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MSc

Sustainable Finance and Investment with Placement

Gain the expertise to align financial success with sustainability goals, shaping a resilient and equitable economy.

This programme is also available with an Internationally Incorporated Masters (IIM) specifically designed for the needs of international students.

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Key information

Start
September
Location
Canterbury
Study mode
2 years full-time
Fees (per year)
UK:
International:
Typical offer
2.2 or above
All entry requirements
Professionally Recognised

Overview

Finance is a broad but booming sector, working within it means you may be involved in investing money, managing it, protecting it or accounting for it. Good finance workers need a head for numbers, detail-driven organisational skills but also the ability to communicate well and be resilient to pressure.

Our Sustainable Finance and Investment MSc sculpts graduates who understand the financial needs and risks of enterprise and have a good handle on the systems and longstanding practices to succeed in this field. Taught by academic experts and co-designed with industry experts, our MSc develops highly employable graduates. Further, our industry standard software allows students to apply their learnings to real business data.

Taking a Placement allows you to gain work experience in the UK or overseas as part of your Master's. While the placements are self-sought, the School offers support through extra-curricular engagement with our dedicated placements team. Opting for this course with a placement takes the length of your course to up to two years.

Reasons to study MSc Sustainable Finance and Investment at Kent

  • When you study at Kent Business School, accredited by AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB, you receive a world-class education recognised globally. As one of the top 1% of business schools, our graduates are highly sought after by employers who value our rigorous standards. You'll be well-equipped to excel in your career and make a positive impact on business and society.
  • You’ll be part of a supportive community at our Canterbury campus, one hour from London
  • You’ll learn from our expert teaching staff, many of which appear in the top 2% of researchers worldwide
  • You can increase your career prospects through an optional short-term Professional Placement/Internship module as part of your degree, develop consultancy skills through our optional 'Finance Challenge' module or progress onto a 12-month optional Placement. You can even transform your idea into a business through the Business start-up Journey with Aspire.
  • We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CFA and GARP to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations.
  • You’ll gain access to employability support from enrolment up to 3 years after graduation at the historic Canterbury Cathedral.

What you’ll learn

You’ll learn the capstones of finance such as foundations of finance, investments and portfolio management, financial risk management, financial econometrics and derivatives alongside modules on research methods and skills and in particular quantitative methods. You will finish your master's with a detailed report with the support of a dedicated expert supervisor.

The course

What you'll study

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. 

Stage 1

You must take all compulsory modules and one of Financial Technology or Corporate Governance and Ethics. These modules are designed to give you well rounded and critical insights into sustainable finance and investment. In your final term before your placement, you will choose one of our capstone modules, either 'Finance Project' or the 'Professional Placement/Internship'.

The 'Professional Placement/Internship' module will give you the chance to work in a business as part of your degree, getting real world experience alongside your learning. Whereas the 'Finance Project' is the perfect module for you to prepare for a career as a consultant. You'll pitch solutions to real organisational problems and create a consultancy report, demonstrating your skills and knowledge.  

Whichever option you choose, you will be engaging with real problems in real businesses, giving you crucial experience and expanding your network. So you can make rapid progress in your career. 

Compulsory modules currently include the following

Finance plays an important role in everyone's decisions. allowing individuals and companies to take informed decisions on how to use money and plan for the future. This module covers the building blocks of finance that are required to make financial decisions, inside and outside the firm. Throughout the module, students will get a good understanding of financial markets and securities, the risk-return relationship, and how firms make financing decisions.

Strong quantitative skills are the cornerstone of a modern finance professional. This module will enable students to understand the key concepts and methodologies in quantitative finance and econometrics, and to develop the quantitative skills required by employers in the finance sector. Students will learn how to discuss basic statistics, estimate financial models, and evaluate the relationship between financial variables.

Sustainability has never been more relevant in the finance industry as it is today. The aim of this module is to provide a comprehensive insight into the core principles of sustainable finance policies and investments. Students will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the financial implications of climate change, sustainable investment strategies, ESG investing, and sustainability-related financial instruments.

What are the key principles and tools used by successful investors? This module will help students develop the necessary skills to make core investment management decisions. Students will get an in-depth understanding of the tools used by investment managers to construct and manage portfolios, as well as to evaluate portfolio performance.

Go beyond traditional accounting and become an expert in the principles of sustainable financial reporting. The module will provide students with an understanding of sustainability reporting standards issued by professional bodies and how these can be applied in the preparation of sustainability reports. Students will acquire skills which will enable them to critically analyse the sustainability performance of an organisation.

Gain insight into the major current issues and debates in the financial world. This module explores contemporary challenges and opportunities in finance. Students will gain a deep understanding of real-world issues in various areas of finance, and how these are expected to shape the future developments.

Optional modules may include the following

FinTech has completely transformed the financial landscape and it is having an increasing impact on financial markets. This module aims to equip students with knowledge of FinTech applications and how disruptive innovations are shaping the financial system. Students will gain a deep understanding of FinTech networks, blockchain platforms, and the financial implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Financial managers have a duty to consider the ethical, societal and environmental implications of their decisions. This module explores the delicate balance between shareholder interests and the broader responsibilities of corporations to their stakeholders. It analyses the principles and practices of effective corporate governance leading to ethical decision-making. By analysing real-world cases, the module equips students with the skills to navigate the ethical complexities of the modern economy.

The Finance Project provides an opportunity to undertake a research project and enhance students' data-driven decision-making and written communication skills under the guidance of subject specialist. The research problem will be framed within relevant academic literature and subsequent research questions will enable students to collect and analyse primary and/or secondary data, to develop well thought out arguments along with supportable conclusions and recommendations. This module further enables the acquisition of research-led skills essential for any future Finance discipline expert.

Thinking about a career in a private sector? Or maybe you’re contemplating a career in the public or voluntary sector? Then this could be the module for you. This module builds on your previous subject specific learning, and enhances your understanding of how organisations operate in practice. You have the opportunity to gain experience whilst still on the postgraduate course and apply learning gained on the course. You will be able to reflect on the placement experience and how this relates to your academic knowledge. You will further enhance your critical thinking and communication skills , professional behaviours and resilience.

Stage 2

Your placement consists of two modules: Industrial Placement Experience (BUSN9172) and Industrial Placement Report (BUSN9176). The Experience module is assessed as pass/fail only and the Report module is graded on a percentage scale. The chance to gain real industry experience as part of your MSc course gives you a real edge in the job market and boosts your career options. 

Compulsory modules currently include the following

The Year in Industry Placement Exit Interview provides students with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study.  It allows students to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme.  Students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context.  The Year in Industry Placement Exit Interview requires students to reflect on and evidence their experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. Students will further enhance their critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience.

The Year in Industry Placement Experience provides students with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study.  The Year in Industry allows students to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme.  Students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context.  The Industry Placement requires students to document their experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills.  To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for the student to secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to the student’s degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 39-44 weeks. Students will further enhance their critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience. Placements are not guaranteed and the University Careers and Employability team will be supporting placement students every step of the way.

How you'll study

Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

Example timetable

Here’s a sample timetable from your first term at Kent. You'll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops - in both big and small groups with focused teaching blocks and time to work, rest or explore uni life.

Items in green are confirmed, whereas anything marked yellow could be scheduled at a different time or day depending on your group, but this gives a good sense of what to expect.

✅ A balanced timetable that works for you

  • Plan your week better: at least one free weekday for catching up on course work or just taking a breather.

  • Focused days without burnout: No isolated 1-hour campus days.

  • Time to live the uni experience: Space for societies, part-time jobs and downtime.

Industry-aligned content

Prepare for CFA or GARP exams with a course designed to meet global certification standards.

Flexible pathways

Undertake a practical project or short internship - or extend to a two-year course with a year-long industry placement.

GARP Partnership

"Students who attain this degree should find themselves well prepared for the rigors of the FRM certification program as well as our certificate in Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) and ready to embark on a career in the global risk management profession." - William May, Managing Director - Global Head of Certifications and Educational Programs - GARP

Sustainable finance focus

Explore how ethical, green and governance factors shape modern investment and reporting decisions.

Research-led teaching

Learn from active researchers in risk management, ESG, fintech and corporate finance.

Entry requirements

2.2 or above

A minimum of a second-class UK degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in finance, accounting, economics, business, mathematics, natural sciences or engineering related discipline.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Fees and funding

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
  • Full-time (UK)
  • Full-time (International)

Placement Year Fee: Your placement year has a fee of £2,000, making it a cost-effective way to gain a full year of practical experience.

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.

General additional costs

Find out more about student accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

Kent Future Students Scholarships

Scholarships of between £2,000 and £5,000 as a discount against your tuition fee, for one year of study.

Research

Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

Your future

Embedded employability: Developing career-enhancing skills

From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. You can increase your career prospects through an optional short-term Professional Placement/Internship module as part of your degree, develop consultancy skills through our optional 'Finance Challenge' module or progress onto a 12-month optional Placement. You can even transform your idea into a business through the Business start-up Journey with Aspire. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support for up to three years after graduation.

Our careers and employability support at Kent Business School is designed to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when you graduate, when you study with us you can expect:

  • 1-2-1 personalised Career Coaching with qualified and experienced coaches.
  • Pre-arrival guidance for international students to support navigating the UK labour market
  • Mentoring opportunities through professional bodies, business leaders and Kent alumni
  • Workshops and events designed to support your career planning, finding and securing work and work experience, and professional development, including insights from industry.
  • Access to careers fairs, live projects/competitions with employers and networking opportunities
  • Plus access to extracurricular professional development and skills courses run by industry professionals

Additionally, the Postgraduate Employability Edge programme, available to postgraduate students at Kent Business School takes place from Welcome Week until the end of your studies and is designed to enhance your career prospects further.

Successful KBS graduates: graduate destinations

Our Finance graduates find work in public and private sector management and consultancy both overseas and in the UK in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:

  • Dolfin Group Wealth Management
  • NatWest
  • Huawei
  • US Bank
  • Caterpillar
  • Eurex

Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set-up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.

Professional recognition

We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CFA and GARP to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations.

Postgraduates earn

£6,000
more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

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