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.

Find out more about the online Finance MSc course

Our Academic Lead for Finance, Dr Alexios Makropoulos, talks about the online Finance MSc course in this video.

We will advise you of your study plan - the running order and availability of the modules - when you are invited to enrol. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered. In addition, where demand is high, some modules may be subject to a cap.

What you can achieve

Our online Finance MSc comprises three progressive stages: postgraduate certificate (PG Cert), postgraduate diploma (PG Dip) and masters (MSc). You will be required to achieve 60 credits to complete each award within the programme, totalling to 180 credits to achieve the masters.

In order to be awarded a PG Cert, you will need to pass the Corporate Finance core module, the Ethics and Corporate Governance core module and the Research Methods module (adding up to 60 credits).

To obtain a PG Dip, you will need to achieve the 60 credits from the PG Cert stage as well as passing three optional modules (adding up 120 credits in total).

For the MSc, you will need to pass the three core 20-credit modules, three optional modules and the Independent Study core module worth 60 credits (180 credits in total).

We would encourage you to complete the full MSc but, if you prefer, you can still gain an exit award at each stage: a PG Cert or a PG Dip.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Pace of study

The academic year is made up of three 10-week terms, known as trimesters. We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

If you opt to undertake the accelerated study plan whereby you will study two modules in one trimester, we recommend 40 hours of study per week.

Should you decide to study on the accelerated rate you should ensure that you have the capacity to fully engage with your studies and achieve the best grades and final award. If you choose to study on the accelerated rate, you will need to balance approximately 40 hours of study per week alongside your professional and personal life and commitments.

It may be useful to consider studying one module at the standard rate of study before deciding whether to then increase to the accelerated rate of study.

Assessment method

This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

You will need one of the following qualifications:

• UK degree from any subject area or equivalent overseas qualification
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) F1-F9
• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) Strategic Level

Entry is possible if you have HND or level 5 and two years of relevant managerial experience within finance. If you have four years of relevant work experience without formal undergraduate qualifications, you will be required to complete and pass one of the following level 6 modules: Financial Strategy, Risk Management or Strategic Management.

English language qualification

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.5
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 580 (paper based) 237 (computer based) or 92 (internet based)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate: pass
• London Tests of English: we accept level 5 for postgraduate courses
• International GCE O-level English Language: grade C
• International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: grade C

Find out more about our English language requirements

^‡2023/24 for new entrants

Starting between September 2023 and August 2024.

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this will be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from three payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying

• Pay your full course fees upfront, receive 5% discount and avoid annual increases*

• Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)*

*Please note: the discount for paying your fees up front, either for the full programme or the academic year, will only be available to students enrolling for eligible online studies between August 2023 and July 2024 and will not be available for the September 2024 intake onwards.

Masters funding options

Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to help with living costs and tuition fees whilst studying your masters programme.

If you are considering applying for a student loan, please also see our additional guidance on Loans for Online Students.

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out more about the Alumni discount

Students should apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

• Official photo identification such as a passport or driving licence
• Current CV
• Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
• The translator’s contact details

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

By acquiring this postgraduate qualification, you'll be in a stronger position when applying for senior roles as a banker, finance analyst, commodity trader or financial adviser within the corporate sector and specialised financial institutions.

You'll build your academic qualifications through acquiring subject knowledge, numeracy skills and other soft skills desired by employers within the finance sector.

Utilise our Careers and Employment Service​

Whilst you are a student at the University of Derby, and for 3 years after you graduate, our Careers and Employment Service can assist you with job search advice, CV creation, workshops and events, as well as one-to-one appointments with employment advisers to help with career planning and interview preparation.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning:

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