Imperial MSc Finance student on campus in London writing an equation on a clear board

MSc Finance

Start date:
Duration:
12 months
Next application deadline:
Applications processed on a rolling basis
Fee:
£51,000
Location:
London, UK

Study your MSc Finance in London at a global top 10 university

2nd
in the world (Imperial College London, QS World University Rankings 2026)
3rd
in Europe (Imperial College London, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026)
#1
city for students (London, QS Best Student City Rankings 2025)

Learn the skills and make the connections you need for a career in global finance

Investment banking, asset management, and consultancy are dream careers for students around the world. But only the best applicants get the top spots. So how do you stand out?

Our one-year, full-time intensive programme combines real-world application, the latest research, and international opportunities. Put one of the world’s top universities on your CV. Benefit from Imperial’s STEM reputation and use our insights and support to get noticed by employers. 

We have strong corporate ties with leading firms in the City of London and beyond including Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan. Connect with industry practitioners to learn more about the sector and discover what employers are looking for.

Our rigorous curriculum builds your knowledge of core theory and develops your quantitative skills. Then you’ll put this to the test in practical experiences. You can also tailor your learning with elective courses and get involved in extracurricular activities like the Finance Society or Investment Society.

MSc Finance provides a challenging learning experience delivered by a renowned, forward-thinking business school. Ready to stand out?

17th
in the world (Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking 2026)
93%
employed within six months (Class of 2024)
63%
employed in the UK (Class of 2024)
20+
elective options
Explore the programme

Programme content

The MSc Finance classes run from Monday to Friday between 08.30 and 21.00.  You will be expected to attend one evening class each week and can also participate in optional activities like guest lectures or career events. The programme helps you build your knowledge through core modules and optional electives. 

Through the CFA University Affiliation Program, the MSc Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice. Imperial Business School will help you obtain your Chartered Financial Analyst designation – the most recognised investment credential in the world.

You will study in London, a global hub for business and finance. If you want to make even more of this experience, you can extend your programme to 16 months. This means you can take a longer work placement, gaining deeper work experience, global experience and earning additional credits. The extended term is subject to an additional tuition fee. 

Please note, programme content is subject to change. Candidates that fail to successfully complete this degree are not entitled to a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.

View an example MSc Finance timetable

Through a combination of online primers, induction, and a foundation module, you will be ready to hit the ground running when your programme begins. This not only prepares you for the academic rigour ahead but also ensures you're thoroughly equipped to maximise the benefits of your programme.

Online pre-study modules

July-August

Before the start of your programme, you will be expected to complete online pre-study primers, delivered via Canvas, a virtual learning environment (VLE). These include an Accounting Primer module, an online Finance Careers Primer and the Career & Professional Development module. These modules do not, however, contribute to the calculation of the final award.   

Induction

Late Augutst/early September

Your MSc Finance induction will be spent at our vibrant South Kensington campus in London. You will be invited to a welcome event where you can meet and network with your fellow students, distinguished faculty and dedicated programme staff, forging new connections and getting a taste of life at Imperial.

Please note that the availability of certain elective modules may be subject to specific prerequisites. This means that, in order to enrol in these modules, students may first need to have completed particular courses. These prerequisites are in place to ensure that students are well-prepared and able to engage successfully with the module content.

Elective offerings are reviewed annually to reflect student demand, industry preferences, and changing market needs and trends. As a result, the range of electives available may vary from year to year.

Although we cannot guarantee a place on a specific elective if demand is high, there is a wide range of electives available to choose from.

While all electives are subject to change and may, on occasion, be modified, replaced, or withdrawn at the University’s discretion, such adjustments are expected to be infrequent.

Admissions

Applications for 2026 entry are open.

Discover our admissions process for the MSc Finance including entry requirements, how to apply and key dates and deadlines.

We are still accepting applications from strong candidates who meet our entry requirements for 2026 entry. There are limited places available. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.

How to apply

Fees and funding

Choosing to pursue a Master's is one of the most important decisions you will make and is a substantial investment in yourself.

Many of our students fund their studies through multiple funding sources. We offer a wide range of awards, including a number of scholarships to the most talented applicants. We’ve also provided information about the different financing options available to you.

What our students say

“Besides its world-class reputation, I was most interested in the MSc Finance programme’s comprehensive design. Core modules would help me build a concrete understanding of corporate finance, derivatives, and econometric techniques.”
Gloria Guo
MSc Finance - Class of 2022
Hear more from Gloria

Career impact 

Many students choose to study MSc Finance as the most direct route into a career in global finance. 

Investment banking is a popular destination, with graduates securing internships at firms such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank. Others look for opportunities in asset management with organisations like BlackRock or Fidelity.

You’ll find plenty of events and activities to help you achieve your goals. The dedicated Imperial Business School careers team offer:

  • Mock interviews to help you develop the behaviours employers are looking for
  • Events such as Super Saturday with Barclays to introduce you to the world of investment banking
  • Technical coaching delivered by financial experts
  • Access to resources like VMock (AI-powered CV feedback), Graduates First (aptitude tests) and Wall Street Prep (investment banking training)

We are pleased to report that our MSc Finance Class of 2024 achieved an average salary of $92,564 ($PPP).

Employment outcomes below refer to the Class of 2024.

What our students say

“Imperial Business School is at the forefront of innovation within the financial services industry. From an academic perspective, both the content and delivery of the curriculum are closely aligned with industry trends and relevant real-world themes. Additionally, the Business School provides us with access to a range of publications, including financial newspapers, which proves invaluable in keeping up with current affairs and the latest developments in the sector.”
Giorgio Curti
MSc Finance - Class of 2023
Read more of Giorgio's story

Frequently asked questions

All applications to our postgraduate programmes are made online – we do not accept paper applications. Please refer to the ‘How to apply’ section of each programme page. This details which documents you are required to submit with your application and the selection process.

All of our programmes are academically rigorous and include a quantitative component. Therefore, all candidates are expected to have a basic level of mathematics before the start of the programme. The quantitative experience statement provides an opportunity to demonstrate this to the selection committee.

In the quantitative experience statement, you need to list up to five of the most quantitative modules or elements of your studies to date. You should detail:

  • The main topics of study (eg: algebra, probability etc)
  • The level of study (eg: high school, undergraduate degree, short course etc)

This will allow the selection committee to have an understanding of your quantitative experience to date.

Quantitative experience is a key selection criterion for our more quantitative programmes. There are: MSc Finance, MSc Finance & Accounting, MSc Financial Technology, MSc Investment & Wealth Management, MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering, MSc Business Analytics & AI, MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance and MSc Economics & Strategy for Business.

Please check the entry requirements for your programme of interest to ensure your background is sufficiently quantitative. For other programmes, candidates are advised to review the programme content and the pre-study modules. You should check what the numerical content of the programme includes before submitting an application.

Yes, you can. Our finance programmes at Imperial Business School are highly rigorous, and our students are required to have a high level of quantitative skills. If you are considering applying for a programme within our finance Master’s portfolio, we advise you to take our online maths test to test your quantitative ability and determine if you are suitable to apply for the programme.

Please note, this maths test is most relevant to candidates considering the MSc Finance, MSc Investment & Wealth Management, MSc Financial Technology and MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering programmes.

It is not compulsory to submit the results of an approved English language test with your application. However, it is strongly encouraged. It will add weight to your application if you are able to show that you have met the language requirement prior to applying.

Read about detailed information regarding the Business School’s language requirements and the tests that we accept

To submit a verification request, you must first create an online account with Qualification Check. You should use the unique link provided to you as part of your offer conditions.

Once you have completed the two-step registration process, you will have access to your online account. Search for the name of the institution at which you obtained your qualification(s).

Then, follow the steps to enter the required information for submission of a verification request. Your details will then be sent to that institution to be authenticated by the appropriate department. Find more information at Qualification Check

Qualification Check’s standard procedure is to contact the primary source of the information. This is the institution at which you studied. Qualification Check will regularly contact the relevant department at the institution to confirm the authenticity of your qualifications.

We understand that applications are urgent and Qualification Check makes every effort to accommodate your needs and expedite processes. Some institutions may take longer than others. But rest assured that Qualification Check is working hard to complete your verification. Find more information at Qualification Check.

You can apply to be considered for one programme each year. We will take your areas of interest and eligibility into account when considering you for alternative programmes.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide the contact details of two referees. Your referees will be contacted by email once you have completed and submitted your application. The email will contain instructions on how they can submit your reference via our application system.

Please ensure that each reference letter that is submitted has been sent from an academic or professional email address. We cannot accept references sent from personal email addresses, such as Gmail, Hotmail, 126, 163, Sina, QQ, and Yahoo.

Our electronic application service is provided by an external provider. Therefore, there may be a delay before the receipt of your references is confirmed on your student application account.

If you receive confirmation that your references have been received but this still isn’t confirmed on your account a week after receiving the confirmation, please contact the Central Admissions team at business.admissions@imperial.ac.uk.

If you submit a complete application by the deadline, you will receive an outcome by the corresponding decision deadline. However, we may be unable to guarantee a decision by the deadline if:

  • There are delays in receiving your references
  • The documentation required to progress your application is missing

If the requested information is not received within five working days, we may be unable to guarantee a decision by the round deadline.
 
If you have received confirmation that your references have been submitted but this is not reflected in your account after a week, please contact the Central Admissions team at business.admissions@imperial.ac.uk

Yes. As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates for our MSc programmes will be invited to complete an interview. Interviews are conducted through our video interview platform. You can access it online to record and submit your answers.

The interview process typically takes about 20 minutes and does not require extensive preparation. It aims to supplement your written application and help you convey your suitability for your chosen Master’s. This will be done through answering questions about your previous experience and future aspirations.

AI/Chat GPT guidance:

The purpose of the interview is to get to know more about you. We want to see how you approach problems, your motivations and wider interests.

If we identify malpractice or answers provided are not genuine, then this may factor negatively into the admissions committee decision.

For all MSc programmes, you can normally expect to receive a decision within six to eight weeks of submitting a complete application. Please keep in mind that during busy times and/or where documents are missing from an application, this time may increase.

When an offer is submitted by the Business School, the Central Admissions team needs to make a number of final checks before it can be formally approved. These may include:

  • An additional review of an applicant’s academic background
  • Ensuring the references we have received are valid

Until you have received confirmation of the official offer via Imperial’s applicant portal, please do not:

  • Arrange accommodation
  • Book flights
  • Decline any other offers you may be holding

The majority of offers are successfully approved by Central Admissions. You will be able to see full details of your offer conditions once your official offer has been confirmed.

Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm when you will receive a decision on your application. We will be in touch via email as soon as there is an update. You do not need to provide any additional information unless you think it will add significant weight to your application. For example, updated transcripts, relevant internships, English language results.

Please email your programme Recruitment & Admissions team if you would like feedback on your application. Please note that whilst limited feedback can be provided, the decision of the academic selectors is final. It will not be possible for your application to be reconsidered.

If you receive an offer you can request to defer it to the following year. Requests will be considered until 15th June.

Requests submitted after 15th June 2026 will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Please note deferrals are considered on a case by case basis and in order to be considered for a deferral, payment of the tuition fees deposit is required.

If you already paid your deposit for the current admissions cycle, this will be carried over to your new offer. However, our tuition fees do increase each year and you will be required to make up the difference between the old deposit and the new deposit amount.

Please note that you can only defer once.

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