MSc Finance in the UK: Which Course Type Fits Your Degree
TL;DR: An MSc Finance in the UK suits graduates who already studied finance, economics or a strongly quantitative subject. An MSc Accounting and Finance suits accounting graduates and can carry ACCA or CIMA exemptions. A Finance and Management or Financial Management course is the usual entry point if your degree is in another field.
Three course titles look almost the same on a search page, but UK universities admit very different students to each. Choosing the wrong one can mean a rejection, or a year repeating what you already know. If you are applying for an MSc Finance in the UK from Sri Lanka, the local steps are near the end.
Not sure which finance master's your degree qualifies you for? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What is the difference between the three course types?
The difference is who the course is written for, not the word "finance" in the title.
- MSc Finance assumes you have studied finance and quantitative methods before. The University of Manchester says applicants must show "a solid background in quantitative skills, econometrics or maths", and directs mathematics, physics and engineering graduates to its MSc Quantitative Finance instead.
- MSc Accounting and Finance builds on an accounting degree. The University of Exeter asks for at least two undergraduate modules in financial accounting.
- MSc Finance and Management or Financial Management is built for people moving into finance. Loughborough University asks for "a good honours degree in a non-finance field" and tells applicants with a substantial finance component to apply to a specialist finance programme. The University of Birmingham describes its course as suiting people "building on a finance background or bridging into the sector from another discipline".
Want a view on which of the three your transcript points to?
How do UK finance master's courses compare?
We read six course pages. Every course below runs for one year full-time. Fees are for international students, with the year exactly as each page states it.
| Course | Degree and background | IELTS | International fee | Professional links on the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Finance, University of Manchester | 2:1 (60% average); finance or economics preferred; strong quantitative skills | On a separate language page | £39,700 per year, September 2027 entry | CFA Institute Affiliate status |
| MSc Finance, University of Liverpool | 2:2 in finance, accounting or economics | 6.5, no component below 6.0 | £31,000, 2027/28 | Recognised in the CFA Institute Affiliation Program |
| MSc Finance, Lancaster University | 2:2 in finance, accounting, economics or business; maths, engineering, physics and computing graduates encouraged | 6.5, 6.0 in each element | 2027/28 fees not yet set | Optional CFA Level I exam training |
| MSc Accounting and Finance, University of Exeter | 2:2 in accounting, finance or related; two financial accounting modules | Profile B1 (scores on a separate page) | £32,600 per year, listed for 2027 entry | ACCA and CIMA accredited; up to 11 CIMA exemptions |
| MSc Finance and Management, Loughborough University | 2:2 (55%) in a non-finance field; maths or statistics in your degree | On a separate page | £27,000, 2027-28 | None stated |
| MSc Financial Management, University of Birmingham | 2:1; no subject named | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | Not shown on the page we read | Optional ACT treasury certificates |
Entry ranges from a 2:2 to a 2:1, so a 2:2 does not rule you out; our guide to a master's in the UK with a 2:2 explains how to apply. CFA links are support, not exemptions: none of these pages promises a CFA exam exemption.
Which one fits your background?
| Your background | Course type to shortlist | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Finance or economics degree with maths, statistics or econometrics modules | MSc Finance | Your grades in finance and quantitative modules, not only your overall class |
| Accounting degree, or ACCA papers already passed | MSc Accounting and Finance | Which ACCA or CIMA exemptions the course page names |
| Maths, engineering, physics or computing degree | MSc Finance where the page invites you, or a quantitative finance course | Whether the university redirects your subject to another programme |
| Business, management or any other non-finance degree | Finance and Management or Financial Management | Evidence of numerical study, such as a statistics module |
| Several years of work in banking, audit or finance | Any of the three, depending on your degree | Whether the page counts experience or professional papers toward entry |
If you are weighing finance against data-heavy roles, read our comparison of business analytics and data science master's courses. With significant management experience, an MBA in the UK may fit better.
Before you apply: four checks
- Match your transcript to the subject rule. Count your finance, accounting and quantitative modules.
- Confirm the fee year. Lancaster had not set 2027/28 fees, and Birmingham's international fee was not shown on the page we read.
- Read the English page. Three of the six pages list their IELTS scores elsewhere.
- Plan the time after the course. GOV.UK says a Graduate visa lasts 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. Our guide to the 18-month Graduate Route explains what that means.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Request a transcript that lists every module and grade, because admissions teams read module titles to judge your background.
- If you have passed ACCA, CIMA or CA Sri Lanka papers, list them in your application. Exeter, for example, considers professional qualifications alongside your degree.
- Check the English requirement on each university's language page early, as Manchester, Exeter and Loughborough list theirs separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do an MSc Finance in the UK without a finance degree? Yes, through the right course type. Loughborough's MSc Finance and Management is written for non-finance graduates, and Lancaster encourages maths, engineering and physics graduates to apply to its MSc Finance.
What degree class do I need for an MSc Finance in the UK? It varies. Liverpool, Lancaster, Exeter and Loughborough state a 2:2. Manchester and Birmingham ask for a 2:1.
Does an MSc Finance give CFA exemptions? None of the pages we read promises a CFA exemption. Liverpool and Manchester describe CFA Institute affiliation, and Lancaster offers optional CFA Level I training.
Which course gives ACCA or CIMA exemptions? Accounting and finance courses. Exeter says you may be exempt from up to 11 CIMA exams, and its auditing module may exempt you from ACCA's Audit and Assurance paper.
PS: The title on the course page matters less than the line about who it is for. Read that line against your own transcript, and the shortlist usually becomes clear. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will go through it with you.
Lasantha Jayawardena
References
MSc Finance (2027 entry), The University of Manchester. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/01383/msc-finance (accessed 16 October 2026)
Finance MSc, University of Liverpool. https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/finance-msc (accessed 16 October 2026)
Finance MSc, Lancaster University. https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/finance-msc/ (accessed 16 October 2026)
MSc Accounting and Finance, University of Exeter. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/masters-degrees/msc-accounting-and-finance/ (accessed 16 October 2026)
Finance and Management MSc, Loughborough University. https://lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/masters-degrees/a-z/finance-management/ (accessed 16 October 2026)
Financial Management MSc, University of Birmingham. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/business/financial-mgt (accessed 16 October 2026)
Graduate visa, GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa (accessed 16 October 2026)
