Career opportunities
The MSc in Finance from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School gives you the specialised skills and knowledge you need for a career in the financial services sector. 93% of our graduates from this programme were employed after 6 months across a range of industry sectors. Source: Latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, published in September 2025. The programme is ranked 59th in the world in the prestigious 2025 Financial Times Masters in Finance rankings and is top ranked in Ireland for career progress.
Potential careers for our graduates include:
- Stock Brokerage
- Portfolio Management
- Corporate Finance Consulting
- Investment Banking
- Venture Capital
- Trading
- Regulation
- Senior Treasury Analyst
Companies hiring our graduates
UCD Smurfit Careers Network
The UCD Smurfit Careers Network team will work with you to define your career path and support you in developing the career-related skills, know-how, and confidence to pursue your post-MSc career goals. Our holistic programme is designed to support you at key points in your career development. Our programme is structured into three key stages, designed to support you in building and driving your own career.
A variety of workshops, events, one-to-one career appointments and access to a range of online tools and resources prepare you for future opportunities.
Alumni Insights
Conor Maguire
MSc in Finance 2023, Private Equity Analyst at Ara Partners
"Coming from an engineering background, the MSc in Finance provided an excellent foundation for my role as an Analyst at Ara Partners, a global private equity firm focused on industrial de-carbonisation. The program’s blend of theory and practice, particularly through project- based assessments, facilitated a seamless shift to the workplace. Its rigorous and comprehensive curriculum offers diverse career paths, allowing you to specialise as you progress. The expert faculty are genuinely invested in your personal and professional development, offering countless opportunities such as the CFA Challenge to further your expertise. For anyone looking to challenge themselves and pursue a career in finance, I highly recommend the MSc in Finance.”
Jeremy Debono
Senior Associate at Elkstone, MSc Finance 2021
"Pursuing the MSc Finance at UCD Smurfit was truly a transformative experience. The university has an exceptional track record of producing top-level professionals, and I was eager to join the ranks. I was not disappointed - the engaging lectures were delivered by experienced and knowledgeable faculty, and the challenging coursework provided me with a solid foundation in finance. I was grateful for the opportunities to network and gain real-world experience, which helped me launch my career in venture capital. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to excel in finance and make a meaningful impact in the industry."
Jagriti Sapra
MSc Finance 2020, Assistant Manager EY Ireland (R&D Tax)
"I chose the programme as it offers well designed core modules that combine both financial theory and application to real-world situations through multiple projects using industry leading software such as Bloomberg Terminals and MATLAB. The course is taught by world-class academics with extensive professional experience and the cultural diversity of my classmates allowed me to understand and acclimate to different working styles in an international environment. I am thankful to UCD for bundling vast knowledge in a short span that gave me an employability edge and helped me secure my previous and current role at PwC and EY. Overall, I would highly recommend this course for anyone who is eager to grow a career in Finance."
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