HIGHER DIPLOMA IN ARTS (FINANCE)

Finance is a stimulating and challenging discipline that offers a wide range of exciting and dynamic careers across the financial industry. The finance sector has grown in terms of complexity as it meets the needs of increasingly international, technologically complex and data-driven markets. By studying finance, you will acquire a wide range of skills that can be applied to problems faced by agents ranging from entrepreneurs who need to fund their ideas to investors seeking the best opportunities to grow their wealth, from private investment banks who engineer innovative financial products to regulators tasked with protecting the industry and from individuals searching for a mortgage to multinational firms seeking to finance their operations. The study of finance opens the door to a myriad of diverse career opportunities.

This is a one-year full-time programme. If you have the desire and ambition to forge a successful career in the world of finance, then this is the perfect programme for you. The course provides an accelerated route to the equivalent of an honours degree in finance. Students will cover the basic concepts, empirical methods and applications in investment, derivatives, international finance and econometrics as well as choosing field courses of interest from a range of optional modules such as corporate finance, fixed income markets and financial accounting.

Additional Resources

Please check out the Postgraduate Open Day Page for details on our upcoming open days and postgraduate information and resources shared at previous open days which includes information on fees, funding, scholarships and student life.

Course Commences
September entry

What our Graduates Say

“I decided to re-skill myself in the world of finance having enjoyed a successful 22-year career as an IT professional. My ultimate goal at the time was to complete the MSc in Financial Risk Management in Maynooth, however the advice I received was that the Higher Diploma would form an important stepping stone towards this ultimate objective. This turned out to be excellent advice which led me to successfully complete the MSc I wanted.”
Research Economist Financial Stability Section of Central Bank MICHAEL WOSSER, HDip Finance, MSc Financial Risk Analysis and PhD Finance

“An emphasis is placed on presenting your thesis to your class and lecturers. Workshops aimed at building presentation skills are embedded into the course. I found this exercise both challenging and rewarding and the ability to competently present my thesis to my lecturers increased my confidence. This Master's and the professionalism of Maynooth University have resulted in me securing a financial role in a prominent
international bank and will continue to serve me as my career progresses.” Custody Administrator. Société Générale
BRYAN CULLEN, Higher Diploma in Finance, MA Finance.

An honours primary degree in any discipline. Students without any knowledge of economics or finance are strongly advised to have a good background in statistics and quantitative methods and to be prepared to undertake substantial independent study to equip themselves with the expected level of economics and finance. Well-motivated, quantitatively-able honours graduates of any discipline are welcome to apply. Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level, a primary degree in any other discipline and have at least 5 years' relevant work experience. In exceptional cases, consideration will be given to candidates who do not hold a primary degree, but who do have at least 10 years’ relevant work experience, at least three of which are in a management position. These applicants are managed through the Maynooth University Procedure for Non-Standard Entrants and The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.

Minimum English language requirements:
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.

Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

IELTS : 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band

Duolingo English Test (DET) : The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 - with at least 110 in each individual subscore. 

Pearson Test of English : 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section

TOEFL internet-based test  : iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in every other section

After this 1-year intensive programme, graduates will be well-equipped with the skills to begin a career in the financial sector. This is a high-growth, constantly evolving sector with diverse career opportunities at home and abroad.

Graduates who wish to continue their studies may pursue one of our MSc programmes subject to meeting the entry requirements.

Graduates of this programme are currently enjoying successful careers in investment and retail banking, portfolio fund management, professional accountancy, corporate recovery, regulatory agencies, NGOs, government service, stockbroking and bond trading in the private sector. Others have taken up research positions at the Central Bank of Ireland, some continue to PhD programmes to pursue an academic career. The diverse careers of our graduates reflect the adaptability and flexibility of our graduates.