MSc Finance

This online Masters in Finance degree is designed to meet the growing demand for professionals within the finance sector. It gives you the flexibility to achieve a qualification recognised by the financial sectors. Partnered with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), this course is also mapped against their formal teaching, with the option to achieve an additional qualification upon completion. Our online Finance MSc will provide you with the technical and decision-making skills necessary for a successful career in this fast-paced and highly competitive sector.

The programme offers you the option to work towards a postgraduate certificate (PG Cert), postgraduate diploma (PG Dip) or the full masters (MSc) award. Depending on your module selection, you’ll be able to tailor your studies and achieve a specialist named award (at PG Cert or MSc level) in International Finance, Investment Banking or Commodity Trading.

You can apply for module credits from prior learning and experience towards this course

Have you already studied at another institution, completed a training course, or does your work experience appear equivalent to one or more modules of your chosen course? If so, you may able to translate this prior learning into credits towards your course modules so you don’t have to study them again.

For postgraduate courses you can apply for up to 60 credits of the total requirement of your course, meaning you may only be required to complete a further 120 credits to complete the programme. Further information about applying for credits for prior learning can be found in our recognition of prior learning section.

CFA Institute university affiliation

Our MSc Finance is a university affiliate programme with the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute. It is closely tied to professional practice and well-suited to preparing you for the CFA examinations. The CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter.

ACT accredited university

This programme is accredited by the ACT (Association of Corporate Treasurers). When you graduate from this MSc Finance, you'll earn exemptions towards ACT’s internationally recognised professional qualifications. The ACT is the only professional treasury body with a Royal Charter. They set the global benchmark for treasury excellence and lead the profession through qualifications by defining standards and by championing continuing professional development.

You will be exempt from the ACT's Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals and Certificate in Treasury: Unit 3 - Corporate Finance if you complete one of the following:

• MSc Finance including the Investment Banking and International Finance modules
• MSc Finance (Investment Banking) including the Corporate Financial Strategies and International Finance modules
• MSc Finance (International Finance) including the Corporate Financial Strategies and Investment Banking modules

This means you will only need to complete four units to gain the Certificate in Treasury and become a member of the ACT.

CISI partnership

This is the first online university degree programme in the UK to be partnered with the Chartered Institution for Securities and Investment (CISI). The CISI is the largest and most widely respected professional body for the securities and investment profession in the UK, with a growing number of global financial centres. Our MSc Finance course has been closely mapped against the CISI’s Introduction to Investment foundation qualification, helping you to prepare for its exam, which can be taken at the University of Derby campus or at one of the CISI’s global test centres.

Furthermore, if you wish to pursue the Introduction to Investment qualification you will benefit from a 50% saving on the exam fee and the work book. A one-off registration fee will be payable to become a CISI Student Member, giving you access to a number of membership benefits designed to support your studies and broaden your career development. We are offering a limited number of scholarships to cover the cost of the CISI registration fee, exam fee and workbook. A select few will be chosen upon enrolment.

The Introduction to Investment qualification is the first step on the CISI qualification pathway, and is also recognised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It will be of particular interest to you if you are pursuing a career in wealth management, operational investments, financial planning, compliance and risk or stockbroking. Upon completion of the CISI's foundation qualification, you'll have the option to join the CISI as an Affiliate member (subject to annual membership fee).

Tailor your programme to suit your interests and ambitions

You can tailor this course to your personal and professional interests. You'll study core subject areas of Corporate Finance, Ethics and Corporate Governance with a choice of four optional modules in International Finance, Investment Banking, Fixed Income Securities and Commodities Trading. Finally, you'll complete an Independent Scholarship Project, which can be a work-related, to achieve your Masters degree.

Depending on your needs, you can choose to complete the full online MSc Finance course or you may prefer to complete the Postgraduate Certificate Finance or Postgraduate Diploma Finance to develop your skills and meet CPD requirements.

Specialist awards that complement your career

At both postgraduate certificate (PG Cert) and masters (MSc) level, you can obtain a specialist named award depending on your module selection.

For example, you can achieve a named award at PG Cert level within 12 months in one of the following:

• PG Cert Finance
• PG Cert International Finance
• PG Cert Investment Banking
• PG Cert Commodity Trading

You can also achieve a named award at the masters stage within 3 years:

• MSc Finance
• MSc Finance (International Finance)
• MSc Finance (Investment Banking)
• MSc Finance (Commodity Trading)

Build your personal and professional development

During the course, you'll be directed to activities that assist you in developing your career plan, the use of digital tools and technologies and your academic scholarship. Through collaboration at a programme and module level, you'll have the opportunity to network with other financial services professionals on a global scale.

Flexibility to plan your own study time

By choosing to study part-time online, you have the flexibility to complete a postgraduate qualification alongside your career and personal commitments. Tuition and assessment for this course is 100% online. There are no exams. Assessment is through written assignments, course work, collaborative learning and group work.

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