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Study Abroad course guide

Study Finance Abroad

Corporate finance, investments and risk, with routes into banking, fintech and asset management.

A guide for Indian students · Updated 23 Oct 2026

Subject area

Business and finance

Master's length

1–2 years

Countries compared

13 destinations

Popular destination

United Kingdom

Switch courseBrowse all 18 courses

What is Finance?

Quick read

  • Finance degrees cover corporate finance, investments, financial markets, risk and quantitative methods.
  • Specialist master's (MSc Finance, Financial Engineering, FinTech) are popular with Indian engineering and commerce graduates.
  • Some programmes are part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which aligns teaching with the CFA syllabus.
  • UK graduate investment analyst roles start around £32,000–£40,000 in London (Prospects, 2025).
  • Strong maths and statistics make a big difference to admission and to your results.

Finance is about how businesses, investors and governments raise, invest and manage money. You study valuation, portfolio management, derivatives, banking, corporate finance and the economics behind markets.

Programmes range from broad finance degrees to quantitative ones such as financial engineering and risk management. Many now include data analysis in Python or R, and fintech courses add payments, blockchain and digital banking.

Why study Finance abroad

  • Global financial centres

    London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Toronto, Sydney and Dubai host banks, funds and fintech firms that recruit graduates.

  • Quantitative training

    Many master's are built for engineering and maths graduates and teach modelling and programming alongside theory.

  • Professional alignment

    Courses linked to CFA, CAIA or FRM syllabuses help if you plan to take those exams.

  • One-year master's

    The UK and Ireland offer intensive one-year programmes, which keeps total cost and time down.

Specialisations you can choose

  • Corporate finance
  • Investment management
  • Financial engineering
  • Risk management
  • FinTech
  • Banking
  • Sustainable finance
  • Financial analytics

Degree options

Finance degree options
ProgrammeDurationTypical entryIdeal for
Bachelor's (BSc Finance / Accounting and Finance)3–4 yearsClass 12 with maths for most universitiesStudents who want a finance degree from the start
MSc Finance1–2 yearsBachelor's with maths or statistics contentCommerce, economics and engineering graduates
MSc Financial Engineering / Quantitative Finance1–2 yearsStrong maths, often an engineering or maths degreeGraduates aiming at quant, risk or trading roles
Master in Management / Finance (pre-experience)1–2 yearsBachelor's; little or no work experienceRecent graduates who want business and finance together

Best countries to study Finance

Finance: costs and work rights in 13 countries

The table compares typical international tuition per year in each country (a range across subjects, from our country guides), how long a master's usually takes, and the post-study work route. Notes specific to Finance are added where they matter.

Finance: countries compared
CountryBachelor's / yearMaster's / yearPost-study workWhat to know
Flag of United KingdomUK£15,000–40,000≈ ₹18.3 lakh – ₹48.8 lakh£17,000–36,000≈ ₹20.7 lakh – ₹43.9 lakh1–2 yearsGraduate visa: 2 years (18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027) DetailsOne-year taught master's are common.
Flag of AustraliaAustraliaA$30,000–50,000≈ ₹19.5 lakh – ₹32.5 lakhA$32,000–55,000≈ ₹20.8 lakh – ₹35.8 lakh1–2 yearsTemporary Graduate visa (485): usually 2–3 years; Indian graduates up to 3 years after a master's DetailsMany master's are 1.5–2 years; credit for related degrees can shorten them.
Flag of CanadaCanadaC$20,000–60,000≈ ₹13.4 lakh – ₹40.2 lakhC$10,000–50,000≈ ₹6.7 lakh – ₹33.5 lakh1–2 yearsPGWP: up to 3 years, depending on programme length DetailsColleges also offer postgraduate diplomas; check the field-of-study rule for PGWP.
Flag of IrelandIreland€16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh€16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 yearsStamp 1G: 12 months, up to 24 months after a master's DetailsMost taught master's take 1 year.
Flag of GermanyGermanyUp to €20,000up to ≈ ₹21.2 lakhUp to €25,000up to ≈ ₹26.5 lakh1.5–2 years18-month job-seeker residence permit DetailsPublic universities charge little or no tuition (Baden-Württemberg and TUM charge non-EU fees). Most bachelor's are taught in German.
Flag of New ZealandNew ZealandNZ$36,000–55,000≈ ₹19.4 lakh – ₹29.7 lakhNZ$40,000–60,000≈ ₹21.6 lakh – ₹32.4 lakh1–2 yearsPost Study Work Visa: up to 3 years after a master's DetailsIncludes 1-year and 1.5–2 year master's.
Flag of NetherlandsNetherlands€9,000–20,000≈ ₹9.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh€12,000–30,000≈ ₹12.7 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 yearsOrientation year: 1 year DetailsResearch universities and universities of applied sciences both teach in English.
Flag of Dubai (UAE)Dubai (UAE)AED 44,000–165,000≈ ₹11 lakh – ₹41.3 lakhAED 42,000–181,000≈ ₹10.5 lakh – ₹45.3 lakh1–2 yearsNo dedicated route: employer work visa or a 60–120 day Job Seeker visa DetailsFinance programmes at branch campuses; DIFC hosts many financial firms.
Flag of SpainSpain€1,000–27,000≈ ₹1.1 lakh – ₹28.6 lakh€2,700–43,000≈ ₹2.9 lakh – ₹45.6 lakh1–2 yearsJob-search authorisation: 24 months DetailsEnglish-taught finance master's are mainly at private business schools.
Flag of MaltaMalta€7,000–15,000≈ ₹7.4 lakh – ₹15.9 lakh€8,000–20,000≈ ₹8.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh1–2 yearsPost-study permit: up to 9 months DetailsEnglish is an official language; small universities and colleges.
Flag of CyprusCyprus€6,800–12,000≈ ₹7.2 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh€4,000–18,000≈ ₹4.2 lakh – ₹19.1 lakh1–2 yearsUp to 12 months after a master's; none after a bachelor's DetailsPublic universities teach mainly in Greek; private universities teach in English.
Flag of LatviaLatvia€3,000–10,000≈ ₹3.2 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh€3,500–12,000≈ ₹3.7 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1–2 yearsUp to 9 months after a master's or PhD DetailsEnglish-taught programmes at state and private universities.
Flag of LithuaniaLithuania€2,500–10,000≈ ₹2.6 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh€2,300–12,000≈ ₹2.4 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1.5–2 years12-month job-search permit DetailsEnglish-taught programmes at state and private universities.

Ranges are typical yearly international tuition across subjects; lab-based and professional courses often sit at the upper end. Living costs, visa and health cover are extra. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

Not sure which country suits Finance?Share your marks, budget and goals and we'll compare countries and universities for you.

Universities to consider for Finance

Admission requirements

Bachelor's

  • Class 12 with maths (most universities)
  • Minimum marks set by each university
  • English test or accepted Class 12 English mark

Master's

  • Bachelor's with quantitative content (maths, statistics, economics or engineering)
  • Minimum grade set by each university; top programmes ask for first-class or equivalent
  • GMAT or GRE for some programmes, especially in Europe

Documents you will usually need

  • Mark sheets and certificates
  • Statement of purpose
  • CV
  • References
  • GMAT/GRE score if required
  • English test score report

English test scores

English requirements for Finance
LevelTypical requirement
Bachelor'sIELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall with no band below 5.5–6.0 is typical
Master'sIELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 is typical; some top schools ask for 7.0
Other testsPTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Duolingo English Test are widely accepted; check each university's list
Class 12 EnglishSome universities accept a high Class 12 English mark (often 70–80%+ from CBSE/ISC) instead of a test for some courses

Typical ranges; each university and course sets its own scores. Prepare with our IELTS and PTE classes.

Professional recognition

  • CFA Institute

    Some degrees are part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which means much of the CFA syllabus is covered in teaching. It does not exempt you from CFA exams.

    Official website (opens in a new tab)

Skills you will build

  • Financial modelling in Excel
  • Valuation
  • Statistics and econometrics
  • Python or R
  • Risk analysis
  • Understanding of markets and regulation
  • Presenting to clients
  • Commercial judgement

Careers and salaries after Finance

Finance career roles and UK salary guides
Job roleUK salary guideSource
Investment analyst£32,000–£40,000 starting in London (plus bonus); £65,000–£100,000 with experienceProspects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Risk analyst / risk manager£28,000–£33,000 starting as an analyst; £50,000–£75,000 for experienced risk managersProspects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Financial manager£28,000–£40,000 starting; £80,000–£120,000+ at senior levelProspects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab)

UK salary guides are shown so all courses use the same comparison. Pay elsewhere differs, and a job offer abroad is never guaranteed.

Planning a career in Finance?Our counsellor can map courses to the jobs and countries you're aiming for.

Study Finance abroad: FAQs

Can engineers apply for MSc Finance abroad?

Yes. Many finance and financial engineering master's prefer applicants with strong maths, so engineering graduates are common in these classes.

Is GMAT needed for MSc Finance?

Some programmes ask for GMAT or GRE, especially at European business schools and top-ranked universities. Many UK and Australian programmes do not.

What is the difference between MSc Finance and an MBA?

An MSc Finance is a specialist, often pre-experience degree. An MBA is a general management degree for people with several years of work experience.

Which country is best for a finance career?

It depends on your goal: the UK and Ireland for one-year programmes and European finance hubs, Canada for a longer work permit, and the Netherlands for research-led programmes at lower tuition.

Does a CFA-affiliated degree give exemptions?

No. Affiliation means the curriculum covers much of the CFA material, which helps your preparation; you still sit the CFA exams.

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