M.SC. IN FINANCIAL ECONOMICS

INTRODUCTION

The MSc in Financial Economics is run jointly with the Department of Economics and Said Business School.

The Oxford MSc Financial Economics (MFE) is a full-time nine-month programme that will provide you with outstanding training in the tools of financial economics sought by many financial institutions, companies, and public organisations. It combines a rigorous academic core with tailored practical applications, designed in consultation with leading financial recruiters.

The programme is for individuals who are interested in careers in investment banking, asset management, private equity, and management consultancy.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is comprised of four core modules and five electives.

The core modules are all carefully integrated: the economics and econometrics modules apply theories and methodologies to finance, and the finance modules provide the underlying economic principles of financial practice.

An overview of the course structure is outlined below. Further details about the core and elective courses can be found at the course website.

CORE COURSES

The asset pricing module covers the theory and practice of valuing claims to uncertain cash flows; for example, stocks and stock options, bonds and foreign-exchange instruments. The module covers standard material such as CAPM and the Black-Scholes formula, and some advanced material such as consumption-CAPM and pricing formulas for "exotic options". About half of the module is dedicated to the application of advanced statistical methods to the area of asset pricing and to practical work with real-world data.

Corporate finance studies the financing, valuation and corporate governance of firms. During this module, you will learn the fundamental principles of financial accounting, the valuation of firms' assets and the determinants of firms' financial structures. You will be taught the key components of firms' financial decisions and the operation of financial markets, including new issues of securities, debt, and dividend policy. You will learn about the relevance of different financial institutions to the financing of firms, the takeover process, corporate restructurings, and financial distress.

Microeconomics is the study of how financial and commercial frameworks and conditions impact on individual situations and business units. During this module you will learn to apply the basic tools of market and firm analysis, game theory, incentive theory, and auctions. In addition, the module will provide an introduction to fundamental ideas in macroeconomics, reinforced by lectures from leading policy experts.

The module in financial econometrics provides students with a background in the fundamentals of empirical modelling and testing in finance. This will allow you to better understand crucial concepts like risk, evidence, and prediction.

ELECTIVE COURSES

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The wide range of electives available enables you to gain a deeper knowledge of areas of special interest. Electives on offer are subject to change from year to year depending on demand.

  • CAPITAL RAISING AND FINANCE

  • CASES IN FINANCE AND INVESTMENTS

  • CORPORATE VALUATION

  • ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE

  • FIXED INCOME AND DERIVATIVES

  • MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS AND RESTRUCTURING

  • PRIVATE EQUITY

ADMISSION CRITERIA

For full details on the Admissions Criteria for the MSc in Financial Economics, please visit the Oxford University webpage here.

FEES AND FUNDING

You can find more information about the annual fees for the MSc in Financial Economics on the Saïd Business School webpage here by scrolling down to the ‘Fees and funding’ section.

SCHOLARSHIPS

MSc Financial Economics Scholarships

Saïd Business School in partnership with the Department of Economics offers some scholarships to MFE candidates who apply by the January deadline and who meet the other eligibility criteria. Further information about these scholarships can be found here

 

University of Oxford Scholarships

Oxford scholarships worth over £1,000 are advertised through the University's A-Z of scholarships listing

You can also use this search tool to find out whether you are eligible for University and College scholarships and whether these need any action from you, e.g. submitting additional application materials or ticking a box in the Funding section of the application form. There are over 1,000 full graduate scholarships available across all University programmes. Full scholarships will cover your course and provide a grant for living costs.

The vast majority of Oxford scholarships are awarded to applicants who submit their course application by the January deadline.

 

External Scholarships

A summary of external scholarships and search facilities is provided on the University's External Scholarships page. These are managed by organisations external to Oxford. If you have any questions, please contact the organisation directly.