Course overview
Our MSc Finance (Investment & Asset Management) is a one-year programme that will provide you with a broad range of theoretical, technical, and professional skills required to develop a career in international finance. Our graduates have excellent prospects and take on roles such as investment manager, financial consultant, investment consultant, trader, risk manager, quantitative analyst and portfolio construction analyst with Irish and international financial institutions.
The programme is designed for graduates with any business background who want to specialise in investment management and STEM students who want to apply their skills in the field of finance. As the programme is designed and run by experienced industry professionals, it has a significant practical bias and focuses on developing the skills required by the industry. The syllabus is constantly evolving to incorporate new developments in industry practice and employer requirements.
We recognise the importance of professional qualifications in career development and award academic credit to students sitting a professional examination while on the programme. The programme is a member of the CFA® Institute University Affiliation Programme and a CAIA® Association Academic Partner and incorporates the curriculum of both. This ensures the programme stays current with industry developments and provides students with the knowledge necessary to pass their examinations.
Job outcomes
Career prospects with:
- International investment
- Asset management
- Finance and
- Banking industries
Study method
- In-class
- Blended
- Online
Duration study load
- 1 Year Full-time
Entry requirements
Applicants must normally have a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in:
- A business-related programme (e.g. Commerce, Law, Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Information Systems etc.) or
- A programme with a significant quantitative element (e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Science, Computing etc.)
Applicants who achieve a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) but meet all other requirements and applicants from other degree disciplines with at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on a case by case basis.
Applicants with a primary honours degree who have passed all three levels of the CFA programme are also eligible to apply.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information, please submit an enquiry.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure, please submit an enquiry.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants; please check the fact file above. For more information, please submit an enquiry to find out more.
English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.
Assessment
These modules are supported by modules based on continuous assessment:
- Professional Development (FI6006) is an innovative module operating across the year where students work on developing their communication, presentation and IT skills. This module provides the perfect opportunity to hone your networking, communication and presentation skills. This is complemented by a Research Skills module, which allows students to develop those skills needed to meet the research and analysis challenges they will encounter in employment, along with familiarity with professional IT systems.
- Professional Examination: In this element of the programme, you pursue a course of independent study, under the supervision of an academic mentor, towards the CFA®, CAIA®, QFA or equivalent relevant professional examination. Guidance is provided by our CFA® and CAIA® faculty representatives on the best approach to select and prepare for these examinations. As a member of the CFA® Institute University Affiliated programme and as a CAIA® Association Academic Partner, the faculty awards a number of scholarships for these exams each year. CFA Charter holders are exempt from this requirement; other professional qualifications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Research Project (AC6127)/Internship (AC6129): The final element in the course takes place over the summer. Our students get the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge gained over the year to prepare an applied research report. Under the supervision of an academic mentor, students will research and write a detailed report on a topical issue. The report will be practical in nature, and students can expect to use professional analysis techniques and IT systems. Alternatively, students may undertake a relevant internship and complete their report on an issue that arises from or is informed by that role.
Who's it for?
This MSc Finance (Investment & Asset Management) programme is focused on preparing you for a successful career in the international investment, finance and banking industry. Our graduates gain an understanding of the theory of financial markets while developing the combination of analytical, practical, and professional skills sought by employers. Specific reasons to choose this unique course include:
- It is a one-year course.
- A programme designed and run by faculty with significant industry experience, with a focus on employability and the knowledge and skills required for a career in finance.
- A syllabus aligned with the leading professional bodies ensures graduates have the up-to-date knowledge valued by employers.
- Practical focus ensures graduates have the skills needed to contribute immediately to their employer.
- Strong emphasis on the development of professional skills, including interview and presentation skills, which, combined with a professional examination, provide students with a head start in the job market.
- Excellent employment prospects on completion of the course
- The first programme in the world to award academic credit for sitting a career-enhancing professional examination, CFA©, CAIA©, QFA or equivalent.
- Scholarships are available for students for CFA© and CAIA©
- A constantly evolving curriculum aligned with developments in the finance industry ensures the programme stays relevant, and new topics include coding and machine learning.
- Students have the opportunity to secure a relevant industry internship or produce an applied research project.
Delivery
Over two semesters, students complete ten modules, five core and five specialised modules, assessed by examination (and typically 30% comprising continuous assessment). These are complemented by two modules, professional development and research methods, examined entirely by continuous assessment. In the final semester, students complete the professional examination module and undertake a quantitative research project or internship.
Effective communication and the ability to work in teams are essential skills for a successful career. Our continuous assessment programme is designed to allow students to develop and practice these skills and can take the form of class contributions, individual assignments, case studies, group reports, or presentations.
Who teaches this course?
Our MSc programme is delivered by UCC academic staff, generally from the Department of Accounting and Finance. Alongside academic qualifications, many of the faculty have significant industry experience, having worked at leading investment banks (UBS, HSBC, and Lehman), stockbrokers (Davy and NCB), business advisory firms (Ernst and Young), and hedge funds (Old Mutual Asset Managers and Aphelion Capital). A number of the faculty are CFA charterholders.
Connected Curriculum
Our teaching approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum, where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research, and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as management, marketing, and business.
Subjects
The programme is structured as follows:
- Core Modules: Core modules provide you with the in-depth knowledge to understand and analyse the core topics in finance, such as equity and bond valuation, asset allocation and project finance. These modules focus on analysis and application and have a quantitative element.
- Specialised Modules: Specialised modules cover areas of specific relevance to your future career, such as venture capital, private equity and risk management. The modules here focus on understanding and application, and can be case study-based and/or lecture-driven.
In total, students take 90 credits:
About University College Cork
University College Cork is ranked in the top 1.1% of universities in the world. It is Ireland’s leading institution for the delivery of research impact and the top Irish institution for highly cited researchers. We are the leading global university for sustainability and the Irish university with the highest level of industry collaboration.
The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Colleges located in Belfast, Cork, and Galway. It became University College, Cork, under the Irish Universities Act 1908. The Universities Act 1997 renamed the university as National University of Ireland, Cork, and a Ministerial Order of 1998 renamed the university as University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork, though it continues to be almost universally known as University College Cork.
