MA Finance and Business

Year 1

You will study Introduction to Financial Markets as well as Global Challenges for Business and The Business of Edinburgh which introduce key concepts of management and business including strategy, finance, marketing and the management of people.

You will also study Accountancy 1A, an Introduction to Financial Accounting, and Accountancy 1B, an Introduction to Management Accounting.

You will study one course option in another subject area, subject to availability and timetabling constraints.

Year 2

You will study Business Research Methods I: Introduction to Data Analysis, Introduction to Corporate Finance and Applications of Finance.

You will also choose a minimum of one or more options from the following business courses:

• Organisational Behaviour
• Business Economics
• HR Management
• International Business
• Marketing
• Business Analytics and Information Systems
• Business Simulation
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Organising for Social Change: Creating Value and Impact

You may choose one or two course options in other subject areas, subject to availability and timetabling constraints.

Year 3

You will study the compulsory courses Strategic Management and Research Methods for Finance or Business Research Methods II: Applications and Analysis.

In addition, you will choose two more specialist courses in finance, for example, Investment and Securities Markets, Futures and Options and two more specialist courses in business.

Year 4

You will study the compulsory course Corporate Finance as well as one other specialist course in finance, for example, Behavioural Finance and Market Efficiency, Financial Modelling with Excel.

You will also choose two more specialist courses in business. You will complete a finance-based research dissertation.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2019/20)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in the Central Area of the University. Honours students have access to the Business School's Undergraduate Resource Centre on level 11 of David Hume Tower.

Study abroad

Our exchange programme offers students on all business programmes exciting opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 at one of our partner universities in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the USA or across Europe.

To participate in our study abroad programme, you will need to achieve an average mark of at least 55 per cent in Year 1 to be eligible to study abroad in Year 3.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical exercises and computer-based learning.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on presentations, reports, essays, exams and individual and group projects.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2019/20)

A key aim of our programmes is to combine academic knowledge with transferable skills in order to enhance employability.

Business graduates are highly valued by employers across the world. Our business-related programmes will help you develop the necessary personal and professional competences required to work across a range of roles central to contemporary business.

You will have a choice of careers open to you, including management, consulting, finance, marketing and human resources.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - AABB by end of S5. If you haven’t achieved this by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a strong performance in S6. A minimum of BBB must be achieved in one set of exams and by end of S5.
• A Levels: AAB - ABB.
• IB: 40 points (grades 766 at HL) - 34 points (grades 655 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 set of exams by end of S5.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

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

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 Grade C
• SQA Standard Grade 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A
• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C
• GCSE Grade C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level Grade 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 module overall 7.0 with 6.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT 100 or above with 20 in each section
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 185 with 169 in each component
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 67 with at least 56 in each "Communicative Skills" section
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components

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

English language requirements

(Revised 22/03/2019 to provide more accurate/comprehensive information.)

As this degree is very popular, we strongly recommend that international students apply by 15 January 2020.

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 Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Finance and Business

Additional costs

If studying abroad in Year 3, your costs will vary by country. In Year 4 you will undertake a dissertation and, depending on the field of study you choose, there may be costs associated with undertaking surveys and conducting interviews.

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

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions@ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565
• Web: Business website
• International enquiries