I have waited for one year to come to Durham University for my MSc masters in Finance, and right now, after 2 months I am withdrawing from the programme. I also know there are other people who left before me!

The MSc Finance programmes in Durham University is not even close to what's written on their website. For example, before I came here, I was told that MSc Finance programmes were covering 70 percent of the CFA exams. Yes, you have courses which have the same name with the subject titles that you have in CFA examination.

The courses are superficial, nothing detailed! On the other hand, you have a lot to do as you have at least 4 courses for one semester. However, putting too much work on students, who generally do not have background on Finance, does not increase the quality of education!!!

MSc programme have lots of students who are coming from overseas and especially from China. We were having our courses in Calman Learning Center with more than 200 students together. We had seminars in groups which was just about reading the slides and no discussion about the issues!

There is a mismatch between the courses and the work that you're given. You need to read lots of material usually academical works of others which you have no background!! Lecturers go over the slides and do not expect to learn much from the lecturers or from the courses.

I had chosen MSc taught programme of Durham but it was, in general, not even close to my expectations. I was told that " I was taught the courses so no need for a FINANCE background.However, the reality is totally different.

Actually, I believe that Durhamm Business School, responsible for MSc Finance programmes, is using the reputation of Durham University. This university is really well known with its Chemistry and Middle Eastern- Islamic Studies.

Even if you are coming to Durham for your MSc studies on Finance, do not expect too much, and do not care what's written on website!

Thanks for the heads up. Sorry to hear that you had to leave the program but is this the case with just the Finance program or all the other business related programs as well (Management & Marketing) ?

I was planning to apply for their MA in Management program but I've got double thoughts now.

I have written similar things on the forum before about Durham MSc courses and was attacked by members here about me being nasty with Durham. Yet none of them came up with some rational arguments to convince why Durham is as good as it sounds on the website.

To be fair with Durham, it offers pretty good programmes but the quality has gone downhill recently. Starting from the dean resignation due to plagiarism, a host of senior lecturers left. That left Durham with a serious gap they can never fulfill soon.

You can also read a bit more about the situation, why when the Dean left, a host of other members followed suit.

I can assure you that there are students who dont have finance background have succeeded but dont expect too much from a Durham Msc or any other UK MSc.

At the end of the day, if you havent read the stuff before, only in 1 year how you can "master" a subject as the name of the degree Master of finance suggest.

The only way for university to handle no finance backgound students is to cut down the rigour. Yes, you can cover similar topics but less details.

Still Durham managed to fill the classroom full and raise the fees as well. So financially they are doing fine

Still, to be able to secure a finance job now is very difficult and of course it depends on what kind of finance you will be doing.

1. What is the fees situation with you then?

2. Finance management is delivered by another department, it is more of a mickey mouse degree if you dont mind me saying. But it depends on what do you want to do afterwards, if you want to move in to finance managment where finance is a add on to your management then the degree is fine else it does not hold a lot of value.

Dear Fre3ze

To be honest, I have no idea about other business related programmes. My thoughts are for MSc Finance programmes.

By the way, I agree with donho199. You should definetely answer that " What is the fees situation with you?" I was an international student and was going to pay 14000 pounds just for tuition and fees!!! I assure you that MSc Finance programmes of Durham do not worth that much.

I am not writing these things to be nasty with Durham, these are the realities here.

I hope you ll be happy with your decision, even if its Durham or somewhere else.