Apply to the MPhil in Finance

Applications closed

Admissions for entry in 2023/24 have now closed.

Applications for entry in October 2024 will open in September 2023.

Entry to the MPhil programme is very competitive, so we advise candidates to apply early. This is particularly important if you are planning to apply for scholarship funding.

Admissions requirements

Professional experience	No work experience is required; in fact, as this is a pre-experience programme, applicants should normally have no more than a year of work experience (between graduation and enrolment, excluding vacation employment and internships).
Undergraduate achievement	The minimum standard normally required is a First Class Honours or equivalent. This equates to a CGPA of 3.7/4.0.
Economics or quantitative proficiency	Your first degree must have contained a significant economics or quantitative component.
English proficiency	English as your native language or IELTS minimum overall score of 7.5, with not less than 7.0 in each element or TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) minimum overall score of 110, with not less than 25 in each element

Professional experience

Prior work experience is not required. Applicants should normally have no more than a year of work experience between completion of their first degree and enrolment on the MPhil in Finance (excluding vacation employment and internships).

For finance professionals with a minimum of two years’ work experience who wish to develop their career in finance, we offer the post-experience Master of Finance programme.

Additional materials

Applicants with more than one year of work experience who wish to continue to a PhD at Cambridge Judge Business School on completion of the MPhil in Finance will be considered only if they include a 1,500-word research proposal at the time of application. The research proposal is intended to demonstrate your ability to pursue a research-oriented academic career. It should identify the key research questions, review the relevant academic literature in the area, and highlight the expected contribution to knowledge.

Those with less than one year of work experience who wish to continue to the PhD at Cambridge or elsewhere should include a 500-word mini research proposal at the time of application. Those who intend to do a PhD should also include a sentence that explains what they plan to do after completing a PhD.

No research proposal is required from students who do not expect to continue to a PhD after the MPhil.

Undergraduate achievement

A very high standard in a degree course of equivalent level to a UK bachelors degree with honours. In most countries this is a first degree but from some countries a masters-level degree may be required. The minimum standard required is normally a First Class Honours or equivalent from an overseas institution. Please refer to the Postgraduate Admissions website to find out the minimum requirement from graduates completing their studies in other countries.

Our programme welcomes all applicants from all over the world. However, due to the high number of applications and the limited number of candidates we can admit every year, the rejection rate of applications on the MPhil in Finance is usually high.

English proficiency

Applicants to the programme need to be fluent in English and we assess fluency in the following ways:

if English is your native language.
or you have an IELTS minimum overall score of 7.5, with not less than 7.0 in each element. The separate components must have been taken at the same time and in the past two years.
or if you have a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) minimum overall score of 110, with not less than 25 in each element.

Not yet taken a language test? Test result out-of-date or not up to the required standard? Don’t worry, you don’t have to include your English language test scores with your initial application documents; they can be forwarded on later in the process. If you are made an offer, one of the conditions of entry will be getting the required standard of language test score.

Applicants who nearly miss the language requirement are not normally referred to the Language Centre. To fulfil the language conditions you must take again an approved English test.

Economics or quantitative proficiency

A significant economics or quantitative component in their first degree (and those who wish to follow courses at the Faculty of Mathematics must have a high level of skill in maths, such as would be acquired in an undergraduate degree in mathematics or a cognate discipline).

Completing & submitting your application

Applications can be made online or occasionally by paper application. Both methods of application are handled by the central University.

Please visit the University of Cambridge’s Postgraduate Admissions website to:

Apply online

All the instructions on how to complete the application are included during the online application process.

It’s worth taking the time to read the instructions carefully as any mistakes in your application may make it invalid and delay the application process.

Funding deadlines

For those candidates who wish to be considered for Cambridge funding (from the Gates Cambridge Trust, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust, and the Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme), deadlines can be found in the Funding Opportunities section of the University website. Note that an earlier deadline applies if you are a US citizen applying for Gates funding.