• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study
    • Courses and subjects
    • Find a course
    • A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Academic departments
    • Visiting the university
    • Explore online
    • Online events
    • Virtual tours
    • Chat to our students and staff
    • Open days
    • Applicant days
    • Order a prospectus
    • Ask a question
    • Studying here
    • Clearing 2021
    • Accommodation and locations
    • Applying
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Transferring from another university
    • The Student Contract
    • International students
    • Fees and finance
    • Advice and help
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and teachers
    • Managing your application
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
  • Research and enterprise
    • Research and enterprise
    • Research and enterprise organisation
    • Brighton Futures – our themes
    • Centres of Research and Enterprise Excellence (COREs)
    • Research and Enterprise Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Research and enterprise news
    • Research and enterprise public events
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Students using the computers in the Trading Room.

Finance and Investment MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Intro
  • Course
    content
  • Careers
  • Entry
    criteria
  • Fees
  • Location
  • Stay in
    touch
  • Related

Intro

Designed to evolve your decision-making capabilities and awareness of best practice in investment strategies and performance evaluation, our Finance and Investment MSc will prepare you for a career in investment, trading, financial analysis, fund management, banking, financial services or financial consultancy.

As part of this course you will also have access to our real-time trading room, streaming up-to-the-minute data from Reuters.

Full-time students also have the option to add work experience to their Masters through a year’s paid placement in industry.

This course is part of our Finance MSc programme. All students complete the same core finance modules, then from the end of the first semester you will be able to tailor the course to your individual career aspirations through the option to specialise in one of five areas.

The other specialisms offered are:

  • Finance and Accounting MSc 
  • Finance and Banking MSc
  • Finance and Risk Management MSc
  • Economics and Finance MSc.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year / 2 years with placement

Join an online event

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

How this course is delivered

Students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that keeps everyone safe, connected and involved in university life. Lots of opportunities are provided to interact and engage with lecturers and other students. The balance between online and on-campus learning varies by module, and in response to the external environment.

Course structure 

This course will equip you with a thorough grounding in the theoretical and practical aspects of economics, finance and investment. By the end of the course, you will have the skills necessary to use advanced tools and quantitative techniques to appraise financial opportunities. 

The course is composed of three phases:

  • Phase 1 teaches the core subjects of finance, economics and research methods
  • Phase 2 introduces specialist modules in finance and investment
  • Phase 3 is the dissertation that draws together the learning from the whole of the programme, allowing you to develop your research skills and capacity for critical analysis while creating a specialisation in a particular field of finance and banking

All modules on the course involve both taught sessions and guided independent study. For a typical module, approximately 30% of the total hours comprise taught activity, 10% is guided study and supervision, and the remainder is independent study.

Business student

Syllabus

Core modules

  • Economics of Financial Markets
  • Financial Theory and Practice
  • Research Methodologies for Finance and Economics
  • Dissertation

Specialism modules (choose two)

  • International Investment and Trading
  • Risk Management and Derivatives
  • Applied Econometrics and Financial Time Series Analysis 

Completion of your final project (dissertation) takes place throughout the summer after teaching finishes. You submit your project in October and receive your MSc award in December.

Students sitting around desk

Dissertation

In the final phase of the course, you will complete a dissertation relating to finance and investment.

The dissertation will be 10,000–15,000 words long. It will address a financial markets problem which will require you to undertake research leading to implementable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgment.

Alternatively, you may wish to carry out a more theoretical dissertation relating to a financial markets topic of personal interest. You will receive help from your appointed dissertation supervisor who will monitor and support your progress. The dissertation is submitted in October.

Business student looking at a book in the library

Real-time trading room 

As part of your course you will have access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages, for students on the Market-making and Investment Strategies module this includes access to our real-time trading room, fed by up-to-the-minute data from Reuters. 

One of a handful of such facilities across the UK, our trading room sessions are supervised by guest traders and provide you with the opportunity to apply your skills to real markets and real data, and make use of simulation software to recreate the pressure of a trading floor. 

We also invite guest traders to discuss curriculum topics, pass on their trading experience and supervise trading sessions.

Student looking at computers in the new trading room

Student trading society

We highly recommend students join our thriving Student Investment and Trading Society, which is established and run by students for the purpose of organising social and networking events, arranging talks by visiting industry experts and facilitating annual trading competitions against other universities. 

 

 

Investmenttrading

Learning support 

Experienced, professionally qualified lecturers and small class sizes will ensure your learning needs are supported. Online learning tools and libraries also ensure academic journals, e-books, business articles and other resources are available to you 24/7, both for use at the university and at home. 

You will also have access to our Careers Service, including CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. 

Careers magazine

Placements year 

To further increase your employability and international experience we offer full-time students starting in September the opportunity to take a placement year. This means that your course will take two years, but you’ll be graduating with work experience.

The year on placement in a role related to your course will allow you to put all that you have learned on your masters into practice, enhancing your career opportunities and giving you practical experience in your area of expertise.

During your placement you will also complete a business project. This project is assessed as part of your masters and, depending on the topic that is agreed between you and your employer, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Our placement partners include BMW, Bosch, Disney, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HSBC, IBM, Ipsos Mori, L’Oréal, Nike, Metropolitan Police and The Pensions Regulator.

Work placements are optional, and you are responsible for arranging your placement with support from our dedicated Placements and Employability team.

We are now offering a two-year international study visa route to support applications for this course.

Find out more about how we can support you finding a placement.

Staff profile

Robert Hayward, course leader
Robert has 15 years' experience of working in the financial services sector, with responsibility for producing economic forecasts and capital market strategies for traders and bank customers.

He has an MSc in Economics and a PhD on Speculation in the Foreign Exchange Market. He joined the University of Brighton in 2011 and his main interests are capital markets, foreign exchange and behavioural finance.

Meet the rest of our finance team on our blog. 

Robert Hayward

Our latest news

The Hidden Racism in Economics: a guest lecture with Professor John Komlos

The Hidden Racism in Economics: a guest lecture with Professor John Komlos

Recently students and staff welcomed Professor John Komlos via Zoom on the topic of Hidden Racism in Economics.

COVID-safe tour for logistics students at Shoreham Port

COVID-safe tour for logistics students at Shoreham Port

On 4 November just before the second lockdown some of our Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc students visited Shoreham Port for a COVID-safe tour, accompanied by tutors Peter McCullen, Clare Millington and Despoina Kanellou.

Starting your course in 2020?

Starting your course in 2020?

You’re going to have a brilliant time here and we can’t wait to meet you!

Brighton professor devises cryptocurrency rating system

Brighton professor devises cryptocurrency rating system

A rating system to help investors find the most profitable cryptocurrency is about to be launched following breakthrough research by a University of Brighton professor.

Read more from our blog

Careers

Career prospects 

A postgraduate qualification from Brighton Business School will help you to specialise and stand out in today's highly competitive job market

Many of our Finance and Investment MSc graduates go on to work in investment, trading, financial analysis, fund management, banking and financial consultancy.

The course is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at MPhil or PhD level, or working as a professional researcher in finance.

Previous graduates have gone into the following roles:  Fund Administrator, Epworth Investment Management; Assistant Vice President Corporate Lending, ING Bank Turkey; Pricing Analyst, General Electric Corporation; Junior Dealer, Yapi Kredi; Supply Planner, Proctor & Gamble.

Man in a suit in front of the IBM logo

Skills development 

Alongside traditional lectures you will gain practical experience by working on case studies and in our real-time trading room, all helping to prepare you for your career by putting strategies into practice. You will also benefit from talks from visiting alumni and industry partners such as American Express and Legal & General.
Woman in a suit giving a business presentation

Work-related experience 

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Enterprise-Rent-a-Car, Nike, BMW and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Careers advice 

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees if you are offered a permanent role.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Enterprise-Rent-a-Car and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Starting your own business 

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project. 

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. 

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

beepurple logo

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally a 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject is required. Work experience is useful but not essential. Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications may be considered. If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements then please contact us.

Applicants who hold an HND or foundation degree equivalent can take our nine-month Business BSc top-up degree and then progress onto this masters degree.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 11,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

Placement year

Home 1,330 GBP

International 2,100 GBP


Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in Brighton Business School are listed here.

  • Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
  • Some courses include optional field trips for which the school pays – you may incur minimal costs such as for food and drink and should budget up to £15.
  • You will be required to buy textbooks and should budget up to £150.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law, journalism, media and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits.

The Big Build

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Stay in touch

Join an online event

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Find out more about what students do at Brighton Business School by subscribing to our blog.

 

Related 21 courses

  • Finance and Accounting MSc

    Finance and Accounting MSc

  • Finance and Banking MSc

    Finance and Banking MSc

  • Management (Entrepreneurship) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Management (Entrepreneurship) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Sport and Exercise Science MRes

    Sport and Exercise Science MRes

  • International Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    International Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Accounting (ACCA) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Accounting (ACCA) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • International Tourism Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    International Tourism Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Journalism MA (PGCert PGDip)

    Journalism MA (PGCert PGDip)

  • Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Health and Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Health and Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Management (Human Resources) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Management (Human Resources) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • The Brighton MBA (PGCert PGDip)

    The Brighton MBA (PGCert PGDip)

  • Leadership MBA (PGCert PGDip)

    Leadership MBA (PGCert PGDip)

  • Economics and Finance MSc (PGCert PGDIP)

    Economics and Finance MSc (PGCert PGDIP)

  • Social Research Methods MSc (PGDip)

    Social Research Methods MSc (PGDip)

  • Environmental Assessment and Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Environmental Assessment and Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Sport and International Development MRes

    Sport and International Development MRes

  • Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting (ACCA)

    Diploma in Professional Studies in Accounting (ACCA)

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • International Event Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

    International Event Management MSc (PGCert PGDip)

‹ ›

Search again

Find your course
Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19

Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents