IFT's exclusive research and industry links. You'll attend seminars and exhibitions with industry voices from companies including Wells Fargo, Bank of England, and LSEG.
- Join the first programme in the world to match the emerging field of Financial Technology with the study of Private Capital, bridging the gap between finance, technology, and new business models.
- Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). Our new UCL East campus is designed to promote interdisciplinary thinking and ground-breaking innovation, and boasts accessible, state-of-the-art facilities including shared labs and workshop spaces.
The foundation of your career
Graduates from IFT have gone on to work with employers such as NatWest, Wells Fargo, Barclays, BP, Oliver Wyman, and more.
Employability
Our programme combines theory, practice, and innovation to give you the strong technical and contextual foundation you need to progress into an investing career, or to conduct further research.
Networking
You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s.
- Engage with peers, industry experts and faculty members all united in their desire to help shape the future of banking and digital finance.
- Get insights into real-world challenges and learn from industry leaders from HM Treasury, World Bank, IMF, BlackRock, KPMG, and more
- Take part in our in-house events involving industry leaders, such as Conversations with Industry, where you get the opportunity to ask questions and network with industry speakers after the event.
- Join Fintech Connex, a platform that provides our students with unparalleled opportunities and resources in the world of fintech.
- Access UCL Careers for a variety of resources and events to support your career development, including CV workshops and 1-2-1 guidance.