Entry requirements

One or more of the following:

successful completion of a certified programme of study in an area appropriate to the content of the degree (normally a good second-class honours undergraduate degree or its equivalent, including, where appropriate, quantitative methods having been studied to an appropriate standard); strong academic performance in other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
relevant non-certificated learning; and
an appropriate combination of certificated and non-certificated learning.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This MA will enable you to master key tools used for the financing of individual companies – derivatives, investment appraisal and risk management – and provides an in-depth study of financial issues affecting the broader economic environment, such as crises and bubbles in the international economy. It offers an opportunity to develop the key analytical skills necessary for carrying out research on contemporary issues in financial economics.

This course offers a good preparation for work in a range of public and private institutions that require a real knowledge of finance and its effect on the broader, contemporary economy. The microeconomic skills you'll develop can be used in roles that undertake company valuation such as private banks or pension funds. The macro focus lends itself to risk management in financial institutions, or in domestic and international regulatory agencies, as well as any organisation looking at the link between finance and development such as development banks.

Like all economics postgraduates, you will be very well placed to gain roles in the Government Economic Service, in economic consultancy or policy positions in think-tanks and non-governmental organisations, but you will have an additional edge with your critical knowledge of finance.

You will study core aspects of macro- and microeconomic theories, taking a pluralist approach, and develop an understanding of the long-term historical and conceptual context of contemporary issues and debates. Consequently, you will master a range of economic analysis, key analytical skills and empirical background necessary to participate in discussions on financial economic issues.

You will work individually with a member of staff to choose a topic for your dissertation, research this topic and write up your conclusions. Your topic will be a contemporary issue relating to financial economics. You will work on your dissertation with a member of the Economics department who specialises in and pursues research in the field of financial economics.