Financial Innovations, Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

MSc

  • Entry year 2026
  • Duration Full time 1 year
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Overview

If you aspire to lead the future of finance, our?MSc Financial Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI)?is designed for you. The programme’s versatile curriculum will open doors to many high-value professions at the intersection of finance and technology, where expertise in AI and financial innovation is increasingly rewarded.

MSc Financial Technologies and AI is a unique programme that combines classical quantitative finance techniques with cutting-edge developments in financial technology and big data analysis, including machine learning and AI. The curriculum bridges financial theory with practical applications in quantitative trading, risk management, and forecasting. Graduates can pursue prestigious roles such as quantitative traders, risk managers, data scientists, and financial researchers at leading investment banks, hedge funds, and FinTech firms.

The programme develops both your technical expertise and innovative thinking, preparing you for high-impact careers at the intersection of finance and technology while fostering an inquisitive mindset that thrives on research and innovation.

Master quantitative skills and AI applications

You will develop quantitative trading skills, employing sophisticated strategies that leverage the power of data and technology. You will master financial and quantitative risk management tools, learning to identify, analyse and manage risks. You will learn to conduct rigorous simulation analyses and stress tests, ensuring resilience and strategic foresight in decision-making. You will also discover pioneering methods to predict financial and economic trends using AI-driven tools and techniques, all tailored to the world of big data.

Deep dive into financial markets

This programme will help you build a deep understanding of financial markets and key financial instruments and their pricing techniques. You will learn how to develop and price new financial instruments and quantitatively assess their risks. You will gain expertise in modelling financial processes and will be able to apply this knowledge to empirical asset pricing and risk management.

Hands-on with data analytics and programming

You will get comprehensive training in data analytics tools, machine learning techniques, and AI applications for financial data analysis, including big and high-frequency data. You will also become familiar with alternative asset classes such as hedge funds and cryptocurrencies and their associated risks. You will gain practical experience in programming languages (eg, Python, R and MATLAB) and you will work with key financial databases such as DataStream and Bloomberg.

These combined skills will enable you to perform comprehensive financial and quantitative analysis from model development through testing and implementation using real data.

Core modules and customisation

During the taught part of your master’s programme, you will take six core modules, developing your skills and knowledge in financial technologies and data analysis. One core module is a transferrable skills module which develops your soft skills, database management skills, and coding skills. You will also take one optional module, which allows you to tailor your degree to your personal interests.

In the summer, you will integrate all your acquired knowledge in an individual research-driven dissertation project. This project provides hands-on experience with real-world quantitative research while developing your research planning, time-management and written communication skills.

Key facts

Features of the programme you should know about:

Learn from the best

You will learn from world-leading academics who work on major research projects in areas that include quantitative and factor investing and ESG, risk and volatility modelling, real-time detection of extreme market movements, and hedge fund performance and risk.

Enhance your expertise

Master classical quantitative finance techniques and blend them with cutting-edge innovative technologies in machine learning and AI.

Launch your career

Access Lancaster's sector-leading Finance career coaching and join a select cohort of professionals ready for high-impact roles in quantitative trading, risk management, and fintech innovation.

Tailor your learning

Customise your path, whether you are a tech expert seeking finance knowledge or a finance professional upgrading your technical skills. Choose from specialised modules designed to complement your background and career goals.

Connections with the financial industry

Our in-house Industry Engagement and Knowledge Transfer Series has regular talks and events featuring guest speakers from leading global financial institutions, top asset management companies, financial regulators, and economists worldwide

An outstanding student society

As a student at Lancaster, you can join the Lancaster University Economics and Finance Society. Our student-led societies have a track record for giving students experiences that help them land roles in top firms.

Careers

MSc Financial Technologies and AI prepares you for diverse career paths across the global financial sector. Our alumni can target work in prestigious organisations, including:

  • investment banks
  • hedge funds
  • asset management firms
  • proprietary trading firms
  • fintech companies
  • consulting firms
  • central banks
  • sovereign wealth funds
  • pension funds
  • research institutes
  • financial regulatory bodies

The roles our graduates can pursue include:

  • quantitative analyst
  • data scientist
  • risk manager
  • quantitative trader
  • quantitative analyst
  • investment analyst
  • portfolio manager
  • quant developer
  • hedge fund manager
  • algorithmic trading strategist
  • financial engineer
  • fintech developer
  • machine learning engineer
  • quantitative researcher
  • model developer
  • model validation specialist
  • financial consultant
  • cryptocurrency analyst
  • ESG quantitative analyst
  • high-frequency trading developer

Graduates can also choose to continue into PhD programmes or establish their own fintech ventures.

Your professional development is supported by Lancaster’s unique career coaching model. You will benefit from one-to-one support from our specialist accounting and finance career coaches, many of whom have worked in industry and understand the demands of the job market first-hand. They will guide you in writing impactful CVs and cover letters, preparing for interviews and assessment centres, and navigating opportunities across global employers such as Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, and more.

Also, Lancaster University Management School’s Careers team puts on over 100 careers events each year for you to network with top graduate employers in the UK and overseas.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, or science-related discipline (e.g. Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science). Applicants from other business-related degrees with a significant number of quantitative modules studied are also encouraged to apply.

We may also consider non-standard applicants; please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

English language requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

Detailed module information for this postgraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.

Fees and funding

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General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Student profiles

Profiles of recent master's graduates from the Department of Accounting and Finance

portrait photograph of Novia Lukman

Novia Lukman

MSc Finance, 2024
portrait photograph of Andreas Darmalim

Andreas Darmalim

MSc Finance, 2022
portrait photograph of Joshua Greathead

Joshua Greathead

MSc Advanced Financial Analysis, 2022
portrait photograph of Rohan Biyani

Rohan Biyani

MSc Finance, 2022
portrait photograph of Clara Seggewisse

Clara Seggewisse

MSc Finance, 2021
portrait photograph of James Cross

James Cross

MSc Finance, 2021

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.