Finance and Investment Management MSc | PGDip | PGCert – Online Course
Master the art and science behind financial markets and develop a deep understanding of the contemporary principles of finance and investment management and how these are applied to financial intermediation, savings, and investment.
What is Finance and Investment Management?
A career in Finance and Investment Management is both extremely varied and rewarding, the best and most adaptive businesses today prioritise financial and investment management to improve profitability, provide economic stability, and increase the valuation of the organisation.
Make an outstanding contribution in your organisation by developing the professional and technical skills necessary to operate effectively in the field of finance, and understand the range of impacts that finance has on different business activities.
Developed by leading academics in the University of Liverpool’s AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accredited Management School, the MSc Finance and Investment Management programme will equip you with the intellectual, learning, and professional skills you will need to make an outstanding contribution in your organisation.
The content of this programme is aligned with the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA©) qualification and will equip you with the skills and competencies you will need to undertake formal CFA© Level 1 examinations. This means that you will have not only developed excellence in academic skills from a world-class university but will also be competent in the practical skills that future employers in the profession demand.
The University of Liverpool is an Affiliated University of the CFA Institute and, in recognition of the programme’s alignment to the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), the online MSc Finance and Investment Management has been awarded affiliated status. The CFA Institute is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence, and its affiliated status is greatly recognised and regarded around the world. Recognition demonstrates the robustness with which this programme has been developed and the application of the content to professional practice will strengthen your career potential.
Upon completion of the programme, you will have a good understanding of contemporary principles of finance and investment management and how these are applied to financial intermediation, savings, and investment. You will also gain an understanding of the practices of financial markets including the use of ‘state-of-the-art’ industry analytics.
You will be expected to work both individually and collaboratively with peers on the programme, which will facilitate an important goal of knowledge sharing based on each other’s experiences. International awareness will also be at the heart of the programme design, not only through the collaborative working opportunities, but also through the literature and assessments presented. Finally, you will develop your practical application and critical reflection, by questioning and challenging your own assumptions and those of others.
Please note – CFA affiliated status only applies to the MSc award due to the number of study hours required of a programme by the CFA © to achieve this status. Students who enrol on a PG Certificate or PG Diploma and successfully complete their award will be eligible to progress towards the full MSc.
Download a prospectus for more details on this programme including module information.
What will I study?
This programme consists of the following modules. You are required to complete 180 credits to achieve a full Master of Science (MSc), 120 credits to achieve the postgraduate diploma (PG Dip) and 60 credits to achieve the postgraduate certificate (PG Cert).
| Modules | MSc | PGDip | PGCert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Finance (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Financial Institutions, Regulation and Ethics (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Equity and Fixed Income (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Portfolio Management (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Financial Reporting and Analysis (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Derivatives and Alternative Investments (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Economics in Financial Markets (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Research Methods (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Dissertation (60 credits) | x |
All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you want to discuss your previous qualifications and experience before applying, please contact us now via LiveChat.
Applications should possess:
- A minimum of a 2:1 class degree in any subject, equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree. Those with a 2:2 honours degree will be considered on an individual basis; or
- Professional work experience in a related field and/or other prior qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must provide evidence that they have an English language ability equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5.
If you don’t have an IELTS or equivalent certificate, you can take our free online English test to assess your proficiency. You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.
Fees for the academic year 2024/25
MSc: £16,868
PGDip: £11,246
PGCert: £5,623
These fees* are fully inclusive of all costs, including all teaching materials, core textbooks, assessments and resits.
Scholarships and discounts
You may also be able to benefit from the following scholarships and discounts:
- Regional Scholarships of up to 20%. To find out the scholarship offered in your region, please make an enquiry now.
- 10% discount for University of Liverpool alumni.
- 5% discount for up-front full tuition fee payment.
Further support
We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to cover the costs of your studies. You could benefit from:
- Simple monthly payment plan provided to spread the cost over the duration of study
- Students living in England may be eligible for a postgraduate loan to cover some of the programme cost.
Please speak to our admissions team for more details of fees, scholarships, discounts and support.
*All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed.
Teaching and assessment
The learning, teaching and assessment strategies for all online programmes are aligned with the three University of Liverpool Hallmarks of research-connected teaching, active learning and authentic assessment – as well as the three University of Liverpool Graduate Attributes of confidence, digital fluency and global citizenship.
Teaching methods
Studying online allows you to study in your own time and from wherever works best for you – whether that is from your home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.
All our online programmes are delivered through a specially designed online learning platform. This allows 24/7 access to your study materials, which includes:
- innovative lecturecasts consisting of audio recordings, infographics, videos, animation, short tasks, and written content
- a comprehensive eLibrary of ebooks and academic journals
- forums for you to discuss programme content with peers
- support from academic staff and a dedicated Student Support team
Assessments
Online programmes are assessed based on work carried out in the virtual classroom. Reflecting the hallmark of authentic assessment, this may include report writing, reflective practice, research projects, and individual or group presentations that represent the kinds of tasks you would be expected to undertake in a professional setting.
We are committed to:
- providing frequent and transparent feedback
- ensuring our assessment criteria are simple and clear
- making it easy for you to clearly view your marks in your gradebook when you log into the learning platform
- delivering provisional marks and feedback of assessed work usually within seven days for taught modules
- ensuring academic support through weekly lecturer office hours
- providing access to our Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns or issues
Online learning experience
We will support your online learning experience with high-quality learning materials and resources, which can all be found on our state-of-the-art virtual learning platform.
Typically, your learning experience will include the following:
- directed learning – including participation in virtual discussions with peers, led by the lecturer, working through relevant and specially prepared videos and lecturecasts; completing interactive exercises on the learning platform; appointments with your lecturer during office hours
- self-directed learning – including wider reading and research in your subject area to further develop your knowledge and understanding
- assessment – time taken to prepare and complete assignments and activities which contribute to your overall assessment
On average, you will need to dedicate a minimum of 15-20 hours of study per module, per week.
Study duration
Our master’s award has an approximate study duration of 30 months, studied online and part-time. Our PG Diploma award has an approximate duration of 20 months and our PG Certificate has an approximate duration of 10 months.
Please note, the actual study duration may be longer depending on study options chosen, speed of study, and module availability.
Students pursue the programme in a linear fashion, which is organised into modules, typically with a one or two-week break between modules, and a three-week break for the Christmas period. You will receive an indicative module timetable during the enrolment process.
On successful completion of your degree, and payment of any outstanding tuition fees, you will receive an invite to attend an in-person graduation ceremony in the vibrant city of Liverpool
Academic staff
We are committed to delivering an enriching online study experience, and all our lecturers are experienced subject specialists with demonstrated learning and teaching proficiency.
They play an integral part in ensuring the latest theories and research feature in our programmes and are dedicated to providing a high level of support throughout your studies.
All lecturers and supervisors are honorary faculty at the University of Liverpool.
Discover more about our key academic staff and their experience.
Quality and assurance
As one of the Russell Group’s 24 members, the University of Liverpool is recognised as a world-class, research-intensive institution, that adheres to strict quality standards.
The University is registered with the Office for Students and an established member of the Quality Assurance for Higher Education.
Apply for this course by completing a simple online form.
In order to apply, you will need to provide copies of the following supporting documentation:
- School or college transcripts/certificates
- University transcripts and certified translations if applicable
- Degree certificates
- Evidence of English language proficiency (EU and international applications only)
- Personal statement
- An up-to-date CV.
Acknowledgement of your application
The admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application and will pass it to the Department Head and/or appropriate academic department(s) for consideration.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from students with disabilities and consider them on the same academic grounds as those of other students. If you have a disability, medical condition and/or support needs it is important that you inform the University so that you receive appropriate support.
Deadlines
We have start dates throughout the year with regular application deadlines. As an applicant, you are encouraged to apply in good time, particularly if you have special needs.
The MSc Finance and Investment Management is designed to equip current finance professionals and those seeking a career in the area with the intellectual, learning, and professional skills they will need to make an outstanding contribution in their organisations. Graduates will not only develop the technical skills necessary to operate effectively in the field of finance but will be able to able to practically apply these skills and understand the range of impacts that finance has on different business activities, regardless of sector.
The Management School is amongst an elite group of business schools to hold the gold standard triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS). Our vision is to be a globally connected Management School, with our transformative research and teaching, placing us at the forefront of influential knowledge leadership. The latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 rated us 9th in the sector for research power, and 100% of our research environment was classified world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
The Management School is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary with a year of special events to mark two decades of transformation from a newly established school in 2002, to a triple accredited internationally recognised research powerhouse. Learn more about the 20th anniversary celebrations and the history of the school.
By studying online with Liverpool, you can gain a highly regarded qualification from a prestigious redbrick university and a member of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research-led UK universities committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of research and education. You will acquire new skills and knowledge, all while continuing to work in your current role.
The University of Liverpool has been offering online programmes since 2000. We are recognised as one of Europe’s leading providers of wholly online postgraduate degrees. All our programmes are designed for online delivery, and our state-of-the-art learning platform encourages collaboration with fellow professionals from around the world.
