Teaching starts 27 January 2025
Apply by 9 December 2024 to begin your studies in January.
Apply nowEarn your Masters in Finance flexibly, online.
Join an MSc Finance degree designed to help you develop the most in-demand skills in the finance sector.
With optional courses available to help you prepare for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) qualification.
You’ll deepen your knowledge of core financial theory, processes and techniques – before going on to explore fast-developing specialisms including:
- fintech
- big data applications,
- financial and banking regulations, and
- international finance markets.
Who can join online MSc Finance?
You do not need to have a degree or background in finance to join this MSc. It’s open to graduates from any discipline.
You can learn online with us anywhere, with no need for a student visa.
Optional CFA exam preparation
One of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession is to become a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®).
This MSc features two optional courses to help you prepare for the CFA Institute’s CFA® Program exams, including mock exam opportunities.
What is the CFA Institute?
The CFA Institute is a global, professional organisation promoting the highest standards in ethics, education, and professional excellence in the global investment services industry.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online MSc Finance
Join a Masters degree founded on years of financial and investment expertise within the department – and on some powerful global connections with the financial sector.
Top 4 for Accounting and Finance
We ranked 4th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
We’re EQUIS accredited
Join a Business School that’s EFMD EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions.
Flexible
Flexible hours and 24/7 access, so you can study when it suits you.
What you’ll study
You can choose to study for a:
- Masters (180 credits)
- exit early with a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- exit early with a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), or
- start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).
You can build your way to a qualification one short course at a time.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning MSc Finance is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere, with no need for a study visa, and manage your hours to suit you.
Your teaching
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos
- live online webinars
- reading materials
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Live online webinars
Each course that’s part of this degree features eight live online webinars with our finance experts.
The interactive webinars are central to this degree, and your participation in them counts towards your final grades.
Ahead of webinars, you may be asked to study some online materials, post questions to your tutor online, take multiple-choice quizzes or other tasks. You may also be asked to work in small groups to prepare for some of the live sessions.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from experienced academics and researchers from the University of Aberdeen’s Business School.
Assessments
All your assessments for this degree will be delivered and completed online.
Live online webinars
Each 15-credit course in this degree features eight online webinars. Webinars are live and scheduled to last for around one hour.
Webinar times will be organised flexibly at the start of each course. Your course coordinator will consider everyone’s circumstances and time zones before setting up webinar times.
Study hours for online courses
To study part-time, we recommend you take a maximum of 30 credits per term. Students typically take one or two 15-credit short courses per term.
15 credits
- Around 150 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
- You’ll study 10 – 15 hours per week per term.
30 credits
- Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
- You’ll study 15 – 20 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
You’ll have live online webinars at fixed times, plus assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through your courses at your convenience.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).
Access study spaces, books and journals in your area
The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.
You’ll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.
Your support team
Dr Seungho Lee
Seungho is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.
Cherie Connon
Cherie is part of the School’s postgraduate teaching support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer your non-academic queries.
Get in touch
The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.
Ask us a questionWhere this will take you
Your MSc Finance qualification
You’ll graduate with a respected MSc in Finance from the University of Aberdeen.
You’ll receive exactly the same MSc qualification as you would on campus. Your degree title will not mention online or distance learning.
Your qualification will be recognised by industry and educational institutions around the world, opening up international opportunities.
Careers
Aspiring financiers and junior bankers are taking MSc Finance qualifications in increasing numbers.
This is because hiring trends in investment banks are shifting, with sales and trading desks looking for a more technical skill set, and a higher level of quantitative skills.
This MSc Finance qualification caters to the changing landscape and prepares you for various roles in the global corporate and financial sector, including:
- business analyst
- asset manager
- trader
- broker
- hedge fund / investment advisor
- consultant
- credit controller
- treasurer
- banker
- market specialist, or
- accountant.
Lifelong career support
Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.
You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Fees and funding
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.
Pay as you go
This is a pay-as-you-go degree.
You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.
You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.
How it works
- You decide how many credits to study for each term.
- At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
- This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.
Your personalised cost breakdown
Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.
Learning resources
Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
Printing
You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:
- Employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors
- Student loans
- Scholarships – search our funding database for scholarships
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
20% Alumni discount
You’re entitled to 20% off our postgraduate taught degrees and short courses if you have a degree from the University of Aberdeen. View Alumni discount details.
How discounts work
Discounts are applied during your application process. You can only use one discount per application.
Benefits of learning online with the University of Aberdeen
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
Respected Masters degrees
You’ll earn exactly the same globally recognised Masters degree online as you would on campus.
Entry requirements
Online MSc Finance
Online MSc Finance is open to graduates from any discipline.
You do not need to have a degree in finance or business to join us, although it’s beneficial to provide evidence of numerical or quantitative skills.
We assess all candidates on an individual basis, but to be eligible you’ll normally have:
- a UK second-class (2:2) honours degree or equivalent.
No specific professional experience is required.
Short course route to online MSc Finance
If you do not meet these entry requirements, or are not ready to commit to a full MSc, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.
Find out about the short course route to entryEntry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.
English language tests and scores
If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept.
These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 21 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening and speaking
- 169 for reading and writing
LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening and speaking
- 65 for reading and writing
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre
- Overall High Pass
- 33 for listening, reading and speaking
- 38 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening and speaking
- 105 for reading and writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.
You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.
There is no application fee for our online degrees.
What you need to apply for this degree
- Degree transcript
- Personal statement
- Degree certificate
- CV / Resume
- Reference
Reference
You will need a reference letter from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time, you can use your current or most recent employer or another professional person.
Apply now
Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement and how to use our Applicant Portal.
You can apply to start in either September or January.
Apply as early as you can. This is so we have time to review your application and get a decision to you. We also want to ensure you have time to enrol before teaching starts.
January 2025 intake
For our January 2025 intake, the application deadline is 9 December 2024.
You will need to accept your offer and provide any outstanding documents to meet the conditions of your offer by 18 December 2024.
Teaching starts on 27 January 2025.
September 2025 intake
Teaching starts on 22 September 2025.
Application deadlines will be announced in due course.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:
- Windows 10 or later
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
Try our degree scheduler
Choose your courses
See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.
Manage your study schedule
Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.
Save to your wishlist
Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.
Master of Science
180 credits
£18,520
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- January or September
- INDICATIVE COST
- £18,520
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in January 2025.
Apply via our Applicant Portal