Finance & Trading

Overview

The MSc Finance and Trading programme equips you with the skills needed for investing in financial markets. You will gain expertise in financial theory, quantitative analysis, and trading strategies, using professional-grade tools. Students will learn about how to price assets, manage risk, and the structures involved with trading in stock markets, derivative exchanges, and in foreign exchange.



Course Structure

The MSc Finance and Trading is a full-time postgraduate programme primarily designed for students with undergraduate degrees in finance, mathematics, statistics, or other quantitatively intensive disciplines.



This programme offers an extensive array of in-depth modules, providing core knowledge of financial markets and financial instruments. Through eight taught modules, students acquire the essential skillset for responsible decision-making and promoting sustainable economic growth. These modules are aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, directly mapping to selected goals to ensure a holistic and impactful educational experience.

Semester 1

Asset Pricing - FIN7026

This module offers an introduction to the field of financial economics and provides an understanding of the development of advanced pricing theory. The module starts by examining rational investor behaviour; how investors allocate resources both in certain and uncertain environments, building towards an understanding of how prices are rationally determined in asset markets. Apparent violations of rational behaviour and pricing are then examined to understand better how traders and markets function. Students will also explore portfolio allocation and examine a range of anomalies including the equity premium puzzle. The course concludes with an examination of the efficient market hypothesis and throughout, we shall critique key financial models and economic theory.



Financial Data Analytics - FIN9008

The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to econometric techniques used in finance. It contains a treatment of classical regression and an introduction to time series techniques. There will be an emphasis on applied work using econometric packages. The course is designed to give students both theoretical and practical experience of statistical and econometric techniques. A wide range of topics is typically covered including the basic regression model, which includes a discussion of the classical violations of this model and methods for their correction. Students will learn a computer statistical software package (R).



Financial Market Structure - FIN7027

The first part of this module provides a detailed analysis of the contemporary structure of global finance including key market participants and markets, focusing on fixed income and foreign exchange markets. We will then explore the economic issues and structures underlying trading on these markets. The aim of this module is to ensure that students understand the structure, dynamics and trading mechanisms of global financial markets, as well as appreciate the role of key institutions involved in these markets.



Financial Regulation and Risk Management - FIN7021

This module considers both risk and regulation in financial services. With regard to risk the module introduces students to the risks that institutions must take if they are to survive and prosper including market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and operational risk. Emphasis is on the quantification of these risks, decisions about what level of such risks are acceptable and the action required to mitigate unacceptable levels of risk



Semester 2

Derivatives - FIN9007

The aim of this course is to develop in students a theoretical and practical knowledge of derivative instruments. The learning outcomes include understanding the mechanisms of futures and forward markets, pricing futures and forward instruments, constructing hedges using futures, and understanding the mechanisms of option markets. Additionally, the concepts of stochastic processes and its applications in financial modelling is addressed.



International Finance - FIN9004

The main goal of this course is to understand the complexities involved in conducting finance across more than one country. It aims to provide students with both practical skills for working in this area and a broader understanding of the role of finance within the international economy. The majority of the course will involve the description of key analytical concepts and theories involved in international finance. These theories are then used to help understand the international elements of important economic and financial phenomena.



Advanced Financial Data Analytics - FIN7028

Statistics is the science of uncertainty and variation. Econometrics is the application of statistics to economic and finance problems. The aim of this course is to teach students to apply time series financial econometrics techniques sensibly in the context of real-world empirical problems. Using the R statistical programming software and RStudio, students will be taught statistical techniques which underpin quantitative investigation in finance.



AI & Trading - FIN7030

This module will introduce the modern practices in finance of using algorithms to extract computer-age statistical inference. The purpose of this course is not to introduce students to the vast array of machine learning algorithms. Instead, the goal is to introduce the emerging field of Financial Machine Learning as a complement to traditional financial research techniques. This course presents machine learning as a non-linear extension of various topics in quantitative economics, such as financial econometrics. This course will introduce best practice techniques in financial data science, which can help illicit economically meaningful signals and answer recent financial research questions.



Semester 3

Choose 1 of:

Applied Research Project – FIN9100

For those pursuing roles in the financial industry, the applied research project will be of significance. The module will review methods of company analysis, financial analysis, and various approaches to equity valuation. Students will have the opportunity to conduct independent research, undertake a valuation exercise, present their findings in a written report of industry standard and articulate their views in a presentation.



Dissertation – FIN9098

For those intending to pursue an academic career or a research focused role the dissertation is an appropriate choice. For high performing students. The aim of the dissertation is to provide students with the skills needed for conducting theoretical and/or empirical research in finance. Meanwhile, students will be assigned an academic supervisor and will complete an independent piece of academic scholarship.

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree (with minimum of 55%) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Finance, Mathematics, Economics, or in another relevant quantitative subject. Performance in relevant modules must be of the required standard.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 15th August 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

1 year (Full Time)

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

Successful students will have the necessary skills to have career opportunities in finance, including investment banking, commercial banking, investment management, or other financial intermediaries.



For further opportunities to enhance your studies and career prospects please see the school website.

https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/



Employment after the Course

Graduate prospects from the MSc Finance and Trading degree are excellent; culminating in Queen’s being ranked first in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Accounting and Finance (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).Graduates from this programme have secured roles with employers such as Morgan Stanley, Citi, Bank of China, BDO, Deloitte, PwC, Davy Group, and many others. Typical graduate roles include portfolio analyst, investment analyst, equity research analyst, energy trader, and financial consultant.

https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/