Finance

Why Finance

University of Essex Business School ranks among the world’s top 200 universities for accounting and finance (QS 2025), while its students gain hands-on experience in a dedicated virtual trading floor equipped with Bloomberg terminals.

• The UK’s first carbon-neutral business school, with ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW accreditations that fast-track professional certification for graduates
• The finance research group collaborates with the Bank of England, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, and Bank for International Settlements
• Partnership with CFA Institute provides scholarship access for CFA exams, while the international environment brings together students from over 150 countries

BSc in Accounting and Finance

This three-year Accounting and Finance programme grants direct access to Bloomberg market data in the virtual trading room, where students master portfolio management, options, futures, and risk management under conditions that mirror real-world trading. As a Q-Step partner, University of Essex offers a specialized pathway in applied quantitative methods—this qualification appears on academic transcripts and strengthens graduate competitiveness. ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW accreditations exempt students from certain professional exams, while graduates secure analyst and consultant roles at PwC, Deloitte, and J.P. Morgan.

BSc in Banking and Finance

The three-year Banking and Finance programme examines the banking sector through the lens of recent decades, analyzing deregulation, technological transformation, and the roles of investor, analyst, and policy regulator using current Bloomberg data. Partnership with IMC Advantage connects the degree to the Investment Management Certificate—an entry-level standard for asset management positions. Graduates find employment at Santander UK, the UK Financial Conduct Authority, Credit Suisse, EY, and PwC.

BSc in International Business and Finance

This three-year International Business and Finance degree begins with accounting, business analytics, international business, and marketing before progressing into behavioral finance, portfolio analysis, derivatives, and international HR strategy. The programme combines financial analysis with global business context, drawing on real case studies and Bloomberg data throughout.

MSc in Financial Engineering and Risk Management

The one-year Financial Engineering and Risk Management master’s programme at University of Essex trains specialists in managing financial risks—asset valuation, modeling, derivatives analysis, and risk management are explored with round-the-clock access to Bloomberg terminals. The core practical element involves collaborating with City of London traders on real risk scenarios in the financial markets laboratory. Graduates build careers at investment banks, hedge funds, and rating agencies, including KPMG, Groupon, and Capital Markets Intelligence.

MSc in Finance at University of Essex

This one-year flagship Finance master’s programme delivers rigorous analytical training for candidates with strong mathematical foundations, covering asset valuation, hedging, financial econometrics, and corporate finance through current market data and proven models. Faculty from the finance research group publish in leading international journals and advise the European Central Bank and Federal Reserve—academic excellence here connects directly to real-world expertise. Graduates work as financial analysts and managers at KPMG, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Central Bank.