International Finance and Political Relations | University of Aberdeen

Course summary

This programme combines the strengths of the School of Social Science and the Business School to explore the intersection between money, politics and power and the relationship between international finance and policymaking at the transnational level. This programme is designed to train specialists for careers in the international finance or in the government/non-government (NGO) sectors, where an understanding of global flows of money, trade and labour, and the global distribution of wealth they engender, is required.

Over the last few decades, there has been a steady increase in cross-border financial flows, as a result of the globalisation of financial markets. At the same time, we have witnessed fundamental societal and political changes and how nation-states behave and interact with one another, as well as technological advances and financial innovation.

As a result, businesses, governments, and investors therefore face an ever-growing need to understand the relationship between political relations and international markets. By combining the key theories and themes in the study of international political economy with corporate finance and investments, this Masters programme addresses the need, by teaching the advanced skills needed to gather, analyse and evaluate information on the politics of international finance and to enable you to communicate how international finance, banking, and stock markets intersect with national and international political events.

The MSc International Finance and Political Relations programme is designed to train specialists for careers in the international finance or in the government/non-government (NGO) sectors, where an understanding of global flows of money, trade and labour, and the global distribution of wealth they engender, is required.

We welcome applications from students from across a wide range of academic backgrounds. You do not need a degree in business or politics to be considered for this programme.

Modules

Course Modules

There is a strong emphasis on providing a grounding in theoretical foundations of international finance and politics but combined with the key practical analytical skills and knowledge required by businesses, governments and other organisations.
You will learn about the operation of international financial markets in the context of globalization, global capital flows and the interconnections between international business and social and political change to understand how the international financial system is affected by contemporary events and changes in international political systems.

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Entry requirements

Applicants for admission will normally be expected to hold a relevant Honours degree with a 2:2 standard from a recognised university or body. We welcome applications from students from across a wide range of academic backgrounds. You do not need a degree in business or politics to be considered for this programme.

Applicants without this qualification may be admitted subject to having an alternative qualification, or an approved level of work experience appropriate to the field of study. Also taken into careful consideration is the trajectory of results, an applicant without an overall 2:2 but with 2:2 results in their final two years of study may be admitted.

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6.5	Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 6.0 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)	90	TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 21 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818
PTE Academic	62	Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online test is not accepted.
Institution's Own Test		Academic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for 1 year). Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course.
Cambridge English Advanced	C	Overall - 176 with: Listening - 162 or above; Reading - 162 or above; Speaking - 162 or above; Writing - 169 or above.

To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fee information is not yet published for entry in Academic Year 2027/2028. For guidance, the fees on the University Online Prospectus website are for 2026/27.

Sponsorship information

Aberdeen Global Scholarship - Postgraduate International

The University of Aberdeen is keen to welcome talented students from all over the world. To help students fulfil their academic ambitions and ease the costs associated with studying abroad, the University is pleased to offer the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. The scholarship is available to all self-funded full-time on campus Masters students classified as international fee status. The scholarship applies to both taught and research Masters. The amount for students starting in Academic Year 2027/28 has not been confirmed. The scholarship is in the form of a partial tuition fee waiver and will be deducted from your tuition fees.

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/644