The benefit of this MSc is that you don't need to decide on an area of focus until you arrive. Once you are here you can experience some of the core courses in Semester 1 and from there decide which area you would like to tailor your studies to. Alternatively, you can opt not to focus on any one area. Our goal is to give you the flexibility to tailor your studies to your career ambitions.

This programme runs for one academic year, starting in mid-September and ending in August. At the start of the programme, you study compulsory courses, which are undertaken in semester one. These are the foundation upon which the whole MSc is built and ensure a common basis of knowledge across the different areas.

A comprehensive Welcome Week provides an introduction to the programme, the School, and the University. Designed to be both informative and fun, it enables you to get acquainted with your classmates.

Through the selection of various option courses, you can tailor your studies towards your career interests.

Finally, your MSc dissertation brings all of the year’s learning together in a piece of work unique to each student.

To give you an idea of what the programme structure and courses might consist of, the below information details the structure and courses for this programme in 2022/23.

• Semester 1 - September–December
  • Compulsory courses
    • Corporate Finance
    • Financial Markets and Investment
    • Financial Statement Analysis
    • Statistics for Finance
• Semester 2 - January–May
  • Compulsory course
    • Quantitative Research Methods in Finance
  • Option courses* - Choose 2 to 4
    • Behavioural Finance
    • Blockchain, Governance and Policy
    • Corporate Governance
    • Equity Valuation
    • Financial Engineering
    • Fixed Income
    • Investment Management
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Research in Corporate Finance
    • Responsible Investing
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Venture Capital and Private Equity
• Summer - June–August
  • Dissertation

*We will notify applicants of any changes to the programme structure and courses by 15 June in the year of entry to the course. We cannot guarantee that all option courses will run each year and occasionally there will be last-minute amendments after this date due to unforeseen circumstances such as staff illness.

The content of individual courses and the programme for any given degree are under constant academic review in light of current circumstances and may change from time to time, with some programmes and courses being modified, discontinued, or replaced.

Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee students a place on the optional course of their preference. Equally, if there is not enough interest in a given year for an option course then it may not be viable for us to run that particular option course. Some combinations of option courses may not be possible due to scheduling constraints.

Our MSc in Finance was ranked 7th in the UK in the 2022 FT Masters in Finance Pre-experience rankings.

• 40thin the FT World Rankings for Finance 2021
• 16thin the QS World University Rankings 2022
• 27thin the QS World MSc Finance Rankings 2022

Learning Outcomes

The practical, theoretical and numerical skills learnt through the programme, as well as the global perspective that will be gained through classroom learning and discussions, will leave you well qualified for a range of finance-related professions.

• Apply and critically evaluate finance and investment theory with particular reference to the operation of financial markets
• Apply and critically evaluate corporate finance techniques
• Apply and critically evaluate theories of financial statements and related analysis
• Identify, define and analyse problems and identify and create processes to solve them
• Exercise critical judgement in creating a new understanding
• Demonstrate advanced numeracy and quantitative skills
• Identify and evaluate social, cultural, global, ethical and environmental responsibilities and issues
• Engage and work effectively in groups

Career development

Finance graduates from the University of Edinburgh are highly sought after globally. Our dedicated Student Development Team within the Business School will be an integral part of your student experience from day one. We are here to help you become equipped to maximise your potential in the global market.

Graduate employment

This MSc could lead to a multitude of roles depending on whether you specialise in the area of Investment, Corporate Finance or Sustainable Finance and Markets or choose to combine a mixture of the available electives. Potential roles are varied and include, for example:

Corporate Finance related roles such as:

• Corporate Banking Executive
• Investment Banking Associate
• Strategy Consulting Associate

Sustainability-related roles such as:

• Commodities Analyst
• Energy Consultant

Investment-related roles such as:

• Equity Analyst
• Fixed Income Analyst
• Private Equity Analyst
• Market Risk Analyst
• Portfolio Manager