MSc in Finance Investment and Asset Management

at University College Cork

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.
   

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 of 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 award 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.
   

In total students take 90 credits:
 

PART I

• AC6101 Project Finance (5 credits)

• AC6105 Risk Management (5 credits)

• AC6108 Venture Capital & Private Equity (5 credits)

• AC6113 Financial Analysis & Forecasting (5 credits)

• AC6116 Quantitative Analysis (5 credits)

• AC6119 Capital Markets & Funds Industry Regulation & Ethics (5 credits)

• EC6005 Derivatives Securities (5 credits)

• FI6003 Asset Pricing & Allocation (5 credits)

• FI6004 Analysis of Debt Instruments (5 credits)

• FI6005 Equity Valuation (5 credits)

• FI6006 Professional Development (5 credits)
   

PART II

• AC6126 Professional Examination Report (5 credits) Plus

• AC6127 Asset Management Research Report (30 credits) Or

• AC6129 Corporate Internship (30 credits)

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.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations

The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.
 

There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.

IELTS*    

• 6.5 Overall

• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT    
 

• 90 Overall

• Listening 20

• Reading 19

• Speaking 21

• Writing 20

The EU fee for this course is €10,630.
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,500.

Upon completion of the MSc Finance (Investment & Asset Management), you can expect to have excellent career prospects with the international investment, asset management, finance and banking industries. Our students have gone on to work for the following companies:
 

Abbey Capital, Advantage Futures (Chicago), Bank of Ireland Treasury, Colonial First State (Sydney), Core Financial Partners (Los Angeles), Davy Stockbrokers, Deutsche Bank, Emerge Capital, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs (New York), Goodbody Corporate Finance, HSBC (Shanghai), JDX Consulting (London), Mitsubishi UFG Fund Services, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust (Chicago), PwC Wealth Management, Rubrics Asset Management, SMBC Aviation Capital, TOBAM Asset Management, Willis Towers Watson.