Masters

in Finance
02 MSc Finance 2023 03

4.
Why Durham University
Business School?

5.
Masters in Finance
About the programmes

6.
Choose your degree

9.
Adding to your experience

10.
Your career

12.
Supporting your studies

14.
Durham City

15.
Your next steps
“Our MSc Finance programmes
are designed to provide you
with rigorous training at the
frontier of research, as well
as the advanced analytical
and technical skills that are
highly sought after by global
employers and, if you wish
Durham Masters
to continue your studies, by
world-leading in Finance
PhD programmes.”

Professor Find your

Damian Damianov
Programme Director
focus
04 MSc Finance 2023 05

Why Durham University Masters in Finance Oct

Refine your skill set. Master your profession.
Business School?
Term 1 Nov
Modules
Founded in 1965, Durham We are proud to be integral to
University Business School is Durham University, a globally About the programmes
outstanding centre of teaching Dec
one of the longest established
and research excellence,
business schools in the UK. Term 1
a collegiate community of Our intensive one year full-time MSc Finance programmes are Exams
extraordinary people, a unique Jan
We connect students and alumni designed to provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge
with global companies. And we and historic setting – Durham
to pursue a career in finance and related disciplines.
link business with incisive and is a university like no other.
Term 2 Feb
innovative thinking. By choosing one of our programmes, you will be joining a business school Modules
with an internationally diverse faculty and student body, enabling you to
expand your global network. Opportunities such as international exchanges, Mar
networking events and access to the latest software and database facilities
add further value to the programme to enhance your career. 1 Week
A World
Top 100 A triple
53rd Our portfolio includes the following six degree routes:
International
Study Tour
(optional)
Apr

accredited in the • MSc Finance

University world • MSc Finance (Accounting and Finance)
May

as ranked in the
business school • MSc Finance (Corporate and International Finance) Term 2
Financial Times Assignments
QS World University and one of an elite Jun
Masters in Finance • MSc Finance (Economics and Finance) and Exams
Rankings 2023 group worldwide
Pre-Experience • MSc Finance (Finance and Investment)
Ranking 2022
• MSc Finance (Financial Technology and Banking) Jul
Term 3
Dissertation abroad
scheme (optional) Aug

“I believe one stellar quality the programme

Sep
and its faculty hold is the pertinent link Term 3

A global alumni
6 between theory and current real-world Dissertation

network of 36,000+ 90% specialised

application. With the impeccable services
and constant helping hand of the career
Oct

Business School of Durham University’s

services team, I look forward to joining the field Graduation

graduates research is classed as programmes of Investment Banking from September 2022.” Nov

‘world-leading’ or Imaaz Hasan

spanning 140+ countries
‘internationally excellent’ MSc Finance (Corporate and International Finance) 2021/2022 Dec
REF 2021
A global community of 128,000+ Durham University was founded in
alumni across the University 1832 making it over 190 years old Jan
06 MSc Finance 2023 07

Techonology and Banking)

(Accounting and Finance)

and International Finance)

(Economics and Finance)

(Finance and Investment)

Choose Masters

MSc Finance (Corporate

MSc Finance (Financial

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
your degree in Finance

MSc Finance
MSc Finance

MSc Finance

MSc Finance
Focus your studies programmes Our MSc Finance programmes are affiliated with the Chartered Financial
Analyst Institute (CFA), the world’s premier association for investment
through tailored routes professionals and the accepted benchmark for technical excellence
in financial markets. It guarantees you benefit from a curriculum of
Accounting Theory the highest standards and enables you to participate in CFA
To help you stand out in a Accounting: An Information employer network events and scholarships.
Content Perspective
crowded global job market,
Advanced Financial Theory
you can choose from a wide
Advanced Macroeconomics
range of modules to customise
Advanced Microeconomics
your degree to your chosen Advanced Topics in Public Economics
career path or a specific area Auditing and Accountability
of interest. Bank Management
Each programme consists of eight Banking and Financial Intermediation
modules and culminates in a business Behavioural Finance and Economics
or research project. The table Corporate Finance
opposite summarises which modules Corporate Governance
are core or elective (i.e. optional) for Derivative Markets
each degree route. Econometric Methods
To remain at the forefront of the latest Econometrics I
thinking, we constantly develop our Econometrics II
curriculum and learning methods by Environmental and Climate Economics
drawing on innovative research and
Experimental Economics and Finance
practice. Therefore, not all optional
Financial Accounting and Reporting
modules may run every year.
Financial Modelling and Business Forecasting
For more information and a full list of
Financial Risk Management
modules visit durham.ac.uk/business/
Financial Statement Analysis
masters-finance
Financial Technologies I
Financial Technologies II
Key International Economics
Core module International Financial Asset Pricing
International Study Tour
Elective module
Market Microstructure
(Modules shown are those typically
offered in previous years). Mergers and Acquisitions
Modern Accounting Research
Paired modules
MSc Finance (Economics and Portfolio Management
Finance) students can choose to Python for Finance
complete either the paired modules
Security Analysis
of “Econometric Methods” and
“Financial Modelling and Business A credit-bearing language module
Forecasting” OR “Econometrics I” Dissertation
and Econometrics II”.
08 MSc Finance 2023 09

Dissertation
Adding to your experience Investment Club

In the third term, you will carry out Enriching your study Each year, a group of students are selected to manage a genuine fund and
an original research project. This may meet on a monthly basis to evaluate their research and place their trades.
be an independent piece of work At the end of the year, the monetary fund and a report on its performance
International opportunities are passed to next year’s club. This exciting initiative gives you the chance
or, alternatively, you may decide to
develop a more applied project with to put your financial skills to the test and enhance your CV.
We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside
an appropriate organisation. perspective is a key part of the programme. That’s why we offer a range of
opportunities to help immerse you in a country’s business and academic
Trading Challenge
Supervised by a faculty member with environment, make new contacts and stand out in a competitive job market.
relevant experience, you’ll investigate These include:
This challenge will give you the opportunity to monitor and analyse real-
in greater detail a subject that you’ve time financial market data movements to build a hypothetical portfolio
International Study Tour
already studied as part of your with securities of your choice. This gives you hands-on experience and the
During the International Study Tour, we take a group of students to a European
programme. This is an opportunity for chance to improve your investment and security selection skills. It looks
destination for around a week (in 2021, students visited Paris). This partially self-
you to develop your business insight great on your CV, plus there is a cash prize for the winner.
funded intensive programme normally takes place in March/April, and provides
and present your analysis and ideas in
the opportunity not only to visit a series of prestigious global businesses, but
a scholarly and professional manner.
also to analyse them using a structured learning approach. As such, this activity
provides an excellent opportunity to be exposed to the challenges of global Additional resources
business, to network and make new contacts with key staff within organisations,
and to help you stand out in a competitive job market. A great opportunity to The School has made a significant investment in database resources to give
apply your skills in a fun environment. you access to both live and historical data from providers which include
Thomson Reuters, Datasteam and Orbis. These state-of-the-art databases
Summer School give you the opportunity to interrogate the financial records of millions of
During the summer you will have the opportunity to participate in a Summer companies worldwide and add valuable insight to your research.
School at one of our global network of university and business partners. These
partially self-funded competitive activities, normally take place after exams
in either June, July or August, for up to three weeks. They cover a wide range Trading Room
of topics and aim to complement the knowledge you gain during your time in
Durham, whilst contextualising it in an international business setting. As part of our provision of a wide range of software and databases, we
Meet our academics
offer training on our Bloomberg terminals for accessing economic and
Dissertation Abroad
financial data.
When you join Durham University We also offer a number of places on our unique Dissertation Abroad
Business School you will have access to programme, where you will be able to undertake part of your dissertation at
world-leading academics. Their global one of our international partner institutions in the period of June to September. “The curriculum was intensive and intellectually
experience, outstanding research insight challenging. I am in the process of completing a
and real business connections keep us dissertation on the topic of investor sentiment and
Practitioner insights - Guest Speaker Programme
at the leading edge. stock markets, and I look forward to starting as an
An integral part of the programme is the engagement with the world of
Investment Analyst at Hymans Robertson.”
Find out more about us by visiting
practice. Our Guest Speaker Programme provides the opportunity to enjoy
durham.ac.uk/business/ Robert Kotlar
masters-finance presentations by leading international academics and practitioners within your MSc Finance (Corporate and International Finance) 2021/2022
chosen area of interest. Past speakers have included representatives of major
global multinationals and leading scholars, combining critical and progressive
thinking with practical insights.
10 MSc Finance 2023 11

Your career “I have gained in-depth knowledge across a wide array A flavour of what
Enhance your prospects... of financial sectors, placing me in excellent stead to to expect...
enter the corporate world. The University’s excellent
career service team organised frequent events and talks Individual career opportunities
providing the essential techniques and advice needed Appointments with our Career
...begin your career with us to secure a role within the increasingly competitive job Consultants give you the opportunity
market. From this, I have been fortunate enough to secure a to develop your CV, improve your
Our graduates enjoy an excellent employment record. role within one of the big four accountancy firms.” job search strategy and prepare for
interviews. The team also offer practice
Whether you want to work for an organisation, for yourself, Sebastian Whitlock interviews and assessment exercises to
MSc Finance 2021/2022
or go on to further study, our career development support help you with your preparation.
and guidance offers you the opportunity to build your
employability skills. Connecting with business
There are many opportunities
International, Engagement throughout the year. From engaging

98%
with organisations and alumni to further
& Careers programme enhance your knowledge and skills,
to meeting with a range of recruiters
of those seeking via workshops, presentations and
Our International, Engagement & Careers programme has been designed to
employment accepted fairs. Working in partnership with the
give you the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to build a successful
a job offer within 3 University’s Careers and Enterprise
months of completing
future career.
Centre, you can engage with some of
the programme
With its own dedicated postgraduate careers team we offer a full range the UK’s leading employers, as well as
Graduate Destination of careers services, which are internationally-focused and reflective of the international employers using video
Survey (2 year average global locations in which our students want to work. Created to complement conferencing technology in the
2021-2022) the events, workshops and fairs organised by the University’s Careers and Business School.
Enterprise Centre, our International, Engagement & Careers team will support
you through your programme and beyond.

You will be given information about the International, Engagement & Careers
programme during your first few weeks at Durham, including access to the

Our Masters programmes

$44k
is the average salary 3 years
Business School’s online Career Development Portal. Our service is designed to
give you the opportunity to:

connect you with leading • Develop the essential skills demanded by international recruiters through
after graduation interactive workshops.
companies from across
the globe Financial Times Masters • Network with businesses and engage with international recruiters in a range
in Finance Pre-Experience
of activities, presentations and events.
Ranking 2022
• Access a huge range of resources, international jobs board, video library and
career webinar series.
12 MSc Finance 2023 13

Supporting your studies

Resourcing your time at Durham

Our colleges Accommodation

From accommodation for today, All full-time postgraduate students become a member of one of our colleges. We offer good quality, reasonably priced
to global networks for tomorrow As well as offering a wide range of societies, social and cultural activities, your accommodation at Durham University. If
college will provide support and a sense of belonging during your time in this is not for you, we can help you find
Durham, adding to your overall experience and helping you graduate with local private accommodation to suit your
At Durham you will benefit from all the resources much more than just a degree. needs. We will provide you with more
you’d expect from a leading business school.
Sports specific details upon application.
For more information, visit durham.ac.uk/colleges
From the latest IT and library services to a virtual
learning environment, you’ll have everything to
University In the meantime, visit
durham.ac.uk/colleges
hand to make the most of your learning. of the Year “A huge factor that influenced my decision to
2023 choose Durham was the variety of societies which Sports facilities
The Times and
enrich student life. As an international student with
Sunday Times an ambition to explore and widen my horizons, the Sport is an important part of Durham
2023 opportunity to write a dissertation abroad was a highlight life and our facilities are second to none.
which I appreciated greatly. The combination of a high- From our British Rowing Performance
quality education and the soft skills I acquired during my time Centre to the British Fencing Centre, and
at Durham, helped me stand out in a competitive job market.” boasting teams which compete in the
England Hockey National leagues and the
Antoniya Drumeva FA Women’s Super League, we can offer
MSc Finance (Accounting and Finance) 2020/2021
something for everyone.

For more information, visit

durham.ac.uk/teamdurham

Global alumni network

When you join us, you become a member
of the Business School’s alumni network.
With over 36,000 members in over 140
countries, it facilitates friendships and
business connections, and sits at the heart
of the Durham experience.

Our alumni community enjoy online

career resources and global career and
network-building events.

You can find out more at

dunelm.org.uk/dubs/home
14 MSc Finance 2023 15

Durham City Your next steps

A great place to live Learn more, or make an application

Meet us Language requirements

In Durham City you’re among
There are several opportunities to meet us. You can chat with If your first language is not English, you will need evidence
some of the world’s finest us at one of the international recruitment fairs we attend of competence in written and spoken English (IELTS overall
architecture where the famous throughout the year, or sign up to an online information score of 6.5 with no element under 6.0 or TOEFL IBT 92
Castle and Cathedral - together session, both are great ways to find out more about studying with no element under 23; Pearson PTE Academic Test, total
designated a UNESCO World in Durham. score 62 with no less than 59 in each communicative skill).
Heritage Site - dominate the
skyline. For more information on upcoming events, visit For all English language test requirements, visit
durham.ac.uk/business/meet-us durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/
Durham has a compact, english-language-requirements/
friendly feel, while providing
Entry requirements If your scores fall slightly short, or if you would like to
the facilities you would expect
advance your English skills, you may be able to attend a
of a thriving city including: For Masters programmes in Finance you will need a UK
pre-sessional English language course. To learn more, visit
excellent boutiques, cafés, bars first or upper second class honours degree or international
durham.ac.uk/dcad/study/presessional
and restaurants. You will enjoy equivalent, including evidence of a good grade in a minimum
a fantastic student lifestyle, of one mathematical/statistics module at a level equivalent to
a second year British Honours Degree standard. Where the How to apply
in lively surroundings with a
superb choice of events and only evidence of mathematical/statistics modules is at a level We strongly advise you to apply as soon as possible,
equivalent to a first year British Honours Degree standard, particularly if you need university accommodation. Learn
entertainment.
or your mathematical/statistical module grades do not quite more about our application process and apply online at:
Further afield you can explore meet requirements, we may require that applicants undertake durham.ac.uk/business/masters-finance
the breath-taking scenery of our admissions mathematics test. This will be determined by
our countryside and coastline, the Postgraduate Admissions Team upon considering each Fees
or visit a wide range of local application.
attractions, festivals and events For current fees, please visit
which cater for every taste. Pre-sessional programmes durham.ac.uk/business/masters-finance

Pre-sessional programmes are encouraged for students taking Scholarships

particular modules or for those who want to brush up on
Explore their knowledge. They are free; you simply need to pay for Scholarship funding may be available. For more information,
accommodation. The programmes are a mixture of lectures visit durham.ac.uk/business/masters/scholarships
We appreciate not everyone and workshops and are held in the following subjects:
can visit us physically prior
• Mathematics and Statistics
to applying or joining, so we
encourage you to view our
You are strongly encouraged to attend our pre-sessional Keeping your community safe
course in Mathematics and Statistics (typically a week)
virtual tours: Visit our Covid-19 pages for the latest
immediately prior to commencing the Masters programme.
• Business School advice and guidance:
durham.ac.uk/business/about • Introduction to Economics durham.ac.uk/covid-19
If you are commencing a Finance and Economics programme,
• Durham University or intend to take the International Finance module, you
durham.ac.uk/visit-us/open are encouraged to attend the Introduction to Economics
days/self-guided-tours course (typically 3 days) prior to commencing the Masters
programme.
 Learn more
durham.ac.uk/business/masters-finance

Enquiries
durham.ac.uk/study/ask-us

Durham University Durham University

Business School @DUBusSchool @dubusschool
Business School

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