Top Types of Master's in Finance Programs for 2025

Introduction

What is MFin?

Masters in Finance (MFin) is a master's program offered by graduate schools to students with studies focused on subjects from the field of finance. With this course, students can get access to graduate school alumni professionals network and on completion are presented with a course completion degree. Hence, it is a full-time degree program and not just a certification course.

A Masters in Finance program is typically stretched over a period of 0-2 years, depending on the graduate school and can be pursued, in some cases, part-time too. Masters in Finance is a discipline with a vast spectrum of subjects being covered under it. Although a Masters in Finance course is a specialization in finance itself, there are many sub-specializations available under its umbrella. For this purpose, many Business Schools provide a very specific Master in Finance course focused on certain areas of specialization within the realm of finance.

In this blog, we discuss the Top Types of Master's in Finance Programs for 2025, their area of focus within the finance industry their individual importance and the role they play in helping you advance your career in the niche and fulfill your career goals.

List of Types of MFin courses: 

Types of MFin courses:

MSc in International Finance

MSc in International Finance is a program that provides basic knowledge about international trade and covers the fields of both Corporate Finance and Financial Markets. MSc in International Finance is also widely known as Masters in Finance, the name varying depending on the graduate schools offering the courses. This course aims to equip students with advanced analytical skills and solid knowledge of financial concepts, in order to prepare them for real-world contributions to the field of finance.

This course is relevant in various multinational businesses and trade settings. Investors rely heavily on the guidance and reports prepared by the International Finance experts while setting targets and priorities for their investment portfolios. The skills and knowledge gathered through this course can include banking, stock-broking, investment management, project management, risk management as well as the study of corporate finance. Thus, this course provides many exciting career prospects including investment banking, private equity, asset management, trading and venture capital.

MSc in International Finance usually includes 1-2 years of coursework and is a highly marketable course for candidates to add to their profile. Some of the Top Graduate Schools Providing Masters in Finance Programs:

• HEC Paris - Masters in International Finance
• WHU - Masters in Finance 
• EDHEC - Masters in International Finance
• LBS - Masters in Finance
• Schulich School of Business - Masters in Finance
• Rotman - Master of Finance
• MIT Sloan - Masters in Finance
• Cambridge Judge Business School - Master of Finance
• London School of Economics (LSE) - MSc Finance
• IE Business School, Spain - Master of Finance

MSc Accounting and Finance

MSc in Accounting and Finance is a masters program aimed at providing candidates valuable skills to pursue their careers in the accounting niche. The courses are usually designed in a manner to develop critical thinking and analytical skills that are essential to building a global accounting career.

MSc in Accounting and Finance can be a 12 month course in some B-schools while a 2 year course program in others. The coursework includes core accountancy knowledge as well as well-rounded business skills required to function in today’s competitive industry.  

Some of the top graduate schools to apply for MSc in Accounting and Finance would include Harvard University, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge based on their world QS ratings for the course.

MSc in Banking and Finance

The banking and finance industry is one of the most coveted fields for exemplary job opportunities and building a credible career for candidates. It provides a spectrum of career opportunities and a person with a banking and finance background has a great chance of advancing to the top management level in the span of their careers. Here, while finance deals with the accounting and reporting services, banking deals with the day-to-day transaction.

For every firm from small-scale to large industry requires banking services and solutions, so does every country across the globe. Thus, banking job roles and profiles are highly required and in demand and pay employees well too.

MSc in Banking and Finance courses can again range between 0-2 years and the coursework can be focused on developing core banking skills over others, while also covering the basic fundamentals of working in the finance industry. Some of the top b-schools for this program include London Business School, MIT Sloan, IE Business School, SDA Bocconi and HEC Paris.

MSc in Financial Markets 

MSc in Financial Markets is usually a 1-2 year master in finance program that focuses on market-driven financial study reflecting the constantly changing world of international finance. The main subjects in this type of course would include and focus on risk management, portfolio management, financial trading, asset management, investment evaluation and such providing students with a practical understanding of the international financial markets.

This kind of course study is best for candidates building a career based on the shifts of global financial markets including working for financial services firms, business development or trading in the global markets.

Some of the top universities offering an MSC in Financial Markets are:

• University of Southampton
• IESEG School of Management
• Skema Business School
• ESSEC Business School

MSc in Financial Engineering

MSc in Financial Engineering is a unique masters in finance course which belongs to a multidisciplinary field that studies financial theory, engineering methods, mathematical tools and programming. This course suits all students interested in receiving full-time training in the application of engineering methodologies and quantitative methods in finance. It is a good course to differentiate yourself from the competition and establish yourself as an expert in a specific area in the financial services sector.

MSc in Financial Engineering is a challenging and technical course that provides incredible career opportunities. The skills and knowledge gathered through this course can include testing and issuing new investment tools and methods of (risk) analysis. Financial engineers usually work with insurance companies, asset management firms, hedge funds, banks and data analytics.

MSc in Financial Engineering programs are spanned over a period of either one or two years, and are being offered by some of the top graduate schools across the globe like:

• New York University (NYU) : Tandon School of Engineering; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) : Anderson School of Management
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
• University of Illinois
• University of Birmingham
• Imperial College London
• HEC Montreal

MSc in Quantitative Finance

MSc in Quantitative Finance is a Masters in Finance program that encompasses learning how to design new financial products and provides advanced knowledge of the main theoretical and applied quantitative finance concepts. It teaches the candidates to build an international as well as multicultural perspective to focus on and solve current issues in the field of finance.

This course teaches skills surrounding asset pricing and investment, the CAPM model, the Black-Scholes model, interest rate models and derivatives, and theories of finance. Candidates are trained well to specialize in designing and trading financial instruments, finding solutions for pricing and hedging, computer programming and financial mathematics, and building and/or improving research skills in the finance industry and can expect career opportunities matching the same.

Some of the top graduate school offering an MSc in Quantitative Finance include:

• University of Manchester: Alliance Manchester Business School
• SOAS University of London
• Singapore Management University
• New York University (NYU)
• Erasmus School of Economics
• University of Zurich, Faculty of Economics

Conclusion

The world of finance offers a dynamic and rewarding career landscape training you for the competitive field. Carefully analyze and characterize your research goals and programs which align with your interests. In this blog, we have listed the top Master's in finance programs with enhanced specializations according to your choice and niche. Some universities also harbour Finance labs.

Are you ready to take the next step and earn a masters in finance from a top-tier university? Book a session with our founder to get your study abroad started.