Finance (Investments) with Year Abroad
Finance with a specialisation in investments is a degree focused on one of the most technically demanding and commercially important areas of financial practice. Investment management, at its core, is the discipline of allocating capital across assets to achieve defined objectives under conditions of uncertainty, and understanding it requires command of financial theory, quantitative methods, market structure and the psychological and institutional factors that drive asset prices. At the University of Reading, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, adding an international dimension to a degree already oriented towards global financial markets.
You will study the theory of portfolio management, asset pricing, derivatives, fixed income securities, equity analysis, alternative investments, risk management, behavioural finance and the regulation of investment markets. The programme develops strong quantitative skills alongside conceptual understanding, and you will work with financial data, learn to use professional analytical tools and develop the ability to construct and evaluate investment arguments. The year abroad gives you the opportunity to study investments in a different financial market context and to build international professional connections.
Graduates from a finance and investments degree are well placed for careers in investment management, stockbroking, wealth management, private equity, hedge funds, financial analysis, investment banking and financial research. Many graduates pursue the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) qualification, which is the leading professional credential in investment management and for which this degree provides strong preparation. The combination of academic investment theory, quantitative skills and international exposure gives graduates a strong platform in a highly competitive sector.
Postgraduate study in finance, financial economics or quantitative finance is also a common pathway for those wanting to deepen their expertise or pursue research.