Take your career to the next level with our MSc Finance and Investment. This globally focused programme gives you the specialist knowledge and practical expertise to succeed in today’s competitive financial sector.
You'll gain advanced insight into financial risk management, portfolio optimisation and the dynamics of global capital markets. You'll also explore new areas such as machine learning applications in finance, sustainable and green investment, and the growing role of FinTech and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
Through this blend of traditional and emerging topics, you’ll develop the technical, analytical, and digital skills that leading employers demand. Whether you want to pursue a career as a quantitative analyst, portfolio manager, ESG investment strategist, risk consultant or FinTech specialist, this degree will help you stand out in a fast-changing financial world.
Graduate destinations of MSc Finance and Investment include employers such as:
A dissertation is an essential part of this course. It allows you to carry out independent research on a topic that interests you. This project will help you deepen your expertise in a specialist area of finance and demonstrate your ability to design and deliver rigorous, data-driven analysis.
Depending on your career goals, the dissertation will prepare you for:
This course is accredited by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and fully mapped to the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) Part I qualification. This ensures your learning is academically rigorous and aligned with industry standards, improving your employability and professional credibility.
On this UK MSc Finance and Investment course you will:
This course combines theory and practice to help you analyse markets in real time, interpret data with confidence and make informed investment decisions. By the time you graduate, you will have the specialist knowledge, professional skills and global perspective to succeed in a wide range of financial careers.
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).
Dr Martin Enilov, Lecturer in Banking and Finance in the University’s Business School leads this course. His main research interests are empirically oriented and lie at the intersection of macroeconomics, specifically, in commodity markets, international trade, and the development of the stock and security markets, including digital currency trading. Read Dr Enilov’s staff profile to find out more about his research and publications.
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 course. You’ll study for a whole year.
The taught part of the course covers the first 8 months (semesters 1 and 2). This is a combination of modules that everyone on the course studies, and modules that we’ll ask you to choose from a list of options.
You’ll take exams at the end of semesters 1 and 2.
During the last 4 months of the course you’ll research and write your dissertation.
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 through a variety of methods, including:
You'll also have access to Bloomberg trading suite and other real-time data sources to support your learning.
Assessment methods on this course include:
You will complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice. This is your opportunity to carry out independent research and deepen your expertise in an area of finance or investment that interests you.
Through this project, you will develop advanced research skills, apply current methods, and contribute original insights to the field. Your supervisor will support you in shaping your theme, research design, and data analysis approach.
Past students have looked at:
You’ll meet your supervisor regularly to stay on track and ensure your research develops into a dissertation that demonstrates your academic ability and practical financial understanding.
We'll assign you a personal academic tutor, and you'll have access to a senior tutor.
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:
Investment Banking,
Asset Management,
FinTech,
Data Analytics,
Risk and Compliance,
Sustainable and Green Finance,
Consulting and Advisory Services,
Government, Central Banks, and International Organisations,
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.
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.
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
