Finance and Investment MSc

Course overview

Two female students looking and a computer screen, one is pointing

Global capital and money markets are rapidly evolving, and critical expertise is highly sought after. If you’re interested in a professional career in finance and investment, this Masters degree will enable you to apply your knowledge and problem-solving skills to the financial markets.

You’ll be introduced to advanced concepts and practices in essential topics, including international investment, financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis, and big data applications.

Thanks to our excellent links with industry, commerce and professional bodies, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how essential financial theory is applied in practice. Case study exercises and simulations test your knowledge in real business scenarios, connecting you with the latest challenges and issues in the financial markets.

You’ll learn from highly qualified academics with research and consultancy expertise to gain a qualification valued worldwide in the finance and investment industry.

Course Highlights

This course is shaped by the latest knowledge and critical thinking through the work of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance, the International Banking Institute, and the Credit Management Research Centre.
Benefit from our established relationships with finance, credit and accounting professions, providing a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments.
You’ll have access to our two, on-campus trading rooms, and the world’s top financial databases, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, CSMAR, Refinitiv Eikon and Datastream.
Substantial quantitative skills training designed to prepare you for the graduate labour market.
Guest lectures featuring high-profile speakers from industry or regulatory bodies who share current trends and valuable real-world insight. Recent speakers have included a non-executive board member at UBS, the Head of Securities and Fund Services at Citigroup Asia Pacific and members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, including a Deputy Governor.
On all Masters courses at Leeds University Business School you’ll have an opportunity to apply for a place on a week-long international study tour which will include company visits, guest lectures and networking events, as well as an opportunity to visit local places of interest. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich.

Find out more about studying your Masters at Leeds University Business School.

Accreditation

Leeds University Business School has triple accreditation from the three leading bodies AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

As part of the CFA® University Affiliation Program, eligible students can apply for CFA® scholarships that cover the cost of registration for the CFA examination.

Course details and modules

You’ll build knowledge of key topics in finance and investment, such as financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis, international business finance, and big data applications.

This will enable you to apply financial theory to solve problems and explore international investment. Optional modules allow you to tailor your degree to suit your career plans.

To demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained during the course, you’ll design and conduct your own research dissertation in the final semester. This allows you to focus on a topic of your choice, further developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the industry.

Throughout the course, we’ll support you to develop the professional skills that will be critical for a successful career in the financial services.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Finance and Investment MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name	Credits
Security Investment Analysis	15
Corporate Finance	15
Applied Finance	15
Financial Modelling and Analysis	15
International Investment	15
Accounting and Finance Dissertation	60
Critical Skills for the Finance Professional	15

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Module Name	Credits
Portfolio Risk Management	15
International Business Finance	15
Forensic Accounting and Finance	15
Behavioural Finance	15
Financial Derivatives	15
Discrete Time Finance	15
Python Programming for Finance	15

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, allowing you to develop your skills in research and analysis.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies. This is a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the school, your course and modules.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise both knowledge and essential skills development. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a related subject such as accounting, finance, economics or mathematics.

You should have a strong grounding in quantitative subjects with high scores in these subjects.

International qualifications

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business (6 weeks) and Language for Business (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Documents and information you’ll need

a copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
contact details for two academic references
a personal statement
an up-to-date CV
your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
a letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: masters@lubs.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £18,750 (Total)

International: £37,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

We’re offering over 100 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2025. These scholarships offer up to a 50% fee reduction and will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

Find out more about scholarships at Leeds University Business School:

International Excellence Scholarships (International applicants)

Masters Excellence Scholarships (UK applicants)

Career opportunities

From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career. As a graduate of this course, you’ll be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core finance and investment principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.

Graduates have a broad appeal to employers in the worldwide finance sector. Many have gone on to careers such as traders, risk managers, portfolio managers and security analysts.

Our unique combination of business and mathematics modules enables you to perform successfully in a business environment by making the best use of your analytical and quantitative skills.

Careers support

Careers support and professional development activities are built into your course. You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, and support to boost your employability. We offer support on how to develop the professional skills you’ll need to start a successful career, and how to evidence these to prospective employers.

As part of the Accounting and Finance Department you can benefit from commercial awareness networking events and guest lectures from high-profile speakers from industry or regulatory bodies. Students have had the opportunity to develop their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation with Amplify Trading.

You’ll also benefit from the University’s award-winning Careers Service, where you can access range of support to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions, even after you graduate.

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Year of entry 2025

Postgraduate Virtual Open Day online talks