Global Finance MSc

Postgraduate

A woman walking in front of the London Exchange.

Gain in-depth knowledge, practical skills and industry-recognised certifications, all while studying in the heart of London's financial district.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University London (City of London)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Practice
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
18-20 months full-time with professional practice
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

LONT117,
LONT118

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

This course is designed for those with a background in finance who wish to excel in the global financial sector. Gain advanced knowledge, practical skills and industry-recognised certifications.

Covers 70 per cent of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) programme curricula. See below for more information.
Includes practical financial simulations with Bloomberg terminals.⁴
Expert staff with experience in banking, asset management and portfolio management (staff subject to change).

Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities

Icon of human figure in front of a whiteboard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field

Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

Industry-recognised certifications: the course aligns with the CFA and FRM curriculum, enhancing your professional standing.
Bloomberg Market Concepts: embedded in the curriculum, providing practical experience with this industry-standard tool.
Expert talks and events: gain insights from industry professionals, keeping you up to date with the latest trends and expanding your network (subject to availability).
Location advantage: situated in the City of London, providing access to a global financial hub.
Career support: benefit from comprehensive career services, including business start-up advice and personalised career development.
Gain practical experience: boost your CV with additional professional practice on campus, a nine-week internship, or a longer professional placement. See the modules for more details.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA)

This course is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, subject to re-recognition for 2025/2026 intake. It is part of the University Affiliation Program of CFA Institute and covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), offering excellent preparation for an international career in finance, banking, or risk management. This allows students to apply for a CFA Program Student Scholarship and have the opportunity to be awarded a student scholarship including a one-time CFA program enrolment fee and discounted one-time CFA exam registration fee (please note that any scholarship award is subject to a competitive application process and availability). Students will also enjoy free access to CFA learning resources, annual exam review study guide, free access to a full series of Code of Ethics and Standard of Professional Conduct materials and other online presentations.

Successful completion of certain modules does not entitle students to sit the professional examinations which are centrally administrated by CFA Institute. Students would need to apply to the professional body for completing the exams outside of the course and additional criteria and fees may apply. Please visit the CFA website for further information.

Partnerships and collaborations

Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)

Coventry University is a CISI education partner. This means you'll be offered the chance to take the Certificate in Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of the course, at no additional cost.

Want to pursue further CISI qualifications? You can do so for a 50 per cent discount. Simply book through the CISI customer support team at customersupport@cisi.org. Please note that completing CISI exams outside of the course requires you to apply directly to CISI. There may be additional criteria and fees. For full details, visit the CISI website.

CFA Institute University Affiliation Program*

The curriculum covers at least 70 per cent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), providing excellent preparation for the CFA exams. This affiliation underscores the course's relevance for careers in finance, banking and risk management.

*Successful completion of certain modules does not entitle you to sit the professional examinations which are centrally administrated by CFA Institute. You will need to apply to the professional body for completing the exams outside of the course and additional criteria and fees may apply. Please see https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa for more details.

As a CFA Institute’s affiliated university, our students are eligible to apply for CFA Program Student Scholarship once enrolled on the course and have not yet registered for their next CFA exam. Successful candidates will be awarded a scholarship, subject to application outcome and conditions set by the CFA Institute. Please find detailed student scholarship information on the CFA website.

GARP Academic Partnership Programme*

Affiliated with Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and its Financial Risk Manager (FRM) Certification (the premier certification for financial risk professionals), the Global Finance MSc course is recognised by GARP as an FRM Academic Partner. Our course covers at least 70 per cent of the body of knowledge, and 100 per cent of the ethics and professional conduct learning objectives, required for the FRM Part I and Part II examinations. This prepares you to meet the global finance industry's rigorous demands, particularly in risk management, and supports your pursuit of FRM certification. As a GARP academic partner, our Global Finance MSc course has six student FRM scholarships and one SCR scholarship available each year. The FRM Scholarship covers the FRM programme enrolment fee and the Part I registration fee while the SCR Scholarship covers the registration fee (there is no programme enrolment fee). Both scholarships include the study materials. Please note: any scholarship award is subject to a competitive application process and availability.

*Successful completion of certain modules does not entitle you to sit the professional examinations which are centrally administrated by GARP. You will need to apply to the professional body for completing the exams outside of the course and additional criteria and fees may apply. Please see the GARP website for more details.

Immerse yourself in Coventry University London’s global community and emerge as a talented, career-ready graduate with an international outlook.

What you'll study

Gain a competitive edge in the global financial sector. This course provides a rigorous curriculum aligned with CFA and FRM standards, ensuring relevance and professional recognition. Benefit from expert staff, practical simulations using Bloomberg terminals, and unparalleled access to industry professionals in the City of London. Develop the advanced skills and knowledge needed to excel in this dynamic field.

Modules

Equity and Fixed Income Strategies and Derivatives – 30 credits

Ethics and Financial Reporting – 30 credits

Economics and Quantitative Methods – 30 credits

You’ll delve into the intersection of economics and quantitative methods in finance. You'll explore interest rates, return measurement, portfolio mathematics, the time value of money, statistical measures and their application in investment decision-making. Additionally, the module covers the interplay of business cycles, fiscal and monetary policies, and financial market structures within the financial landscape.

Compulsory

Portfolio Management and Risk Analysis – 30 credits

Master’s with professional practice

This is an extended master’s course incorporating a 6-8 month period of professional practice. This will either be an on-campus simulated experience or a six-month external placement.

If you selected this variant of the master’s course you will:

apply your academic knowledge and skills to a real-world project brief related to your field of study
gain valuable industry insights and skills as you combine academic learning with practical experience
start your professional practice after completing the first 120 credits of your course
External professional placements² must be sourced by the end of semester one, to start at the end of semester two. If you are unsuccessful at sourcing a six-month placement, you will automatically commence the on-campus simulated experience. You’ll be assessed on your learning through the 60-credit Professional Practice Project (dissertation). This project will be linked to your professional practice experience
The professional practice option incurs a higher fee than the 12-month master’s programme. Additionally, you will incur increased living expenses due to the extended duration of the course.

For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
You’ll be assessed on your learning through the 60-credit Professional Placement Project (dissertation). This project will be linked to your professional placement experience.
The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.²

For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

To complete your master’s, you will complete one of the following 60-credit modules:

Dissertation – 60 credits

Apply key learnings through an in-depth research project on a chosen topic. You will be guided by an academic supervisor to identify a research problem based on a literature gap or a real-world organisational issue. Through independent research, you will select appropriate methods, critically evaluate findings, and deliver meaningful insights and recommendations.

Building on research methods classes, you should strengthen skills in literature analysis, data collection and interpretation, supported by one-on-one supervision. Completing the dissertation should equip you with expertise in critical analysis, specialised knowledge in your topic, and the ability to present research findings clearly and logically.

If you have completed either a professional placement² or professional practice experience, your dissertation will be linked to it and will assess this experience.

Internship Project – 60 credits

Apply your knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. Through a supervised nine-week internship, you will work on challenging and hands-on projects with industry mentors. You should develop critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, while building a strong professional network. Our dedicated careers and employability team will guide you every step of the way from internship sourcing and application to completion.

You will be responsible for sourcing your nine-week internship by the end of semester two of your course. All internships are subject to university approval and will be completed during semester three of the course. Your final 60-credit project will be based on this experience.

Internship experiences are subject to additional living costs, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Global business connections

Our strong global business connections provide students with access to real-life work experience, so you can put your skills into practice and make connections in the world of work.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
practical coursework
assignments
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

We live in a globalised world, where national economies are increasingly integrated and interdependent, with finance playing a crucial role in this global economy. It has never been easier to access global financial markets from anywhere in the world as technology, processes, tools, valuation and various other financial activities have converged. I am looking forward to welcoming you to the course and helping you build the skills necessary to participate actively in this diverse, growing, challenging but rewarding sector.
Dr Alban Asllani, MSc Global Finance Course Director, 2024

Two men on mobile phones walking in front of the Bank of England

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a business-related discipline. Evidence of relevant professional qualifications equivalent to Level 6 or at least two years finance-related work experience will be considered.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with the International Pathways Programme. Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 £13,000 (with professional practice) £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £13,000 (with professional practice) per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £20,400 (with professional practice) per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 £20,400 (with professional practice) £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Take a virtual tour of our campus to explore all of the facilities available to you.

Career and employability support

Our dedicated team is on hand to help. They can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate-level jobs and offer skills development workshops. The team also aims to organise networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts (subject to availability).

Library services

Featuring around 100 study spaces including silent study areas, our library features a wide array of resources including books, journals, and online databases to support your studies. You’ll also benefit from expert staff guidance and tailored workshops to give you essential research skills. Services can be accessed remotely and as part of the library provision at University House.

Bloomberg Suite

Enter the world of finance with our Bloomberg Suite, using industry-standard software to analyse real-time data and market trends. Gain the experience and practical skills needed for a successful career in the global market.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions as a:

Financial Analyst: analyse financial data, prepare reports, and develop financial models to support investment decisions
Investment Banker: advise clients on mergers and acquisitions, raises capital, and underwrites securities offerings
Portfolio Manager: manages investment portfolios to achieve specific financial goals for individuals and organisations
Risk Manager: identify, analyse, and mitigate potential financial risks for businesses and institutions
Financial Consultant: provide expert advice to businesses and individuals on financial planning, investments, and wealth management
Actuary: use statistical models to assess and manage financial risk, particularly in insurance and pensions
Management Accountant: provide financial information and analysis to internal management for decision-making
Credit Analyst: evaluate the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses to determine loan eligibility and manage risk.

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies including Bloomberg, Rödl & Partner, the Bank of England and City Investment Solutions.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University London, you can apply online

Master’s / Master’s with Professional Placement / Master’s with 9-week internship: LONT117
Master’s with Professional Practice: LONT118

How to apply

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 024 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

Master’s / Master’s with Professional Placement / Master’s with 9-week internship: LONT117
Master’s with Professional Practice: LONT118

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an postgraduate degree view our International hub.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

(+44) 024 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.