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Key information

The MA (Hons) Finance programme at Heriot-Watt University is focused on graduate employability in the financial sector in its broadest sense.

UCAS code
N300
Level
Undergraduate
Delivery type
Full Time
Degree qualification
MA
Mode of delivery
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Start date
September

Our Finance programme is a specialist degree, responding to the rapid growth in global financial services. It is particularly suited to those looking to pursue a career in banking or investment management sectors, both nationally and internationally, covering a range of relevant specialist courses in finance. 

Finance courses are taught by academics and experienced practitioners, and you'll have the opportunity to make use of the university’s state-of-the-art Bloomberg Finance Lab to gain employable, practical finance skills. 

Throughout this four-year degree, you’ll gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the areas of: 

  • Asset pricing 

  • Portfolio construction  

  • Corporate finance 

  • Financial risk management 

  • Capital markets 

Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to develop scholarship skills, undertake professional and employability development, and engage in reflective learning. Each course included in the programme will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills in finance, from fundamentals of finance, the economy, discovering business, and principles of accounting. You’ll benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, which will set you up for life after graduation. Upon completion, you’ll have the relevant knowledge and skills to start a career in finance, business and beyond.  

Your student experience

Our programmes are informed by an Industry Advisory Board of business leaders who ensure our curriculum matches the needs of global employers. 

The Edinburgh Business School approach ensures that an industry focus is built into every part of this degree so that your studies reflect the current thinking and practices of successful organisations and their leaders.  

The industry experience and research expertise of our staff bring your teaching and learning to life with case study-driven assignments and applied group projects, complemented by guest lectures from industry leaders, CEOs and directors of national and multinational organisations.  

Go Global

There are currently no Go Global opportunities for this particular programme. However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact studywithus@hw.ac.uk for more information.

Course content

September Intake - Edinburgh

Mandatory September

  • Introduction to Accounting and Finance
  • Management in a Global Context
  • Academic Skills
  • Introduction to Marketing

Mandatory January

  • Discovering Business
  • Becoming a Professional
  • The Economy

Fees and funding

StatusFee
ScotlandPaid by SAAS
England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland£9,250
International£18,704
  • 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)
View details

Entry requirements

We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.

Standard entry requirements

  • Highers AABB (over two sittings)
  • A-Levels BBC - ABB
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC DDM (Business/Accountancy/Finance preferred)
  • HNC B in graded unit

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC
  • A-Levels BBC - ABB

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish 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
  • 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

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

Work and study

This is what our MA undefined students are doing 15 months after graduating:
75%
are working
10%
are studying and working

Salary

£34000
The average salary of students 15 months after graduating
£25000
The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course

Potential career paths

  • Finance Professionals
  • Business and public service associate professionals

Student life

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