Investment Analysis

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second class Honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

In addition, if you have professional qualifications such as The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1, we encourage you to apply.

If you don’t currently meet the academic requirements for this course, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need for direct entry.

Explore INTO Stirling programmes to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available for this course and others at the University of Stirling.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The University of Stirling MSc Investment Analysis has a world-class reputation and is the UK’s longest-established postgraduate course in the field. It is also one of very few masters degrees in the UK to be recognised under the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program. This acknowledges that the course covers at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge and places emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The course positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which has become the most respected and recognised investment credential in the world.

Our Investment Analysis students have successfully competed in the prestigious CFA Institute Research Challenge, winning a place in the UK Final in ten out of twelve years. The competition is considered the “investment Olympics” for university students, and requires participants to assume the role of investment analysts and produce a report on a publicly traded company with a buy, hold or sell recommendation. The opportunity to be a part of our CFA Institute Research Challenge team gives you a unique opportunity to test your knowledge in a 'real-world' scenario. Find out more about the unrivalled success of our students in competitions which directly enhance employability.

On this Masters course you’ll:

• study the use of qualitative and quantitative techniques to value investments
• develop and evaluate portfolio management strategies
• cultivate the ability to extract essential information from financial reports
• understand risk management tools
• assess macroeconomic and market trends
• analyse financial data relating to investments
• learn about the techniques used to value investments and investment portfolios
• understand the importance of investment regulation and ethics

The course syllabus has a distinctly international focus. This reflects the globalised nature of financial markets and the investment management profession. Students on this course come from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds and cultures, providing a unique opportunity for the development of worldwide contacts.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Indicator 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
• Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
• LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

If you are from India, Bangladesh, Ghana or Nigeria please also check your country/region specific page for any additional, or changes to, English language requirements.

For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.