Study Finance
UNSW Business School is a leading destination to study finance, ranked t ranked Australia's #1 school in Business & Management and #1 in Australia and #22 globally for finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).
Finance at UNSW equips students with analytical, decision-making and investment skills critical to global business.
With degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, students can specialise in areas like corporate finance, FinTech and investment banking. Through industry-aligned learning and a reputation for excellence, UNSW Finance graduates are prepared for successful careers in banking, financial services and global markets.
What is finance?
Finance in its simplest form is money, but it also encompasses the ways we manage and grow it—personally, organisationally, and globally. It involves making strategic decisions under uncertainty, including how businesses raise capital, how individuals allocate savings and investments, and how organisations manage financial policies.
Key areas of finance include capital markets, portfolio management, and economic indicators, all of which support informed, data-driven decision-making.
Finance is central to all businesses and industries, and Jobs and Skills Australia, projects strong demand for skilled professionals, with new roles expected to grow over the next decade. Roles in finance allow individuals to analyse, invest, and manage financial assets to create value for organisations and clients, making it a career path with both influence and opportunity.
Why study finance at UNSW?
Global reputation and ranking
UNSW Business School is one of the top finance schools in the Asia-Pacific, ranked Australia's #1 school in Business & Management and #1 in Australia and #22 globally for finance (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). That means your degree is recognised for its quality, reputation and career impact — both in Australia and around the world.
Practical, industry-aligned learning
At UNSW, you’ll gain the knowledge and experience needed to thrive in global finance. Our programs combine theory with hands-on learning through work-integrated experiences, internships, and access to our world-class Finance Trading Lab, where students work with real-time financial data and analytics tools used across the industry.
Global recognition and CFA alignment
Many UNSW finance programs are aligned with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) curriculum — helping students build globally recognised skills and prepare for CFA professional certification. You can also take your studies overseas through our international exchange programs, gaining valuable exposure to global markets, networks, and business environments.
Research-led teaching and innovation
Our finance academics are leading researchers whose work shapes the future of global finance — from corporate governance and investment to FinTech and data-driven decision-making. This research excellence directly informs your studies, ensuring you graduate with the most current and industry-relevant knowledge.
Career pathways and professional connections
With dedicated career support services and extensive industry partnerships, you’ll have access to internships, mentoring, and networking opportunities with top employers in banking, investment, consulting, and financial services. A UNSW finance degree gives you the skills, global perspective, and professional connections to excel in any area of finance.
What you’ll learn in a finance program
When you study finance at UNSW, you’ll explore how individuals, companies and governments raise, invest and manage funds, interpret capital markets, and apply data-driven decisions across financial systems worldwide. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of what finance is and how it shapes business, investment and economic outcomes, preparing you for a wide range of finance careers in Australia and globally.
Skills and expertise in finance give you the ability to creatively problem solve, manage financial resources, and apply money management and investment strategies across industries. You’ll develop strong analytical and decision-making skills through areas such as corporate finance, portfolio management, FinTech, risk assessment, wealth planning and behavioural finance. Practical learning opportunities, including case studies, simulations and access to a world-class learning lab, allow you to apply theory to real-world financial systems and stock markets.
Your analytical, modelling and finance skills will put you in demand and set you up for success in a diverse range of roles — from financial analyst and adviser to investment manager — whether you’re a domestic or international student. You’ll also have the flexibility to study full-time or part-time depending on your career stage, with 18 finance degrees to choose from as well as a range of double degrees and specialisations, making UNSW one of the best finance universities for comprehensive financial studies in Australia.
Interested in the intersection of finance and technology? Explore UNSW Business School's broad range of Financial Technology (FinTech) study options.
What our graduates say
“The learning culture at UNSW, which challenges the status quo, helped set me apart from other financial advisors and prepared me for the fast-paced world of finance. I’ve been challenging the status quo ever since and have now started my own Financial Advisory helping people gain financial freedom and live a fulfilled life.”
Harry Goldberg, Co-founder, Adviser and Coach, Purpose Advisory
“UNSW’s Master of Commerce program has been an excellent fit, allowing me to explore my passions and broaden my understanding of the business world as a whole.”
Shreya Gramle, UNSW Graduate
Finance degrees offered at UNSW
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You can study finance in the following undergraduate degrees if you meet the entry requirements, including ATAR, selection rank and English language requirements.
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Gain research experience and enhance your career prospects with an honour's degree. These programs are designed to connect your undergraduate study with supervised independent research. An honours degree also provides a pathway into further study, such as a Master’s by Research or PhD. You can take honours as a stand-alone one-year degree once you complete your bachelor’s degree.
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You can study finance in the following postgraduate coursework programs:
- Graduate Certificate in Commerce
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance (Online)
- Graduate Certificate in Business (Online)
- Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance (Online)
- MBAX (Finance)
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Extension)
- Master of Finance with specialisations in: Corporate Finance and Investment Banking, Funds Management
- Master of Financial Analysis
- Master of Applied Finance (Online)
- Master of Financial Technology (Online)
You can also choose the following finance-focused majors within a number of degrees:
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Further your academic and professional career in finance with UNSW Graduate Research School:
Study Finance online
UNSW is passionate about imparting knowledge and helping people develop professionally no matter what their circumstances are. If you need more flexibility in your postgraduate finance study why not consider studying online? We offer the following online degrees:
Career opportunities in finance
Through the finance major, UNSW equips graduates with the skills to pursue various roles from portfolio management to wealth planning. These positions require strong analytical, quantitative, and strategic thinking skills, making finance a versatile and in-demand field.
Career options include:
- Investment banker: Advises companies on raising capital, mergers and acquisitions.
- Portfolio manager: Oversees investment portfolios, making strategic asset allocation decisions.
- Asset management professional: Works within firms that manage investments, including research analysts and traders.
- Corporate finance specialist: Includes credit analysts, financial analysts, treasury managers and traders working within corporations.
- Personal financial adviser: Provides tailored financial advice and planning for individuals.
- Risk management analyst: Identifies and mitigates financial risks across organisations.
- Stockbroker: Executes trades and manages client investment transactions.
According to the 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey, the median annual salary for domestic undergraduates employed full-time in financial services was approximately $75,000. The full-time employment rate for domestic undergraduates was 74.0%, indicating strong demand for finance professionals.
How to apply for a finance degree
Whether you’re starting your undergraduate studies or looking to advance your career with a postgraduate qualification, applying to study finance at UNSW is simple. You can choose to study full-time or part-time depending on your career goals and personal commitments.
If you’re a domestic student, you can apply directly through the UNSW Apply Online portal or via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for undergraduate degrees.
If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to UNSW or through one of our approved international agents. You’ll need to meet specific academic and English language requirements, which vary by program.
You can find step-by-step details on entry requirements, required documents and key dates at how to apply.
Frequently asked questions about studying finance
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While finance and accounting are closely related fields, they focus on different aspects of money management. A finance degree explores how individuals, businesses and governments analyse, invest and manage financial resources to make strategic, data-driven decisions. It covers topics such as capital markets, portfolio management, risk assessment and economic indicators.
An accounting degree, on the other hand, focuses on recording, reporting and evaluating financial transactions within an organisation. Accounting students learn to interpret financial statements and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. In short, accounting tracks the numbers, while finance uses them to plan, model and advise on future decisions.
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Yes — studying finance is one of the strongest pathways into investment banking and related financial services. A Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Commerce (International) or Master of Finance with specialisations in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking or Funds Management from a leading institution like UNSW Finance equips you with the analytical, quantitative and strategic skills sought by global investment banks.
You’ll learn to interpret stock markets, model investments, and evaluate financial systems to deliver value for clients and drive informed financial decisions.
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Graduates who study finance can pursue a wide range of finance careers across industries. Common entry-level roles include financial analyst, investment associate, business finance consultant, risk analyst and portfolio assistant. Many begin their careers in banking, financial services or corporate finance, using their ability to analyse data, model scenarios and advise on strategic investment decisions.
With a strong foundation in financial studies and exposure to real-world capital markets, UNSW finance graduates are well positioned to grow into senior roles in wealth management, risk assessment and economic planning—both in Australia and internationally.
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