Masters in Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech)

University of Reading

United Kingdom, Reading

University RankQS Ranking

173

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Home/United Kingdom/Reading /University of Reading/Masters in Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech)

University of Reading

United Kingdom , Reading

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Whiteknights campus (Reading)

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 12 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 28,500 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Masters in Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech)

About

86.7% of students would recommend their programme

Henley Masters Careers Survey 2023

97.8% employed post graduation

Henley Masters Careers Survey 2023

In the MSc Finance and FinTech programme, you will specialise in digital banking and payment systems, Python programming and finance applications of machine learning algorithms.

The advances in financial technology have brought about transformational changes in many branches of the finance industry. The introduction of blockchain technology and digital currencies have created a revolution in payment systems. It has also generated widespread disintermediation via peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding for firms, and online stockbroking and robo-advisory services for individual investors. Many of these innovations are based on the processing of large amounts of data (or “Big Data”) via machine learning algorithms.

In this MSc course, you will gain an in-depth understanding of big data in finance and insurance. You will also learn about emerging technologies including blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Through trading simulations, you will learn about securities, futures and options and algorithmic trading. In this MSc programme, you'll also explore FinTech regulation and the challenges posed by data protection and cyber security. You will have the opportunity to complete the KNIME Level 1 Certification and develop your proficiency in the open source platform for data driven innovation.

The MSc Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech) is affiliated with the CFA Institute. This is in recognition that this degree covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, the CFA Institute Ethical and Professional Standards, and other requirements.

Parallel with your studies, you will also have the opportunity to prepare for the CFA level 1 exam.

6th in the UK (33rd in the World)

for Masters in Finance
(Financial Times 2024)

2nd in the UK (20th in the World)

For average salary percentage increase after graduating from Masters in Finance
(Financial Times 2024)

This Masters programme will prepare you for a career in the rapidly expanding FinTech sector.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Undergraduate Degree – Minimum 2:1 or the equivalent from an overseas institution*
Degree Discipline – Any degree discipline, but must have a satisfactory level of numeracy and have basic knowledge of Mathematics and Statistics.
Building Blocks of Maths and Stats for Finance course – We may ask you to complete and pass the free online 2-week Building Blocks of Maths and Stats for Finance course developed by the ICMA Centre on the FutureLearn platform, if we think it is appropriate in your individual case. For example, if you have been out of education for more than a few years or have little evidence of any numerical ability.

* Please note that due to increasing competition for places on our Masters programmes our entry requirements may change.

We operate a rolling admissions system and you are therefore advised to apply early in order to be sure of your place on our programmes. We experience high levels of demand, and it is possible we might have to close applications to some programmes once places are filled.

English requirements

Studying in a second language can be challenging. If your English language ability is below the minimum requirement, we may ask for evidence of proficiency. Alternatively, we may ask you to attend an English language course before you begin your studies with us.

Requirement	Criteria
IELTS	6.5 with no component below 5.5 in any sub-skills
IELTS with pre-sessional English	6.5 with no component below 5.5 in each of the four sub-skills

Pre-sessional English Programme

The Pre-sessional English Programme is for international students who need to meet their degree programme English language requirements. Our courses equip you with the skills and language needed for academic success, including critical thinking, self-reflection, learner autonomy, research skills and integrating sources. The Pre-sessional English Programme is accredited by the global association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes, which guarantees you will receive a high-quality student experience.

Find out about our comprehensive range of Pre-Sessional English courses

Acceptance of LanguageCert Online and DuoLingo English qualifications

We appreciate the difficulties that some students are having with the availability of English Language tests, as the impact of the global pandemic continues. As a result of this, we are pleased to announce that we can now accept the non-SELT version of LanguageCert (which includes the online version) and DuoLingo as suitable English language qualifications. These can be accepted for direct entry onto Undergraduate (except Speech and Language Therapy), Postgraduate Taught (except Speech and Language Therapy) and Postgraduate Research programmes.

For information on individual programme requirements and other English language qualifications, please visit our English requirement equivalent page.

If you require specific advice on your qualification please contact admissions directly by e-mail  or telephone on +44 (0) 118 378 5289.

UK visa requirements

You may need to obtain a UK visa. This visa will allow to live and study in the UK. See the  UK Border Agency website.

Graduate Route

The UK's Graduate Route post-study work visa allows you to apply to stay in the UK for up to two years after you graduate, with the opportunity to undertake skilled work. Visit the University website for the latest information.

English Program Requirements

Requirement Criteria IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5 in any sub-skills IELTS with pre-sessional English 6.5 with no component below 5.5 in each of the four sub-skills

Career

How can Henley Careers work with you?

Here at Henley we have an award-winning careers team here to support you through your time here and four years after graduating from us.

Here is how Henley Careers can help you:

Careers Consultant appointments - Our Careers Consultant are here to help and support you with any careers related concern that you might have. Whether it’s advice on your CV, practicing for an interview, looking at possible reasons why applications aren't being successful or support planning your career goals, we’re here to help empower you to progress in your career.
Events - Henley Careers organise numerous events aimed to help you build your confidence, develop the skills employers are looking for, network with employers and expand your industry knowledge.
Alumni support - You can continue to book one-to-one appointments with your Careers Consultant and use our online resources for up to four years after you graduate to get help and support in your career.
Career Smart - Get a head start in securing a graduate job by taking part in our online course, Career Smart. You can expect to learn about the graduate recruitment cycle in the UK, where to look and how to start applying to jobs, and the different types of roles available to you.

For more information please see our Careers page.

Continuing your career

Fintech brings together Finance and Technology. Through this course, you could find yourself working in exciting fintech start-ups or established banks. You can work in related organisations such as consultancies and regulators. You can also specialise in the technology side delivering new software and handling big data and machine learning algorithms. Alternatively, you can work on the finance side to win business, set up deals and deliver essential financial services to clients.

If you want to stay and work locally, London is not only a global finance hub but also a global fintech hub. It has a lively start-up scene and hundreds of mid-sized fintechs as well as major banks and asset managers. The ICMA Centre is a pioneer in finance education and renowned for its strong links with the financial services industry. If you plan to work elsewhere, acquiring this Masters qualification will impress potential employers.

CFA Institute

The ICMA Centre is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This partnership signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely linked with professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the three levels of CFA exams.

For more information regarding the CFA institute, visit www.cfainstitute.org/

KNIME Level 1 Certification

KNIME Analytics Platform is one of the leading platforms in data science and machine learning. Students on the MSc Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech) programme have the opportunity to gain a professional certification in KNIME. The Level 1 certification covers basic proficiency in KNIME Analytics Platform for ETL, Data Analytics and Visualization.

In the Spring term, students will be offered an introductory presentation and 2-day workshops, which include lectures and tutorials on KNIME. This is followed by the KNIME Level 1 certification test and upon successful completion, is valid for 2 years. Find out more here.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 28,500

Application Fee

GBP

How to Apply

1. Check our entry requirements

Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

2. Application and funding deadlines

Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies. For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

Funding deadlines

We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

3. Submit your application

You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation.

Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
a copy of your passport (for international students).

Application fee

We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

4. Track your application

You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.