Finance and Private Equity – (M.Sc.)

The MSc Finance and Private Equity programme has been designed to meet the needs of high-level graduates from a range of backgrounds, whose career objectives lie broadly within the field of private equity. The programme follows the core structure of the MSc Finance (Full-time) programme, with an additional core course in private equity taught in the second term.

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 specific knowledge of private equity by taking a dedicated course taught by the School's Abraaj Capital Chair in Finance and Private Equity. This will explore the structure of private equity (PE) funds and how PE can be used in start-ups, in scaling-up cash flow businesses, and in restructuring firms facing financial distress. It explores the link between PE and venture capital on the one hand and public securities markets on the other. This course involves case study and is taught in conjunction with a range of practitioners in the field. Students write a 6,000 extended essay on a topic related to PE as part of the courses' assessment. During the second term students will take three 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.