Investment and Finance MSc
Our MSc Investment and Finance degree puts financial theory into practice using industry-ready tech and active learning methods
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Viewing course details for 2024 year of entry
- Code
- PGN390
- Attendance
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start
- September 2024
- Fees
- £12,600 (UK) | £17,600 (INT)
- Duration
- 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Sina Badreddine
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Entry Requirements
- 2:2 degree
- School / Department
- Management, Leadership and Organisations
Why choose Investment and Finance MSc at Middlesex?
This course provides you with the theoretical and practical knowledge of corporate and investment finance to prepare you for the practical requirements of your profession and increase your career opportunities.
The finance and wealth management industry has become increasingly globalised, complex and reliant on information technology to create and manage financial asset portfolios, private equity, and hedge funds.
You'll learn the theoretical foundations using the tools, databases and simulations in our Financial Markets Lab. You will be able to demonstrate and examine the prevailing theories in modern finance and the techniques.
This practical knowledge of corporate and investment finance will prepare you for the requirements of your profession and increase your career opportunities in the financial district of the City of London, a short train journey away.
There's also an international focus on risk management, treasury and investment banking and you will gain advanced skills in financial modelling, econometrics, and quantitative risk management.
What you will gain
There is a strong emphasis on the practical application of theory to ensure you are ready for the working world. You will benefit from unlimited access to the Financial Markets Lab.
You will explore the different financial markets and the various financial assets traded in each market. You will understand the valuation methods of these financial assets as well as portfolio theory, investment analysis and management. You will also be able to create and manage your own investment portfolios as well as effectively manage clients’ portfolios or wealth funds.
Upon completion of this course, you will have further developed your professional experience and have solid theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding of:
- Portfolio theory and practice, financial analysis and management
- Financial assets, such as stocks, fixed-income securities and derivatives
- Financial engineering and other quantitative techniques to evaluate financial instruments
- Financial databases such as Bloomberg, Datastream (Eikon) and Capital IQ.
3 great reasons to pick this course
About your course
Our modules are specifically structured to give you plenty of time to analyse large amounts of data and explore complex subjects to their fullest. The course will equip you with the theory and practice needed to communicate and evaluate empirical work, as well as give you valuable training in specialist databases and software packages.
You will extend relevant theories on topics related to corporate governance and sustainability, portfolio theory, capital structure, dividend policy, exchange rates, financial derivative products, and interest rates. The focus of the course will always be on how to apply learning and theory to practical situations in the financial sector.
The dissertation research project is a chance for you to extend your knowledge of a selected topic and apply it to the formulation and design of a substantive investigation.
Modules
Here is a brief overview of the modules.
Compulsory
This module aims to provide a rigorous grounding in the theory of finance and equip you with knowledge and techniques that are required for arriving at investment and financing decisions.
You will be able to identify the sources of agency problems and their effect on firm value as well as apply various techniques used in capital budgeting and evaluate financial assets. You will also understand the theories on which asset pricing models are built with reference to arbitrage opportunities.
You will critically discuss the validity of modern theories that assess the impact of financing decision on the firm value and cost of capital and have the ability to evaluate the benefits and costs from both cash or share funded mergers and acquisitions.
This module will provide an overview of the nature and operation of international financial markets and their traded instruments. You are introduced to the organisation of the international financial system, the markets for foreign exchanges, stocks, bonds, commodities, and the risks and opportunities offered in these markets and systems. You will also gain essential knowledge for your future career in business, especially in the financial sector.
The module aims to equip you with the knowledge essential to critically engage with modern financial risk management theory and practice undertaken by both financial and non-financial institutions.
It offers advanced study of key issues, including categories of managed financial risk, the arbitrage-free theory of spot-forward price relations, valuing optionality in a financial risk environment, a comparison of over-the-counter and exchange-traded risk management arrangements, the limitations of risk management techniques and the evolving regulatory environment.
You will be able to develop risk modelling skills, analytical and quantitative skills through engagement with current market data on Bloomberg Financial Database and Capital IQ.
This module provides you with a sound grounding in the theory and practice of investment management. You will focus on and explore strategies of portfolio construction, generating investment ideas, estimating investment risk and returns, and the use of derivative instruments.
This module will provide you with a sound grounding in portfolio theory and equity analysis. You will be exposed to the key concepts and tools involved and be required to apply those tools to analyse real life financial assets.
The module provides you with the opportunity to select your own specialised research topic in the area of financial management. You will be expected to apply relevant theoretical frameworks, the existing seminal and the most up-to-date scholarly literature together with the relevant research methodologies and methods whilst conducting your research. You will be required to independently plan, organise, and coherently produce a limited but a well-researched work.
This module deals with basic statistical methods and explores the application of these methods to analytical models in finance. You will gain the analytical and programming skills necessary to pursue empirical studies in finance. You will also be encouraged to use previous knowledge in statistics and computer programming.
This module aims to provide a rigorous grounding in the theory of finance and equip you with knowledge and techniques that are required for arriving at investment and financing decisions.
You will be able to identify the sources of agency problems and their effect on firm value as well as apply various techniques used in capital budgeting and evaluate financial assets. You will also understand the theories on which asset pricing models are built with reference to arbitrage opportunities.
You will critically discuss the validity of modern theories that assess the impact of financing decision on the firm value and cost of capital and have the ability to evaluate the benefits and costs from both cash or share funded mergers and acquisitions.
This module will provide an overview of the nature and operation of international financial markets and their traded instruments. You are introduced to the organisation of the international financial system, the markets for foreign exchanges, stocks, bonds, commodities, and the risks and opportunities offered in these markets and systems. You will also gain essential knowledge for your future career in business, especially in the financial sector.
The module aims to equip you with the knowledge essential to critically engage with modern financial risk management theory and practice undertaken by both financial and non-financial institutions.
It offers advanced study of key issues, including categories of managed financial risk, the arbitrage-free theory of spot-forward price relations, valuing optionality in a financial risk environment, a comparison of over-the-counter and exchange-traded risk management arrangements, the limitations of risk management techniques and the evolving regulatory environment.
You will be able to develop risk modelling skills, analytical and quantitative skills through engagement with current market data on Bloomberg Financial Database and Capital IQ.
This module provides you with a sound grounding in the theory and practice of investment management. You will focus on and explore strategies of portfolio construction, generating investment ideas, estimating investment risk and returns, and the use of derivative instruments.
This module will provide you with a sound grounding in portfolio theory and equity analysis. You will be exposed to the key concepts and tools involved and be required to apply those tools to analyse real life financial assets.
The module provides you with the opportunity to select your own specialised research topic in the area of financial management. You will be expected to apply relevant theoretical frameworks, the existing seminal and the most up-to-date scholarly literature together with the relevant research methodologies and methods whilst conducting your research. You will be required to independently plan, organise, and coherently produce a limited but a well-researched work.
This module deals with basic statistical methods and explores the application of these methods to analytical models in finance. You will gain the analytical and programming skills necessary to pursue empirical studies in finance. You will also be encouraged to use previous knowledge in statistics and computer programming.
Optional
This module provides a critical understanding of management accounting techniques and practices and their relevance to contemporary business. The relevant concepts and theories, together with a range of emerging issues will be presented and critically evaluated.
This module deepens your knowledge of fixed income products. A practical understanding of the pricing mechanics of fixed income products will be developed. The module will also incorporate new developments in fixed-income derivatives such as mortgage-backed securities, collateralised debt obligations, and other structured fixed-income financial products. The module will incorporate the Bloomberg Financial Database in teaching the concepts, valuation principles and application of financial derivative products.
The quantity of data available to analysts is growing at an ever-increasing rate. This data has become a vital tool for decision-making in a competitive world. However the size which makes the data so valuable also makes it difficult to analyse using traditional statistical methods. This module introduces you to a variety of methodologies now employed to explore, analyse, categorise and visualise data from large data sets and multiple related data sets. You will also explore the issues with data sets that are too large even for established data mining methods (“big data”).
This module provides a critical understanding of management accounting techniques and practices and their relevance to contemporary business. The relevant concepts and theories, together with a range of emerging issues will be presented and critically evaluated.
This module deepens your knowledge of fixed income products. A practical understanding of the pricing mechanics of fixed income products will be developed. The module will also incorporate new developments in fixed-income derivatives such as mortgage-backed securities, collateralised debt obligations, and other structured fixed-income financial products. The module will incorporate the Bloomberg Financial Database in teaching the concepts, valuation principles and application of financial derivative products.
The quantity of data available to analysts is growing at an ever-increasing rate. This data has become a vital tool for decision-making in a competitive world. However the size which makes the data so valuable also makes it difficult to analyse using traditional statistical methods. This module introduces you to a variety of methodologies now employed to explore, analyse, categorise and visualise data from large data sets and multiple related data sets. You will also explore the issues with data sets that are too large even for established data mining methods (“big data”).
To find out more about this course, please download the Investment and Finance MSc specification (PDF).
Register your interest
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
Teaching
The course is delivered by our academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms. Our learning activities include lectures, seminars, presentations, webinars, workshops and one-to-one tutorials and group projects. You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Your personal tutor will support you with help and advice throughout your studies. The course also includes several workshops on the different aspects of writing a dissertation delivered by academics who have produced high-quality, internationally-recognised research. There are also tailored workshops to train you on gathering and collecting financial data.
You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.
Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.
Teaching and independent learning
In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on the taught aspects of the course.
Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.
Typical weekly breakdown
A typical week looks like this:
| Learning | Contact Hours per Week |
|---|---|
| On-campus | 12 (4 x 3 hours) |
Learning terms
On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.
Part-time study
You can also study this course part-time over two years.
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
There are no exams but your coursework including presentations, written assignments and the writing and research for your dissertation will be assessed.
Your degree will require your active participation in learning activities and engagement with your fellow students both individually and collaboratively, working and learning with other students as part of a small group. You will also work on individual and group presentations.
Assessments take place during term time or at the end of a term.
You will receive feedback on your drafted work from your tutor as well as feedback after submitting your work, each term.
You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
Learn moreFacilities
Our Financial Markets Lab is where you can simulate your trades in FX, equity and derivatives markets. Or use specialist databases - Bloomberg, Datastream (Eikon) and Capital IQ - and software packages including Stata. You are advised to pursue further training for Bloomberg, DataStream or Eikon certification.
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The Sheppard Library - 1,000 study spaces and 500 computers available
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Student support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Careers
How can the MSc Investment and Finance degree support your career?
This MSc course has been designed to allow you to develop your analytical skills, acquire a body of knowledge, and be exposed to the frontiers of the subject.
Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.
95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study – Graduate Outcomes 2022.
Career paths
Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include:
- Investment management
- Hedge fund management
- Equity, bond and foreign currency markets
- Corporate treasury management
- Risk management.
MDXworks
Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:
The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023
A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.
Start-Up accelerator programme
We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme which includes masterclasses with high-profile entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed funding.
Global network
You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
We welcome your application regardless of your background or experience. If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.
For this course, ideally, we are looking for these qualifications:
- A 2:2 honours degree or above in accounting, business economics, finance, or economics
- Graduate-level professional qualifications.
If you have an undergraduate degree with an applied quantitative element in the field of statistics, mathematics, engineering, physics, computing or science, you will also be considered.
We accredit prior experiential learning and welcome mature applicants with suitable life skills and work experience.
Qualifications
We accept the equivalent of the below qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification:
- A 2:2 honours degree or above in accounting, business economics, finance, or economics
Graduate-level professional qualifications - If you have an undergraduate degree with an applied quantitative element in the field of statistics, mathematics, engineering, physics, computing or science, you will also be considered.
To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the country support page. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office for support.
English language
You'll need good English language skills to study with us. That's usually an IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all sections). And, if you need help, we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you will need a student route visa.
Part-time study
Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 now allows international applicants to apply for student route (formerly tier 4) visas for part-time postgraduate study (courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or SCQF level 11 and above).
Student route visa students studying part-time are subject to certain restrictions:
- No work (paid or unpaid)
- No work placements as part of the programme
- No dependents
- No extending under Student route visa in the UK. This includes Student route visa applications to work as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer or for the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists
- Not eligible for the Student route visa Doctorate Extension Scheme.
*Please note that, if the course of your choice involves work experience, unpaid work, placements or internships, we will be unable to sponsor you to study a part-time course under the student route (formerly tier 4) visa.
Apply as early as possible to make sure you get a place. You can submit your application before you receive your final qualification.
Find out how to apply for postgraduate taught courses and watch our step-by-step video.
Admissions questions?
Ask us a question now via the live chat icon on the screen.
Interviews
Entry onto this course does not require an interview.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year.
UK students1
Full-time students: £12,600
Part-time students: £84 per credit
Part-time students: £42 per dissertation credit under the student route (formerly tier 4) visa.
International students2
Full-time students: £17,600
Part-time students: £117 per credit
Part-time students: £59 per dissertation credit
Additional costs
We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.
Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
Free specialist software for your course
Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.
Postgraduate scholarships
You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:
- The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
- The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
- The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
- The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
- Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees.
For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.
Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.
Help from your employer
Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.