MSc Financial Economics

Gain a thorough grounding in theoretical and applied finance and economics

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Start date

September 2025
View semester dates

Length

1 year full-time

School/department

Department of Economics and Related Studies, Department of Mathematics, School for Business and Society

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Globalisation means an ever-increasing demand for specialists in economics and finance.

Develop your background in economics to capture skills in areas of finance and economics which will give you the edge with employers in global financial markets or allow you to pursue further research.

This course is part of our uniquely multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary suite of finance Masters programmes. They bring together expertise from the Department of Economics and Related Studies, Department of Mathematics and the School for Business and Society. Discover our focused syllabus introducing contemporary tools, methods and approaches to tackle current real-world challenges in economics and finance.

Aimed at students with a prior knowledge of economics, this course will give you a thorough grounding in theoretical and applied finance and economics. You will be prepared for a career in sectors including financial services, hedge funds or investment banking as well as national and international public institutions.

At the University of York we offer a number of different courses as part of our finance suite, including general, focused and specialised programmes. Learn more about our range of finance Masters offered at York.

https://youtu.be/yGUcHL79GGQ

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Pioneering academics

making groundbreaking contributions in areas including economic theory, econometrics, finance and macroeconomics.

14th in the UK

for research in Economics (the Times Higher Education's REF results, 2021).

Dedicated Facilities

You'll benefit from the University's new Trading Room to get to grips with financial markets.

Course content

This programme will expand your knowledge and skills in economics and give you a rigorous understanding of the theory and econometrics of financial markets and economics. It will also provide you with the opportunity to specialise through a significant individual research project in your chosen area of economics or finance. Areas of study include corporate finance, investments, asset pricing, microeconomics and macroeconomics.

You'll gain a range of employability and personal transferrable skills that can be directly applied within the dynamic world of global finance and economics.

Modules
Dissertation

Modules

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module, examples of which may include:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

Dissertation

You'll complete a piece of independent research of up to 10,000 words, carried out over three months of the summer. It will offer you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

Learning outcomes

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Learning outcomes for this course

Explain and understand the methods of logical and mathematical reasoning used by economists, finance professionals and researchers to assess and manage risk, price financial assets, and make financial decisions, drawing on key analytical approaches and understanding of the major current research problems in so doing
Identify the research methods and models relevant to particular problems in economics and finance in learned journals and other media with the aid of bibliographical databases, summarising and synthesising this body of knowledge to thoroughly understand the limitations of such models and how an allowance can be made for these weaknesses in practice
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the techniques of economics and finance and the ability to use them, by formulating rigorous and well-reasoned analysis of analytical problems
Use developed digital skills to locate, compile and present economic and financial data and demonstrate a thorough appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses
Formulate economic or financial models in a suitable form for data analysis, selecting suitable state-of-the-art statistical, econometric and computer-based techniques to examine these models and provide robust economic and financial forecasting counter-factual analysis to inform policymakers, private sector clients and/or other academic researchers
Produce effective written communications which address the concerns of the intended audience. To articulate effectively arguments which are supported by analytical reasoning and, where necessary, by data-based evidence
Formulate a research proposal, identifying a testable hypothesis, select the methodology appropriate to test it and carry out the research efficiently and independently to a deadline, and to effectively communicate persuasive findings
To display a broad range of personal transferable skills including the ability to work positively within a group and act inclusively within a diverse academic community.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study mode	UK (home)	International and EU
Full-time (1 year)	£16,810	£33,700

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Postgraduate taught fees and expenses

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

The Chartered Financial Analyst Program

Turbo charge your career with the gold standard in finance credentials. Eligible students can undertake Level I of the CFA program in collaboration with Fitch Learning.

CQF Institute Membership

The CQF Institute is the fastest-growing quant finance membership organisation. Students studying on our finance suite of Masters degrees will now gain complimentary membership to the Institute.

The material that I’ve been able to learn during my MSc has been nothing short of fantastic. The modules are rigorous and intellectually stimulating, and really took my knowledge to a new level. It’s also exposed me to unique ideas in economics, which has let me see things from a different perspective.

Ridwaan, MSc Economics. Read Ridwaan's blog post.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

This Masters combines a variety of different teaching methods, including:

lectures
seminars
problem-solving classes
practical computer-based sessions.

A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.

The department also has a vibrant research community. You’ll be able to attend seminars and research workshops in which staff and invited speakers discuss their research.

Teaching location

You'll be based in the Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College and elsewhere on Campus West.

You'll gain access to our schools' and departments' shared resources and financial databases, including:

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

Formal types of assessment in this course include:

Dissertation
Exams
Group project
Seminar presentation
Essays

As you study modules you’ll take part in assessments that do not contribute to your final mark, instead giving useful feedback on your progress and understanding.

Careers and skills

This course will act as a springboard into a career in an area related to economics and finance. It is also an ideal preparation for a PhD.

Career opportunities

Corporate investment banker
Internal auditor
Financial analyst
Credit officer
Marketing expert at a bank
Risk manager

Transferable skills

Independent working
Time management and people skills
Communicating research
Performing statistical analysis
Analytical and technical research skills.

Entry requirements

Qualification	Typical offer
Undergraduate degree	2:2 or equivalent degree in Economics, or a degree with a significant proportion of Economics elements involving advanced Economics [such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics] with evidence of strong grades in quantitative elements which could include Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or Physics.
Other qualifications and experience	If you do not meet our advertised entry requirements, we may consider your application if you have a minimum of three years of relevant senior managerial-level working experience or a relevant professional qualification such as the CFA Level 1 or the ACCA
Other international qualifications	Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Qualification	Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator)	6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR	B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT	7, minimum of 6 in each component
Oxford Test of English Advanced	136, minimum 126 in each component
Duolingo	120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT	B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic	70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language	478-509, with 444-477 in all other components
Skills for English	B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic	61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL	87, minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III	Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

How to apply