Finance and Investment MSc

Program Overview

The MSc Finance and Investment at the University of Exeter is a globally renowned program with a strong track record of providing students with the skills and knowledge for a successful career in finance. Graduates pursue roles as investment analysts and portfolio managers at top investment banks and wealth management firms. The program emphasizes practical training through Bloomberg database training, case study workshops, and guest lectures from industry experts. High-achieving students may pursue a QTEM certificate or double degree program, further enhancing their global credentials.

Program Outline

MSc Finance and Investment - University of Exeter

Degree Overview:

• Target Audience: Students interested in a career in investment analysis or portfolio management.
• Program History: Established in 1973, it is the first Masters degree in finance in the UK.
• Reputation: Holds an international reputation for providing excellent training, rigorous academic knowledge in finance and investment, and a strong network in the finance industry globally.
• Key Features:
• Non-assessed financial database training course delivered by data specialists from Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Bureau Van Dijk, the Standard, and Poor’s Global Market Intelligence.
• Opportunity to gain a QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) certificate.
• Double Degree options, allowing students to spend their first year at Exeter and a second year at another world-class international institution, resulting in two Masters degrees.

Outline:

• Program Duration: 9 months full-time or 12 months full-time.
• Program Structure:
• 9-month variant:
University-based, full-time, over three terms from September to June. Total 180 credits.
• 12-month variant: University-based, full-time, from September to September.
Total 180 credits.
• Sustainable Finance Pathway (9-month): Allows students to select specific modules to graduate with a specialization in Sustainable Finance.
Includes modules like Corporate Governance and Finance, Sustainable and Responsible Finance, Climate Finance and Investments, and Financial Institutions Risk Management.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: Lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical case study workshops, and intensive financial database and technology training workshops.
• Faculty: Internationally respected academics at the forefront of their research, drawing upon disciplines across the social sciences.
• Research-led Teaching: The Business School is research-intensive and integrates latest research findings into teaching.
• Guest Lecturers: Senior experts from industry contribute to some modules.
• Practical Case Study Classes: Integral part of the program, allowing students to apply specialist knowledge and quantitative analytical skills to solve complex financial problems.
• Training Workshops: Cover widely used databases like Bloomberg, S&P capital IQ, Refinitiv Eikon, WRDS, with application in STATA, R, Matlab or Phyton.
• Dissertation: For the 12-month program, students undertake an impactful research project under the supervision of world-leading academics.

Careers:

• Career Goals: Prepare students for a successful career in finance, equipping them with advanced communication and technical skills, team-working, independent research, project-management, and the latest specialist knowledge.
• Career Paths:
• Investment Analyst (market research, analysis of funds, trends for strategic planning)
• Investment/Portfolio Manager (dealing with client’s portfolio & completing transactions)
• Potential Employers:
• Investment management companies
• Stockbrokers and investment banks
• Wealth management divisions of investment banks
• Institutional investors (charities, pension funds, life assurance companies)
• Hedge funds
• Government or public organizations
• SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)
• Graduate Training Routes: Multi-nationals like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, HSBC, Vanguard Asset Management, Credit Suisse, Citibank, Amundi, and Deutsche Bank offer graduate training routes in many countries.
Country-specific banks and smaller organizations also offer opportunities.
• Previous Graduate Success: Graduates have secured roles as financial analysts with organizations like Coutts (UK), KPMG (Vietnam), HSBC (Vietnam), J.P. Morgan First Capital, Ernst & Young (India), Bank of China, and Ford Motor Company.

Other:

• QTEM Program: High-achieving students can progress onto the QTEM program after their first year at Exeter.
This involves an additional semester at a prestigious academic partner, a quantitatively focused internship, and participation in the QTEM Data Challenge.
• Double Degree Program: Students can pursue a Double Degree program, spending their first year at Exeter and a second year at another world-class international institution.
• Study Abroad Opportunities: The Business School offers various study abroad opportunities, including the QTEM program and Double Degree programs.

2024/25 entry UK fees per year: £19,100 full-time International fees per year: £31,000 full-time