Finance and Investment Management, MScEcon at University of Aberdeen

This well-established MSc is founded on years of financial and investment expertise within the Department – and on some powerful global connections with the financial sector. We focus not only on academic success but on helping students to build the broad range of specialist skills and experience that contribute to employability.

The University trading room streams up-to-the-minute data, to enable would-be traders and fund managers to 'practice' investing. It's a hands-on opportunity for you to react instantly to live news feeds and gain the skills required to work productively in the financial services industry, picking up the practical skills required for life at the Stock Exchange before you graduate.

You don’t need a background in finance or business-related-subjects, but being numerate will be advantageous. This programme will provide a thorough grounding in theoretical and practical aspects of finance, economies and investment for both early career finance professionals and those aspiring to enter a finance profession.

With a highly practical approach to learning, topics cover a wide range of finance discipline areas, such as;

- corporate finance
- economics
- portfolio management
- accounting and financial reporting

Learning Methods

• GROUP PROJECTS
• INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
• LECTURES
• RESEARCH
• SEMINARS
• TUTORIALS

Why Study Finance and Investment Management?

• This is a full 'conversion' programme that may be completed in a single year.
• You do not require accounting, finance or any quantitative study to be completed at undergraduate level.
• There is a strong emphasis on the practical application of theory.
• You develop an awareness of professional best practice and the principles underlying current thinking in finance.
• You are taught by experienced professionals who are active in consultancy in the city.
• Experience world leading facilities - access to our in-house stock exchange provides opportunities to work with a real trading platform and supports in-depth understanding of finance in practice.
• Develop a well-rounded skillset – gain the tools to succeed in your job search, as well as the communication and professional skills that finance recruiters are looking for along with deep analytical skills.
• Access top-tier global recruiters. Students benefit from employer-led skills sessions from big name global finance brands - Deloitte, KMPG, PwC and Ernst & Young - to explore how to stand out at an interview or assessment centre.
• Acquire and develop research skills and techniques relevant to higher academic qualifications in finance.

Careers

A qualification that's gaining momentum, aspiring financiers and junior bankers are taking Masters in Finance qualifications and CFA exams in increasing numbers. Hiring trends in investment banks are shifting, with sales and trading desks looking for a more technical skill set with a higher level of quantitative skills. Finance graduates are highly sought-after, with employer demand showing little sign of slowing down.

Graduates of this programme typically aim for positions in the global corporate and financial sector as a business analyst, asset manager, trader, broker, hedge fund / investment advisor, consultant, credit controller, treasurer, banker, market specialist or accountant.

On the flip side, you might want to opt out of taking the professional finance module (The CFA) and pursue a further academic study of finance – maybe building to a PhD .

Whatever direction you choose, you’ll no doubt go further.