Key information
The MA (Hons) Business and Finance programme at Heriot-Watt University explores the interface between business and finance and looks closely at the implications of financial decision-making on business performance and management.
- UCAS code
- NN23
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MA
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
The Business and Finance programme is a specialist joint degree with equal emphasis given to the subject areas of business and finance. This hands-on degree is suited to those who wish to gain a firm grounding in business and management, coupled with an insight into the finance and financial operations of businesses and organisations.
Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll develop an understanding of organisations, the external environment in which they operate and their management. You’ll understand the effect of the external environment on the strategy, behaviour, management and sustainability of organisations, and learn the processes, procedures and practices of effective management of organisations.
On the financial side, you’ll gain an appreciation of some of the contexts in which finance can be seen as operating. You’ll understand the major tools and theories of finance, their relevance, and their application to theoretical and practical problems. You’ll be able to collect, analyse and interpret financial data, including accounting statements, using spreadsheet and statistical packages. Beyond the subject-specific knowledge and skills, you’ll be given the opportunity to learn and practice transferrable skills such as presentation, communication, analytical and ICT skills.
Each course will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills across business and finance. Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll have the opportunity to choose optional courses – from employment law, resourcing and talent management, financial derivatives, and introduction to commercial law – to customise your learning and develop your specific business and finance interests. Your dissertation will allow you to engage in an independent in-depth critical examination of a particular business management or accounting and finance topic, which is of interest to you.
Your student experience
Our MA Business and Finance programme is taught with a clear industry focus by experienced professionals and respected academics. They are accredited by professional bodies and will introduce you to professional-standard software in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Room.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer: Dubai
Inter-Campus Transfer: Malaysia
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory September
- The Economy
- Critical Academic Skills
- Introduction to Accounting
- Management in a Global Context
Mandatory January
- Sustainable Business
- Introduction to Economic and Financial Analysis
- Introductory Finance
- Becoming a Professional
Year 2
Mandatory September
- Personal Finance and Investment Ethics
- Fundamentals of Finance
Optional September
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Social and Environmental Accounting
Mandatory January
- Financial Markets Theory
- Organisational Behaviour
- Statistical Techniques
Optional January
- Operations Management
- Quantitative Methods 1
- Business Skills for the Second Machine Age
- Enterprise: Concepts and Issues
- Consumer Behaviour
Year 3
Mandatory September
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Corporate Financial Theory
- Fundamentals of Financial Technology
Optional September
- Project Management
- Leading in Organisations
- Business Venturing
- Introduction to Commercial Law
Mandatory January
- Business Research Methods
- Applied Financial Modelling in Python
- Strategic Management
Optional January
- Managing Corporate Value
- Financial Derivatives
Year 4
Mandatory September
- Agency Theory and Corporate Governance
- International Entrepreneurship
Optional September
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 1
- Management Dissertation 1
- Risk Management and Derivatives Applications
- International Bond and Currency Markets
- Global Business Analysis
Mandatory January
- Contemporary Issues in Finance
- Sustainable Change Management
Optional January
- Accounting and Finance Dissertation 2
- Management Dissertation 2
- Equity Markets and Fund Management
- Banking
- Advanced Valuation of Financial Markets
- Digital Marketing
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,535 |
| International | £19,456 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers AABB (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BBC - ABB
- International Baccalaureate 29 points
- BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
- HNC B in graded unit
- HND BB (BBB where HND includes 3 graded units)
Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings)
- A-Levels BCC
- International Baccalaureate 29 points
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM
- HNC B in graded unit
- HND BC (C) / CB (B) (where HND includes 3 graded units)
*Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Year 2
- Advanced Highers BB. Must include one of Accounting, Business, Economics or Maths, plus AABB at Higher.
- A-Levels ABB. Must include one of Accounting, Business, Economics or Maths.
- International Baccalaureate 34 points. Must include Higher Level 5 in Business Management, Maths or Economics.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DDM in Business or Finance relevant subject and include Maths.
- HNC Business or Accounting A (standard entry) or B (minimum offer eligible only) in graded unit with 120 SCQF credit points.
- HND Business BB or HND Accounting with BBB in graded units.
- Global College Successful completion of our Accounting & Finance with Accelerator programme.
Year 3
- HND Accounting with AAA (standard entry) or BBB (minimum offer eligible only) in graded units.
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- HNC, HND or BTECs in other finance relevant subjects may be considered for advanced entry to Year 2 on a case-by-case basis and may require specific units to have been studied.
- For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Employability
We’re delighted that Edinburgh Business School has the highest percentage of graduates in the UK who are appointed to a CEO or MD role (Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2023). We’re also first in Scotland for graduate employability (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023). Typical careers for Business and Finance graduates include business and public service associate professionals, managers, directors and senior officials.
Work and study
Salary
Potential career paths
- Business and public service associate professionals
- Managers, directors and senior officials
Student life
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