The MSc Finance (part-time) is a 21-month programme taught over two years. All teaching takes place on the central LSE campus in Holborn from 18:30 - 22:00. In the first year, classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the second year, classes are taught Monday-Thursday. Exact days will vary according to optional course choices. There is a short break part way through each class where catering is provided in the form of sandwiches, salads, snacks, drinks, tea and coffee.
Teaching will be delivered in Michaelmas and Lent terms. Revision sessions take place in the Summer term to help prepare students for exams. Optional online Saturday sessions run throughout the year to assist students who wish to revise or catch up on study. In the first term, you will have an in-class assignment at the end of the Michaelmas and Lent terms and final exams take place in the summer. You can find out more about upcoming dates on the LSE term dates page.
You will complete courses amounting to the total value of four units, with two full-unit compulsory courses in your first year, and then four half-unit optional courses in your second year.
First year
Before the course teaching begins, you will attend a series of five pre-sessional classes in September. These classes cover revision and introduction to core quantitative mathematics, statistics and accounting, ensuring all students are able to tackle the material in the first term’s core courses.
The foundation of the programme is built in the first year when you will study two full-unit compulsory courses. These courses must be passed in order to progress to the second year.
Corporate Finance
Provides a comprehensive overview of the firm's investment decision and the cost of capital. This in turn is linked to the firm's financial structure and market environment where the firm operates. It studies in detail major financial decisions including dividend choice, going public, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring in financial distress.
Asset Markets
The course familiarises students with the workings of financial markets, and equips them with the fundamental tools of asset valuation. It takes students from fundamental concepts to up-to-date applications in fixed-income, equity and derivatives markets.
Second year
In the second year, you will deepen your knowledge by taking four optional half-unit courses, on topics such as financial systems, risk management, portfolio management methods, advanced derivatives and structured financial products, fixed income, advanced corporate finance, and applied financial valuation. You will also be required to write a 6,000 word dissertation in the place of an exam in one of the four optional courses.
You can choose from a range of evening courses or a limited range of daytime courses. You are strongly encouraged to choose from the dedicated evening courses as these have been especially designed to cater to the needs of working students.
You may have coursework assignments or presentations, either individual or group work. This varies between courses. You are also required to submit a 6,000 word dissertation for one of their courses. Final exams take place in the summer.
Teaching will be delivered in Michaelmas and Lent terms. Revision sessions take place in the Summer term to help prepare students for exams. Some courses will have compulsory pre-sessionals or optional Saturday sessions: this varies between courses.
Optional courses
Evening courses
(* denotes a half unit)
Fixed Income Securities and Credit Markets*
Provides a thorough grounding in recent developments in fixed income securities pricing, hedging and portfolio management.
Topics in Portfolio Management*
Provides analytical and statistical tools for the management of investment portfolios.
Mergers, Buyouts and Corporate Restructurings*
Covers advanced topics in Corporate Finance and Valuation and introduces students to valuation techniques for both securities and projects.
Financial Engineering*
Covers the basics in derivatives theory, and to apply them to a multitude of financial securities and structured products.
Risk Management in Financial Markets*
Gives an overview of risk management in the context of portfolios of mixed income securities and derivatives, as well as dealing with credit risk.
Private Equity and Venture Capital*
Provides a thorough grounding in the theory and recent developments in the field of private equity.
Quantitative Security Analysis*
Using information in financial statements and macro-economic variables to come up with the inputs into Merton-type models of viewing corporate securities as contingent claims on a firm’s assets.
Daytime courses
International Finance*
Examines recent developments in international finance, incorporating theoretical, empirical, policy and institutional dimensions.
Entrepreneurial Finance*
Evaluates business plans, growth opportunities and Venture Capital (VC) financing, covering a broad set of instruments used by entrepreneurial firms.
To find the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.
Please note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.
You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.