Finance

The MSc Finance programme at the ICMA Centre is one of our two flagship Finance Masters. World-ranked by the Financial Times, this is our longest established programme with over 2,800 alumni around the world, previously known as MSc International Securities, Investment and Banking.

It has been designed with the support of industry practitioners to equip you with highly practical skills and expertise sought after by major employers in the financial services industry. The programme is ideal if you are interested in a wider choice of potential career paths in finance. MSc Finance graduates typically enjoy successful careers in Trading, Investment Banking/Corporate Finance, Investment Management, Commercial Banking, and several other pathways within the financial services spectrum.

A number of features differentiate this programme from other Finance Masters, aiming to offer you a competitive edge. At the centre of it all is the hands-on, practice centred approach. You will benefit from interactive, technically advanced teaching and applied training, bespoke simulations, case-study based projects and masterclasses by our distinguished academics and industry guest speakers.

Parallel with your studies, you will have the opportunity to prepare online for the CFA level 1 exam with Fitch Learning, one of the worlds' leading Financial Training providers. Access to Fitch Learning's advanced online learning platform, ‘Fitch Learning Cognition', is included in the programme tuition fees. CFA exam fees are not included in the programme fees but 15 students on the programme will be offered CFA exam scholarships on the basis of their engagement with the learning platform and performance in the mock CFA test. The ICMA Centre is a CFA University Affiliate- this is in recognition that this degree covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, the CFA Institute Ethical and Professional Standards, and other requirements.

Students who successfully complete the Advanced Options Trading module will have the opportunity to be awarded the Ofqual-regulated, ICE and CISI-recognised Advanced Diploma in Options Trading - an arrangement unique to the University of Reading. This is an employer-led, industry-accredited programme centred on professional development, practical application and transferrable skills, making individuals work-ready for job role profiles including options trader, options broker, market maker, options analyst or risk manager.

If you are considering a career as an equity or corporate finance analyst, students on our flagship programmes will have exclusive access to a Financial Modelling module delivered by Financial Edge, the leading company training the analysts of the world’s top 3 investment banks.

As part of the programme’s international exposure, you will also have the option to undertake one month of study during the summer semester on Fintech and Digital Transformation in Athens at ALBA Graduate Business School, American College of Greece or attend a not for credit Summer School at Tsinghua University in China.

Along with a comprehensive Finance focused careers development programme available to all ICMA Centre students, you will also have exclusive access to a core module on professional development designed to improve key employability skills and develop a bespoke career progression plan. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a summer work placement anywhere in the world as part of your studies.

You will benefit from a wider choice of summer electives including Alternative Investments, Structured Products and Algorithmic and High Frequency Trading modules.