Financial Economics

Modules and Teaching

• One year full-time or two years part-time, flexible learning or online or on campus, starting in September 2026

  Course structure

  For this course you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • four compulsory modules, including either Econometrics or Econometrics of Financial Markets (30 credits each)
  • one or two option modules (30 credits)
  • an 8000-word dissertation (30 credits).

  Compulsory modules reinforce economic and financial theory with practical application. They include preliminary courses in mathematical and statistical techniques, which take place in September and have to be passed in order to progress to the course.

  Option modules allow you to specialise and are based on current themes. Availability varies across years.

  You can apply to take this Flexible Master’s course either on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course.

  Please note that you will need to attend Birkbeck campus for some assessments for this course, such as examinations.

  Compulsory modules (on campus or online)

  • Econometrics
  • Financial Econometrics
  • Financial Markets, Banking and Regulation
  • Microeconomics
  • Quantitative Techniques

  Indicative option modules (on campus or online)

  • Advanced Econometrics
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Markets
  • Monetary Economics
  • The Economics and Econometrics of Evidence-Based Policy
  • Topics in Economic Policy

  MSc Financial Economics dissertation (on campus or online)

  • MSc Dissertation Economics and Finance

• Teaching

  We encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to help ensure you have the best learning experience and provide a range of different modes of learning to help you juggle study with work and other commitments.

  Find out more about our teaching and teaching hours.

  What are the methods of teaching?

  Through lectures and problem-solving classes. For the applied project and the independent dissertation, you will receive tutorial guidance from a faculty member.

• How will I be assessed?

  Examinations and coursework, including an econometrics project and a dissertation.

  Please note that for this course modules are assessed by an examination at the end of the teaching term they run in (rather than only at the end of the summer term in May or June).

  Please see individual modules for more details.

  Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Entry requirements

At least a second-class honours degree (2:2), or its equivalent, in either a directly relevant or a highly quantitative subject, or the Birkbeck Graduate Diploma in Economics. We expect all of our MSc students to be competent with intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, multivariable calculus, linear algebra and statistics.

Demonstrable qualities such as good time management and the ability to cope under pressure are vital.

• What are the English language requirements?

  If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

  If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

  Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

• What are the visa and funding requirements?

  If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

  The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

  International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

  As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

  For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

  Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

  Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

• Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

  If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Fees

• Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee

  If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.

• Can I apply for an international scholarship?

  We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. View Birkbeck's available scholarships.

Careers and employability

Through your studies on this MSc Financial Economics you will develop valuable transferable skills including:

• the ability to analyse and interpret complex data
• the ability to use economic theory to solve problems
• proficiency in econometric modelling
• proficiency in independent research
• strong communication and presentation skills.

The strong emphasis of this course on quantitative and analytical skills helps ensure our graduates are highly sought after in competitive industries. They are well equipped for employment in banking and insurance, government, academia, economic consultancies and finance, in roles such as:

• senior economist
• data analyst
• researcher
• policy adviser.

Graduates from this course have secured jobs in HM Treasury, the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Frontier Economics, International Monetary Fund and OECD.

Student support

How to apply

• When should I apply?

  You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

  You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

• How can I get help with my application?

  Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

  Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

• International agents

  If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.