Finance (M.S.)

The Master of Science in Finance, offered by the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, develops students’ abilities to provide solutions to the increasingly diverse and complex financial challenges of modern organizations. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study by students with undergraduate preparation in business, economics, and/or STEM fields and is open to others after appropriate foundation coursework. Designed to develop the highest levels of skill in financial modeling, investment analysis, evaluation, problem-solving, and communication of complex financial information, the program offers specialized training in one of three non-mandatory options: investments, financial analytics & fintech, or a student-designed track. Students will also develop strong understanding of ethical considerations and professional standards necessary in the field of finance and will be well-prepared for a variety of roles including corporate finance, investment banking, and start-up enterprises.

All admitted candidates must have completed certain foundation courses.  These courses can be completed prior to entry or as part of the Master of Science in Finance program.  These courses include:

The Master's of Science in Finance (MSF) curriculum requires students to take a minimum of 10 classes (a total of 30 credits), from which 8 are required core classes and 2 are electives. Students may choose to specialize their MSF degree in the Financial Analytics & Fintech option or the Investments option by completing an additional elective in that specialized area for a total of 11 classes (33 credits). 

Student-designed option electives 

Students can design their own option and choose their electives after obtaining the consent and approval of the MSF Director or director's designee.

Non-option student electives

Students who prefer not to declare an option can choose any elective offered by the M.S. Finance program. However, without a study plan pre-approved by the MSF Director or director's designee, a student may only take one non-finance elective.

Our Accelerated Master of Science in Finance (MSF) option provides an opportunity for UNH undergraduate students to begin graduate study while completing a bachelor's degree—making you stand out among other job applicants with advanced skills and increasing your earning potential. Qualified students can begin earning graduate credit during their undergraduate programs, allowing them to maximize their time on campus and return on their educational investment.

Eligibility:

• Current UNH undergraduate student with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Apply before completing 90 undergraduate credits.
• Acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s Program before taking 800-level courses.

Accelerated MSF Requirements:

• Qualified students may complete up to 12 credits at the 800-level during their undergraduate studies, earning dual credit toward their B.S. and M.S. degrees.
• Once a qualified student matriculates into the MSF program (after completing undergraduate degree), the student will take a minimum of 18 additional credits to complete the 30 credit MSF program requirement.
• Students will be required to earn a B- or better in graduate courses to earn credits toward their degree.

Approved Dual Credit Electives 

To earn graduate credits, students need to enroll in the 800-level sections of approved dual credit courses. The 800-level sections require additional work beyond the requirements for the undergraduate versions. The following is the list of approved dual credit courses for the accelerated path in the MSF program:

Within the accelerated option, Finance option students can complete both the BSBA and MSF in 4.5 years.  Please seek more details from the MSF Director and/or Finance Department Chair and apply for accelerated master’s admission before reaching 90 undergraduate credits.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate knowledge of core content areas of finance.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate advanced issues in finance and apply them in a business context.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the preparation and usage of financial statements.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to solve complex financial problems.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of decision making in a global business environment.
• Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills in business decisions and environments.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to extract, cleanse and analyze financial data using statistical software or programming tools.

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Deadline

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: June 1
• Spring: December 1st
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: CT VT

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Test Scores: GMAT Optional

GMAT test scores are optional. Applicants may provide their GMAT or GRE scores to supplement their application or to be considered for department scholarships. 

Please, request official test scores to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service. Test scores more than five years old will not be accepted. Student copies and photo copies of scores are not considered official.

Personal Statement

1. Please tell us about yourself and why you are interested in studying finance at the University of New Hampshire.
2. Do you believe your college grades reflect your ability? Explain.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

Enrollment Deposit

This program requires an enrollment deposit of $500. If admitted the deposit will be due by the deadline specified in your admit letter. The enrollment deposit secures a seat in the program for an applicant and can be used towards tuition once the applicant starts the program. For more information please see our enrollment deposits help page.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.