MSc Applied Financial Economics

Advance your career with Oxford’s MSc in Applied Financial Economics: a rigorous part-time programme for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in finance and economics.

The programme is tailored for ambitious professionals with up to approximately seven years of experience in finance, consulting, or related fields, offering you flexibility to study while continuing to balance work commitments. You will learn to apply economic and financial principles directly to real-world challenges whilst accelerating your career progression.

Our virtual Open Day will take place online on Thursday 28 August.

Hear from programme directors Alex Teytelboym and Ken Okamura, get expert application advice and learn how you can advance your finance career without pressing pause.

You’ll engage with Oxford’s world-renowned faculty through:

• Interactive online modules featuring live discussions, case studies, and self-paced content.
• In-person Oxford residentials where you will collaborate with peers, participate in workshops, and network with industry leaders.
• Applied projects and assignments that allow you to implement financial models and frameworks in real-world scenarios.

You can learn in real-time in live, online sessions (synchronous) as well as in your own time using interactive learning elements (asynchronous). This structure ensures that you can balance study with professional and personal commitments while still benefiting from the Oxford experience.

Your learning will be delivered through a seamless digital experience that supports the programme’s blended delivery. You will engage with high-quality content, including:

• Teaching delivered live by Oxford faculty.
• Tutorials and group sessions, strengthening your understanding and connection with peers and faculty.
• Experimentation with real data sets and problems.

Our online platform is both flexible and accessible, so you can learn in your own time and benefit from:

• Self-paced learning with short explainer videos and interactive activities and exercises.
• Integrated tools for engagement, including discussion boards and problem sets.
• Interactive skills checks and self-assessment.
• Regular tutor engagement and feedback.
• Academic and technical support through our dedicated Programme Manager.

Over the two-year programme, you’ll attend four immersive residential blocks in Oxford which form an essential part of your experience.

These in-person sessions offer a unique opportunity to connect deeply with your cohort and faculty, while engaging in core classes, assessments, and thought-provoking guest lectures.

You’ll also benefit from career development workshops, present your work, and celebrate milestones with formal dinners and networking events. Each residential is designed to enrich your learning, strengthen your professional network, and bring the Oxford experience to life. 

As a graduate of the MSc in Applied Financial Economics, you will gain a competitive edge in:

• Investment banking and asset management.
• Economic consulting and policy advice.
• Risk management and financial regulation.
• Private equity and venture capital.
• Fintech and technology-driven finance roles.

Accelerate your career by taking advantage of our Career Development Centre’s coaches, networking events and alumni connections.

Career Development Centre

Our Career Development Centre (CDC) consists of 23 staff split along sector, programme and operational lines. We have a dedicated Financial Services team of 4 coaches and employer engagement managers plus separate Consulting, Technology, and Global Industry teams. Our qualified coaches provide one-to-one career guidance support in all its facets as well as running specific workshops aligned to students’ career needs and experience. The CDC is additionally supported by a pool of external industry advisors with deep expertise in their specific fields.

Supervision

You will meet with your supervisor at least once per term to discuss your academic progress. You will be able to arrange online meetings with your supervisor, and you will be expected to participate fully throughout your studies to take full advantage of the opportunities available to you.

The allocation of a supervisor is the responsibility of the School. It is not always possible to accommodate a preference to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside Saïd Business School.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a diverse range of methods designed to help you demonstrate your strengths and master the learning outcomes of each module. These may include:

• Online and in-person timed examinations.
• Individual and group coursework.
• Project work.
• Presentations.
• Written reports.

Some in-person blocks may also include assessments of topics you’ve completed online. The programme culminates in an individual project that blends academic research with practical application, allowing you to explore a topic relevant to your professional interests.

Each assessment method is carefully selected to support your progress, enhance your professional skill set, and reflect the practical realities of financial economics in the modern world.

Changes to this course and your supervision

We seek to deliver this course as described on this page. However, there may be situations when it is desirable or necessary to make changes either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible, your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

The course fees for 2026-27 are £62,920, for both home and overseas students, for the two-year course (£31,460 per year).

Payment schedule

Deposit

If your application is successful, you will be asked to pay a deposit of £10,500 to secure your place on the programme as a condition of your offer, which must be paid within 30 days of the date on the Certificate of Offer. The deposit is generally non-refundable. However, there are some circumstances in which candidates can apply for a refund. Please see our Refund Policy for further details.

First year course fee payment

£30,000 due one month before the start of the programme.

Second year course fee payment

£22,420 due 10 months after the start of the programme.

Information on accepted payment methods can be found on our paying your fees page.

Course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). 

Course fees cover teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs, travel costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Additional cost information

This course requires that you attend in Oxford for teaching for a minimum of 4 residential sessions, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Students should also factor in costs for meals during their stay. In addition, as part of your course requirements, you will need to choose a project. This element of the course is mandatory and forms part of the assessment for the course. Depending on your choice of topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, equipment, materials and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs yourself. The total additional costs can range from: £2,035 - £2,910. There are no other compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships, awarded on merit to help foster a more diverse and representative student cohort. These awards are here to support outstanding candidates and help you take your next bold step, regardless of background or circumstance.

Whether you’re an exceptional candidate, or a professional whose unique perspective will enrich the class experience, these scholarships are part of our efforts to open doors and unlock potential.

Further information about fees

The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees, including information about fee status and eligibility and your length of fee liability.