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MSc Financial Economics

Gain a thorough grounding in theoretical and applied finance and economics

Year of entry: 2023 (September)

Length

1 year full-time

Start date

September 2023 (semester dates)

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Globalisation means an ever-increasing demand for specialists in economics and finance.

This intellectually demanding course will provide you with the essential skills you need to follow professional careers in these areas or to pursue further research.

Financial Economics (MSc) is part of our uniquely multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary suite of finance Masters programmes. They bring together expertise from the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Economics and Related Studies.

Discover our refocused syllabus introducing contemporary tools, methods and approaches to tackle applied, professional and academic challenges in accounting and finance.

Aimed at students with a prior knowledge of economics, this course will give you a thorough grounding in theoretical and applied finance and economics. Our course will prepare you for a career in either the public or private sectors, in a role with a focus on financial economics research, or for a PhD in Finance or Economics.

Learn more about the study of finance at York.

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Course content

Our programme will expand your knowledge and skills in economics and give you a rigorous understanding of the theory and econometrics of financial markets and economics. It will also provide you with the opportunity to specialise through a significant individual research project in your chosen area of economics or finance. Areas of study include corporate finance, investments, asset pricing, microeconomics and macroeconomics.

You'll gain a range of employability and personal transferrable skills that can be directly applied within a research career, and be required to reflect on ethical and sustainable aspects of decision-making.

Modules

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module, examples of which may include:

The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information, please get in touch.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Dissertation

You'll complete a piece of independent research of up to 10,000 words, carried out over three months of the summer. It will offer you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Explain and understand the methods of logical and mathematical reasoning used by economists, finance professionals and researchers to assess and manage risk, price financial assets, and make financial decisions, drawing on key analytical approaches and understanding of the major current research problems in so doing
  • Identify the research methods and models relevant to particular problems in economics and finance in learned journals and other media with the aid of bibliographical databases, summarising and synthesising this body of knowledge to thoroughly understand the limitations of such models and how an allowance can be made for these weaknesses in practice
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the techniques of economics and finance and the ability to use them, by formulating rigorous and well-reasoned analysis of analytical problems
  • Use developed digital skills to locate, compile and present economic and financial data and demonstrate a thorough appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses
  • Formulate economic or financial models in a suitable form for data analysis, selecting suitable state-of-the-art statistical, econometric and computer-based techniques to examine these models and provide robust economic and financial forecasting counter-factual analysis to inform policymakers, private sector clients and/or other academic researchers
  • Produce effective written communications which address the concerns of the intended audience. To articulate effectively arguments which are supported by analytical reasoning and, where necessary, by data-based evidence
  • Formulate a research proposal, identifying a testable hypothesis, select the methodology appropriate to test it and carry out the research efficiently and independently to a deadline, and to effectively communicate persuasive findings
  • To display a broad range of personal transferable skills including the ability to work positively within a group and act inclusively within a diverse academic community.
The MSc programme at York offers the kind of modules that fit my career and research interests, and allow me to enrich my understanding of financial markets, emerging markets, social policy and economic models. The programme provides solid foundations for a future career in financial services or for a future research degree in economics or finance.
Lutonadio, Economics MSc student

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2023/24

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £14,990£29,950

Students on a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 Visa) are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2023/24 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

This Masters combines a variety of different teaching methods, including:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • problem-solving classes
  • practical computer-based sessions.

A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.

The department also has a vibrant research community. You’ll be able to attend seminars and research workshops in which staff and invited speakers discuss their research.

Teaching location

You'll be based in the Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College and elsewhere on Campus West.

You'll gain access to our schools' and departments' shared resources and financial databases, including:

  • Amplify Bootcamp
  • Reuters Refinitiv Workspace, including Datastream
  • Centre for Research in Security Prices (CRiSP)
  • Compustat (North America)
  • China Stock Market & Accounting Research Database (CSMAR)
  • 2iQ Global Insider Transaction Data
  • Bank Focus

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

Formal types of assessment in this course include:

  • Dissertation
  • Exams
  • Group project
  • Seminar presentation
  • Essays

As you study modules you’ll take part in assessments that do not contribute to your final mark, instead giving useful feedback on your progress and understanding.

Careers and skills

This course will act as a springboard into a career in an area related to economics and finance. It is also an ideal preparation for a PhD.

Career opportunities

  • Corporate investment banker
  • Internal auditor
  • Financial analyst
  • Credit officer
  • Marketing expert at a bank
  • Risk manager 

Transferable skills

You'll develop a range of transferable skills during the course, including:

  • Independent working
  • Time management and people skills
  • Communicating research
  • Performing statistical analysis
  • Analytical and technical research skills.

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 honours or equivalent degree in Economics, or a degree with a significant proportion of Economics elements involving advanced Economics [such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics] with evidence of strong grades in quantitative elements which could include Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or Physics.
Other qualifications and experience If you do not meet our advertised entry requirements, we may consider your application if you have a minimum of three years of relevant senior managerial-level working experience or a relevant professional qualification such as the CFA Level 1 or the ACCA
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in all other components
C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency 176, minimum 176 in Writing and 169 in all other components
Duolingo 120, minimum 120 in production and 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator: Pass with 39/50 in writing and no less than 33/50 in all other components
PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online 61, minimum 61 in Writing and 55 in all other components
TOEFL 87, minimum 23 in Writing and 21 in all other components
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you've not met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation electronically through our online system. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

Apply for this course

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Professor Peter Smith

Learn more

Department of Economics and Related Studies

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