MSc Finance with placement year

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Oxford Brookes University

Program Overview

The MSc Finance with Placement Year at Oxford Brookes University gives you a solid mix of financial theory and real-world practice. You’ll develop skills in financial modelling, market analysis, and professional development, while a full year’s supervised paid placement helps you gain hands-on experience and boost your career prospects.

Curriculum structure

Year 1 (Taught Modules & Core Skills):
In your first year, you’ll build essential finance knowledge through modules like Core Concepts in Finance, where you’ll learn financial statements, statistical tools, and practical skills such as Excel and Bloomberg use. Modules such as Corporate Finance and Global Markets and Institutions explore how firms make investment decisions and how international markets operate. Optional modules like Sustainable Finance and Investment or Business Analytics let you tailor your studies to your interests.

Final Project & Professional Development:
You’ll complete an Accounting and Finance Project, applying what you’ve learned to independent research or real-world financial challenges. The Professional and Personal Skills module helps you enhance communication, teamwork, and career strategy, preparing you for success in competitive finance roles.

Placement Year:
During the placement year, you’ll work full-time in a finance-related role, gaining hands-on experience, building professional networks, and applying academic learning in a real business setting. This experience strengthens your workplace skills and improves your post-graduation job prospects.

Focus areas:
Finance theory and corporate decision-making, financial markets and instruments, investment analysis, professional skills and employability, real-world placement experience.

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will be able to critically analyse financial data, apply financial models to business problems, navigate global financial markets, communicate complex financial concepts effectively, and demonstrate professional competence through placement experience.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
While this MSc does not list specific professional accreditations, Oxford Brookes Business School is widely recognised, integrates Bloomberg certification opportunities, and prepares students for professional finance roles.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Oxford Brookes University is ranked in the QS World University Rankings and is known for strong teaching excellence in the UK, with business and management subjects globally recognised, supporting employability in finance careers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Oxford Brookes University, experiential learning is at the heart of the MSc Finance with Placement Year. You’ll gain practical skills through real-world simulations, group projects, and hands-on financial analysis using industry-standard tools. The placement year gives you a full year in a finance-related role, allowing you to apply classroom learning in real business settings while expanding your professional network. You’ll also have access to expert guidance, workshops, and immersive experiences that prepare you for a competitive finance career.

Here’s how your experiential learning will take shape:

• Bloomberg Trading Suite — Analyse real financial markets and make investment decisions using the same tools professionals rely on.

• Virtual Reality Soft Skills Training — Practise communication, negotiation, leadership, and interview scenarios in immersive VR simulations to build confidence for the workplace.

• Group Projects & Live Client Challenges — Collaborate with peers to solve real business problems, developing teamwork, critical thinking, and professional problem-solving skills.

• Placement Year Support — Spend a full year working in a finance-related role with guidance from the careers team, gaining hands-on experience and boosting your employability.

• Field Trips & Business Challenge Week — Engage with global businesses through organised trips and participate in intensive challenge events where you pitch solutions to real organisational problems.

• Professional Development Workshops — Attend workshops, seminars, and guest speaker sessions to gain insights into industry trends, practices, and networking opportunities.

All of these practical experiences take place at Oxford Brookes Business School and the Headington Campus, where dedicated facilities and expert support come together to help you develop the skills and confidence needed for a successful career in finance.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Finance with Placement Year at Oxford Brookes University are well-prepared to step into impactful careers in finance, investment, and corporate business. Many go on to roles such as Financial Analyst, Investment Associate, Corporate Finance Consultant, and Risk Management Specialist, with the placement year often opening doors to full-time opportunities:

• Dedicated career support through WAVES and the Careers Centre — Receive personalised guidance on CV writing, interview preparation, application strategy, and networking throughout your studies and placement search.

• Strong employment outcomes — Brookes graduates enjoy high employment rates, with the majority securing work or further study within six months of graduating, thanks to practical skills and placement experience.

• Industry connections and employer visits — The Business School’s links with companies like BMW, IBM, and PwC provide guest speakers and company insight sessions to help you build professional networks before you graduate.

• Placement year advantage — A full year of paid, supervised work experience strengthens your CV, provides real-world exposure, and often leads directly to job offers or clearer career direction.

• Long-term value and professional recognition — The degree equips you with industry-relevant skills and ethical finance perspectives that employers value, with the Business School supporting employability and professional growth.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MSc Finance, you could continue your studies with a PhD or MPhil in Finance or related fields, building on the research experience gained during your project. Many graduates also pursue professional qualifications such as CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or ACCA, which complement the degree and enhance credentials for specialised finance roles.