MSc Finance offer holder information

University accommodation

You must apply for your accommodation before 31 July 2025.

As MSc Finance has a three-week induction before term begins, students will need arrive early  – the Induction programme starts on 1 September 2025.

Once you’ve opened the Accommodation page, scroll down to the Specific postgraduate course information section and select MSc Finance. This will give you more information on how to book early accommodation, if you require it. MSc Finance is a twelve month programme and you are required to be in attendance for the whole year, so please ensure that you book accommodation for the entire duration of the programme.

Our website provides lots of information about how and when to apply and how we allocate rooms. 

There is very limited couple or family accommodation and the contract for these flats starts in mid-September. If you arrive before this date, you will need to find alternative accommodation until the contract starts.

If your University accommodation application is unsuccessful, you will need to look for private accommodation outside of the University, but your details will be kept on a waiting list and you will be offered accommodation if a vacancy becomes available.

If you have any questions or concerns about your accommodation, please contact the Accommodation team, email: ExeterAO@exeter.ac.uk.  

Private student accommodation

Take a look at our private accommodation list at Studentpad and see what's available. It is free to access and includes a list of shared houses and flats. You can contact landlords and agents directly to ask questions, arrange viewings and gather further information.

CFA® Exams

Your MSc Finance Programme gives you the opportunity to take the CFA® exams during your time here at the University of Exeter. To help you prepare for these exams, the University of Exeter has designed - exclusively for the MSc Finance students - CFA® training lectures to give you a head start during the September Induction.

Please note: the CFA® exam fees are not part of your University fees. Therefore, if you decide not to take any of the CFA® exams you will NOT get a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enrol for the CFA® exam?
You will need to register directly with the CFA® institute. All exams will be computer based, and you will need to choose at which test centre you would like to take your online exam.

Which CFA® exam(s) will the University pay for?
The Business School will give funding support towards the cost for up to two CFA® exam registration fee(s) taken in February and August. It is at your own discretion if you take the CFA® exam in May, as this will clash with your University exams, so we are highly encouraging you NOT to book your CFA® exam in May. Our timetable will only support the February and August exams.

How much refund will I receive for the CFA® exams?
As an MSc Finance student, the Business School will provide funding support toward the exam registration fee. The exact reimbursement amount varies year by year. For 2026, each student can expect over USD1,000 of registration fee reimbursement.  You must have a valid CFA® Institute receipt which covers the exam fee for up to two exams while you are studying on the programme. You will need to pay for your one-time enrolment fee, and we will refund you the exam registration fee only.

How will I receive my exam registration fee refund?
Your refund will be paid into your bank account via the University finance system ‘T1’. You will need a T1 account before this can happen and this will be set up for you after you register on the programme.

When will I receive my refund?
You will receive your refund towards the end of your course. We will give you information on how to claim your CFA® rebate in mid-April. All CFA® rebate claims must be submitted by 31 July. The exchange rate from USD to GBP will be taken on the previous 30 August.

If I do not wish to take the CFA® exam, could I get a reduction in my programme fees?
No, you will not receive a reduction in fees as these exams are not part of your University fees.

If I have already passed my Level 1 exam before joining the MSc Finance programme, will you still give me a refund?
No, we do not rebate CFA® Level 1 exam if you have taken this before you enrolled on to the MSc Finance programme. However, if you are taking CFA® Level 2 you can still apply for a CFA® scholarship.

I have passed CFA® level 1, will you help me to prepare for CFA® level 2?
The CFA® training in September will focus on the Level 1 exam. However, we can give you access to study material for the Level 2 exam. Some of our modules also cover Level 2 topics.

How much of the programme curriculum covers CFA®?
The MSc Finance programme curriculum covers 70% CFA® Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) for Level 1 and Level 2, which will help you to prepare for the CFA® exams for both levels.

What is the workload for the CFA® study?
Students are expected to spend at least 300 hours preparing for each CFA® exam. We recommend that you start your studies early before the MSc Finance programme commences. If you don't have a CFA® approved calculator yet, don’t worry, we will provide one when you join the programme.

Where can I get the study sessions?
You can access all levels of the CFA® study sessions free of charge from this link: CFA® Program Exam Levels.

The Level 1 and Level 2 curriculum is also integrated into the CFA® Learning Ecosystem, which can be accessed once you’ve registered with the CFA®.

CFA® Student Scholarship

As part of the CFA® University Affiliation Program, we offer CFA® scholarships, additional to the CFA® rebate, to a limited number of students with an outstanding academic record. 

The CFA® Scholarship application window opens to newly registered students on 1st September for the coming year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to apply for a CFA® scholarship?
To be eligible to apply, you must either be holding an offer, or be a student enrolled on the MSc Finance programme and must not have registered for a CFA® exam.

How do I apply for the scholarship?
You apply directly to the CFA® via their website by completing an online Student Scholarship Application form. The application requires the submission of the following documents:
(1) Curriculum Vitae (CV)
(2) Academic transcript from your highest completed degree
(3) A cover letter (approx 200 words) explaining why you wish to obtain the CFA® qualification and how you plan to structure your study programme.

What does the CFA® Student Scholarship cover?
If your application is successful, your one-time enrolment fee will be waived, and the registration fee for your next exam will be reduced. (For 2024/25 students this was USD350 for the one-time enrolment fee, and USD600 for the exam. The amount for 2026 has not yet been confirmed.) Even if your application is unsuccessful, you will still be able to register for the February exam at the discounted early-bird rate.

When can I apply for a CFA® scholarship as an offer holder?
Offer Holders for MSc Finance can apply for a CFA® scholarship until 14 July 2025, but you must first complete the following:

• confirm your place by paying the deposit as requested
• confirm your attendance by emailing the Programme Director (Dr. Wei-Ming Lee) at W.Lee2@exeter.ac.uk

What happens if I miss the deadline date to apply?
After the 14 July deadline, you'll have to wait for the next cycle, beginning on 1 September 2025.

For which CFA® exam can I apply for a scholarship?
You can apply for the February 2026 exam. Please note, you cannot apply for a CFA® exam until you have been notified that you have been successful with your scholarship application.

How will I know if I have been awarded a scholarship?
The CFA® Institute will contact you directly by email, to let you know whether or not you have been awarded a scholarship.

Are there any other CFA® scholarships I can apply for?
Yes, there are other CFA® scholarships that can be awarded directly from the CFA® institute. You can find out more information here.

Kaplan Essential Package

All offer holders are eligible to purchase this CFA® study package at a discounted price. This study package gives you access to:

• Activity Feed
• Checkpoint Exams
• InstructorLink
• JumpStart
• Mock Exams 1-4
• QuickSheet
• SchweserNotes™
• SchweserNotes™ Videos
• SchweserPro™ QBank

Payment for your Kaplan Essential Package is via normal bank transfer – the University bank details will be provided to you after your register on the programme.

Find out about the different funding options available for postgraduate taught students.

Scholarships information available here

Registration

Registration is the process by which you agree to the University’s current regulations. It is a requirement for both new and returning students to complete registration at the start of your studies in each academic year. Registration for most students takes place online in the Student Record System.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the MSc Finance programme?
All students will receive a notification when they need to register:

• All New Students, you will receive this notification in your Welcome email from Admissions. Before you can register online, you will need to activate your University IT account.
• New international students, usually you cannot complete University registration until you have completed International Student Clearance, as detailed in your Welcome email from Admissions.
• Returning students, you will receive this notification by email to your University account.
• International students returning to Exeter to study after an interruption may not be able to complete University registration until you have completed International Student Clearance, please check your "Returning from interruption" e-mail.

How do I access online registration?
Log in to the Student Record System using your short username and password.

In the Student Record System, if you have been cleared to register, you will see a red box 'Welcome to online registration'. Click on the 'REGISTER NOW' link to enter the online registration pages.

How do I access my University IT account?
A University IT account will be given to all offer holders, and your Welcome email will explain how to activate it. Any returning students will already have access.

How do I pay my fees?
All fee payments (tuition, tuition deposit, accommodation and other miscellaneous charges) should be paid online via Credit/Debit card or by International Bank Transfer. To pay, please go to the Make a Payment web page.

When will I get my timetable?
When you have enrolled onto the programme you will have access to your timetable.

Will teaching be online?
No, all teaching will be on-campus. 

What if I find MSc Finance isn't for me and I want to change to a different programme?

• If you are an offer holder and have not yet arrived at Exeter then you would need to email pgad@exeter.ac.uk and request to change to another course, Admissions would then consider you for the course you would like to change to, and if you meet the criteria you will be issued with an offer.
• If, after registration in September, you decide that you want to change your course, you will need to contact the Student Services Hub in the Business School, who will consider your request. Any decision will consider space on the course you want to change to, and how many weeks into starting MSc Finance you are, as you may have missed too much of the new course to start.

Induction programme

As a flagship programme, MSc Finance offers an induction to help you understand programme benefits and prepare for the CFA© Level 1 exam. The induction is available free of charge to all students enrolled on the MSc Finance programme, and it will start on 1 September 2025.

We ask students to complete a short survey before we start to learn a little more about you before you arrive, and this will be sent out during the summer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to be on campus for the three-week induction programme?
It is advisable to be on campus for the duration of the Induction Programme. Most of the CFA training lectures will be scheduled for September. If you plan to take the CFA Level I exam, it is crucial that you join the induction.

What will the induction programme cover?
In the first week, there will be:
(1) workshops that provide necessary knowledge in finance and accounting;
(2) a career camp that prepares you for the job market;
(3) sessions that introduce programme benefits, such as CFA supports, QTEM, and more. The second and third weeks of the induction programme will mostly be the CFA training lectures.

Is there anything I need to do before I start my degree?
You will find all the key information in the New Students Guide.

Do my university fees include the study trip?
No, the study trip is not included in your university fees. The Business School requires a £200 deposit to confirm your attendance. The total cost varies each year based on the budget and the cities visited.

Where will the study trip take us in 2025?
This year the group are visiting Berlin in Germany.

Where did class of 2024 visit?
The class of 2024 visited Frankfurt School of Finance & Management in Frankfurt and Solvay University in Brussels. View the video below to see some of the highlights of the trip.

Top Tips from previous students to make the most of your time on the course:

• “Be productive, be positive and do not waste your opportunities.”
• “Attend every event you can. You will learn so much and grow as a person.”
• “Attend all your classes and engage in all your lectures, seminars, and tutorials. It’s a challenging programme with lots going on and you don’t want to miss any. Be punctual!”
• “Collaborate. Everyone has different skill sets and when everyone comes together it makes the whole experience more enjoyable.”
• “If you don’t understand something – just ask.”
• “Make use of the connections the University has and take advantage of the course resources.”
• “Learn good time management – fitting in course study, CFA study, and other activities – and don’t forget to enjoy your life and have fun!”
• “Check your email box every day!”
• “Be proactive looking for jobs and start looking early. A lot of good ones have already gone by mid-October.”
• “Get to know your classmates and network with alumni.”

View the video below "Advice for incoming students from our Alumni" for further insights.

How to find us: You will be studying on the Streatham Campus in Exeter, Devon. There is information on how to get here, and a campus map here.