Finance

Overview

Finance is a stimulating and challenging discipline that offers a wide range of exciting and dynamic careers across the financial industry. The finance sector has grown in terms of complexity as it meets the needs of increasingly international, technologically complex and data-driven markets. By studying finance, you will acquire a wide range of skills that can be applied to problems faced by agents ranging from entrepreneurs who need to fund their ideas to investors seeking the best opportunities to grow their wealth; from private investment banks who engineer innovative financial products to regulators tasked with protecting the industry; and from individuals searching for a mortgage to multinational firms seeking to finance their operations. The study of finance opens the door to a myriad of diverse career opportunities.



This is a one-year full-time programme. If you have the desire and ambition to forge a successful career in the world of Finance, then this is the perfect programme for you. The course provides an accelerated route to the equivalent of an honours degree in finance. Students will cover the basic concepts, empirical methods and applications in investment, derivatives, international finance, and econometrics as well as choosing field courses of interest from a range of optional modules such as corporate finance, fixed income markets and financial accounting.

The course consists of two semesters of taught modules over the nine months of the academic year. A comprehensive range of modules in finance, including corporate finance, fixed income markets, derivatives, financial modelling, and a broad range of optional modules. Students take three compulsory modules and nine optional modules during the academic year which will be centrally timetabled by the Timetabling Office. To assimilate students from diverse academic backgrounds, the Programme Director will advise each student on which optional modules to choose to provide them with a solid foundation in Finance.

Applicants must hold a minimum of a bachelor honours degree (NFQ Level 8) (or equivalent) with a minimum of second-class honours, grade 2 (2:2) in any discipline.



Students without any knowledge of economics or finance are strongly advised to have a good background in statistics and quantitative methods and to be prepared to undertake substantial independent study to equip themselves with the expected level of economics and finance.



Applicants who do not hold a primary degree but have at least 5 years of relevant experience may apply via Maynooth University's RPL process for Non-Standard Entrants.

Closing Date : 14 August 2026

1 year Full-time.

In general, there are two levels of fees payable. EU students from EU countries including Ireland pay a subsidised level of fees for both taught courses and research programmes. Tuition fees for students from outside the EU are not subsidised and are thus somewhat higher than for EU students.

Course Commences: September.

Career Options

After this 1-year intensive programme, graduates will be well-equipped with the skills to begin a career in the financial sector. This is a high-growth, constantly evolving sector with diverse career opportunities at home and abroad.



Graduates who wish to continue their studies may pursue one of our MSc programmes subject to meeting the entry requirements.



Graduates of this programme are currently enjoying successful careers in investment and retail banking, portfolio fund management, professional accountancy, corporate recovery, regulatory agencies, NGOs, government service, stockbroking, and bond trading in the private sector. Others have taken up research positions at the Central Bank of Ireland, some continue to PhD programmes to pursue an academic career. The diverse careers of our graduates reflect the adaptability and flexibility of our graduates.