Global Finance (Online)

MSc

  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • Duration Part time 2 - 4 years
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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Gain expertise in sustainable finance, investment strategy, AI integration and globalisation strategies

  • Connect with expert academics and professionals from around the world in live online sessions

  • Study at a school ranked in the top five in the UK for the impact of its research (Financial Times)

This online programme offers a choice of three start dates each year: September, January and May. The next available start date is January 2026.

Bridge the gap between financial theory and practical application in areas like sustainable finance and AI with Lancaster University's career-driven MSc Global Finance (Online). Our programme is designed around real-world data and contemporary market dynamics that employers highly value. Through immersive, practical learning, you will develop a deep understanding of both fundamental and advanced financial principles essential for navigating today’s global financial markets. Your skills and learning will culminate in an original dissertation project, where you will engage with a real-world financial issue.

As a student in the online MSc Global Finance, you'll be instructed by leading academics at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS), a globally recognised institution in the UK for research impact. Throughout the programme, you will have opportunities to engage regularly with industry-experienced academics who will guide you through coursework that reflects the interconnected and rapidly changing world of global finance.

Upon completion of the programme, you will:

  • develop an understanding of foundational and advanced theories and concepts across all key functional areas of finance
  • acquire a practical and critical approach to solving contemporary financial challenges, including those involving AI, sustainable finance and macroeconomics in the modern business world
  • gain the skills to conduct independent research, apply rigorous methodologies and effectively communicate complex financial insights, solutions and results
  • learn to apply financial knowledge to personal and professional matters to further your career in finance.

How is the course taught and assessed?

This master’s programme consists of 180 credits, made up of five modules (30 credits each) and one 30-credit dissertation module. Throughout the programme, you will engage with coursework that will help you acquire a practical and critical approach to problem-solving skills when applying financial theory to contemporary financial complexities, which include frontier applications such as AI, sustainable finance, corporate finance and an understanding of macroeconomics in the modern business world. You will be able to build a supportive learning community with teaching staff and peers during weekly live sessions, as well as engage with other lectures and study independently at a time that suits you.

You will have the opportunity to connect theory to practice and demonstrate your learning with a dissertation towards the end of the programme. This culminating project allows you to delve deeply into a specific area of contemporary global finance that aligns with your interests and career goals. You will have the freedom to select a topic, conduct research and apply the theoretical frameworks and analytical techniques that you have learnt. This dissertation serves as a capstone experience, demonstrating your ability to critically analyse complex financial issues, develop original insights and contribute to the field of global finance.

Who is this programme for?

If you're interested in the dynamic world of global finance, our career-centric programme will equip you with the skills you need to analyse complex financial data, understand macroeconomic policies and develop strategic insights to gain a strategic edge in the finance industry.

Depending on your academic background, you will need a minimum of two years’ professional work experience.

Get more information

Answer a few quick questions to determine if our Global Finance (Online) MSc is a good fit for you.

Find out about our online Global Finance MSc

Careers

In today's dynamic and complex financial landscape, organisations operating within the financial sector are actively seeking highly skilled industry professionals. Professionals who possess a strong foundational understanding of financial principles, as well as specialised, in-depth knowledge of global financial markets and topics, are highly sought after.

One of the guiding principles of our MSc Global Finance (Online) is our strong emphasis on career readiness. We will teach you the principles of global finance, using real-world data and examples. You will explore corporate finance, investment analysis, global financial markets, AI applications in finance and policy impacts. Throughout the programme, you will also develop key strategic and analytical skills to address industry needs and give you a competitive edge.

Some careers you may pursue with a Master's of Science in Finance include:

  • Financial Analyst
  • Investment Manager
  • Regulator/Policymaker
  • Treasury Manager
  • Financial Consultant/Engineer
  • Quantitative Analyst/Researcher
  • Data Scientist
  • Risk Manager
  • Investment Analyst
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Hedge Fund Manager
  • Algorithmic Trading Strategist
  • Fintech Developer
  • Model Developer/Validation Specialist
  • Cryptocurrency Analyst.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in finance, accounting, economics, a STEM subject or another business-related subject, with a minimum of two years’ professional work experience in any field.

Applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree and three or more years of relevant work experience are strongly encouraged to apply, and applicants without previous degree-level studies but with both five or more years of relevant work experience and existing professional qualifications will be considered.

English language requirements

We 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.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

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

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Global Finance (Online) MSc is divided into five modules and a capstone project worth 30 credits each, amounting to a total of 180 credits. The programme is structured across the following modules:

Core

core modules accordion

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Top 100 in the world for Accounting and Finance

Lancaster is ranked 14th in the UK and joint 90th in the world for Accounting and Finance according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, one of nine subjects at Lancaster to be featured in the top 100 in these prestigious listings.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

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Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year 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.

Terms and conditions

Read Lancaster University's terms and conditions for Lancaster University Online students.