MSc Finance and Investment Banking with Extended Professional Practice

2 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Hertfordshire

Program Overview

The MSc Finance and Investment Banking with Extended Professional Practice at University of Hertfordshire is designed for students who want strong academic training in finance alongside valuable, real-world professional experience. It’s ideal if you’re aiming for a career in banking, investment, or financial services and want to graduate with both a master’s degree and hands-on industry exposure.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
In the first year, you build a solid foundation in finance and investment banking through core modules such as Financial Markets and Institutions and Corporate Finance. You develop a clear understanding of how global markets operate, how financial decisions are made, and how banks and organisations manage capital.

As the year progresses, you move into more specialised subjects including Investment Banking, Risk Management, and Financial Analysis. These modules strengthen your analytical skills and prepare you for complex, real-world financial scenarios, leading into a finance-focused dissertation or applied project.

Year 2 – Extended Professional Practice
The second year is dedicated to your extended professional practice, where you gain structured work-based experience related to finance and investment banking. This stage allows you to apply your academic knowledge in a professional setting, build industry confidence, and enhance your CV with practical experience that employers highly value.

Focus Areas

Finance and investment banking, financial markets, corporate finance, risk management, financial analysis, professional practice

Learning Outcomes

Advanced understanding of finance and banking systems, ability to analyse investment and financial data, practical workplace experience, enhanced professional, analytical, and decision-making skills

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The programme is designed to reflect current industry expectations in finance and investment banking, supporting progression into professional roles and future industry-recognised qualifications.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

The University of Hertfordshire is known for its strong employability focus, with business and finance programmes designed to help graduates transition confidently into professional roles through practical learning and work-based experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MSc Finance and Investment Banking with Extended Professional Practice at University of Hertfordshire is built to make sure you don’t just understand finance in theory, but know how it works in real professional settings. From your first year, learning is practical and applied, using industry-style tools, real financial data, and collaborative projects that reflect how finance teams operate. This experience is then taken further through the extended professional practice year, where academic learning and workplace exposure come together—this hands-on journey includes:

Finance & Trading Facilities: You study in specialist business and finance teaching spaces, working with live and historical market data to analyse financial markets, investment performance, and banking activity.
Industry-Relevant Software & Digital Tools: Modules introduce professional tools used for financial modelling, investment analysis, and data-driven decision-making, helping you build confidence with technology used in the finance sector.
Applied Group Projects: Team-based assignments and case studies mirror real investment banking and corporate finance challenges, strengthening collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Practice-Based Assessments: Many assessments are designed around real-world financial scenarios, encouraging you to apply theory directly to practical investment and banking decisions.
Extended Professional Practice Placement: In the second year, you complete a structured professional practice period, gaining hands-on workplace experience related to finance or investment banking and significantly boosting your employability.
Research & Dissertation Project: You carry out an in-depth research or applied project, allowing you to explore a specialist finance topic while developing strong analytical and professional reporting skills.
Library & Learning Resources: You have access to extensive business and finance resources, including specialist databases, academic journals, and dedicated postgraduate study areas to support both coursework and independent research.
Careers-Focused Support Environment: Throughout the programme, employability support is embedded into your learning, helping you prepare for interviews, professional standards, and workplace expectations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Finance and Investment Banking with Extended Professional Practice at University of Hertfordshire finish the programme with both a master’s qualification and meaningful workplace experience, giving them a strong edge in the job market. This pathway supports careers such as Investment Banking Analyst, Financial Analyst, Risk or Compliance Analyst, and Corporate Finance Associate, particularly for students looking to move quickly into professional roles within banking and financial services—this is strengthened through the following career-focused advantages:

Careers & Employability Support: Hertfordshire’s Careers and Employment team provides tailored one-to-one guidance, CV and interview preparation, placement support for the professional practice year, and access to employer talks and finance-focused recruitment events.
Graduate Outcomes & Salary Potential: Graduates typically move into professional finance and banking roles with strong long-term earning potential, with the extended professional practice year helping accelerate progression and early career confidence.
Industry Engagement & Practice Links: The programme’s professional practice component connects students directly with employers, allowing them to gain real workplace exposure and build industry networks before graduation.
Long-Term Professional Value: The combination of academic finance knowledge and extended work experience creates a strong foundation for long-term career growth and supports progression toward future professional finance certifications.
Graduate Destinations: Alumni progress into banks, investment firms, financial services companies, consultancies, and finance roles within multinational organisations, often leveraging their professional practice experience to secure roles faster.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this MSc, students may choose to continue into doctoral research (PhD) in finance, banking, or business, or build on their qualification through advanced professional certifications in investment, risk management, or financial analysis to further strengthen career prospects and specialisation.