MSc Metals and Energy Finance

This course relates to the technical and financial appraisal of natural energy and mineral resources projects. This degree is run jointly by the Department of Earth Science and Engineering and Imperial College Business School. It covers mineral deposit studies, resource evaluation, basic petroleum engineering and petroleum geology, minerals engineering and extractive metallurgy, accounting, mathematical techniques in finance, project appraisal and finance, project management, and markets and supplies. You will be introduced to quantitative financial analysis, strategic management and technical geological concepts in the context of metals and energy projects.

In March, you will join the Centre for Professional Development's module on mineral project appraisal and finance, which provides an executive overview of many key technical and financial issues covered by the MSc course. This enables you to understand how different components of the course interrelate and obtain independent perspectives of the relevance of what you have covered from the other delegates.

An excursion of at least 10 days to a region of active mining, downstream metal and mineral processing, and energy development will be arranged for the third and fourth weeks of the summer term. This is a key component of the degree course, providing first-hand experience of all aspects of the extraction industry. It also reinforces the practical application of the theoretical material covered in the first two terms.

You will be prepared for the planning and execution of your research project by classroom training in advanced techniques and developments in finance, science and engineering, and by your independent excursion report. During the formal teaching programme, you will be encouraged to identify topics of particular interest with a view to developing the basis for your dissertation.

Contacts with professionals working in metals, energy and financial organisations through the excursion and the continuing professional development module also provide opportunities for you to secure internships in the mining, oil and gas sector or the investment banking community, which can help with the generation of your research project. Work on the research project is undertaken between July and September.

This course is professionally accredited by The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Achieving a professionally accredited degree demonstrates to employers that you have achieved an industry-recognised standard of competency. It also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.