Finance (Economics and Finance),MSc

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.

Choose the MSc in Finance (Economics and Finance) to build on your existing interest in this complex subject and open the door to a range of rewarding careers.

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

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.