Finance (full-time) – (M.Sc.)

The MSc Finance full-time programme has been designed to meet the needs of high-level graduates from fields not specifically relating to finance, whose career objectives lie broadly within the financial services sector.

The foundation of the programme is built in the first term with the study of two core courses - Asset Markets and Corporate Finance. Asset Markets takes the student from fundamental concepts to up to date applications in fixed-income, equity, and derivatives markets. Corporate Finance begins with the firm's investment decision and the cost of capital. This in turn is linked to the firm's financial structure and market environment where the firm operates. It studies in detail major financial decisions including dividend choice, going public, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring in financial distress. In the second term, students deepen their knowledge by taking four optional half unit courses, on topics such as financial systems, risk management, portfolio management methods, advanced derivatives and structured financial products, fixed income, advanced corporate finance, and applied financial valuation. Students will also be required to write an extended essay in the place of an exam in one of the four optional courses.

The MSc Finance full-time programme follows the same syllabus as that of the part-time MSc Finance evening programme, which is focused towards professionals currently working in London's financial services sector. Both modes of the MSc Finance programme allow students' access to a number of specifically designed applied courses, taught in part using case studies, and the opportunity to gain deeper practical insight and links to the City. The relationship between the daytime and evening teaching makes this a unique programme, and provides an opportunity for students whose employment status may change to transfer between programme modes at appropriate points, with the permission of the Programme Director.

The programme is aimed at people with good undergraduate degrees and good quantitative skills. Admission to the programme is very competitive, in previous years the majority of students accepted into the programme have obtained first class degrees or the equivalent. Applicants without a UK undergraduate degree are required to submit a GMAT test (GRE is acceptable exceptionally), however the GMAT is also strongly recommended for all students with UK undergraduate degrees, especially those who have not achieved or are not expected to achieve a first class degree, or whose quantitative skills are not demonstrated by their undergraduate studies. Applicants are also required to have studied a minimum of A level Mathematics (or its equivalent). The mathematics used in the programme includes basic calculus and statistics. Admitted students are required to attend a pre-sessional Quantitative Methods course in September. Applicants from developing countries may be eligible to be considered for one of the Lord Dahrendorf Scholarships (sponsored by Deutsche Bank).

Based in the Department of Finance, the programme offers the following benefits:

* Study in one of the most highly rated departments in the subject area in the world, both for its research and its institutional links. Each year the LSE's Financial Markets Group attracts some of the leading international finance researchers who present at one of its many academic research seminars or conferences for practitioners, which students are welcome to attend.
* The opportunity for high level graduates without necessarily a specific background in finance to gain a comprehensive foundation and subsequent depth in the field, allowing access to a variety of finance based careers.
* Access to a number of specifically designed applied courses based on case study teaching.
* Interaction with current MSc Finance (part-time) programme students, currently employed within London's finance sector.