Master of Finance

Why study a Master of Finance with the Melbourne Business School?

1. Join a new boutique program for a small, high calibre cohort: limited number of students admitted each semester
2. Integrated with industry: this is an academically rigorous and highly technical course while also emphasising key practical skills through our in-class simulations or in a Practicum subject, completing a real consulting project in industry and learning from regular industry-guest lectures
3. Skill-up for the new frontiers of finance: students can take electives in new subjects like Fintech and Data Analysis

What is it about?

Melbourne Business School’s new Master of Finance has been designed to equip you with specialist technical knowledge that goes well beyond an undergraduate degree, preparing you for a career in the ever-evolving finance sector. The degree is recognised by the CFA Institute.

The Master of Finance degree aims to provide graduates with:

• Detailed knowledge of the operations and activities of financial markets
• An understanding of financial management principles and their application to financial policy
• A comprehensive understanding of Australian and international financial markets
• A comprehensive knowledge of various asset classes and the operation of the markets in these asset classes
• An applied knowledge of specialised aspects of the finance industry

Melbourne Business School also offers a 2-year Master of Finance (Enhanced) if you’re interested in taking advantage of our many elective and exchange options as part of your degree.

If you have not previously studied finance, you could consider our Master of Management (Finance).

Graduates of the new Master of Finance will forge international careers in the finance industry applying their technical skills to the areas of:

• Investments
• Banking
• Corporate advisory
• Financial analysis

As a graduate of the Master of Finance you’ll be:

• Knowledgeable across a variety of finance specialisations including financial markets, corporate finance, investment management, quantitative finance and financial technology
• Skilled in analysing and solving complex financial problems
• A critical thinker, aware of the contribution of financial theory to sound financial decision making in practice
• An effective communicator of financial concepts and ideas to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
• An effective team member through participation in collaborative exercises.
• Adept at retrieval and manipulation of financial information and data from a variety of sources
• Aware of the importance of applying high ethical standards in professional practice

Professional Recognition

This program covers at least 70% of all 3 levels of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge topics, the CFA Institute ethical and professional standards and other CFA Program Partner requirements. Recognition as a CFA Affiliated University signals to students, employers and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA exams.

CFA Institute®

The University of Melbourne is a participant in the University Affiliation Program of the CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals that awards the prestigious CFA designation. The Master of Finance covers at least 70% of all three levels of the CFA program candidate body of knowledge (CBOK) topics, the CFA Institute ethical and professional standards, and other CFA program partner requirements. Recognition as a CFA Affiliated University signals to students, employers and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA exams.

As part of the affiliation, students in the Master of Finance are eligible for scholarships, access to CFA Institute curriculums, journals, webcasts, and other educational resources.

CPA PROGRAM

CPA program graduates who enrol in the Master of Finance can receive credit for one of the following subjects:

• Accounting For Decision Making
• Financial Statement Analysis

Graduate Research

The Master of Finance also offers a pathway to the Doctoral Program in Finance.

If you are interested in pursuing a research pathway, you’ll need to have completed university level subjects in Calculus and Linear Algebra. If you have not previously studied these subjects, you may apply to the Master of Finance Program Director for permission to take  Calculus 1 (MAST10005) and or  Linear Algebra (MAST10007) as electives in your final semester of study. Permission will only be granted where your academic performance in the degree up to that point has been of a very high standard. Application to the Doctoral program will require you to maintain a very high level of academic success for the full duration of the Master of Finance.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
   • an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline with a weighted average mark of at least H2A (75%), or equivalent with studies (12.5 points each) in Accounting (level 1), Corporate Finance (level 2), Investments (level 3) and Derivatives (level 3) or their equivalents. NOTE: Students who meet the minimum WAM requirements and have completed at least two of the above subjects are invited to apply. If offered, they may be encouraged to take our intensive online bridging subjects prior to the commencement of the course. Learn more about our online bridging subjects.
   • a personal statement outlining why they wish to be considered for the course; and
   • the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless the applicant has completed an undergraduate degree in Australia or New Zealand or met one of the approved conditions for GMAT or GRE exemption.
     
     NOTE: Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
   • prior academic performance; and
   • the GMAT or GRE score unless the applicant has completed an undergraduate degree in Australia or New Zealand or met one of the approved conditions for GMAT or GRE exemption; and
   • the personal statement.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board Rules on the use of selection instruments.

IELTS: Score: 7.0, with no band less than 6.5.

TOEFL: Score: 94+, with writing 24; speaking 20; reading 19; listening 20.

PEARSON: Score: 72+, with written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 64.

CAMBRIDGE: Score: 185+, with no skill less than 176.