Master of Applied Finance
Make a sound investment in your future and start a rewarding career in the financial sector with this highly practical masters degree.
180 points, 12 months full-time (option to study 2 years part-time)
Hamilton
Trimester A (February)
Why study the Master of Applied Finance?
The Master of Applied Finance is a 12-month accelerated course that will equip you with the industry skills needed to secure financial roles working in businesses, banks, investment firms, and the public sector.
The course has a strong practical focus and is ideal for students who have never majored in finance before, but already have some quantitative analysis skills from their undergraduate bachelor’s degree.
On completion, graduates will be well positioned to continue their career journey towards gaining the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. This requires work experience and passing the CFA Institute exams.
Students have 24/7 access to a brand-new Finance Trading Room, where they can experience the thrill of buying and selling shares/bonds/commodities and other financial assets, and compete to build the most valuable portfolios.
Career Opportunities
- Banker (commercial or investment)
- Banking, financial services and financial regulation
- Business analyst
- Corporate financer
- Financial advisor / analyst
- Investment advisor
- Portfolio or wealth manager
- Sharebroker
- Treasurer
180 points, 12 months full-time (option to study 2 years part-time)
Hamilton
Trimester A (February)
Degree information
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Plan your study -
Entry Requirements You should have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in any subject that includes quantitative analysis to at least the second year, eg. business, mathematics, economics, social sciences, physics, engineering or psychology.
Even if you don't meet the entry criteria, please contact us to discuss your options, as all applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be asked to complete some qualifying papers first to ensure you reach the academic standards.See the full regulations for this degree here.
International students must have an equivalent degree qualification from a recognised university, and meet the English language requirements.
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Fees and scholarships Estimated fees
$13,641 per programme (2025)
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
Estimated fees
$56,910 per programme (2025)
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
-
You should have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) in any subject that includes quantitative analysis to at least the second year, eg. business, mathematics, economics, social sciences, physics, engineering or psychology.
Even if you don't meet the entry criteria, please contact us to discuss your options, as all applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be asked to complete some qualifying papers first to ensure you reach the academic standards.
See the full regulations for this degree here.
International students must have an equivalent degree qualification from a recognised university, and meet the English language requirements.
Estimated fees
$13,641 per programme (2025)
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
Estimated fees
$56,910 per programme (2025)
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
Why study at Waikato?
Master the art of finance trading
Step into our brand-new Finance Trading Lab, where you can sharpen your investing and asset trading skills using industry simulation software.
Top 1% global ranking
Waikato Management School is in the top 1% of business schools globally with our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation, which we've held since 2005.
Deep connections with business and industry
Our lecturers are sought-after business consultants and researchers, with links to leading companies, institutions, and government agencies.
Master of Applied Finance course content
The course is divided into three stages, covering one trimester of study each.
Part One: Core Papers provides students with a grounding in the quantitative and analytical techniques required to understand financial markets, risk and return, and make investment decisions. You will discover how key financial markets contribute to the functioning of healthy economies, and be introduced to finance theories and models.
Part Two: Master of Knowledge, students will develop advanced knowledge in specialist areas such as corporate finance, investments and financial markets, financial modelling and econometrics. You will learn how to analyse and interpret financial data, forecast returns and price assets, and conduct shares and bond valuations. You will also gain a deep understanding of capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues.
Part Three: Application of Skills, students have the opportunity to apply their skills in a professional context by undertaking a research project investigating a real financial issue.
You will also learn about the flow of international finance in today’s global economy, and be able to forecast interest and exchange rates. Students will be able to identify the financial risks faced by firms, and gain skills for analysing and trading commodities, currencies and derivatives, as well as stocks and bonds.
Style of learning:
Learning is via lectures, class discussions, individual/group assignments, consulting projects and practical workshops.
You will also spend time in the computer labs learning how to run experiments, understand statistical techniques, and gain experience with STATA programming.
