Develop your knowledge of finance, risk and decision-making in this specialist UK master's course.
MSc Risk and Finance allows you to select the modules you want to study to follow your career goals. This accredited course lets you apply for credits towards professional qualifications, setting you above your competitors.
As part of Southampton Business School you'll get many opportunities to advance your career prospects.
You’ll combine finance, risk and decision-making modules with specialist topics on insurance and credit scoring in our master’s degree in risk and finance. This flexible risk management master's is suited to students who want to pursue a career in risk and finance.
You’ll use credit scoring data and industry-standard software as part of your studies and can explore different topics, including:
Become a master of financial risk management by specialising in finance or insurance subject modules, or you can continue to learn about both areas. This will keep your career options broad or encourage you to focus in one area.
Southampton Business School is a leader in research for banking, finance and risk management. The school provides career-enhancing opportunities like IBM’s Academic Initiative. Risk managers and industry leaders from companies such as Goldman Sachs and PwC, will visit to discuss careers one a one-to-one basis.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Your course leader is Dr Chung-Ching Tai, Associate Professor of Risk and Decision Sciences within Southampton Business School at the University of Southampton. His research interests include behavioural economics, experimental auctions, neuroeconomics, agent-based simulations and prediction markets.
This course is based at Highfield.
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
You’ll need a 2.1 degree in a subject which includes quantitative study such as:
Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.
We do not accept the following subjects:
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before you start your course.
If you don’t meet direct entry requirements, you can apply to complete a Pre-Master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the programme. Find out more about Pre-Master's programmes for international students.
If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.
Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
This is a full-time master’s course. You’ll study for 12 months, from September to the following September.
In the first 9 months (semesters 1 and 2) you'll study the taught part of your course.
This is made up of modules that everyone on the course takes, and modules we’ll ask you to choose from a list of options. During semester 2 you’ll begin preparing for your dissertation.
For your optional modules, you can choose insurance-focused modules or finance-related modules to advance in one sector, or select a mix to learn about both areas and broaden your career possibilities.
For the last 3 months, over the summer, you’ll work independently to research and write your dissertation. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor during this time to discuss your progress.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
You must study the following modules :
You must also choose from the following modules :
You’ll learn risk and financial management techniques through:
You’ll apply logical and analytical skills in problem-solving activities and class discussions.
Our academics use different teaching methods to help you apply theoretical concepts and to develop essential career-building skills, such as analytical, teamwork and communication.
You’ll also take part in practical computer classes, learning to use industry-standard databases and software such as Bloomberg data, Excel programming tools and MATLAB risk analysis software. Depending on your module selection, you may learn SPSS or SAS Enterprise Miner software.
Modules leaders regularly invite industry practitioners to share their insights with students, keeping you up-to-date with sector issues.
You’ll also be able to attend seminars run by the University’s Centre for Risk Research as well as specialist finance-focused Business School events. These include talks by professionals from finance and insurance companies and leading researchers from other universities.
Each module is assessed by exams, coursework or a combination of both.
Most modules will be individually assessed and some will have a group assessment. Other modules are likely to have a practical computer-based assignment.
As part of this course, you’ll complete a dissertation project on a topic of your choice. This will enable you to specialise in an area of interest and put research skills into practice.
You’ll have a personal academic tutor (PAT) to guide you throughout your studies. The programme leader is also on-hand for course related questions.
The Institute of Risk Management will support you on your dissertation project, by giving advice and data sharing.
This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.
The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
Download skills overview
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
Accountancy,
Banking,
Business,
Finance,
Insurance,
IT,
Security,
Government Agencies,
Public Sector,
The Chartered Insurance Institute,
Think Tanks.
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.
Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees for a year's study:
If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.
Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.
Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.
Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.
This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course.
If you study part-time, you may not be eligible for this loan. Find out if you're eligible.
Scholarships of £9,000 and £5,000 are available to home fee paying students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s at the University of Southampton Business School.
Find out more about the Southampton Business School (MSc) Dean Scholarship (UK), including eligibility and conditions.
Scholarships of £9,000 and £5,000 are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s at the University of Southampton Business School.
Find out more about the Southampton Business School (MSc) Dean Scholarship (International), including eligibility and conditions.
A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 2 September 2026, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 19 August 2026, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.
There is no application assessment fee for postgraduate courses starting in 2026.
When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.
You’ll need to include information about:
References are not required for this programme.
Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.
You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.
We receive a high volume of applications for this course. This means you may not receive a response to your application for up to 12 weeks.
If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.
Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
