Program Overview

The MSc Finance and Management programme at Heriot-Watt University gives you the opportunity to develop specialist expertise across the discipline to enable you to proceed to professional and managerial careers in finance and business, both in the private and public sectors. The programme has been developed in response to industry demands, making you highly sought-after upon graduation, and giving you access to employment and further education and research opportunities. Your knowledge and skills will enable you to combine expertise in financial management with the ability to implement effective business management strategies across organisations of any size.   

During the master’s programme, you’ll develop a systematic understanding and knowledge in finance, business and management and gain a critical awareness of current issues within the academic discipline and professional practice. You’ll learn to understand and evaluate a comprehensive range of research techniques used in the area of finance, business and management and how these are put into practice, in order to create and interpret knowledge. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop critical thinking and analyses, as you evaluate relevant academic research, professional research and pronouncements and financial and business media articles.   

You’ll learn from a bespoke range of courses which will equip you with highly employable expertise across crucial areas of financial management and business management. You’ll have the opportunity to choose two optional courses to customise your learning and develop your specific finance and management subject interest.  Your finance and management dissertation will allow you to build upon your subject interest, by carrying out an original research project at the forefront of knowledge.  

The programme is designed to provide the knowledge base and the analytical and research skills necessary for doctoral study or employment in a range of roles, including financial analyst, investment banker, financial consultant and corporate finance specialist in highly lucrative areas such as asset management, corporate finance and banking. You’ll develop key transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, organisational and presentation skills to prepare you for lifelong learning and personal development in the financial services sector. Group work and tutorial discussions will provide you insight into the working practices and perspectives of different cultures, and prepare you for a global career, working with colleagues from all over the world.  

As Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University is situated on the edge of Edinburgh, you’ll have excellent links to the financial sector of Scotland’s capital city, and the UK’s second-biggest financial and economic hub. Edinburgh is a major centre for fund management and is home to two of the world’s largest banks. You’ll also benefit from our close ties to the London Stock Exchange and Bloomberg, which can provide you with excellent industry-focused learning opportunities.