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Masters (MSc) in Finance

Learn the finance essentials; from derivatives and investments to mergers and acquisitions and global markets.

This master's in finance enables you to work with our award-winning finance experts to build in-demand quantitative skills. You will gain the essential information needed to pursue a range of exciting finance careers at an international level.

QS World Rankings logo

This course is ranked 7th in the UK and 27th in the world (QS Business Masters Rankings 2025). Alliance Manchester Business School is also ranked 19th in the world for Accounting and Finance Research (QS World Rankings 2023).

CFA Institute University Affiliation Program logo 400x45 (updated November 2017)

The MSc Finance course has both CFA Institute Affiliate status and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) status which positions you to progress to a research degree. It is also linked to The Manchester Accounting and Finance Group – one of the leading accounting and finance units in Europe.

Find out more about studying Accounting and Finance at Alliance MBS >>

Read about other business Master's degree courses at Alliance MBS >>

MSc Finance / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent. 

You need a degree in finance or economics. You must have taken a significant number of finance and quantitative courses during your degree (accounting is not considered to be finance). You must be taking a major or specialisation in finance in your final year and need to achieve top-level results in final year finance subjects. You must also demonstrate a solid background in quantitative skills, econometrics or maths.

Applicants studying degrees in business administration can be considered but must be able to demonstrate a very strong background in finance throughout their degree and a final year major or specialisation in finance (as outlined above). Due to competition for places, we give preference to applicants with a bachelor degree in finance or economics. Applicants studying degrees in mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, actuarial or decision sciences might wish to consider our MSc Quantitative Finance course. You will need to submit a new application for this programme online.

A GMAT/GRE is not required to apply for this course but in some cases The Admissions Team may request this after the initial review of your application if your degree does not contain enough relevant quantitative modules.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online

NOTE: There is a non-refundable application fee of £60. You should be prompted to pay this within the application portal before you can submit your application. We cannot consider applications until you have paid the application fee. 

Applying to multiple programmes

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course overview

From derivatives and investments to mergers and acquisitions and global markets, this course covers the essential information you need to pursue a range of exciting careers in finance at an international level, or an academic career via a PhD.

Open days

Meet us at an event to find out more about our master's degree courses.

Meet us >>

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £21,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £36,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

Refund Policy

Due to the competition for places and limited availability, this course requires a deposit of £2,000 to cover non-recoverable costs and secure your place. The deposit will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

  • you fail to meet the conditions of your offer (see below for further information); and/or
  • you are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK (proof must be submitted)

If an offer has been made specifying an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions for a refund to be approved. The English Language test certificate provided with your application documents will not be accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as such a certificate will predate the offer.

If an offer has been made specifying an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require the official university documentation showing that you have not met this academic condition from the institution at which you have studied, as evidence for a refund to be approved.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse to refund of any deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact us for further information about the new Accounting and Finance scholarship for UK/EU students and other scholarships available.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Office
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-finance/
School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .