MA Finance and Business

Year 1

Your studies will focus on key themes of understanding the nature of business including:

• organisational forms
• the impact of globalisation and global inequality
• the shift to a low-carbon economy
• the impact of technology and digital disruption

You will gain an insight into the practice of management by using examples of widely-used concepts and techniques in local businesses and the day-to-day role of managers. This will include guest lectures, cases and recorded interviews, developed in partnership with local organisations.

You will study Global Challenges for Business and The Business of Edinburgh which introduce key concepts of management and business including:

• strategy
• finance
• marketing
• management of people

Accounting

You will take two accounting courses where you will:

• examine the basic principles and underlying concepts of accounting
• explore the ways in which accounting statements and financial information can be used to improve the quality of decision making
• learn how accounting relates to the broader context of the strategic and operational aspects of business

Introduction to Financial Markets

In Introduction to Financial Markets, you will be introduced to, and supported to develop your understanding of, the basic principles of finance. This practical course is designed to give a theoretical introduction, looking at the way assets are valued in financial markets. You will consider areas such as:

• interest rates and the pricing of fixed-income bonds
• stock market prices and returns
• stock market risk and the influence of risk on the pricing of shares
• the characteristics and pricing of financial futures and options

Optional course

The first year allows you the opportunity to study an optional course. This may be in business, such as:

• Psychological Well-being in Business
• Thinking About Business
• Planning for a Start-Up
• Fundamentals of Programming for Business Applications

However, you can choose an option from other schools within the university (subject to availability and timetabling constraints). Examples include:

• languages
• art
• history
• economics
• psychology
• literature
• sociology
• geography
• mathematics

Year 2

You will broaden your knowledge of essential business subjects through the compulsory study of statistical analysis and data interpretation, as well as an introduction to corporate finance and applications of finance.

Optional course

You can choose from optional courses in a range of disciplines such as:

• marketing
• innovation and entrepreneurship
• decision analytics
• organisation studies
• international business
• understanding and delivering public services
• HR management
• business economics
• business simulation

You may also choose other courses or continue with your studies in other subject areas from other schools (subject to availability and timetabling constraints).

Year 3

You will take a compulsory course in strategic management, and also undertake courses which will prepare you for undertaking your Dissertation in year 4.

You will continue to specialise in your chosen area of business and study finance, for example, Investment and Securities Markets, and Futures and Options.

Optional courses

You will also choose two or more specialist Honours courses in business, building on the knowledge and skills you gained in your Year 2, for example:

• global business
• marketing
• innovation and entrepreneurship
• business economics
• human resource management.

Year 4

Your Management Honours Dissertation is central to Year 4. You will conduct an independent research project on a topic of your choosing that is closely linked to your degree programme.

Your Dissertation will give you the opportunity to develop skills such as:

• advanced project management
• critical-thinking skills
• cognitive skills
• analytical skills
• creativity
• evaluative and written communication skills
• developing, building and presenting arguments to a wider audience

You will be allocated a Dissertation advisor who will offer advice and guidance throughout your Management Honours Dissertation. You can also attend Dissertation support sessions and hangouts where you can:

• share your experiences
• learn from each other
• get timely advice from the Dissertation team

You will study the compulsory course Corporate Finance as well as one other specialist course in finance, for example:

• Behavioural Finance and Market Efficiency
• Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructuring

Our facilities

The Business School is located in a dedicated Business School building in George Square, in the middle of the central campus.

All business teaching takes place across the central campus. However, you may be required (based on your course selection) to travel to the King’s Buildings if you are studying courses in Science and Engineering.

You will have access to:

• specialist business resources in the central Main Library (books, journals, databases)
• dedicated student experience and student development support

For specialist business analytics, business research and finance related courses, we have dedicated teaching labs (and associated software and databases). We also have our own Business School Cafe.

Study abroad

Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the global business dimension, and the cultures and languages of the individual markets we deal with.

Depending on your degree, a year abroad might be compulsory or optional. To be inspired, read stories by Edinburgh students about their experiences abroad:

Student experiences abroad

Partner universities

A wide range of international experiences are available, including studying abroad at one of our partner universities and business schools in:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• China
• Japan
• Europe
• USA

Business School partner universities (subject to change)

Your choice of partner university will depend on your degree programme/availability of courses in the subject area.

The benefits of studying abroad

Living and studying abroad will give you the opportunity to try new things such as:

• learning a language
• taking on new challenges
• enhancing your academic perspective
• visiting new places
• meeting new people

Your self-confidence will improve and you will develop valuable skills for the future, all of which are highly valued by employers.

All Business School students have the option of studying abroad. However, you will need a strong academic performance in Year 1 (minimum first-year average 60%) to be offered a place at one of our partner universities/business schools.

How will I learn?

You will experience a variety of different teaching and learning methods including:

• lectures (led by a lecturer or guest speaker, with usually a large number of students attending at one time)
• computer laboratories (smaller groups of students attending to learn software packages and data interpretation and analysis)
• workshops (smaller groups of students working with a tutor on particular practical problem-based learning)
• tutorials (tutors engaging small groups of students in discussion and analysis, and where you might undertake peer group projects and presentations)
• one-to-one meetings with course lecturers/tutors/academic advisors
• independent learning throughout your studies (in particular for your Honours dissertation research)

You will be taught by:

• experienced subject-specific lecturers
• industry professionals
• research-led academics
• internationally renowned guest speakers

We have a number of leading academics who have designed and developed courses specific to their research, particularly at Years 3 and 4.

Support for learning

We offer a motivating and encouraging environment where you can grow and develop as an independent learner.

You will be guided and supported throughout your studies by our dedicated student experience team who offer enhanced course and programme advice and guidance, wellbeing, professional and academic and study skills development.

We also have an excellent peer support service that can help you develop your study skills. The university offers a ‘one-stop shop’ - EdHelp - where you can get help and advice on everything from finance to counselling, accommodation, and accessing IT and library resources.

EdHelp

Teaching during Covid-19

We are delivering hybrid teaching for on-campus students during the 2021-2022 academic year. Our teaching model for 2022-2023 will depend on Covid-19 restrictions at the time. We will provide you with regular updates on what to expect throughout the application process.

How will I be assessed?

Courses are assessed by a diverse and innovative range of methods and often take the form of formative work, which provides you with on-going feedback, as well as summative assessment, on which your final course grade is achieved.

Some of the assessment methods you may experience are:

• blogs (written and/or video)
• business plan and/or feasibility analysis
• case study analysis
• computer-based timed assignments
• consultancy reports
• reflective diaries/journals
• essays
• exams - these might be closed book, multiple choice, oral (group or individual), short questions, seen case study/unseen exam question, open book, timed submission, etc.
• pitches
• portfolios (paper and/or online)
• posters
• presentations (face-to-face/video; group and individual)
• projects (group and individual)
• technical workshops
• workbooks
• the dissertation

Many of your assessments will involve industry engagement, real case examples, and practical solutions to contemporary business problems.

A very small number of courses are assessed using only a single, written examination or coursework assignment. Most courses employ two or more different forms of assessment, and a growing number combine both individual and group-based activities to develop both subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills.

Finance and business graduates are highly valued by employers across the world and graduates of our programmes are highly sought after by a wide range of employers.

Our graduates secure employment in a diverse range of fields, the most popular being:

• accountancy
• management
• consulting
• finance
• marketing
• human resources

During your time as a student in the Business School and following graduation, the Careers Service will help you fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

Careers Service

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAAA-AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: A*AA - AAB.
• IB: 39 points with 666 at HL - 36 points with 665 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S5.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: Mathematics at B and English at C.
• A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: Mathematics at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5 and either Mathematics at 5 or Mathematical Studies at 6.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Finance and Business

Additional costs

If studying abroad in Year 3 is a compulsory part of your degree programme (International Business), your costs will vary depending on the country/partner university. Additional costs may include:

• insurance
• visa requirements
• accommodation
• internet access
• travel

In Year 4 you will undertake a Dissertation as a compulsory assessment component. Depending on the field of study you choose, there may be costs associated with:

• undertaking surveys
• travel
• conducting interviews

Details of student living costs

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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