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Course overview
Launch your career as an investment management specialist.
Investment management is in a period of rapid change, driven by shifting investor preferences, margin compression, regulatory developments and advancing technologies. The MSc Investments will help you lead on and work with those changes as part of a successful career in investments.
The Investments MSc at Birmingham expanded my horizons and helped me to build a solid foundation for my current job as an equity research analyst. Birmingham is a city with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse international community, and a great place to prepare for a career in asset management.
Course highlights
Gain a robust theoretical foundation inspired by global research and industry practices. This course will develop your critical, analytical, and technical skills for a career as an investment specialist in global financial markets. You will also enhance soft skills like teamwork, adaptability, leadership, time management, communication, work ethics, and cross-cultural awareness.
- Birmingham, the UK's second-largest city, is a prominent business and financial hub, home to esteemed global firms like IBM, HSBC, Lloyds, KPMG, and PwC.
- You will have access to our state-of-the-art Bloomberg training suite where a range of trading techniques can be practised.
- Our strong industry links combine rigorous academics with practical focus, exemplified by the Market Microstructure module, enhancing job opportunities through innovative training used by leading global financial firms.
- This course is recognised by the CFA Institute University Recognition Programme, incorporating 70% of the CFA Programme Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), providing a strong foundation and excellent CFA exam preparation.
- You will be part of a small cohort on this specialist programme, allowing you to develop a closer relationship with experts, staff and fellow students.
Triple Crown accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
#1 most targeted university of top UK employers (High Fliers Research 2024).
CFA Institute Affiliation through the University Recognition Programme.
This course has been especially designed for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (such as Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Accounting or Science), who want to develop the highly sought after critical, analytical and technical skills required to manage complex financial assets.
You will have access to our state-of-the-art Bloomberg training suite where a range of trading techniques can be practised. You can further sharpen your financial modelling and analytical skills by using various software and financial databases available in the Birmingham Business School, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, Compustat, CRSP, Capital IQ, BoardEx, Morningstar, BankFocus, CSMAR, Datastream, Thomson One, and FAME.
Course delivery
Our Investments Masters degree includes a wide variety of learning and teaching.
- Taught modules – these include lectures, practical classes and seminars.
- Assessments - these will include individual assignments, class tests, group presentation and/or written examinations in some modules.
- Dissertation Project - over the summer term, you will work with your assigned supervisors to develop your research proposal to a full dissertation.
Module information
The course comprises of 180 credits, taught through a series of 20 credit modules and a 60 credit Dissertation . Students will study five core modules and choose one optional module.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
Year: 1
2025/26 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 60 | Semester 2 |
| Financial Econometrics | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Private Equity and Venture Finance | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Risk Management in Financial Markets | 20 | Semester 2 |
Students should choose only 1 from the two below:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain, Financial Applications and Cybersecurity | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Market Microstructure and Trading Techniques | 20 | Semester 2 |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- Honours degree (2:1 or higher) or oversea's equivalent
In order to be considered, applicants will have or should be expecting to achieve an Honours degree (2:1 or higher) or postgraduate diploma from a UK university (or overseas equivalent) in a highly quantitative subject (such as Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Accounting or Science). Applicants who demonstrate being able to exceed the minimum entry requirements will be given preference.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fees and scholarships
- £19,650
(full-time)
Postgraduate Masters Loan
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
Scholarships
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
Birmingham Masters Scholarships
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
- 29 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
How to apply to our taught courses
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
Career opportunities
Graduates will leave Birmingham perfectly placed to take up key investments roles in a wide range of careers including banks and large corporations, investment institutions, pension funds and charitable organisations as well as roles with wealthy individual clients. We also provide ongoing careers support for international students who wish to work in the UK after graduation.
As a Birmingham Business School student, you will benefit from two award-winning Careers teams.
Careers Network is the University of Birmingham careers and employability team offering: career fairs, employer events with top firms across the UK, start-up and entrepreneurial activities, and support. Internships and bursaries are also available exclusively to University of Birmingham students.
BBS Careers is a dedicated service for Birmingham Business School students. The team provides guidance, support, and work experience opportunities, tailored to business school students, to help you succeed during and after university. We offer workshops, alumni and employer events, and 1-to-1 consultations. These will help you to develop your skills and learn how to submit high-quality internship and graduate applications.
Student experience
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham is a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
Campus life
Our green and spacious campus is the place where our community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.