MA (Hons) Finance

The course

UCAS code
N300
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

Contact

Got questions about this programme?

Contact our enquiries team.

Overview

The MA in Finance is focused on graduate employability in the financial sector in its broadest sense. The course is a specialist degree responding to the rapid growth in global financial services. It is particularly suited to those seeking entry into the banking or investment management sectors, both nationally and internationally, covering a range of relevant specialist topics in finance.

Whilst studying this degree you will have the opportunity to enhance your employability skills through the use of Heriot-Watt's state-of-the-art Bloomberg Trading Lab which opened on Edinburgh campus in 2018. Students can use 16 industry-standard Bloomberg Trading Terminals to access up to the minute financial data and learn financial analytics as well as so much more.

This degree has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct within the program. This degree programme positions students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter, which has become one of the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. 

We also acknowledge CFA credentials as entry criteria, those who have passed Level II of the CFA Program are eligible to apply for direct entry into year 3.

Global College pathway for this degree

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.

Accreditation

Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner

Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance. 

Course content

Year 1

Semester 1 

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

Semester 2

  • Academic Skills
  • Becoming a Professional
  • Discovering Business
  • Select 1 Elective (Year 1)

Year 2

Semester 1

  • Fundamentals of Finance
  • Personal Finance and Investment Ethics
  • Introductory Economics  or Select Elective
  • Management in a Global Context or Select Elective

Semester 2

  • Financial Markets Theory
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Select 1 Option (Year 2)
  • Management Accountancy in Organisations or Select Elective 

Year 3

Semester 1

  • Corporate Finance Theory
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Financial Technology
  • Select 1 Option (Year 3)

Semester 2

  • Financial Derivatives or Managing Corporate Value 
  • Applied Financial Modelling
  • Business Research Methods
  • Select 1 Option (Year 3)

Year 4

Semester 1

  • Choose two from: Agency Theory and Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Derivatives, or International Bonds and Currency Markets
  • Select 1 Option (Year 4)

Semester 2

  • Contemporary Issues in Finance
  • Equity Markets and Fund Management
  • Select 1 Option (Year 4)

Across both semesters

  • Finance Dissertation

Discover Uni course data

Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MA (Hons) Finance students are doing 15 months after graduating:

  • 75% are working
  • 0% are studying
  • 10% are working and studying.

Salary

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

Potential career paths

  • Finance Professionals
  • Business and public service associate professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

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

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers BB (including at least one: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths plus AAAB at Higher)
  • A-Levels ABB (including at least one of: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 34 points (including at least one of: Accountancy, Business, Economics, Maths at Higher Level 5)
  • HNC A in graded unit (Accounting)
  • HND BBB in graded units (Accounting or Business)
  • Global College Successful completion of Accounting and Finance with Accelerator Programme

Year 3

  • HND AAA in graded units (Accounting)
  • CFA Level 2 of the CFA program

Additional information

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will have to show us that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please refer to our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Status* Scotland England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland International**
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £18,704

* 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. Find out more about tuition fees.

** '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). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

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 about the Heriot-Watt University Bursary

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.