Master of Applied Finance
Make a sound investment in your future and start a rewarding career in the financial sector with our highly practical Master of Applied Finance.
The Master of Applied Finance is a specialist qualification designed to prepare you for a successful and rewarding professional career in the financial sector.
This 12-month accelerated course will equip you with the industry-relevant skills needed to secure financial roles working in businesses, banks, investment firms, and the public sector.
The course has a strong practical focus and is ideal for students who have never majored in finance before, but already have some quantitative analysis skills from their bachelor’s degree.
On completion, graduates will be well positioned to continue their career journey towards gaining the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. This requires work experience and passing the CFA Institute exams.
Students have 24/7 access to a brand-new Finance Trading Room, where they can experience the thrill of buying and selling shares/bonds/commodities and other financial assets, and compete to build the most valuable portfolios.
You'll be studying at Waikato Management School, which is ranked #1 business school in New Zealand in the Times Higher Education Rankings 2023.
Course content:
The course is divided into three stages, covering one trimester of study each.
Part One: Core Papers provides students with a grounding in the quantitative and analytical techniques required to understand financial markets, risk and return, and make investment decisions. You will discover how key financial markets contribute to the functioning of healthy economies, and be introduced to finance theories and models.
In Part Two: Master of Knowledge, students will develop advanced knowledge in specialist areas such as corporate finance, investments and financial markets, financial modelling and econometrics. You will learn how to analyse and interpret financial data, forecast returns and price assets, and conduct shares and bond valuations. You will also gain a deep understanding of capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues.
In Part Three: Application of Skills, students have the opportunity to apply their skills in a professional context by undertaking a research project investigating a real financial issue. Alternatively, you can choose to complete a finance workplace internship.
You will also learn about the flow of international finance in today’s global economy, and be able to forecast interest and exchange rates. Students will be able to identify the financial risks faced by firms, and gain skills for analysing and trading commodities, currencies and derivatives, as well as stocks and bonds.
Style of learning:
Learning is via lectures, class discussions, individual/group assignments, consulting projects and practical workshops.
You will also spend time in the computer labs learning how to run experiments, understand statistical techniques, and gain experience with STATA programming.
Key information
| Months: | 12 |
|---|---|
| Points: | 180 |
| Study Locations: | Hamilton |
| Start Dates: | February (A Trimester) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): |
2023 fees: $12,516 per programme (180 points)
See if you're eligible for fees-free study in your first year |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | $54,200 per programme (180 points) |
| Entry Requirements: | Postgraduate International |
| Area of Study: | |
| *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
Degree Planner
Degree planner — Master of Applied Finance - 180 points
- Core papers
- Mastery of knowledge
- Skills application
Degree planner — Master of Applied Finance - 180 points
- Core papers
- Mastery of knowledge
- Skills application
Choose a main subject
Career opportunities
- Investment advisor
- Banker (commercial, investment, small business, rural, industry)
- Corporate financer
- Actuary
- Financial regulator
- Sharebroker
- Treasurer
- Financial or business analyst
- Financial advisor
- Portfolio manager
- Trader / Mutual fund analyst
Entry requirements
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To be admitted to the Master of Applied Finance, applicants should have:
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in any subject that includes quantitative analysis to at least the second year;
eg. business, mathematics, economics, social sciences, physics, engineering or psychology; - AND Achieved at least a B grade average in your bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) across the 300-level papers
Note: Anyone who does not meet these admission criteria may still be considered for entry based on academic merit or relevant experience. You may be asked to complete some qualifying papers first to ensure you reach the academic standards.
Please refer to the University of Waikato Calendar for the full Regulations for the Master of Applied Finance (MAppFin).
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
English language requirements
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International students must have an equivalent qualification from a recognised university, and meet the English language requirements:
For admission to all postgraduate programmes, it is generally recommended that students have:
- an Academic IELTS Overall score of at least 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band), or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a TOEFL iBT Home-based overall score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of 56 with no band less than 46, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) C1 Expert with an overall high pass and no less than a pass in each skill, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with 38-50 score per skill, or
- awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5), or
- a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III with a pass in all four components, or
- a B2 (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
- a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
- a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) minimum score of 59.
Contacts
New Zealand students
Management Student Centre (MSC)
Phone: +64 7 838 4303 (within NZ)
Email: [email protected]
Location: MSB.1.46, Level One, Waikato Management School, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton
International students
Phone: +64 7 856 2889 (outside NZ)
Email: [email protected]
Enquiry form: waikato.ac.nz/study/contact
Have a chat with one of our friendly advisers to help you plan your degree.
Phone: +64 7 807 9275 Email: [email protected]
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