Investments MSc

Investment management is in a period of rapid change, driven by shifting investor preferences, margin compression, regulatory developments and advancing technologies. The MSc Investments will help you lead on and work with those changes as part of a successful career in investments.

Course structure

This course will run over 12 months in a full-time-mode.

• Birmingham, the UK's second-largest city, is a prominent business and financial hub, home to esteemed global firms like IBM, HSBC, Lloyds, KPMG, and PwC.
• You will have access to our state-of-the-art Bloomberg training suite where a range of trading techniques can be practised.
• Our strong industry links combine rigorous academics with practical focus, exemplified by the Market Microstructure module, enhancing job opportunities through innovative training used by leading global financial firms.
• This course is recognised by the CFA Institute University Recognition Programme, incorporating 70% of the CFA Programme Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), providing a strong foundation and excellent CFA exam preparation.
• You will be part of a small cohort on this specialist programme, allowing you to develop a closer relationship with experts, staff and fellow students.

This course has been especially designed for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (such as Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Accounting or Science), who want to develop the highly sought after critical, analytical and technical skills required to manage complex financial assets.

You will have access to our state-of-the-art Bloomberg training suite where a range of trading techniques can be practised. You can further sharpen your financial modelling and analytical skills by using various software and financial databases available in the Birmingham Business School, such as Bloomberg, WRDS, Compustat, CRSP, Capital IQ, BoardEx, Morningstar, BankFocus, CSMAR, Datastream, Thomson One, and FAME.

• Taught modules – these include lectures, practical classes and seminars.
• Assessments - these will include individual assignments, class tests, group presentation and/or written examinations in some modules.
• Dissertation Project - over the summer term, you will work with your assigned supervisors to develop your research proposal to a full dissertation.

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

Year: 1
2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Students should choose only 1 from the two below: 

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

As a Birmingham Business School student, you will benefit from two award-winning Careers teams.

Careers Network is the University of Birmingham careers and employability team offering: career fairs, employer events with top firms across the UK, start-up and entrepreneurial activities, and support. Internships and bursaries are also available exclusively to University of Birmingham students.

BBS Careers is a dedicated service for Birmingham Business School students. The team provides guidance, support, and work experience opportunities, tailored to business school students, to help you succeed during and after university. We offer workshops, alumni and employer events, and 1-to-1 consultations. These will help you to develop your skills and learn how to submit high-quality internship and graduate applications.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Accommodation

Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.

Living in Birmingham

As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham has developed into a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.

Campus life

Our green and spacious campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.

Student support

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.