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Earn 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, and
  • international finance.

Who can join online MSc Finance?

You do not need to have a degree or background in finance to join this MSc. It’s aimed at early-career finance professionals and those aspiring to enter a finance profession.

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.

Learn more about the CFA

Why study MSc Finance online with the University of Aberdeen?

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 7

7th in the UK

We ranked 7th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

Over 525 years of excellence

Graduate from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.

Flexible

Flexible hours and 24/7 access, so you can study when it suits you.

What you’ll study

You’ll study the following courses that make up the 180 credits of this Masters degree.

You can also choose to exit early, earning a:

  • Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) or
  • Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits).

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.

Study hours for live online webinars

Each 15-credit course features eight online webinars. Each webinar is live and scheduled to last for around one hour.

Webinar dates and 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 live webinar times that best suit the convenience of students on the course.

Study hours for online courses

If you plan to study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 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 15 – 19 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.

30 credits

  • Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
  • You’ll study 30 – 38 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.

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

There will be some activities scheduled at a fixed time, such as online meetings with your tutor or assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through each course 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 to your course 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 course 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:

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.

Find out about the SCONUL Access scheme for libraries.

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 question

Where this will take you

Your MSc 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 with a higher level of quantitative skills.

Graduating with this MSc Finance qualification will prepare you for 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

Pay as you go

Don’t worry, you do not have to pay the full degree fee upfront.

You can pay for your degree one term at a time. This gives you a flexible way to spread the cost.

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 allows you to spread payments over several terms.

When you pay

You make a payment before the start of each term.

How much you pay

You only pay for the credits you want to study in the upcoming term.

It’s up to you how many credits you take each term. This gives you control over your costs and your workload.

  • Taking fewer credits will increase the length of your studies.

Costs for this degree, starting in academic year 2024/25

15-credit courses

  • £1,480 in academic year 2024/25.
  • £1,555 in academic year 2025/26.
  • £1,635 in academic year 2026/27 (provisional).

Tuition fees typically rise a little each academic year and will rise by 5% for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years. The fees quoted for 2026/27 assume a 5% annual increase, but are provisional and subject to change.

This is an example payment schedule for tuition fees. It’s based on the typical route through the degree.

You can take more or fewer credits per term than is shown in this example.

Term 1) September – December 2024 | Academic year 2024/25

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,480 each.
  • Fee for term = £2,960.
  • Payment due in September.

Term 2) January – April 2025

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,480 each.
  • Fee for term = £2,960.
  • Payment due in January.

PgCert exit point

With 60 credits earned, you now have the option to exit with a PgCert.

Total fee for this route to your PgCert = £5,920.

Term 3) May – August 2025

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,480 each.
  • Fee for term = £2,960.
  • Payment due in May.

Term 4) September – December 2025 | Academic year 2025/26

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,555 each.
  • Fee for term = £3,110.
  • Payment due in September.

PgDip exit point

With 120 credits earned, you now have the option to exit with a PgDip.

Total fee for this route to your PgDip = £11,990.

Term 5) January – April 2026

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,555 each.
  • Fee for term = £3,110.
  • Payment due in January.

Term 6) May – August 2026

  • Take two 15-credit courses @£1,555 each.
  • Fee for term = £3,110.
  • Payment due in May.

MSc complete

On completing all courses, you’ll have earned 180 credits and will be awarded an MSc.

Total fee for this route to your MSc = £18,210.

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:

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 qualifications

You’ll earn exactly the same 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.

Entry 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 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 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 International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken)

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.

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.

Master of Science

180 credits

£18,210

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2024.

Apply for this programme

Start month
September
INDICATIVE COST
£18,210

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2024.

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