If students hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s, a Pre-Master’s can help them gain a place on a postgraduate degree. For progression to the 1st year of a postgraduate degree at the University of Essex. Course length is determined mainly by students' English language level (UKVI IELTS score).

Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. If their course is longer than 2 terms, students will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Master of Science - Financial Economics The emphasis of the University of Essex MSc Financial Economics is on the ways that economic reasoning can inform and illuminate the financial decision-making of investors and the financial choices made by firms.

Students gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of financial economics. In particular, students explore topics including: notions of risk and return in equity markets, optimisation theory, how economic arguments work, and the role of equilibrium.

Essex is top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”. Much of this world-class research is related to policy, and they have particular strengths in the areas of: game theory and strategic interactions, theoretical and applied econometrics, and labour economics. The quality of Essex's work is reflected in their stream of publications in high-profile academic journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies.

After completing their masters, students may wish to extend their knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study. Alternatively, the course also prepares students for employment; recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level.

In Essex's MSc Financial Economics students will gain key skills in the analysis of complex financial data. In addition, students will develop key employability skills like mathematical techniques, statistical analysis and computer skills and acquire a deep knowledge of how financial markets work and how to analyse them. Recent graduates have gone on to work for a range of high-profile organisations: Santander, Ernst and Young, Amba Research, and Indicus Analytics.

More generally, Essex's graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations.