This course will appeal to you if you want to specialise in finance and economics – either immediately after completion of an undergraduate degree or as a mid-career professional.
Developed to meet the increasing demand for specialists in finance and economics, you will receive rigorous training in financial economics and mathematics. It combines solid education in economic theory with exposure to the field of finance through several specialised options. As a result, this MSc will help you prepare for a range of exciting career possibilities, in roles such as financial economist or quantitative analyst.
You have the option of studying full-time over the course of one year or part-time over the course of two.
The Financial Economics MSc aims to help you:
Should you with to pursue further study, the dissertation track can also serve as a stepping stone to an Economics or Finance PhD.
The Financial Economics MSc course is delivered through a flexible combination of lectures, seminars and computer lab sessions. Lectures introduce you to the key theories, concepts and economic models. In seminars, you have the opportunity to solve applied problems, analyse case studies and make presentations of research published in leading academic journals.
The computer labs provide you with practical experience of using computer software to perform calculations and conduct realistic simulations. In addition, econometric methods are taught in lab sessions, so you have the opportunity to apply econometric software to empirical research and financial market estimations.
When appropriate, practitioner slots – such as research seminars conducted by external financial experts or presentations by invited academics – will be incorporated into module delivery.
We also offer pre-sessional induction courses on economic analysis for students who need to build up their background in the fundamental aspects of financial economics.
Teaching takes place over two terms, from September to June. Full-time students who pass all the taught modules during the main exam sessions finish the programme at the end of September when they submit their dissertation or literature review.
Full-time students who successfully complete the taught modules in the August resit exam session submit their dissertation or literature review in December.
Part-time students complete their modules over the course of four terms from September to June before undertaking their dissertation or literature review.
Pre-sessional activities covering Micro-and Macroeconomics, Stata, Excel, Probability and Mathematics run in September before the start of term. These are available for all students who secure a place on the MSc Financial Economics course. Pre-sessionals are included in your degree fee and are designed to prepare you for the course. We therefore strongly encourage you to make every effort to attend.
You are not required to register for the above pre-sessionals, you just need to turn up on the day. Further information, such as the exact times and locations will be provided in your induction schedule.
Assessments are a combination of unseen written examinations (70% for each module) and coursework (30% for each module).
You will take 180 credits – two 30-credit taught modules, four 15-credit taught modules and 60 extra credits through one of the following routes:
For each route, there are two core modules:
It is not possible to give exact hours per week because these can vary from one term to the other depending on which electives the students choose.
On completing the Masters in Economics you will have a wide range of career options. Graduates of this course enjoy numerous employment possibilities in both the public and private sectors, including consultancy and financial analysis.
On completing the Masters in Financial Economics course you will have a range of employment possibilities to explore. To some extent, your career options will be determined by the electives you choose.
For example, you may wish to work in the financial industry as a consultant, banker, quantitative analyst. Alternatively you may wish to explore options in the health industry as a financial analyst, or in any industry that requires a financial or industry analyst.
Recent graduate for this course have secured roles such as:
The Financial Economics MSc also provides a solid academic foundation for students wishing to pursue doctoral research in economics.
You can start this MSc Economics degree in September or January. It can be tailored to two specialist fields: International Economics or Business and Financial Economics. On successful completion of this programme, you will graduate with one of the following degrees:
There is increasing demand for economics graduates in business and public sector decision making. This demand is evident in national and international institutions, including:
All these employers increasingly look for high-quality, evidence-based decision makers with an ability in applied economics and advanced data analysis. Our Master's degree will enable you to respond to this increasing demand.
The programme combines solid training in theory and method with stimulating exposure to economics and financial data sources. We will prepare you to contribute to an international global economy and to respond to its policy changes.
Our courses weave a three-way linkage between alternative theories of economics and finance, data analysis, and application of theory and method to policy and strategy issues in the world of economics, business and finance.
Our Master's degree has a number of distinctive features to enable you to combine theory and real word examples to develop evidence-based answers to economic and business problems.
The aims of this degree are:
In 2015, Greenwich was named by The Economist as one of four institutions in the country leading the way on curriculum change.
We are proud to say that our economics subjects were ranked:
Greenwich is one of the top two most globally diverse universities in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, by Hotcourses Diversity Index.
We have also been named as one of the "most international" universities on the planet by Times Higher Education magazine.
Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.
Option courses
Students are required to choose 4 courses from this list of options.
For a Business and Financial Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.
Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
For an International Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.
Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
The courses listed above will be split across two years.
You are assessed through:
You can expect to find employment in:
We have developed strong relations with companies in London's financial centres, including in the City and Canary Wharf as well as think-tanks, civil society organisations and research centres both in the UK and abroad such as New Economics Foundation Hans Boeckler Foundation, or Foundation of European Progressive Studies. This offers you networking, mentoring and internship opportunities in a perfect location to develop your career.
You can also reach out to top employers through our dedicated Business School Employability Office (BSEO). The team develops your employment skills through CV support, interview skills workshops and guidance through mentors to progress in the industry.
The BSEO team was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards, which shows its dedication to actively support your career development.
The demand for highly skilled experts in financial economics continues to increase rapidly in the modern economy. This demand exists in the public sector (central banks, international organisations, academic institutions) and especially in the private sector (commercial banks and insurance companies). This course is designed to meet this demand for those students who seek a quantitative degree in financial economics, by combining a solid training in microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, as well as the quantitative methods and theory needed for the analysis of financial markets.
Financial Economics is a fascinating area, having a history marked by outstanding achievements. A remarkable feature of this discipline is that its theoretical highlights (such as the Black-Scholes formula) turned out to be extremely important in practice. Fundamental ideas and tools of Financial Economics that were developed at the interface between Mathematical Economics and Finance created new markets essentially based on concepts suggested by academics. A central goal of the course is to demonstrate the use of these ideas and tools in contexts where they are indispensable and widely exploited. The course will expose students to quantitative techniques and theory that will be useful to anyone in the financial industry - a portfolio manager, risk management consultant, or financial analyst.
Quantitative methods preparation for the MSc
1. Please visit our Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Economics website where you will find information about the minimum level of knowledge of mathematics and statistics that you should possess from your current or previous training.
2. On the same website, please look at the details and content of our Introduction course on Quantitative Methods in Economics which builds on the knowledge resumed in (1) and which is designed to equip you with further technical skills that you will require before starting the MSc. You are strongly advised to attend this course which is offered, free of charge. The course will run during induction week and we recommend that you spend some time between July 1 and September studying and familiarising yourself with the course material on the website, especially if you might not be able to attend the course. The significance of this course is illustrated by the fact that the obtained marks contribute 10% to the final marks of the Maths Methods and Econometrics compulsory units of semester 1.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON PART-TIME STUDY
Part-time students complete the full-time programme over two years. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme.
You must first check the schedule of the compulsory modules and then select your optional modules to suit your requirements.
Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your module choices during induction week with your Course Director
Assessment is usually by written examination at the end of each semester in which a course unit is taught. Some units may require a course work element that may be assessed. Progression to the summer dissertation element requires completion of the taught element at least at the pass-level.
The program offers four core units in Semester 1 (Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Econometric Methods, Mathematical Methods in Economic Analysis) and in Semester 2 three core units (Mathematical Finance, Financial Economics, Financial Econometrics or Applied Macroeconometrics orCross Section Econometrics) plus one optional module from a list of choices (eg, Monetary Economics, Public Economics, and Economic Growth). Such modules as Mathematical Finance and Financial Economics not only contain the material which is a recognised classic in the field, but also reflect new trends in the area (eg elements of Behavioural Economics and Finance).
Employment opportunities for students in Financial Economics are traditionally very good. The high reputation of The University of Manchester, and especially its Economics division having rich historical traditions, will serve as an excellent recommendation for job applicants. The high-quality training obtained in the course of the study within the MSc in Financial Economics Programme will facilitate the future career of those who have got this degree.
This programme is a springboard into a career as an Economist. Whether you are looking to work in the Civil Service, a leading bank, a multinational organisation or an insurance company, this programme can help you achieve your aims. It is also an ideal choice for anybody who sees his or her future as an analyst for a major investment company.
The programme is designed to provide an understanding of economic and financial theory, together with specialist econometric and mathematical techniques. It provides a platform for economics students with a particular interest in finance and will also be of interest to applicants who are already practicing economists or have work experience in the financial sector.
Completion of the MSc in Financial Economics is an excellent foundation for progression onto a research degree. At the heart of the programme are core modules in financial theory, plus a choice of further options in Finance, Economics or Econometrics. Alongside the formal lecture programme, you will be able to participate in the Economics Seminar Series. The summer dissertation represents your chance to carry out original research in financial economics.
This programme forms part of the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Centre – a hub of world-class social sciences research. More information about SWDTC
The double degree option enables you to gain a second Masters qualification by studying for a year with one of our prestigious partner universities. For more information on this and other postgraduate study abroad opportunities, visit the Business School’s Study Abroad webpages at http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate/studyabroad/
This programme is available for study 12 months full-time over three terms and is University-based throughout this time. The taught components of the programme are delivered in the first two terms, leaving the third term and most of the summer to research, write and submit your dissertation. The programme in its entirety runs from September to September.
During the programme you will study modules (including the dissertation) totalling 180 credits.
Some examples of the compulsory modules are listed here;
This course enables you to specialise in financial economics and managing assets whilst also being flexible to choose other finance or economic modules.
It will prepare you for a career in financial corporations and government bodies involved with stock markets.
Our masters courses will train you for a career as a professional economist. Employers in a wide range of sectors are increasingly looking for economics graduates with postgraduate qualifications.
Recent graduates have taken economist jobs in finance and consultancy such as Bank of America and Deloitte. Others work in public sector and government departments in the UK and overseas such as the Department for Work and Pensions. Some graduates go on to work in academia or in research.
You will also receive advice in taking the next step in your career with dedicated employability support and access to opportunities such as internships that can significantly enhance your career.
You will be taught by some of the top economic experts in their field, receiving the latest cutting-edge teaching from people that care passionately about their subject.
Our research influences and informs real economic policy. We advise government departments in the UK and internationally and global organisations including the European Union, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The SF6D utility index for valuing health status was developed at Sheffield. This index is used by decision-makers around the world to evaluate the cost effectiveness of health care interventions.
We’re one of the few stand-alone economics departments in the north of England and we’re not part of a large business school. This means you will be part of an economics community, where you will get to know your tutors personally and build friendships with the other students on the masters courses.
Our building is in the heart of the campus in the city centre and has undergone a £3.5 million refurbishment. You will have access to the latest economics computer software such as STATA and MATLAB. Our building is close to The Diamond and the Information Commons which are state-of-the-art facilities for private study with access to the latest economics books and journals.
We offer a range of masters courses both full-time and part-time. All of our courses give you a thorough technical grounding in economic theory and the techniques of applied economic analysis.
Our courses allow you to specialise in a number of different areas, for example finance and financial economics. If you want to advance your knowledge in one of these areas, Sheffield is one of the best places in the UK.
For each course you’ll need to pass eight taught modules over two semesters, four in each. Modules will be taught mainly through lectures, tutorials and computer labs. Assessment is mostly by exams but also includes some coursework. The compulsory dissertation gives you the chance to conduct your own research over a ten week period.
A limited number of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) studentships are available for home and EU students on this course.
This course is ideal if you aspire to a career in the financial services sector or a role in an industry that requires advanced economic analysis skills.
During the course, you will have the option to develop your knowledge and understanding of core economic theories and principles, and apply these to the financial services setting. We aim to help you develop your analytical skills through the study of econometrics and deepen your understanding of the financial services sector.
The course’s core modules look at fundamental aspects of financial economics like Economic Statistics, Econometrics and Economics of Financial Markets. You also have a wide range of option modules in areas such as sustainability, development economics, strategic management, and globalisation and financial crises.
Employment opportunities for prospective students remain strong in economics, management consultancy, multinational organisations and government agencies. Nine of the top ten occupations held by economics graduates employed in the UK are in business, finance or HR professions.
Many of our economics tutors are members of the Royal Economic Society (RES)and undertake research in areas such as banking, international economics, international political economy and Islamic finance.
