Overview
Financial risk management is crucial for businesses to thrive in a dynamic world economy. Knowing what the risks are and employing risk management can help businesses mitigate losses.
Our MSc Finance and Risk Management course will teach you to analyse and manage financial risk. You’ll gain a broad knowledge of finance and how to analyse financial data. Your expertise will be in high demand by organisations threatened by risk.
Practical experience in financial risk
- Develop practical investment skills and understand portfolio management.
- Our award-winning global financial trading bootcamp with AmplifyMe lets you trade in real-time.
- Access professional financial databases including Bloomberg and Capital IQ.
- Learn about international financial markets using real-time data.
Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and AACSB accredited
The MSc Finance and Risk Management is a Financial Risk Manager partner of GARP. It covers at least 70% of GARP’s requirements for the FRM Part I examination or FRM Part II examination.
The accreditation offers you insight into the latest professional practice in risk management and will give you a competitive advantage in your career.
The University of Stirling is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is the world's largest global standard-setting body for business education. Only 6% of the world’s leading business schools achieve this accreditation. This recognises our excellence in business education and societal impact.
Build your network
Network at guest lectures with experts from the finance industry. Previous guest lectures have included:
- Aberdeen Asset Management
- UBS
- Lego
- CFA Society
- Walter Scott Global Investment Management
- SVM Asset Management
- Electronic Research Interchange
This course gives you a broad knowledge of finance and financial risk management. The importance of finance in a both businesses and the wider national and international economy has been heightened following the financial and Covid crises, with an increased need for well qualified risk managers.
You'll cover fundamental knowledge related to finance theories, investments, banking and relevant regulations, and you’ll gain an understanding of the different types of risks faced by corporations and markets. You’ll also learn to analyse, model, manage and develop strategies to hedge against risk. There's an increased and urgent need for a better understanding of corporate risk management, including operational risk, foreign exchange risk, liquidity risk, market risk, interest rate risk, portfolio risk and enterprise risk.
A key part of the course is the opportunity to be creative and gain valuable training experience via real-world experiences such as the AmplifyME Trading Boot Camp, Student Managed Investment Fund and our guest speaker series.
The MSc Finance and Risk Management is a Financial Risk Manager (FRM) partner of the Global Association of Risk
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education.
Stirling Management School’s mission is to be an exceptional place of research and learning. It combines an established research area of excellence with a high-quality component of the faculty’s course portfolio to include not only Master courses in Finance, Investment Analysis, Banking, Economics and Accounting, but also add the related area of Financial Risk Management.
In REF 2021, 80% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was classed as world leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
Teaching is carried out through lectures, seminars, problem-solving lectures, computer workshops and practical case study sessions.
The Masters is awarded on satisfactory completion of a dissertation, following the Diploma examinations. Dissertation topics range over all areas of relevance to financial risk management.
Dr Dionysia Dionysiou, Course Director
Quantitative Methods in Finance – Maria Grydaki
Corporate Finance – Kevin Campbell
Contemporary Issues in Banking - Dr Antonio Parlavecchio
Economics for Banking and Finance – Maria Grydaki
Risk Management in Banking - Theo Diasakos
Derivatives – Kevin Campbell
Financial Risk Assessment – Dionysia Dionysiou
Empirical Methods in Finance and Accounting – David McMillan
Investments: Fixed Income and Alternative Investments – Patrick Herbst
Investments: Equity Portfolios and Pricing– Dionysia Dionysiou
Behavioural Finance – Patrick Herbst
International Corporate Finance – Dionysia Dionysiou
Investment Regulation and Ethics - Carole Dalgleish
Mergers and Acquisitions – Fredrick Changwony
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
The average salary for a Financial Risk Manager is £60,405 per year in United Kingdom in 2024 (Indeed). There are opportunities for growth with seniority and market experience. Many financial roles also offer high bonus payments in addition to basic pay (prospects.ac.uk 2024).
Our MSc Finance and Risk Management course graduates will have career options in:
- financial risk management
- risk control
- risk audit
- banking
- financial analysis
- general financial services sectors.
Our graduates have gone onto work with organisations such as:
- Santander UK
- National Bank of Pakistan
- Direct Line Group.
AmplifyMe Boot Camp
The course includes an award-winning global financial trading boot camp. Realistic computer-based simulations enable you to experience what it is like to trade in financial markets.
Find out more about our AmplifyMe Boot Camp.
Student Managed Investment Fund
Learn in a professional investment environment with the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). The fund allows you to learn about investments and portfolio management. You'll also develop your soft skills in creativity, teamwork and communication.
Find out more about how you can get involved in the Student Managed Investment Fund.
Develop your careers skills with our Flying Start Leadership Programme
We go beyond textbooks and lecture rooms to focus on your personal and professional development. Flying Start will help you develop practical career skills such as effective public or conflict management.
Find out more about Flying Start.
Study and careers support
You'll have a mentor who will guide you through your studies.
The Career Services provides support for CV design, interview skills and other career skills.
