MSc Business with Finance

Overview

Understanding finance is often seen as one of the most challenging parts of managing a business effectively. Our business and finance postgraduate pathway allows you to gain an understanding of key financial management and economics topics, while improving your managerial and strategic skills.

The course focuses on modules such as financial decision making, business strategy and financial management. Alongside gaining specific financial knowledge, you’ll also have plenty of opportunity to develop the other skills that are useful when operating in the modern business environment: innovation, communication, critical evaluation, and many others.

Alongside the core modules in management and finance, you are able to tailor the course to your interests and career aspirations through optional modules that look into:

• theories of leadership and how they apply in practice
• the key concepts that underlie marketing and how to develop a strategy
• human resource management and its distinction from personnel approaches

Your course will finish with the completion of a research report on an area of business, finance or management of your choice. Once you have chosen the issue you want to look into, you will gather primary evidence and make commercial recommendations based on your analysis of the data.

If you are interested in business but looking to focus on a specific area, take a look at our Masters degrees in finance, human resources, marketing, analytics or project management, or even our AMBA accredited online MBA.

Teaching methods

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.

Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including:

• multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
• discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
• live Q&A sessions with your tutors
• a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
• support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team

To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.

Assessment methods

Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, or by submitting longer written pieces.

We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways:

• Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent.
• You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme.
• You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform.
• There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work.
• You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise.

Career prospects

Companies seek out candidates with the most advanced skills to fill senior positions, and a postgraduate qualification is an excellent way to showcase that you possess those abilities. This course is designed for those seeking employment in a high-level financial role, however roles within business management, banking, insurance, accountancy, marketing, sales, retail and human resources would also greatly benefit from the knowledge gained through this course.

At University of Essex Online, we believe that everyone should be able to access education. That is why we offer two different entry routes onto our MSc Business with Finance, which considers academic or work-based experience. Academic entry route - You must have the following qualifications as a minimum: an undergraduate degree from an approved institution, equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification. Work experience entry route - You must meet the following criteria: at least five years’ senior level work experience.