LSE MSc Finance Admissions: 2027 Requirements, GMAT and Fees

What is the LSE MSc Finance and who is it for?

The MSc Finance, often searched as the LSE MiF, is a 10-month pre-experience programme run by the Department of Finance in the Marshall Building. It opens with a compulsory four-week pre-sessional from late August 2027 covering maths, statistics, financial statements and careers skills.

The Autumn Term covers two core courses, Corporate Finance and Asset Markets. In the Winter Term you choose four half-unit electives from ten options, including Private Equity, Fixed Income Securities and Credit Markets, Financial Engineering, Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing, and Big Data and Finance. A short capstone in asset management and corporate investment closes the year. LSE notes the programme is not Bologna-compliant, which may affect how widely it is recognised in some countries.

The LSE MSc Finance and Private Equity is identical to the full-time MSc Finance except that the Private Equity course is compulsory. The part-time version, LSE's executive finance programme, is taught on weekday evenings.

LSE MSc Finance requirements

• Degree: a 2:1 or equivalent in any discipline, plus good quantitative skills and at least A level Mathematics or equivalent.
• LSE MSc Finance GMAT policy: the Department of Finance requires a GMAT or GRE score if your degree is not from a UK university, and the Private Equity page says GMAT is strongly preferred. LSE publishes no minimum score. Scores must be under five years old on 1 October 2027. The part-time route does not require a test.
• English: LSE's Standard level, for example IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in each component.
• Documents: statement of academic purpose, two academic references, CV and transcripts.

LSE MSc Finance admissions process and deadlines for 2027

Applications for 2027/28 open in October 2026, with rolling admissions for the full-time and Private Equity programmes, so places shrink as the year goes on. The part-time programme has four rounds in 2027: 15 January, 9 April, 18 June and 6 August. The application fee is £95, and decisions take about eight weeks on average. LSE asks you not to list MSc Finance and MSc Finance and Private Equity as first and second choice: pick one.

LSE MSc Finance fees and career outcomes

LSE MSc Finance fees are £53,600 for 2027/28 starters, whatever your fee status, plus a non-refundable 15 per cent deposit. Fees change every year.

Recent top employers include Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, UBS, McKinsey & Company, CICC and CITIC Securities, with graduates working mainly in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. LSE also ranks second in the UK for accounting and finance in the Good University Guide 2027.

How to stand out

• Go beyond the minimum maths. Highlight calculus, statistics and econometrics grades, and treat the GMAT quant section as your chance to remove any doubt. Our GMAT guide can help you plan.
• Apply early. LSE MSc Finance admissions are rolling, and finance recruiting starts soon after you arrive.
• Choose the version that matches your goal. Private Equity had a 28:1 ratio in 2025, so apply only if the field is a genuine priority.
• Make your statement academic. Name the electives you want and explain how they connect to the role you are aiming for.

For the bigger picture, see our guide to the London School of Economics, or compare with LSE MiM admissions if you are weighing finance against general management.

Frequently asked questions

What is the LSE MSc Finance acceptance rate?

LSE does not publish one. For 2025 it reported 1,704 applications for 160 places on the full-time MSc Finance (about 11:1) and 528 applications for 19 places on MSc Finance and Private Equity (28:1). These are application-to-place ratios, not offer rates, but they show how intense the competition is.

Do I need work experience for the LSE MSc Finance?

Not for the full-time programme, although relevant internships or experience can strengthen your application. The part-time MSc Finance is different: it is aimed at working professionals, and LSE says two to five years of relevant experience is a strong advantage.