MSc Investment and Finance Degree

Overview & facilities

This challenging course is specifically designed to open up new opportunities and provide you with an excellent understanding of the important issues dominating the financial world today.  An ideal choice if you wish to pursue a career in investment banking, private equity or corporate financial management.

Knowledge of financial institutions and markets is developing rapidly, and this course provides an up-to-date evaluation of the theory, with an emphasis on the practical application of this knowledge. You will develop your competence in applying quantitative skills to the practice of financial investment and analysis and the critical and analytical powers to evaluate and understand the theoretical underpinning on which finance relies.

This course starts in October. Full-time students usually attend three days a week and part-time students, two days a week.

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Dissertation (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to bring together the knowledge and skills developed during the programme and apply them to the problems of formulation, design, execution and analysis of an original research project on a substantive financial issue. It also aims to provide an opportunity for the students to extend their knowledge of a selected topic and to apply it to the formulation and design of a substantive investigation

  Financial Modelling and Data Analysis (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module presents statistical methods and explores the application of these methods to analytical models in finance. The aim is to provide students with the analytical and programming skills necessary to pursue empirical studies in finance. The students are encouraged to use previous knowledge in statistics and computer programming

  Financial Theory and Application (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The aim of this module is to provide a rigorous grounding in the theory of finance and equip students with knowledge/techniques that are required for arriving at investment and financial decisions. Students are exposed to a thorough synthesis of the empirical research in finance, with an emphasis on the applications of the principles. Based on recent theoretical and empirical developments, the course explores the framework in which multinational corporations make their financial and investment decisions.

  International Risk Management (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The first part of the course provides an overview of the nature and operation of global capital markets and traded financial instruments. Students are exposed to the organisation of the international financial system and the markets for stocks, bonds, and foreign exchange. The second part deals with international risk assessment and management. At the end of this module the student should have a solid grasp of the financial problems facing international corporations, multinational companies, fund managers, treasury departments, banks and investment houses.

  Portfolio Analysis and Investment Management (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module provides participants with a sound grounding in the theory and practice of portfolio and asset management. This is achieved by exposing students to key concepts and fundamentals of modern asset allocation, risk management, fund style, and investment performance evaluation.

This course provides an advanced programme of study in the areas of global capital markets, international risk management, corporate finance, portfolio management and financial modelling, with particular emphasis on issues of direct relevance to finance and investment. Knowledge of financial institutions and markets is developing rapidly and this course provides an up-to-date evaluation of the theory, with an emphasis on the practical application of this knowledge. You will develop quantitative skills for financial investment and analysis and the critical and analytical powers to evaluate the theoretical underpinning on which finance relies.

Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed through a combination of formal examinations and coursework.

You will be expected to attend all lectures and seminars and prescribed activities. Regular assignments involve the use of software packages.

Entry & applying

Normally a good honours degree with an applied quantitative element or the equivalent from a recognised overseas University. If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL 575 paper based 233 computer based 91 Internet based

Standard entry requirements

For the MSc Investment and Finance we normally require a good honours degree with an applied quantitative element.

International entry requirements

We accept the equivalent of the above from a recognised overseas university, to find out more about the requirements from your country, see further information under support in your country.

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 575 (no less than 4.5 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 90 (with no less than 19 in each component) Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements.

How to Apply

Apply now

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. The quickest way to apply is by making an online application, once you have created your account and completed your application, you will be able to track the progress of your application online. Alternatively, you can fill in an application form and return it to the appropriate admissions office. UK and EU students should apply directly to the London office. Non-EU international students can apply to our international admissions office in London, or use our network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for MSc Investment and Finance for the academic year 2012/13 is as follows:

UK/EU Students

Full-time students: £9,000
Part-time students: £75 per taught credit

Find out about our flexible payment plans for UK/EU students, and how they can help you spread the cost of your course.

International Students

Full-time students: £11,700

Careers & placements

As a graduate you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in investment banking, private equity and corporate financial management. You could choose, for example, to pursue a career in stock-broking, investment analyst, corporate finance or treasury management.

What can you do with an accounting and finance degree?
Our accounting and finance graduates are highly attractive to employers because of their analytical and problem-solving skills and their ability to think logically and quantitatively.

Any student who completes our Investment and Finance masters can apply to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or other accountancy bodies for exemption from some of their professional exams. You can then sit more professional exams once you've graduated to work to become a chartered accountant.

Some of our graduates have gained lucrative graduate training contracts at prestigious companies and many are working for very well known and respected organisations.

Where do our graduates go?
Based on data from the respondents of the 2009 Destination of Leavers in Higher Education survey, six months after graduating:

• 66% of Middlesex graduates were in employment or further study 
• 34% were assumed to be unemployed or doing something else 

Middlesex graduates have been successful at gaining employment in the following roles:

• Finance Manager
• Finance Assistant
• Investment Support Executive
• Associate Manager 
• Managing Director
• Investment Banker

These graduates went on to secure employment at the following institutions: 

• Haykalah
• Barclays
• Square Stone
• Hatfield Philips
• Beijing Express
• HSBC
• Diamond Incorp
  

Salary
The average UK starting salary for an accountant ranges from is £20,000 -£32,000.

Graduate Roles
Below are just a few career opportunities that would be open to you as a graduate. 
 
Assistant Accountant - An assistant accountant's role is to assist managers and consultants in providing the accounting services to a portfolio of clients. These services include the preparation of management accounts, financial statements and VAT returns, identifying and reacting to client enquiries, managing client bank accounts, arranging payments and general monitoring of cash flow, liaising with bank officials and clients. You could move from this role to an accountant.

Accountant - An accountant is involved in the design and implementation of accounting systems. They prepare and analyse financial reports for businesses, governments and other organisations and ensure that they conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Business people use the accounting data to communicate about a firm's activities and to plan for the future.The three main fields in which accountants are employed are: public accounting, private accounting and government accounting. 

Accounting Analyst - An accounting analyst is responsible for client estimates and client reporting, preparation of year-end audited financial statements and tax returns. The role may also include control and maintenance of assigned ledger accounts, including account reconciliations and ledger entries. Additionally, they resolve technical issues, providing both internal and cross-functional guidance and expertise.

Financial Analyst - A financial analyst writes reports on the companies they cover trying to describe the businesses and their opinions of the company's investment potential. They also summarise their report with a rating, such as "buy", "sell", "market perform", "overweight", "hold", etc.

Management Accountant - A management accountant is responsible for the provision and use of accounting information to managers within an organisation, providing them with the basis in making informed business decisions that would allow them to be better equipped in their management and control functions. Examples of responsibilities include: maintaining the business structure of the accountancy system, profit and loss with variance reporting, balance sheet and cash flow; preparing inter-company, bank and control account reconciliation.