menu icon
Book your open day visit nowClick to book open day

Different course options

Study mode

Duration

Start date

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

MSc - Master of Science

Subject areas

Finance / Accounting (General)

Course type

Taught

Course Summary

COURSE OVERVIEW

Birkbeck's MSc Finance combines academic rigour with a solid grounding in the practical, problem-solving skills that employers value. The course will give you excellent, specialist knowledge and training in finance and financial economics, including basic portfolio theory, corporate finance, and pricing theory applied to derivatives and government bond markets. You will also learn the latest econometrics and numerical analysis skills. All of these skills are increasingly valued in the marketplace, banks, commercial firms and government, so this course could help you stand out in a competitive job market.

Birkbeck's postgraduate finance courses are built around our long-running experience in research-led evening teaching. Many of our students work in the finance industry, which generates a lively atmosphere in class and ensures that you'll be studying alongside committed, enthusiastic students with a wealth of experience.

Our students appreciate the flexibility of this course and the valuable support and direct interaction (face-to-face or online) with experienced lecturers who are also active researchers at the forefront of their discipline. They are also experienced professional practitioners, giving specialist advice and in-house training to government departments and banks and firms in the City of London. This course is challenging and demanding, so you should demonstrate strong intellectual ability in your application and be willing to work hard.

On this MSc Finance you will gain access to resources for each module via our Moodle virtual learning environment, for example, typed lecture notes with worked examples and practice exercises, recordings of lectures, opportunities for interaction with lecturers and classmates via discussion forums or through our online teaching platform, Blackboard Collaborate. You will also have access to electronic textbooks and other digital resources via the library. In the past we have had students successfully complete our modules remotely from as far away as Antarctica!

Modules

This module gives a thorough understanding of the foundations of modern asset management in both theory and practice. In the short introduction, we discuss the meaning of asset management and review the basic concepts of portfolios optimisation. In the first part of the module, we turn to utility-based long-term (strategic) asset allocation strategies, including important extensions such as labour income and life-cycle investment strategies. In the second part of the module, we look at specific asset management concepts, including portfolio insurance, hedge funds, pension funds and private wealth management. In the last section, we look at the performance measurement of investment funds.

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

Contact University and ask about this fee

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

Contact University and ask about this fee

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

University information

Birkbeck, University of London is a university which continues to change lives. In 2023 the institution marks its 200th anniversary. Established in 1823, Birkbeck is a world-class research and teaching institution, well known for being London’s premier evening university. Most classes take place in the evening, and this makes Birkbeck stand out from the crowd. Students have the freedom to use their daytimes however they like – a benefit that has...more