This qualification is designed to support professional development and practice in a wide range of roles in finance whether you are developing in your career or aspiring to enter the sector. It provides a thorough grounding in areas such as corporate finance, financial decision-making, financial reporting and governance. It develops competences in applying statistical and econometric techniques, and equips you with knowledge of the fundamentals of Islamic finance and behavioural finance. You can choose to specialise either in derivatives and financial risk management, or in investment and portfolio management, and you will develop research skills and techniques relevant to higher academic qualifications by completing a dissertation on a finance topic of your choice that is relevant to your interests or chosen career development.
Key features of the course
• Provides an up-to-date perspective on both theory and practice in national and international contexts
• Acquire and apply the most important tools for financial, statistical and econometric analysis and decision support
• Develops your ability to evaluate published research, use relevant theory, and apply research methods and techniques to new situations
• Develops your skills in data collection and modelling using databases, such as Datastream and Thomson One, and statistical software such as STATA.
The MSc in Finance has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program. This status is granted to institutions whose degree programmes incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), which provide students with a solid grounding in the CBOK and positions them well to sit the exams to become CFA charterholders.
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills
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On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Masters in Finance entitling you to use the letters MSc Fin (Open) after your name. You will have the option of being presented at a degree ceremony and collecting your award certificate there.
Recognition in your country
If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Read recognition in my country.
Credit transfer
CFA level III charterholders can obtain exemptions from the first two modules, Introduction to corporate finance (B858) and Financial strategy: valuation, governance and ethics (B859). If you have a professional qualification in a related area, such as ACCA, CIMA or ICAEW, you may also be eligible for an exemption from B858.
If you've successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.