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 - Finance and Data Analytics Big data streams influence financial and statistical modelling daily and on an ever-increasing scale. It’s not just financial data that impacts investment decisions, even data streams from social networks and search engine analytics can change how an investment matures. The finance and investments industry needs practitioners who have a fundamental understanding of financial markets who can also apply statistical modelling in the context of the growing, and increasingly complex, data available to financial firms.

This University of Essex course is perfect for those with an interest in big data and data analysis who want to work in specialist roles within the finance and investments sector. The MSc Finance and Data Analytics prepares students for the financial services sector by equipping them with the quantitative, statistical and technical skills needed in a world powered by big data.

Students master areas including: big data, portfolio analysis, empirical financial methods, data analytics, and trading global markets. The University of Essex is uniquely placed to offer a Masters in Finance and Data Analytics. The University is home to the ESRC Business and Local Government Data Research Centre, which helps local authorities and businesses across the UK to leverage data more effectively, as well as the UK Data Service who provide access to quality economic and social data to organisations across the UK.

Studying MSc Finance and Data Analytics at Essex Business School, where this course is taught, means that students have access to some of the most unique financial research in the UK, supported by these two large big data centres of excellence.

The virtual trading floor ensures students gain practical experience of using industry-standard terminals and real-world business information.

Essex's graduates can analyse complex data and use this to make effective business decisions. Many work for global employers and dynamic SMEs in financial analysis, management, public administration and accountancy, such as: KPMG, Grant Thornton LLP, Inter-American Development Bank, European Central Bank, HP, and Groupon.