MSc Business with Finance launched for today's managers

Warwick Business School has unveiled a new Master's programme designed to bridge the divide between traditional management education and specialist finance training.

Applications are now open for the new MSc Business with Finance course, with the first cohort set to begin their studies in September 2027.

The programme has been designed to provide students with a grounding in core business disciplines, including accounting, economics, and strategy, while developing specialist expertise in corporate finance, portfolio management, financial markets, and professional ethics.

Alongside these subjects, students will build quantitative and analytical skills intended to help them interpret data and make informed business decisions.

Joshua Fullard, Associate Professor and Course Director, said: “The new course reflects a broader shift in our teaching as employers seek graduates who combine commercial awareness with quantitative and analytical capabilities.

“From banks and consultancies to technology firms and multinational corporations, recruiters are increasingly looking for candidates who can understand financial statements and markets while also grasping the strategic realities of running organisations.

"This programme has been designed to develop that combination of skills, giving students the analytical capability, commercial awareness and practical experience needed to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy."

Core modules for the course include Foundations of Financial & Management Accounting, Introduction to Corporate Finance, Strategy Analysis and Practice, and Quantitative Methods for Business.

Alongside the eight core modules, students choose another module from a host of options, including AI Innovation Hackathon: From Problem to Prototype, Artificial Intelligence in Business, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurial Mindset.

Assessment in these modules is done by either a group presentation, an individual assignment, or an exam. While for the final assessment students can choose to do a research paper, or the innovative Business in Practice – where they work in groups tackling a business simulation – or a self-sourced internship.

Dr Fullard, who is an award-winning educator and has given evidence to the OECD and UK Government on educational matters, said: “The launch of the course comes at a time when artificial intelligence and geopolitical uncertainty are rapidly changing what employers want from graduates.

“Rather than producing narrowly specialised graduates, many increasingly want graduates who combine technical expertise with broader leadership and management skills.”

Master's careers support for a global market

Master’s students also benefit from their own dedicated  MSc CareersPlus and Employer Relations team, which provides CV checks, sector-specific insights and events with the likes of Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, Red Bull, and IBM, plus a plethora of online resources.

Even before students step foot on campus, they have access to the WBS MSc Careers Summer School, a series of online sessions, a set of 30 step-by-step job search videos, and one-to-one online coaching.

There is also the International Excellence Program to help graduates who want to work abroad in places like China, India, and the Middle East.

Dr Fullard added: “The teaching on the course reflects growing demand from students that blend academic rigour with practical workplace experience.

“That emphasis on employability is increasingly important as we look to develop strong career outcomes. Our careers service work extremely hard to ensure students reach their goals, with alumni securing positions with top global businesses like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and KPMG.

“As a School for the Change Makers, we are here to unlock potential and transform aspiration into action.”

Discover Warwick Business School’s Change Makers.