About the MSc programmes
The MSc Finance and Economics, based in the Department of Finance, is taught in conjunction with the Department of Economics, allowing students to study in two of the most highly rated departments in their subject areas in the world. The programme draws on the School's strengths in economics, finance and econometrics to impart a rigorous understanding of financial markets, grounded in financial economics and econometric methods. Covering investments and asset pricing, option and derivatives pricing and portfolio management, the programme provides a thorough exposure to econometric methods, including time series analysis, with applications to financial models and data. The core courses emphasise analytical rigour and theoretical foundations, in addition to application of the theory.
The MSc Finance and Economics is an ideal preparation for a variety of careers in the global financial services sector, with the emphasis on financial economics particularly attractive to investment banks, the financial services sector more generally and to consulting firms. The programme (the Research track in particular) also provides a rigorous training and preparation for doctoral research in the area. Students who are particularly interested in doctoral research will have the opportunity to transfer to the MSc Finance and Economics (Research) programme (see below) once they complete the introductory September course. All applications should be made to the MSc Finance and Economics programme in the first instance as entry to the Research programme will be considered once students are registered at LSE.
Applicants for the MSc Finance and Economics should have a strong undergraduate background in economics, including at least a year of calculus and a semester of linear algebra, or an applied mathematical sciences background with at least a year of economics courses. Applicants with an insufficient background in econometrics may be asked to take an econometrics course in the LSE Summer School as a condition of admission.
Minimum entry requirements are a good upper second class honours degree from a UK university or equivalent in an overseas degree. This degree should have had strong analytical content, including courses in microeconomic theory, calculus and matrix algebra, probability and statistics. All applicants must also submit a GRE or GMAT test score. GRE/GMAT scores must show a strong performance in the quantitative segment (above the 85th percentile). Decisions will not normally be made in the absence of this test result. Please see Admissions Enquiries System|. Applicants to the MSc programme may be exempted from submitting GRE/GMAT scores only in exceptional circumstances. Where this is the case, applicants should complete and submit the online GMAT/GRE waiver form on the Graduate Admissions website. Candidates are advised that requests for a waiver of this test are seldom granted. Applicants from developing countries may be eligible to be considered for one of the Lord Dahrendorf Scholarships (sponsored by Deutsche Bank) or the Standard Bank Scholarships. For more information, please see Department of Finance|.
Students are required to attend the Introductory course in Mathematics and Statistics in September, which reviews topics such as matrix algebra, multivariate calculus and differential equations. Throughout the Michaelmas term, students will also be required to take a course in Probability and Stochastic Calculus. This provides an introduction to the theory of stochastic processes in continuous time, with a view to finance applications. On completion of the programme, students will take examined courses to the value of four full units, one of which will include writing a dissertation as part of the assessment.
A more detailed description of the programme and its courses, including a comparison with other finance-related MSc programmes at LSE, can be found on the Department of Finance website. Students interested in a finance-related MSc with a less analytical orientation should consider the MSc Finance (Full-time) programme.
Compulsory courses
Options
(* half unit)
Choose to the value of one full unit from the following list of half unit options:
To fulfil the programme requirements, students must also complete a dissertation of 6,000 words on an agreed topic in one of the optional half unit courses, and take an examination in the other.
About the research programme
The MSc Finance and Economics (Research) programme gives students the opportunity to take a more advanced microeconomics course, which will be more suited to those who plan to undertake doctoral research in the field. Students interested in the Research track should apply for MSc Finance and Economics as usual, however once they are registered at LSE and have completed the introductory September course they will have the opportunity to be considered for a transfer onto the Research programme. This transfer will depend upon the student being accepted into one of the two advanced microeconomics courses by the Department of Economics and their performance in the September course examinations.
Compulsory courses
Plus choose two of the half unit optional courses listed above. Students must also complete a dissertation of 6,000 to 10,000 words on an agreed topic in one of the optional half unit courses, and take an examination in the other.