Gain the skills and experience to build a successful career or to make a major impact in research in the important and fast-moving world of global finance.
Joining our MSc in Finance will enable you to develop a successful foundation in finance or financial research by equipping you with the necessary skills and knowledge at the highest academic standards within an exciting learning environment.
We will teach you how to use sophisticated analytical and technical skills and cutting-edge research techniques, underpinned by our core values of fairness and equality of access to financial services. Such knowhow is consistently sought by top global financial institutions and businesses, and by leading PhD research programmes.
The 12-month full-time programme comprises a combination of core and optional modules. It culminates in a practice-based business project or a research-based dissertation depending on the learning direction you choose.
You will study topics including advanced financial theory, corporate finance, econometric methods as well as financial modelling and business forecasting, delivered mainly through an effective mix of lectures, seminars, and practical work.
This course has partnership status with the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA), the leading global association for investment professionals and the accepted benchmark around the world for technical excellence in financial markets.
The School has made a significant investment in database resources, giving you access to live and historical data from providers including Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Thomson Reuters, DataStream and Orbis. These state-of-the-art databases give you the opportunity to interrogate the financial records of millions of companies worldwide and add valuable insight to your research.
Studying MSc Finance gives you access to teaching by passionate and dedicated academics who are committed to the study of finance and how it interacts with the everyday lives of individuals and its role within global institutions. Having completed the course, you will be fully equipped to enjoy a successful career working or researching in finance, economics, or related disciplines.
World-class Business Education
11th (UK) 34th (Europe) 60th (Global) - QS World University Rankings: Masters in Finance 2025
Course structure
Core modules:
Econometric Methods is designed to teach you some of the skills necessary to carry out empirical research in economics or finance, and to understand more advanced econometric techniques.
Advanced Financial Theory offers stimulating and rigorous training in modern financial theory and in the most important current research with an emphasis on application of finance principles. You will also develop an advanced understanding of normative and positive research in financial theory together with the related descriptive and empirical evidence.
Corporate Finance covers the theory and practice of business finance and the latest research. Again, you will examine both normative and positive aspects of the theory, together with supporting descriptive and empirical evidence.
The Dissertation, on a finance topic of your choice, develops your ability to plan and manage your own learning. It provides an opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation at an advanced level and present your findings and conclusions. To add a further international dimension to the course you can apply for the international route where you undertake research abroad at a partner university. There is also the option to develop a more applied project in conjunction with an appropriate organisation.
In recent years, optional modules have included:
Bank Management
Banking and Financial Intermediation
Behavioural Neurofinance
Climate Finance
Derivative Markets
Fintech Regulations
Financial Modelling and Business Forecasting
Financial Technologies I
Financial Technologies II
Financial Risk Management
International Financial Asset Pricing
International Financial Economics
International Study Tour
Islamic Banking and Finance
Islamic Capital Markets
Islamic Law and Financial Transactions
Market Microstructure
Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring
Portfolio Management
Python for Finance
Security Analysis
A language module
Careers and employability
We are a global Business School with more than 380 partners in 68 industry sectors. These relationships play an important role in securing our reputation as an active learning environment that produces innovative researchers and alumni who have made a significant contribution to the finance sector.
The market for jobs is, and is likely to remain, fiercely competitive but with the wide support structure available at the Business School you can give yourself the best opportunities to achieve your career goals.
We hold a careers weekend and career insight events featuring experts in a particular finance field and we will help you with business projects and placements and any international opportunities.
Many of our recent graduates now work with global innovators and leaders in the sector, including EY, China Development Bank, Société Generalé, KPMG and Bank of America. Others have set up their own businesses or continued into postgraduate education.
Take a look at some of the roles taken up by recent finance graduates from the Business School:
Strategic Management, Senior analyst at Goldman Sachs
Learning is delivered through lectures, some given by guest speakers, in seminars, practical sessions and in extracurricular activities. Seminars will see you working in a smaller group to discuss lecture topics and debate and solve issues raised. Practical work comprises medium-sized group sessions, in which you can practise computer software, applying topics from lectures and seminars.
You will undertake a combination of core and optional modules which will enable you to carry out in-depth study of particular topics. You will also complete an independent 12,000-word dissertation.
Typically, you will attend 10 hours per week of lectures in term 1, nine hours per week of lectures in term 2 and undertake a one-hour seminar per module every two weeks.
Pre-sessional modules in accounting, economics, and mathematics and statistics, are offered in September and October in the form of five lectures and five seminars per module.
Assessment
Assessment is rigorous and carried out through exams in January, May and June, assignments and a 12,000-word dissertation in which you carry out independent research and develop your analysis skills.
Outside of timetabled contact hours, you will be expected to undertake your own independent study in preparation for exams, seminars, assignments and other forms of assessment as well as general background reading in order to broaden your subject knowledge.
Entry requirements
Application Deadlines
October 2025 start
Please note: The application process will open on 1 October 2024 for entry of the 2025 academic year.
We aim to have a diverse student body and recognise that we can only offer places to a finite number of applicants. To help achieve our aim, we look to ensure we offer places to applicants from all nationalities and close applications when we receive the allocated numbers.
The University is under no obligation to make any offer of a place on the programme to any applicant, nor is the University obligated to fill all spaces available on the programme.
What do I need first?
The Masters in Finance programme is designed for new or recent graduates. Certain routes within the Masters in Finance programme may also be of interest to those who already have practical experience in the field of finance. Prospective candidates must hold qualifications equivalent to a UK first or upper second-class honours degree in any discipline. Applicants are also expected to have strong quantitative skills for the programme, which includes fundamental concepts of calculus and statistics. Therefore, having studied a relevant mathematics/quantitative module at university level or a minimum of A level Mathematics (or its equivalent) is a prerequisite for prospective candidates.
If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
NB Chinese Applicants: Applications will be accepted from students who have graduated from a prestigious university in China. Entry requirements may vary depending upon the reputation of the university you have graduated from and the academic programme you have applied for. As a guide, applicants are normally expected to have achieved an overall average of 85%.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete an online application form.
Please note you can only apply for one Masters Finance programme.
To support your online application form, you will need to provide the following documents.
Official transcript of marks
Copy 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.
NoteOnly files of type .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .rtf are permitted to be uploaded.The maximum file size is 5MB.
Application fee
Once we receive your online application form, you’ll get an automatic email within 48 hours asking you to pay the £60 application fee* which is required to progress your application.
You’ll need to follow the link in the email to the webpage where you can confirm your details and make the payment using a debit or credit card. This is a secure website operated by Secpay, which will send you an automatic receipt of payment.
Once we receive confirmation that your application fee has been paid, we’ll be able to progress your application. If you do not pay the application fee your application will be automatically withdrawn.
*Please note you will only be able to make a payment for one programme in each suite i.e. one MSc Finance programme, one MSc Management programme, one MSc Economics programme.
College membership
All students of Durham University will become a member of one of our Colleges. Here is more information about what college membership means to our students. Once you have accepted your postgraduate offer, the Accommodation and Allocations Office will contact you with further information regarding how to express college preferences. You can also apply for college accommodation if you wish to.
Admissions process
Here are the steps in the admissions process:
We will let you know when we’ve received your application.
Once we’ve received all of your supporting documents, we will email you to let you know our decision.
If the decision is to make you an offer of a place on the programme we will let you know by email. Please note we do not issue hard copy offer letters as these are not required to obtain a student visa.
You should confirm acceptance of your offer as soon as possible. In order to secure your place, you are required to pay a deposit within six weeks of the date of your original offer (check your offer documents for details of payment methods).
International students requiring a student visa will receive a CAS (Certificate of Acceptance of Studies) via email once all offer conditions are met, acceptance and deposit have been received and you are within five months of the start date of your programme.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only. More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University
The Department is recognised around the world for the real-world relevance and practical insight provided by its teaching and research as well as the wide-ranging knowledge and abilities of its postgraduate community.
With the analytical and interpersonal skills you will nurture at Durham, you will be well-placed to continue your research at a higher level or pursue your ambitions in a rewarding and interesting professional career role in a wide range of areas.
Our economics postgraduates have gone on to work in sectors including, Consultancy, Technology, Financial Services and Government.
Department information
Business School
The Department of Economics, is one of four departments at Durham University Business School and is recognised across the globe for its high quality teaching and research. The department's research is broad and far-reaching, with a range of active research centres delivering impactful research across the global business world, informing policy and changing business practice.
Economics at Durham inspires and challenges our students, transforming them into critical thinkers and problem solvers equipped to tackle real-world challenges. Our graduates leave Durham ready to embark on successful careers as consultants, analysts, and graduate economists. They make meaningful contributions across diverse sectors globally, leading businesses or working in finance, government, and multinational companies. Rigorous coursework, dedicated resources, and expert faculty mentorship create a supportive learning environment where students thrive academically and personally, reaching their full potential.
Facilities
You will join a strong and vibrant learning community with state-of-the-art facilities. Our Masters in Economics programmes are taught by renowned faculty across the Durham University campus, located in the historic centre of Durham, a city with UNESCO World Heritage Status.
We have made a major investment in acquiring state-of-the-art database and software resources, providing our students with valuable skills to assist them in advanced level research and enhance their careers.
Our modern and spacious teaching and learning areas include lecture theatres, seminar rooms and study areas while the library houses extensive collections of business, economics, finance and management books and offers access to over 10,000 journals online.
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