Programme details

• present value
• valuation of fixed income securities
• basic statistics with a focus on stock returns
• portfolio theory
• state-price approach to valuation
• the Capital Asset Pricing Model and regressions to estimate betas
• the valuation of stocks
• hedging and multi-factor models
• efficient markets, rational expectations, anomalies and behavioural finance
• active portfolio management
• performance evaluation
• forwards, futures and options
• derivatives usage and risk management.
  

• overview of corporate finance
• performance measurement and financial forecasting
• sustainable growth
• capital structure
• financial distress
• pecking order and market timing
• dividends
• net present value
• company valuation
• valuation methods (multiples, FCF, WACC, APV, comparables).
  

• introduction to financial analysis
• pro forma financial statements
• financial ratios
• capital structure and asset structure ratios
• common size statements
• the analysis of cash flow
• revenue and expense recognition
• earnings management
• accounting fraud
• accounting and economic income
• implications for GAAP
• recognition and valuation of tangible assets
• recognition and valuation of intangible assets
• asset impairments
• accounting for inventory
• accounting return on capital, economic return and IRR
• cash flow and financial modelling
• EVA and economic profit
• EP versus DCF valuation
• accounting for bonds
• leases and off-balance sheet accounting
• pensions and post-retirement benefits
• taxation of corporate income, and deferred taxes
• accounting for shareholders' equity
• accounting for employee stock options
• investments in marketable securities, fair valuation
• consolidation and equity accounting.

Successful career trajectories entail high degrees of both personal growth and professional advancement. Career progression is not about wasting our energy trying to make ourselves more effective by changing our characters. Instead, it is more effective to find new and better ways of 'being ourselves' through enhanced insight and skill. By the end of the course, you will have a more thorough awareness of your personal characteristics and current skill set and you will have the opportunity to develop a plan to work on selected areas of development.

Objectives of the programme:

• Develop an awareness of the knowledge, skills, and attributes that underlie personal growth and career effectiveness
• Obtain individual-level feedback utilizing the best existing assessment instruments: 360 degree-feedback and the NEO Personality Inventory
• Share feedback on your interpersonal skills
• Develop a personal action plan.

Highlighting London Business School's commitment to offering a truly global education, you have the option to apply to our International Exchange Programme. We have partnerships with leading institutions, all offering you the opportunity to complete three electives in your preferred location. 

Please see below the list of our current exchange partners:

• CEIBS - China Europe International Business School (Shanghai, China)
• Fudan - School of Management, Fudan University (Shanghai, China)
• Guanghua - Guanghua School of Management, Peking University (Beijing, China)
• HKUST - Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong)
• ISB - Indian School of Business (Hyderabad, India)
• Melbourne - University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)
• NUS - National University of Singapore (Singapore)
• Tsinghua - Tsinghua SEM (Beijing, China)

The International Exchange Programme is a great opportunity to increase your on-the-ground knowledge and build your networks in a region of interest.

Full-time students:
You will only be eligible to apply for the International Exchange Programme if you select the 16 month duration format. International exchanges are undertaken in term four only.

Weekend format students:
Students who have selected the weekend format are able to apply to the International Exchange Programme, completing the exchange in the first term of the second year.

Another way to customise your programme to your individual objectives is by undertaking a company sponsored project. This counts as one of your elective credits.
A company sponsored project is an opportunity to further deepen your practical knowledge and to strengthen your industry networks in either the area you are currently working in, or in a sector or company of interest.
Projects are specifically selected to test and enhance the knowledge you have gained over the duration of the programme.

Projects completed by the 2012 class included:

• Who's shunning the specialist funds? An examination of the real asset allocation policies of investment advisory firms
• Sustainable Private Equity Investment in Emerging Markets
• Starting a Hedge Fund: from an industry analysis to a business plan proposal
• Private Financing of Infrastructure: an assessment of the Peru Experience

Find out more

During your first year on the Masters in Finance, you can elect to apply for an internship position.

The Career Services team can assist you in sourcing and applying for an internship position.  Other channels for finding internship roles are through personal contacts, or the LBS network of alumni and contacts. Interviews for internships usually take place in January and are undertaken over the summer break.