How is the Master in Finance and Business different from an MBA?

An MBA is general-management focused and usually requires several years of work experience. The Master in Finance and Business is finance-led with strong business content, and is typically taken sooner in a career by people who want finance as their main professional spine.

Do I need a finance bachelor's degree to apply for the Master in Finance and Business?

A finance, economics or business background is ideal, but applicants from numerate disciplines and from other backgrounds with relevant experience are considered. Admissions can review your transcripts before you commit to applying.

Will the Master in Finance and Business help with CFA preparation?

The curriculum overlaps with portions of CFA material, particularly in financial analysis and valuation. CFA exams are separate and run on their own schedule, so plan them independently of the master.

Can the Master in Finance and Business be completed online?

Supported online learning is available. Some students prefer the on-campus London option for case work and peer interaction. Both routes complete the same curriculum.

How long does the master usually take?

Standard postgraduate duration applies, with full-time and part-time patterns offered. Length is confirmed at enrolment and depends on your chosen mode.

Fees vary by mode and intake. Admissions will provide a current schedule and any available payment plans when they respond to your application.

Master in Finance and Business | HICL London | Harold International College of London

Master in Finance and Business at HICL

The Master in Finance and Business is built for postgraduates who want finance depth without giving up the broader business lens that a senior career actually requires. It assumes you can already read a basic income statement and balance sheet, and it pushes you into the harder territory: corporate finance decisions, capital structure, strategy, and how financial choices interact with the rest of the business.

Compared with a purist MSc Finance, the Master in Finance and Business carries a wider remit. It is appropriate if your future role might involve sitting in front of operating leaders, founders or investors and translating between numbers and decisions, rather than living entirely inside a valuation model.

Why the Combination Helps Career-Wise

Many senior finance roles — FP&A leadership, corporate development, finance director in mid-market businesses — reward people who can speak in finance terms but think in business terms. A degree explicitly combining the two reduces the awkward translation step that happens when a narrowly trained finance graduate first arrives in an operating company. That practical readability is what this Master in Finance and Business is aimed at.

Who This Master's Programme Is For

Graduates planning careers in corporate finance, FP&A or strategic finance.
Working professionals from analyst, audit or business analyst roles moving up.
Aspiring founders who want serious financial literacy before raising capital.
International students seeking a UK postgraduate route into finance and strategy.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Master in Finance and Business typically progress into financial analyst, corporate finance associate, FP&A lead, strategy associate, investment analyst and finance manager roles. With experience, the path can extend toward finance director, head of strategy or corporate development positions. Outcomes are sensitive to prior experience and which industry you target.

How the Programme Is Delivered

On-campus delivery in London and supported online study are offered. Case work is heavy — expect to spend serious time on company analysis, financial modelling exercises and applied projects. Module sequence, electives and the academic calendar are confirmed at enrolment.

Entry Requirements

A recognised bachelor's degree, ideally with some finance, economics or business content.
Applicants from other backgrounds considered with relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.0 (or accepted equivalent) for non-native English speakers.
Minimum age 21.

Apply for the Master in Finance and Business

If you want a postgraduate finance qualification that does not lock you out of broader business roles, click Enroll Now. HICL admissions will respond within one working day.