Investment Management

Entry requirements

Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, economics or other business-related subject area, with at least a Second-Class Honours degree (2.2).

Students who have appropriate professional qualifications (e.g., ACCA, CIMA) or relevant work experience may also be considered.

Students with a good 2.2 (55% and above or overseas equivalent) with backgrounds outside of these areas (e.g., History or Pharmacy) may also be considered and are encouraged to contact the course Director.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Please note, all course information including entry requirements relates to the 2022/23 academic year.

The unpredictability of the global economy and challenges of finding the right investment, then generating the highest returns on behalf of clients mean that a career in wealth management is definitely not for the faint hearted. There’s a reason why investment management offers some of the highest salaries in the financial services sector and why there’s always demand for talented and ambitious individuals. So, if you’ve an analytical mind, thrive on pushing the boundaries and the thought of high pressure financial decisions excites you, our MSc Investment Management will prepare you to make your mark in this fast-paced, fast-growing profession.

Fee pressures, margin compression, changing investor preferences and higher customer expectations are driving competition within the world’s financial markets, increasing the demand for highly-skilled professionals able to develop innovative, sophisticated investment management strategies which mitigate risk and maximise returns.

On our MSc, you’ll learn about the principles, tools and techniques of investment management, experiencing first-hand how to apply them in real-life financial situations, analysing case studies and working with real-world data in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Suite. In doing so, you’ll develop the skills needed to tackle the challenges in 21st century capital markets.

You will gain an in-depth understanding of financial and management accounting, economics, international financial markets, statistical analysis, financial modelling, investment and portfolio management and derivatives and financial risk management.

Suited to graduates in finance-related subjects and those working within investment banking, financial services or the financial function of global corporations, this programme is designed to nurture future leaders in the financial services sectors, occupying key roles such as analysts, fund managers and bankers.

Course content has been purposefully designed to track the syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA), the premier global association for investment management professionals. It will prepare you take the CFA Level 1 exam to qualify as an analyst: we will even contribute towards your entrance fee.

You will be taught by faculty with experience of the real world of finance and business, studying alongside a diverse international body of students from a wide range of national and social backgrounds. You’ll develop as a global citizen, vital in today’s globalised world of work, expanding your professional networks and learning to appreciate different cultural backgrounds and personalities.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

The programme is designed to build a rigorous understanding of core finance and investment theories together with solid training in quantitative analysis. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make extensive use of industry-standard software like STATA and other data sources, such as Bloomberg Professional Services Platforms and DataStream.

You will gain an in-depth knowledge of the nature of the modern firm and the critical differences in the capital structure between modern firms and banks, as well as the complex challenges facing the global investment management industry. We’ll also consider how to manage some of the ethical dilemmas facing the fund management industry, such as conflicts of interests, professionalism, duty to clients and employers.

While completing your MSc, you will be encouraged to prepare for and take level one of the CFA exams, so that by the time you graduate, you have the potential to achieve not only MSc, but also one-third of the training to become a qualified CFA analyst.

Information for international students

IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional english language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

Fees and funding

For information related to fees and funding, please visit the individual course page on the Keele University website.