General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

A 2.1 or first (or equivalent) degree in a relevant undergraduate subject from a UK university or an equivalent qualification from a globally recognised institution.

Candidates who have aspirations in finance and have studied quantitative undergraduate degrees, such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering are also encouraged to apply, especially those who have opted for finance electives in those programmes.

For those applicants with a quantitative degree at undergraduate level, but who have not yet studied Finance, we offer a menu of online supplementary courses that you can take at your own pace in Summer 2024. These will provide you with additional skills and knowledge in Finance for you to succeed on the course. We may recommend or require engagement with any or all of these supplementary courses depending on your academic background.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

We accept a range of language tests. Please refer to our website for more details.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Quantitative Methods for Finance
Gain an in-depth understanding of basic probability and distribution theory, statistical estimation and inference, and econometric models with applications to finance.

Asset Pricing
Explore the fundamental relationships between investors’ decision-making in the presence of uncertainty (“risk”) and the cross-sectional and inter-temporal properties of prices and returns of financial assets.

Corporate Finance
The goal of this module is to equip you with the skills to apply state of the art ideas of modern Corporate Finance theory as well as the quantitative tools to solving the types of problems faced by CFOs and other business executives.

Investment Management
This module is closely linked with the parallel core module “Asset Pricing”. While the latter develops the theoretical framework to understand and analyse the trade-off between risk and return, this module focuses on the operationalization of this framework.

Empirical Finance
Gain an understanding of the theory and practice of financial econometrics and the tools for the empirical analysis of financial time series and their application.

Ethics, Financial Regulation & Corporate Governance
This module has been designed to give you a deep and comprehensive understanding of ethics in everyday life, in business life, and in the working life of a financial professional.

Research Methodology
The module aims to equip you with cutting-edge research methods alongside other programming skills and access to relevant data sources. You will be provided with training in programming and data handling from the very beginning of the course, to ensure that you have the required skills when needed for workshops and assignments in the core modules.

Dissertation
A 6,000 word dissertation gives you the opportunity to develop, test, practise, and apply the techniques and theories you have gained through your studies.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Behavioural Finance
Study financial markets using models that are less narrow than those based on Von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility theory and arbitrage assumptions.

Derivative Securities
Develop an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of different classes of derivative securities.

Financial Reporting & Financial Statement Analysis
Learn to interpret financial statements in context and apply appropriate models and techniques for company valuation and related business issues.

Judgement & Decision Making
Explore the psychology of human judgement and decision making and gain the foundation for understanding the decision-making processes involved in financial markets.

Financial Risk Management
Gain an understanding of the need for financial risk management, the techniques to measure financial risks according to the regulatory framework, and the tools for the management of risk exposure.

Fixed Income & Credit Risk
Get to grips with the tools for the assessment and management of fixed income and credit risk.

International Financial Management
Extend your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of international finance, with emphasis on the operation of the spot and forward foreign exchange markets.

Alternative Investments
Explore today’s complex investment management environment and gain the insights needed to make well-informed decisions.

Big Data Analytics
This module will cover a wide range of cutting edge research in Big Data Analytics, with a particular focus on the extensive value of data from the Internet, much of which is freely available if you have the skills to mine it.

Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Control
Explore the basic issues in mergers and acquisitions from a corporate finance point of view.

Practice of Investment Management
Gain realistic experience of the responsibilities involved in managing money for clients and an introduction to practical investment management techniques.

Banks and Financial Institutions
Explore the theory and practice of banking in the 21^st Century, specifically the facilitation role of banks as intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, and as providers of liquidity.

Read the module descriptions for this course on the Warwick Business School website.

Teaching

Core modules cover key areas in modern finance while optional modules allow you to focus on your preferences. Please note that availability and delivery modes of modules may vary. Modules are taught through a combination of lectures, classes, and computer lab sessions.

Class sizes

The typical class size for this course is around 70 students.

Typical contact hours

Assessment

Assessment is a mix of exams and coursework with your dissertation, bringing all of your learning together at the end.

Your dissertation

A 6,000 word dissertation gives you the opportunity to test and apply techniques and theories you have been learning and to complete an original piece of research. You will be supervised and supported by one of our academic staff or Teaching Associates and will usually submit your dissertation in early September.

Assessment

Assessment is a mix of exams and coursework with your dissertation, bringing all of your learning together at the end.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, core and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your core modules will be registered for you, and you’ll be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

There may be events taking place in the evenings. Classes may run up to 7pm and other events, such as careers presentations may take place later or on Saturdays. Occasionally, classes and exams may be held on Saturdays. We will notify you in advance if this is the case.

This is a full-time course, so there are no holidays as such. However, the two weeks covering Christmas and New Year are guaranteed to be free from lectures. There may also be weeks free over the Easter period (check with your programme team). Resit exams may take place outside of standard teaching periods.

Your career

We have our own dedicated careers team at Warwick Business School called WBS CareersPlus. You will have access to one-to-one career guidance appointments, CV checks and tailored mock interviews.

Personalised support

The WBS CareersPlus team will support you and help you to understand yourself and your strengths. They can help you to identify possible career paths, and to set and achieve your career ambitions. This helps to boost your employability and helps you prepare for your career.

You can take advantage of personalised careers coaching and advice. Our one to one careers appointments can help you if you have a question about writing applications, wish to explore your career options, or need to prepare for interviews and assessment centres.

Discover our graduate destinations brochure here.

Warwick Business School

If you’re interested in the bigger picture, comfortable challenging assumptions and want a degree that will open doors, then WBS is the place for you. We will give you the foundation for change and prepare you for your future career. Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business?

Find out more about us on our website.

The vision of WBS is to be Europe’s leading University-based Business School, developing transformational ideas and people that shape how we do business. We recognise that rankings are one way to profile our progress towards fulfilling this vision, and are proud to participate in the major global business education rankings.

MSc Finance

• 4^th in the UK and 16^th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience Ranking 2023
• 6^th in the UK and 19^th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Management

• 1^st in the UK and 18^th in the world - Economist/WhichMBA - 2021 Masters in Management biennial ranking
• 2^nd in the UK and 28^th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2023
• 3^rd in the UK and 18^th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Marketing & Strategy

• 2^nd in the UK and 9^th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Business Analytics

• 2^nd in the UK and 14^th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

MSc courses

• Accounting and Finance (MSc)
• Business Analytics (MSc)
• Business and Finance (MSc)
• Business with Marketing (MSc)
• Business with Operations Management (MSc)
• Finance (MSc)
• Finance and Economics (MSc)
• Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation (MSc)
• International Business (MSc)
• Management (MSc)
• Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation (MSc)
• Marketing and Strategy (MSc)
• Mathematical Finance (MSc)

MBA

• MBA (Accelerator)
• MBA (Executive)
• MBA (Global Online)
• MBA (Full-time)

Executive Diplomas

• Advanced Management (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Behavioural Science (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Digital Leadership (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Marketing Leadership (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Strategic Leadership & Change (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Strategy & Innovation (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Business and Management (MRes/PhD)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
• Finance and Economics (MRes/PhD)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course