Skip to main content
Degree type

MSc

Course length

1 year full-time

Location

Durham City

Programme code

N3K709

Apply Now
1

Course details

Our MSc in Finance (Economics and Finance) is designed to the highest academic standards. It will extend your existing interest in this complex subject and develop your skills and knowledge so that you can transform your interests into a successful career in finance or financial research.

We deliver cutting-edge analytical and technical skills and research techniques in an environment that embraces our core values of fairness in how we experience the financial world and equality of access to financial services. This knowledge is valued by leading global financial institutions and businesses, and by prestigious PhD research programmes.

The exciting 12-month full-time course combines core and optional modules, and culminates in a practice-based business project or a research-based dissertation depending on the learning direction you choose.

Relevant and stimulating topics covered include econometrics, micro- and macroeconomics, advanced financial theory and corporate finance.

You will be taught mainly through a combination of lectures, seminars, and practical work, with content developed in partnership 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.

We pride ourselves on our team of committed academics who are passionate about the study of finance and how it presents itself in the lives of people and businesses around the world. On completion of this course, you will be ready to meet the challenges and earn the rewards of a career in finance, economics, or a related area.

World-class Business Education

  • 11th (UK) 34th (Europe) 60th (Global) - QS World University Rankings: Masters in Finance 2025

Course structure

Core modules:

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.

Advanced Macroeconomics develops your knowledge and skills in analysis in the wide and varied area of advanced macroeconomics. Topics are drawn from growth theory, business cycle theory, monetary theory and their respective applications.

Advanced Microeconomics enhances your knowledge and skills in analysis in the wide and varied area of advanced microeconomics theory and how it can be applied. Topics may include consumer theory, producer theory, decision making under risk and uncertainty, incentives and strategic behaviour, market and general equilibrium, and welfare economics.

Corporate Finance covers the theory and practice of corporate 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.

Plus one from:

Econometric Analysis covers some of the econometric skills needed to undertake empirical research in economics and/or finance and advanced econometric techniques. You will explore areas including hypothesis testing and confidence intervals, linear regression, and misspecification and dummy variables.

Econometric Methods introduces modern econometric techniques and provides hands-on experience in applying those techniques to solve different problems in economics and finance. It aims to provide the econometric skills needed to undertake empirical research in economics and/or finance and advanced econometric techniques.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

  • Bank Management
  • Banking and Financial Intermediation
  • EITHER Behavioural Economics
  • OR Behavioural and Neurofinance
  • Financial Modelling and Business Forecasting
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Capital Market Development
  • Climate Finance
  • Derivative Markets
  • Environmental and Climate Economics
  • Experimental Economics and Finance
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Financial Technologies I
  • Financial Technologies II
  • Fintech Regulations
  • International Trade and Finance
  • 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
  • Monetary Economics
  • Portfolio Management
  • Private Equity and Wealth Management
  • Python for Finance
  • Advanced Topics in Public Economics
  • 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 shapes innovative researchers and alumni who have made a significant contribution in the finance sector.

Reflecting our core values of equality of access to financial services and fairness in how we experience the financial world, we offer a range of support functions to help you achieve your career goals. We hold a careers weekend and career insight events featuring experts from a relevant finance area and we can help you with business projects and placements and in securing international opportunities.

This course will equip you to develop a fulfilling career in finance or in research across the world. The market for jobs is fiercely competitive but the wide support structure at Durham is here to help you achieve your goals.

Take a look at some of the roles taken up by recent finance graduates from the Business School:

  • Management Trainee at the Bank of China
  • Tax Consultant at KPMG
  • Marketing Manager at GF Security
  • Market Risk Analyst at Bangkok Bank
  • Consultant at EY
  • Management Trainee at TRUE Corporation

Learning

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 the first term, nine hours per week of lectures in the second term 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 on this course is rigorous and carried out through exams in January, May and June, a range of 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

The application process opens 1 October 2024 for Masters programmes commencing 2025.

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.

Check the full list of equivalent qualifications.

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.

>>Fill out the online application form

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:

  1. We will let you know when we’ve received your application.
  2. Once we’ve received all of your supporting documents, we will email you to let you know our decision.
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. 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.

English language requirements

Fees and funding

The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Scholarships

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances and are delighted to offer a range of funding opportunities. 

Find Out More

Career opportunities

Business School

No information is available at present - please consider using our Ask Us facility for assistance.

Department information

Business School

No information is available at present - please consider using our Ask Us facility for assistance.

Apply

Start your application now.

You can save your application and complete it later.

Our Events

Join one of our virtual events, webinars, open events or recruitment fairs.

Durham Business School Postgraduate Events
  • Date: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
  • Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Find out more
Self-Guided Tours
  • Date: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
  • Time: 09:00 - 16:00
Find out more

Similar courses

Finance - MSc

Program Code: N3K109
Start: September 2025
Finance

Finance (Accounting and Finance) - MSc

Program Code: N3K209
Start: September 2025
Finance (Accounting and Finance)

Finance (Corporate and International Finance) - MSc

Program Code: N3K309
Start: September 2025
Finance (Corporate and International Finance)

Finance (Finance and Investment) - MSc

Program Code: N3K409
Start: September 2025
Finance (Finance and Investment)

Finance (Financial Technology and Banking) - MSc

Program Code: N3KC09
Start: September 2025
Finance (Financial Technology and Banking)