Finance

About

Our MSc Finance programmes are among the strongest in the UK. Taught by a world-class faculty and supported by international-quality research, these intensive one-year, full-time programmes will help you develop the analytical skills needed to stand out and build a successful career in finance.

With the MSc Finance you can tailor your degree from a wide range of optional modules, giving you valuable flexibility in career choice whether you focus on investment banking or hedge funds.

You’ll learn in a stimulating and progressive environment meaning you’ll leave the course in the ideal position to excel in whatever finance specialism you choose. What’s more, our trained careers advisors and broad alumni network will extend your business connections and support you up to and beyond graduation.

International opportunities

We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside perspective on global business is a key part of the programme. That’s why we offer a range of opportunities to help you immerse yourself in a country’s business and academic environment, make new contacts and stand out in a competitive jobs market. These include:

• Writing your dissertation at one of our international partner universities (limited funding may be available if you do this with one of our European partners)
• Attending summer schools given by our international partners
• Taking the optional International Study Tour to a European destination in March/April (self-funded, one-week programme)

CFA

Our MSc Finance programmes have partnership status with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA). The CFA is the world's premier association for investment professionals and the accepted benchmark for technical excellence in financial markets. It guarantees you'll benefit from a curriculum of the highest standards and through participation in the CFA Global Investment Research Challenge, CFA employer networking events, scholarships and more.

Trading Room

You’ll have access to a wide range of software and databases, including specialist training on our Bloomberg terminals for accessing economic and financial data.

Trading Challenge

This facility will give you hands-on experience of monitoring and analysing real-time financial market data movements, and the chance to build a hypothetical portfolio with securities of your choice. As a result, you’ll improve your investment and security selection skills and boost your CV. Plus there’s a cash prize for the winner.

Investment Club

You can also put your financial skills to the test and enhance your CV, by managing a genuine fund in our Investment Club. Each year ten students are selected to take part, meeting every month to evaluate research and place trades. At the end of the year the monetary fund, along with a report on its performance, is passed to next year's Club.

Pre-course Maths and Statistics

If you need to revise or update your quantitative skills in Maths and Statistics before you start your MSc, you can enrol on a week-long, pre-sessional course of lectures and workshops. The course is free, you’ll just need to cover the cost of accommodation.

Finance programmes

• Finance
• Finance (Accounting and Finance)
• Finance (Corporate and International Finance)
• Finance (Economics and Finance)
• Finance (Finance and Investment)
• Finance (International Banking and Finance)
• Finance (International Money, Finance and Investment).

Content

The MSc Finance enables you to develop the specific knowledge and skills relevant to a career in your chosen field, while studying at the leading edge of the subject. Through analysis of key theories and econometric techniques, you’ll develop essential skills in evaluation, implementation, decision making and research. To achieve your qualification you’ll be required to successfully complete both core and elective modules and a dissertation or business project or placement.

Core modules

You’ll study four modules that provide a foundation of essential knowledge and understanding.

• Advanced Financial Theory
• Corporate Finance
• Econometrics I
• Econometrics II

Elective modules

You’ll then choose four further modules from a wide selection, so you can tailor your degree to specialise in a specific area or broaden your knowledge.

• Accounting Theory
• Auditing and Assurance Services
• Behavioural Finance and Economics
• Corporate Governance
• Corporate Reporting
• Derivative Markets
• Empirical Topics in Finance
• Experimental Economics and Finance
• Financial Risk Management
• Technology, Innovation and Economic Growth
• International Finance
• International Financial Asset Management
• Market Microstructure
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Portfolio Management
• Security Analysis.

Dissertation or business project

In the third term, you will complete a 12,000 word dissertation, a business project (a commercial challenge sourced by you or the Business School) or a placement (sourced by you and supported by the Business School). Supervised by a faculty member with relevant experience, you’ll investigate in greater detail a subject that you’ve already studied as part of your programme.

The dissertation is an opportunity for you to develop your research skills and business insight and present your analysis and ideas in a scholarly way. It should also demonstrate your ability to use critical analysis in evaluating evidence and the existing academic literature.

Subject requirements, level and grade

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• The equivalent of a UK first or upper second class honours degree with evidence on your degree transcript of strong grades in statistical modules in your second, third or fourth year.
• You will need to complete an online application form.
• To support your online application form, you will need to provide the following documents.
• Two academic references using our standard form Official transcript of marksCopy of degree certificate (if available)
• Copy of English test results (if available).

You can either upload your supporting documents with your online application or email or fax them to the Postgraduate Admissions Office using the contact details below.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana

Scholarships

Durham University Business School is currently offering two 25% tuition fee postgraduate scholarships to outstanding candidates from India.

Further funding information is available on the University's fees and finance pages.

Other sources of finance

Some possible sources of finance are:

UK Applicants

• Career Development LoansHelps individuals pay for vocational education or training by offering a deferred repayment bank loan. Available for full-time, part-time or flexible learning programmes. Further details available at www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl or by telephoning 0800 585 505.
• Bank Study Loan Some high street banks offer professional trainee/study loans where repayment is not requested until after you have completed your course. For more information, contact the banks direct.

Overseas Applicants

• British Council Can provide details of scholarships available in your own country. Please see: http://www.britishcouncil.org/.
• Ministry of Education / Education DepartmentYour local Ministry of Education may be able to provide details of funding available in your country.
• US - Federal Stafford bank loansBusiness Education Loan - available to US citizens and international students, who have a US citizen or permanent resident, co-signer. Federal Stafford Loan - you must be a citizen, national or permanent resident of the US. Further information is available from: www.salliemae.com/

Other sources of information are:

• "The Grants Register: The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide" published by MacMillan.
• HotCourses: Student Money: http://www.studentmoney.org/
• Graduate Prospects Ltd: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Please note: Durham University cannot recommend that you take a loan nor recommend a lender. The options provided above are listed for your information only and do not constitute a recommendation by the University. All queries should be directed to the loan provider. Remember that these are personal loans between you and the loan provider (the bank or other organisation), and you are responsible for repayments.