Finance and Investment MSc

Overview

On this course, you will learn from finance experts, bringing you some of the most up to date knowledge and techniques in their fields.

It will provide you with a solid foundation in modern finance and investment and prepare you for a career in investment banking, financial management or further postgraduate study in a related subject.

The course has a distinct quantitative focus and includes both theoretical concepts as well as their applications. You will benefit from real-time access to our Bloomberg Terminals and you will learn to utilise data to analyse financial instruments and help make effective decisions.

You will study a variety of modules across two semesters as well as a summer dissertation. The taught component consists of five core modules plus two options from a wide range of modules. This includes topics in corporate finance, capital markets, and financial security valuation as well as a thorough grounding in research methods for finance and a chance to study behavioural finance.

Key facts

• This course is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute's university recognition programme
• Ranked in The Financial Times top 65 Global Masters in Finance 2018 – pre-experience programmes
• Part of an elite group of EQUIS and AMBA accredited business schools
• 6th in the UK for research power in the latest Research Excellence Framework, with teaching underpinned by the latest developments
• An inspiring research portfolio worth £799m
• 91.1% of MSc graduates from Nottingham University Business School secured work, self-employment or further study within six months of graduation
• More than 19,000 Business School alumni connect you to a powerful global network of business contacts

Course details

Across the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 120 credits of taught modules. Each module typically consists of 10 two to three hour sessions.

You will complete a 60-credit dissertation over the summer, and will be allocated an appropriate dissertation supervisor who will oversee your progress.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of individual assignments or group projects and written exams.

Modules

Semester one

Core modules

• Capital Market Analysis
• Corporate Finance
• Quantitative Research Methods for Finance and Accounting

Semester two

Core modules

• Derivative Investment
• Fixed Interest Investment

Summer

• Dissertation

Optional modules

Two from:

• Behavioural Economics and Decision Making
• Computational Finance
• Financial Econometrics
• International Finance
• Islamic Banking, Finance and Accounting
• The Economics of Strategy and Market Structure
• Venture Capital and Private Equity

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result may change for reasons of, for example, research developments or legislation changes. This list is an example of typical modules we offer, not a definitive list.

Careers and professional development

Professional accreditation

This course is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute's university recognition programme.

The CFA Institute grants this status to select institutions that have incorporated at least 70% of the CFA Programme Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) into their degree programmes. An affiliated university signals to employers that the course is closely connected to professional practice and helps students preparing to take CFA exams.

Career destinations

Career destinations for our postgraduates include:

• accountants
• finance and investment analysts
• higher education teaching professionals
• investment bankers
• IT business analysts
• management consultants
• marketing professionals
• public relations professionals
• university researchers

Postgraduate careers team

Our in-house Postgraduate Careers Team provides expert advice and guidance so that you can make an informed decision about the right career path for you.

As soon as you have accepted your offer of a place at the Business School, we can begin working with you to support your career planning needs. You can take part in pre-course careers discussions and take advantage of remote and online support through Career Leader, an online assessment tool which helps you to measure your business interests and motivations before starting your course. Our support continues throughout your time at Nottingham and after you graduate.

Employability and average starting salary

91.1% of postgraduates from Nottingham University Business School who were available for employment secured work or further study within six months of graduation. £25,000 was the average starting salary, with the highest being £57,200.*

* Known destinations of full-time home postgraduates 2016/17. Salaries are calculated based on the median of those in full-time paid employment within the UK.

Visit the Finance and Investment MSc page on the University of Nottingham website for more details!