Overview
Established in 2004, our MSc Finance has produced alumni who now occupy senior roles in hedge funds, major financial institutions and universities around the world.
The course provides a thorough grounding in the latest theory and analytical techniques used by finance professionals, allowing you to understand how money influences the world we live in.
You’ll gain hands-on experience of the process of financial decision-making and practical knowledge of the workings and role of financial markets in the allocation of capital. The course also gives you an understanding of the qualitative and quantitative techniques needed to interpret market reactions to geopolitical events such as Coronavirus, Brexit, oil-price shocks and financial crises.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education. This puts the University of Stirling Management School among the top 6% of business schools globally.
Gain real-life experience
In our Financial Statement Analysis module, you’ll work as part of a team to develop an investment buy or sell recommendation. In your dissertation, you’ll identify and answer a real-world question, or extend your company analysis skills developed in Financial Statement Analysis.
AmplifyME Trading Boot Camp
The course also includes an innovative week-long global financial trading and training boot camp run by our partner, AmplifyME. This won the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Innovative Delivery of Education (IDEA) global award and gives you the chance to trade futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. By letting you trade in real time, but with virtual money, the boot camp bridges the gap between an academic understanding of financial markets and how they function in practice.
Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)
Our students have established a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), with support of our academics within the Accounting and Finance Division. The SMIF allows you to gain practical
Preparing business leaders of the future
Postgraduate education at the University of Stirling Management School goes beyond text books and lecture rooms, we also focus on your personal and professional development.
Our unique Flying Start Leadership Programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career. These range from practical skills, like effective public speaking, to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations and manage conflict. Find out more about Flying Start.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
You’ll develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of large amounts of complex financial information. This includes developing arguments and communicating them both in written reports and via oral presentations with textual and visual aids.
Key areas which you'll focus on the analysis of, include:
- corporate financial decisions
- behavioural biases
- financial statements
- derivatives
- investment portfolios
- investment decisions
- risk and economic data
Professional accreditation
The course covers much of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) programme, helping you progress towards obtaining CFA Charterholder status.
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education.
Research overview
In REF 2021, 80% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was classed as world leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The MSc Finance is a one-year, full-time course. You’ll undertake up to ten taught modules over two 15-week semesters, followed by a supervised dissertation.
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
Teaching is carried out through lectures, seminars, problem-solving lectures, computer workshops and practical case studies.
Many of our staff are publishing research in leading international journals and engaged in developing new policy and practices within the finance profession, as well as delivering innovative teaching.
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of multiple choice and written class tests, written assignments, presentations including group assignments and written exams.
Course director
Key staff
Module co-ordinators
- Dr Kevin Campbell (Corporate Finance; & Derivatives)
- Dr Maria Grydaki (Quantitative Methods in Finance; & Economics for Banking and Finance)
- Mr Alan Somerville (Financial Reporting)
- Dr Dionysia Dionysiou (Investments: Equity Portfolios and Pricing; & International Corporate Finance; & Empirical Methods in Finance and Accounting)
- Professor David McMillan (Empirical Methods in Finance and Accounting)
- Dr Costas Gavriilidis (Behavioural Finance)
- Professor Lisa Evans (Introduction to Research Methods)
- Dr Frederick Changwony (Mergers & Acquisitions; and Derivatives)
- Dr Patrick Herbst (Investments: Fixed Income and Alternative Investments).
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| 2024/25 | 2025/26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Students from the UK and Republic of Ireland | £10,900 | £10,900 |
| International (including EU) students | £22,900 | £22,900 |
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Student Scholarships
These are available for seven MSc Investment Analysis students each year and are awarded based on academic performance during the course. The scholarships allow those students to sit levels I, II or III of the CFA exams at a significantly reduced fee.
A full set of CFA study materials is available at the University. Students also receive a daily CFA Institute newsletter and are invited to local CFA society events.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Our MSc Finance graduates have enjoyed worldwide success within different organisations, ranging from multinational banks to asset management companies. By taking this course you'll benefit from an innovative week-long global financial trading and training boot camp run by AmplifyME. You’ll also have networking opportunities through our guest lecturer programme.
The financial decision-making process is becoming increasingly automated. As technology advances, we wish to ensure that our graduates have the opportunity to remain employable and relevant as finance professionals. This course opens up a range of exciting career opportunities which include fund management, security dealing, financial market regulation, treasury management, financial engineering and corporate finance work within investment banking firms. Our Masters course also provides you with a highly transferable knowledge and skill set that is valuable if you subsequently decide to diversify into other careers, including further study.
Recent graduates of the MSc Finance have been appointed to posts such as business manager in futures trading and senior assistant assessing country risk for an investment bank. Working in locations across the world, our graduates can be found in major financial organisations such as Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China and HSBC.
This Masters course is recognised internationally and prospects for career advancement are excellent, with many of our alumni to be found in senior positions around the world.
The University of Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager and from the very beginning of the course your career is our focus.
Employability skills
Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager and from the very beginning of the course your career is our focus.
Everything you do while studying here is designed to help you build the personal skills that will make you stand out to future employers. You’ll start your Masters course on our Flying Start Leadership Programme which will challenge your perspective of culture and develop your self-awareness, as well as team-working, problem-solving and presentation skills.
You also have the chance to take part in real work experience opportunities through our week long masterclass in trading.
Companies we work with
As a student on the MSc Finance you’re given the chance to participate in regular guest lectures. These are typically held on a Wednesday afternoon and are delivered by eminent speakers from leading financial institutions, think tanks, regulatory and professional bodies. Previous speakers include:
- Russell Napier - Co-founder of ERIC (Electronic Research Interchange)
- Nick Bartlett - Director of Education at CFA Society of the UK
- Ross Lorrimer - Client Service Associate at State Street
- Maxim Skorniakov - Investment Manager at Walter Scott Global Investment Management
- Richard Dunbar - Head of Economic and Thematic Research at Aberdeen Asset Management
- Kweku Adoboli - Former Trader at UBS
- John Goodwin - Executive Vice-President and CFO at Lego
- Colin McLean - CEO at SVM Asset Management
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