Finance and Management (MSc) 2025 entry

Develop an integrated and critically aware understanding of the context of managing financial institutions and organisations and learn how to take an effective finance-related role within those organisations.

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute and provides an accelerated pathway to Chartered Banker Status.

Trading workshop

In collaboration with Amplify Trading, a leading global financial trading and training firm, you will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a day-long Trading Workshop in a live trading floor environment. You will be guided by two seasoned traders utilising specialised software.

Bloomberg Trading Suite

You will also benefit from accessing the Bloomberg Trading Suite, an invaluable resource that facilitates dynamic learning via real time streaming of data. This is used on a number of modules within the programme. 

You have the opportunity to obtain two certifications − Bloomberg Market Concept (BMC) and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) – without incurring any costs

Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2026
Duration
One year full time
School
Business School

Application deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.

“The best part of the programme is the combination it offers between teaching us useful technical financial skills and encouraging us to continuously challenge our views on current economic debates. The Masters Extra (MX) programme invites a number of executives, entrepreneurs and other employees from different business fields worldwide to talk to Masters students in Management about our careers. It definitely widened my horizon to the abundance of different career paths and firms that are out there.”
Anna-Lena
- Ravensburg, Germany

Entry requirements

  • A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in a quantitative subject such as economics, finance, mathematics, etc. from the UK or the equivalent international qualification. Business/management graduates whose studies included quantitative subjects, as well as applicants from other disciplines may also be considered. Applicants with relevant work experience are welcome, and the University may take this into account when evaluating applications.
  • If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements. English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

  • CV 
  • personal statement explaining why you have chosen the programme, why this subject is important to you and why you have applied to study at the University of St Andrews in particular (500 words) 
  • one original signed academic reference 
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The Masters in Finance and Management is a one-year taught course run by the Business School. 

Highlights 

  • The course provides a strong foundation in the principles and practice of finance within organisations. 
  • Students will explore the complexities of international corporations, financial markets and investment management. 
  • This programme is currently accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute. Successful completion of this programme provides an accelerated pathway to Chartered Banker Status. (Students wishing to attain the accelerated pathway to Chartered Banker Status are required to choose MN5604 'Financial Systems' as their optional module.) 

Modules

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.

Typically, each module consists of three to five contact hours per week including lectures, seminars and tutorials. Assessment is either entirely by coursework or through a combination of class tests, coursework and an end-of-semester examination. 

 

  • Corporate Financial Management: provides an introduction to modern theories of financial management and shows how to apply the theory to realistic financial decision problems. 
  • Applied Financial Econometrics: develops students' ability to undertake quantitative research by equipping them with econometric tools and techniques to analyse and interpret financial data.  
  • Advanced Corporate Finance: focuses on empirical and theoretical issues that arise in modern corporate finance. 
  • Portfolio Management: covers concepts such as valuation, efficient diversification and predictability of asset returns. The module contains a balance between theoretical models and their practical applications.
  • Financial Data Analysis with Bloomberg: is designed to empower students  to navigate the dynamic landscape of finance using Bloomberg as a powerful analytical tool, and will balance key finance concepts with practical application.

Exciting new developments to this programme are under consideration. This page will be updated as soon as the approvals are in place.

Students choose two optional modules, taking one in each semester. 

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered: 

  • Behavioural Finance 
  • Financial Systems (required for the accelerated route to Chartered Banker Status) 
  • Financial Technology (FinTech) 
  • Risk Management
  • Entrepreneurship and Business Development 
  • Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity 
  • International Financial Management
  • Corporate Governance
  • International Marketing 
  • Leadership in Organisations  
  • Managing People in Global Markets 
  • Marketing and Society 
  • Managing Non-governmental Organisations
  • Scenario Thinking and Strategy

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development). 

Students attend lectures throughout Semesters 1 and 2 to prepare them for conducting the research portion of the dissertation. The dissertation is normally on a specific area of finance and management; however you will have the freedom to develop a topic of your own, which is of interest to you and will contribute towards career development or further study goals. 

Students are assigned a supervisor based on a research proposal submitted in the second semester. They will then research and write a 15,000-word dissertation over the summer to be submitted on a date specified in August. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for their Masters degree (MSc), there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of a MSc. 

Teaching

The taught elements of the programme are delivered using a range of methods including lectures, small group tutorials, workshops and seminars.

The average lecture size is 50 students, however, in some cases, there will be seminars of 15 to 18 students or larger lectures with up to 100 students, which would normally be augmented by small-group tutorials. 

From June to August, students undertake a research project culminating in a written dissertation of 15,000 words.

You will attend a weekly series of lectures and workshops focusing on research methods and other topics to provide support and help prepare you for the dissertation. 

Assessment comprises a combination of coursework and examinations. 

Events

Events and guest lectures begin in Orientation Week and run throughout the year, providing students and staff with opportunities to socialise, and to engage with visiting scholars, professionals and practitioners. 

The Management Society, a student-led organisation, hosts a broad range of activities, both subject-related and social. The University also has a number of other student societies relating to the management discipline. 

Masters Extra (MX) Programme

The Masters Extra (MX) Programme of events focuses on careers and personal and professional development and is designed specifically for taught masters students in the University of St Andrews Business School, Department of Management. The series of talks, workshops, networking opportunities and activities includes guest lectures from entrepreneurs, experienced managers and leading researchers. 

Fees

Home
£14,850

Overseas
£29,990

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship 

For women pursuing a business or business-related degree. 

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships    Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Careers

Alumni from the Finance and Management programme, and more generally from other Masters programmes in the Business School, have secured employment in the fields of management consultancy, accountancy, investment analysis, investment banking, commercial banking, fund administration and other aspects of the financial services industry. 

Graduates from the Masters in Finance and Management have taken up roles in a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sector including: 

  • Bain and Company 
  • Barclay's Capital 
  • Blackrock Global Investment Management 
  • Bloomberg 
  • Credit Suisse Group 
  • HSBC 
  • IBM 
  • Morgan Stanley 
  • Nomura Bank 
  • Procter and Gamble

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

Many University of St Andrews Business School (Management and Finance) graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere, for which there is funding available: 

ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science: fully funded awards for PhD students in the Business School.

Management PhD studentships: the Business School often offers PhD studentships comprising a stipend at RCUK level and a fee waiver at home and EU level.

Postgraduate research

What to do next

Information sessions

Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 2200
Email
pgmgmt@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
Business School