Program Overview

Our MSc Investment Management programme allows you to develop specialist expertise to help you transition into professional and managerial careers in investment analysis and management, in the public and private sectors. The programme has been developed to cover many aspects of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute examination syllabus, positioning you well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. This will make you highly sought after upon graduation, giving you access to opportunities in employment, further education, and research.  

During the master’s programme, you’ll develop a systematic understanding and knowledge of investment management and gain a critical awareness of current issues within the academic discipline and professional practice. You’ll understand and evaluate a comprehensive range of research techniques used in investment management and how these are put into practice, to create and interpret knowledge. You’ll cover the core theories and concepts in finance and investment, including different approaches adopted in the formulation of finance and investment theory, specialised theories and models such as CAPM, APT and ARCH used in the analysis of financial markets, contemporary issues in investment management, and how institutional investors operate. You’ll learn how to follow complex lines of reasoning, expressed both verbally and algebraically, assess empirical and qualitative evidence, and assess alternative theories, explanations or points of view regarding a given investment question. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop critical thinking and analyses, as you evaluate investment management academic research, professional research and pronouncements and financial and business media articles.  

Your learning will equip you with highly employable expertise across crucial areas of investment management. You’ll have the opportunity to choose four optional courses – from corporate finance, corporate governance and sustainability, financial analysis, international accounting standards, emerging financial markets, comparative financial reporting, derivatives, empirical financial modelling, and advanced valuation of financial markets – to customise your learning and develop your investment management interests. Your dissertation will allow you to build upon your expertise, by carrying out an original research project at the forefront of knowledge.

You’ll learn from staff at the forefront of research and practice in finance and investment management, with most members of the Centre for Finance & Investment (CFI) which unites Heriot-Watt’s finance and investment staff with senior practitioners from the local financial community. You’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and expertise and can discuss academic theories, and their limitations, and conduct practical applications. The Current Topics in Investment Management course allows you to hear from senior investment practitioners in their weekly guest lecturers, to gain insight and real-life perspectives into the investment industry.  

Beyond investment management knowledge and skills, you’ll develop key transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, organisational and presentation skills to prepare you for lifelong learning and personal development.  

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.