Masters Degrees (Finance)

About the course

The MSc in Business Finance with professional placement is designed to enhance students' understanding of the operation of firms, with a special focus on the financing decisions they must make. This requires an evaluation of the firm’s relationship to financial markets. It also requires an understanding of the theory and practice underlying corporate finance and investment decisions. By studying the operation and design of corporate financial systems, and analysing business financing and investment decisions, this masters programme should enable students to find a role within the finance department of large firms or in government bodies, as well as provide them with tools to help organise smaller businesses.

The objective of the Business Finance MSc is to produce graduates with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of business finance and company valuation within the context of modern financial markets, without necessarily requiring a high level of mathematical or statistical knowledge as a prerequisite. The key transferable research skills acquired will enable students to proceed to PhD study. In addition, the programme will equip students with the key skills required to undertake further professional development and seek career opportunities within financial management.

Aims

You will be provided with a rigorous treatment of the theory of corporate finance

You will be taught the econometric and mathematical techniques necessary to understand the literature and undertake empirical investigations in the area of finance

Through a selection of optional modules the course will offer you a broader perspective on the subject matter and willl allow you to cover specific areas in accounting and finance that are of specific interest to you

Course Content

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

The full-time Business Finance MSc programme is designed with four equally weighted modules in each of the first two terms, with three being compulsory and one an option from a list. The dissertation carries one third of the marks for the course and is undertaken after the modules have been completed. The part-time option is designed with two modules in each of four terms. The compulsory modules give an excellent coverage of core material in finance designed in a way to be applicable to business. The Business Finance MSc analyses the theory and practice of business finance, focusing on financial decision making within firms and how they interact with the financial markets and institutions.

Through the optional modules the course is also designed to offer a broader perspective on the subject matter and allows you to cover specific areas in accounting and finance that is of particular interest to you.

Compulsory Modules

Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics
Quantitative Methods for Business Finance
Foundations of Finance
Business Economics
Company Valuation
Business Finance
Business Finance Workshop
Dissertation

Optional Modules

Students must choose two optional modules from the following:

Either Financial Reporting in Capital Markets
Or International Finance

Either International Accounting Standards and Policy
Or Investment Valuation Models

Part-time option

Level 1

Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics
Foundations of Finance
Quantitative Methods for Business Finance
Business Finance Workshop
Business Finance

Level 2

Business Economics
Company Valuation

Students must choose two optional modules from the following:

Financial Reporting in Capital Markets
International Finance
International Accounting Standards and Policy
Investment Valuation Models
The Dissertation must be submitted in the spring term of the third year.

Special Features

A key feature of this course that distinguishes it from other finance masters programmes is that it emphasises the applied aspects of business finance and financial decision making within firms. As such, there is more focus on real-life, up-to-date analysis of business decisions and less emphasis on the theoretical foundations and mathematical underpinnings of finance. This is particularly suited to students who would like to enhance their knowledge of finance within a business context but who have backgrounds in a wider business or management field.

Now full-time students have the opportunity to spend time in industry with the Professional Practice placement. This allows you to not only apply what you learn in real-world situations, but will significantly enhance your employability prospects upon graduating.
Another feature is that the emphasis on the applied nature of financial decision making is reinforced through the Business Finance Workshop. This is a series of presentations and discussions of cutting-edge topics led by industry leaders and practitioners.

The course is one of four specialist masters programmes developed by leading experts in the Economics and Finance Department at Brunel. As a student here you will be part of a long standing and thriving environment for research and study with many advantages and benefits such as:

Outstanding academic expertise and research-led teaching
95% of our academics are nationally and internationally recognised for their work in economics and econometrics in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008)
As a result, you will benefit from up-to-the-minute research-led teaching by academic staff who regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals, have an impact on international regulatory design and obtain significant research grants.

Professional training facilities
You will have access to a variety of professional databases used in business and the finance industry which include Datastream, Bloomberg, Bank Scope, Osiris, Reuters 3000 Xtra and Thomson One Banker
We hold regular training sessions and external visits with Bloomberg, which will enhance your research and expose you to real-world factors that will be important in future finance related employment.

Scholarships
Brunel offers a number of scholarships for UK, EU and international students.

Excellent links with leading organisations
We have excellent links with business and the finance industry, which will help you to network with organisations and get ahead in your career.

Industry talks, guest lectures and research seminars
A number of industry talks with professionals from the private sector will be invited to teach part of the programme and will provide you with further practical experience
There is a wide range of events on offer, such as guest lectures and research seminars to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments and will help build your contacts.

Teaching

Effective learning is achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed independent study, workshops, oral presentations, and varied assessment patterns. Use of appropriate IT resources is expected (e.g. electronic resources to access data, and relevant software programmes used in research methods). Dissertation research will give you the opportunity to integrate your knowledge of important themes, frameworks and research findings in business finance obtained via lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Students who successfully complete a professional placement will be invited to attend a tutorial day to give a presentation about their experience. An optional reflective journal during the placement may assist in preparation for the presentation and dissertation.

Assessment

All modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and final examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage. Students who do not follow the pathway with Professional Practice are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September. Students who follow the Professional Practice pathway will complete their placement during the summer and work on their dissertation afterwards, submitting in January.

Professional Placement

All students who enrol on the full-time Business Finance MSc will have the opportunity to complete a placement. A placement can significantly improve your employability and expose you to real-world situations in the Banking and Finance industry, and importantly, allow you to network with industry professionals.

Students completing the work placement option will have a competitive edge in pursuing careers as high-level analysts, economists and managers in financial institutions, governments, financial regulators, business companies and central banks, as well as international organisations.

The placement option is available to full-time applicants and will last for 12-15 weeks during the summer of your course. Placements will begin at the earliest in the last week of May and will finish by September Some employers may also provide a salary.

For students who complete the placement, their dissertation will be completed after the placement has finished. Students who do not find a placement will do their dissertation throughout the summer and submit in September.

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The MSc Oil and Gas Finance course is a one year postgraduate course designed to offer advanced study of finance in relation to oil and gas projects and ventures.

With growing demand for energy and a challenging external financial environment, the course responds to the need for specialist finance professionals versed in financial decision making in the petroleum industry. Building on RGU’s expertise in oil and gas and close association with the industry in Aberdeen (including a new Oil and Gas Institute), the course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop the relevant knowledge and skills to engage with the industry’s complex finance issues.

It emphasises practical problem-solving, analytical financial modelling and essential transferrable skills in researching, quantifying, evaluating and managing the financial risks and rewards of oil and gas investments. The course is a useful preparation for a career in the oil and gas industry and related roles in energy and financial markets.

Visit the website https://www.rgu.ac.uk/business-management-and-accounting/study-options/postgraduate/accounting-and-finance/msc-oil-and-gas-finance

Course detail

The course has been meticulously designed to meet the demands of the sector and to tackle a full range of topics. Specifically, the course offers a dynamic mix of theoretical and practical elements required for effective financial management and investment decision making within the oil and gas industry. The MSc Oil and Gas Finance builds on RGU’s multidisciplinary expertise across the oil and gas value chain to explore the role of the finance and investment function within this spectrum as a means for creating value.

In Semester 1 students study two generic finance modules and two additional modules to provide quantitative finance basis and an understanding of specific corporate finance considerations for the oil and gas industry. Semester 2 further develops the finance and industry specific skills. The skills required for an extensive study into a particular aspect of oil and gas finance will also be developed during this semester. These are essential in Semester 3 when each student will be required to prepare and produce a self-directed dissertation.

Semester 1

• Oil and Gas Management
• Finance Theory
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Energy Finance

Semester 2

• Research Methods
• Petroleum Economics and Asset Management
• Financial Modelling and Valuation of Oil and Gas Projects
• Oil and Gas Markets and Derivatives

Semester 3

• Dissertation

Format

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions.

Teaching is a mixture of case studies, simulations, guest seminars, lectures, tutorials, computer labs, video footage, and individual or group work. Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to the learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

Course Benefits

You will gain knowledge and practical skills in financial modelling, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem solving, through active simulation assignments and group discussions in seminars and tutorials culminating in the dissertation. We aim to produce independent thinkers who are ready and able to address the complexities and challenges of oil and gas finance faced by organisations. In collaboration with RGU’s International Oil and Gas Institute and the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, this course is a suitably paced curriculum for providing students with the means for acquiring these relevant knowledge and skills. The unique modules and the different desirable skills and knowledge they offer are reinforced by the integrative elements of the extended dissertation and the inputs from industry. Overall, you will learn to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of relevant theories, concepts, principles and frameworks of finance and a critically reflective knowledge of the basis and rationale for evaluating, analysing and synthesising key contemporary issues oil and gas industry finance.

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of appropriate analytical and modelling tools, mechanisms and markets for securing finance (through equity, debt or other suitable vehicles), optimising return and minimising risk in oil and gas investments (including derivatives).

• Demonstrate extensive detailed knowledge of the oil and gas industry data and information sources (in context within the full energy spectrum) and relevant research methods for generating and communicating original, academic, professional or practical and creative solutions to problems and issues in the area of finance.

• Critically appraise and capture the implications of complexities of oil and gas industry’s cost sharing arrangements, joint venture agreements, tax rules, environmental regulations, economic/fiscal arrangements and financial reporting standards and the international dimension of these issues in the financing/investing decision.

• Develop and authoritatively use financial tools and methodologies to extend knowledge of and critically evaluate issues in the international oil and gas industry.

• Demonstrate originality and creativity towards explaining, providing an informed opinion and advising main stakeholders on international oil and gas finance and markets.

• Provide critical input for and meticulously maintain cross-functional linkages for use of the finance function within projects in the oil and gas domain and the extended business environment.

Placements and accreditations

Our oil and gas courses are accredited by the Energy Institute and we expect that the MSc Oil and Gas Finance course will join this list in recognition of its quality and relevance to the industry. The course also shares some finance modules with the MSc Financial Management course that is recognised by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute in their University Recognition Program

Careers

A postgraduate qualification in Oil and Gas Finance provides the graduate with extensive opportunities for a career with local, national and international companies in the fields of oil and gas finance, policy and economics.

The course structure will provide a breadth of coverage to allow graduates to pursue a variety of roles and careers in the oil and gas industry within, for example, energy companies, government departments or regulatory bodies and parastatals, consulting and research companies, and various roles in energy and financial markets and institutions, including oil and gas trading, financial analysis, equity research, benchmarking and intelligence. The qualification can also be a stepping stone for advanced research degrees (e.g., PhD) in finance.

How to apply

To find out how to apply, use the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline

Funding

For information on funding, including loans, scholarships and Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) please click the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/financial-support/uk-students/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-students/

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Why Dundee

The MFin International Finance programme benefits from our considerable strength in finance where staff from applied and theoretical finance disciplines have been brought together in the same School.

The MFin International Finance programme is a ‘skills’ based finance degree that contains 8 finance modules and a short focused finance based business report. The structure of the report has been developed following feedback from employers who indicate that they prefer graduates who are able to write concisely, accurately and clearly in a focused report rather than write in the style of a lengthy and less focused dissertation.

The programme begins with a two week foundation programme where students become familiar with a range of concepts in business statistics, economics and finance. The programme helps students to understand how the University operates and how to make the most of the range of student services that are freely available. The foundation programme importantly introduces you to your fellow students who will become a major part of your learning experience at Dundee and will continue to be part of your network of friends and business connections after you graduate.

Off-Campus Learning Events: The programme includes off campus learning events embedded in the modules of some of the modules. These events aim to extend your leaning skills in ways that are directly relevant to the pathway and your personal development. These off campus events are one or two days in length and the cost of the transport, event and any necessary accommodation is covered by the MSc programme. At present there are off campus events embedded in the finance and banking pathways. More off campus events are being arranged and further events are being developed to begin this year.

Urban Experience Event: The MSc programme places considerable importance on ‘team building’ and understanding the role that international and domestic cultural variation plays in the workings of firms, and product and employment markets. These issues are addressed through a unique ‘Urban Experience’ event that helps team building and the development of learning skills. Business themes are also explored in the event.

Distinguished Visitor Series: A feature of the programme is the Distinguished Visitor and Enterprise Gym Lecture Series. Distinguished practitioners in the field are invited to the University to hold seminars highlighting critical aspects of business, finance, banking, management, marketing and human resource management. It offers students a unique opportunity to meet with business leaders and explore current issues with them.

The programme is focused clearly on the applied and theoretical aspects of finance so as to develop you for a career in the finance sector. The inclusion of a shorter finance report allows the programme to expand the opportunity for you to undertake more skills based modules that will improve your career prospects.

In the modern world finance takes an ever increasing role in business, development and the economy. The MFin International Finance programme provides you with the skills and training to play an important role in the finance sector and to develop a career in finance. To achieve this the programme provides you with the right mix of applied and theoretical skills to both understand the issues facing firms and how to deal with these issues.

This course is developed for students who have completed their undergraduate study and are now looking to develop their finance related skills so as to pursue a successful career in the finance sector.

We provide a fresh approach to International Finance that is suitable if you have studied economics, business management or accountancy before or if you are new to the subject. Around half of the students on the programme have a business background while the rest of the students come from a very wide range of non-business backgrounds. The programme has been designed with these students with non-business backgrounds in mind while still challenging students whose first degree has been a business related subject.

What you'll study

- How you will be taught

Teaching focuses on the applied and real world aspects of finance. The programme is delivered mostly within a framework of lectures, workshops and tutorials although other methods of teaching are offered on modules when they aid in understanding and learning.

- How you will be assessed

Module content is assessed through a combination of coursework, quizzes, and end of module exams. The weighting on the coursework component varies depending on the content of the module but may account for as much as 40-50% of the overall degree.

The compulsory modules on the programme are:

Foundation Economics and Statistics for Business #
Global Financial Markets
International Business Finance
Derivatives and Risk Management
Global Risk Analysis
Current Issues in Banking and Finance
Emerging Financial Markets and Investment
Applied Business Statistics

Optional Modules: Choose one of either:

Forecasting for Business and Finance
Econometrics for Finance*

* Requires prior knowledge of econometrics.
# not included for the purpose of degree classification.

International Finance Project

Employability

The MFin International Finance programme prepares you for a successful career in the financial sector. You will develop the skills and understanding to work in a range of operations in a variety of businesses such as banks, insurance companies, financial service companies, trading brokers. Working in the finance arms of industries and commercial firms outside of the finance sector is also possible.

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Gain a comprehensive framework of knowledge, insight and vision regarding the key issues in financial management and international business. The MSc in Finance (Finance and Management) pathway develops your cognitive, critical, intellectual and research skills, plus relevant personal and interpersonal skills to interact in the real world of business and finance.
In today’s competitive global environment, employers are increasingly selective in their search for competent business and finance professionals. Our Master’s in Finance programmes equip you with a solid background in financial principles and practices and help to cultivate your practical finance skills and real-world business knowledge.

The Financial Markets pathway gives you the benefit of studying quantitative and non-quantitative modules that are relevant to core areas of industry including Investments, Risk Management, Derivatives and Hedge-Funds. You will be introduced to the latest academic techniques that can identify profitable opportunities in competitive financial markets.

In the 2015 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) the MSc in Finance Suite achieved a 97% student satisfaction rate, placing us in the top quarter of the UK Higher Education sector. PTES is a Higher Education Academy initiative and is carried out among 99 institutions. This result, coupled with our strong performance in the national league tables, underlines the strength of Finance programmes at Kent Business School and quality of our postgraduate teaching.

Modules

The course structure below provides a sample of the modules available for this programme. Most programmes require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

The following modules are offered to our current students. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:

CB8021 - Foundations of Finance (15 credits)
CB900 - Corporate Responsibility and Globalisation (15 credits)
CB9073 - Bank Asset-Liability Risk Management (15 credits)
CB9075 - International Financial Markets and Instruments (15 credits)
CB9078 - Research Methods and Skills (Finance) (15 credits)
CB935 - Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management (15 credits)
CB936 - Business in an International Perspective (15 credits)
CB934 - Strategy (15 credits)
CB9074 - Credit Risk (15 credits)
CB8030 - Investments and Portfolio Management (15 credits)
CB859 - Managing the Multinational Enterprise (15 credits)
CB8015 - Financial Regulation and Financial Crises (15 credits)
CB8020 - Corporate Finance (15 credits)
CB9079 - Business Report in Finance (45 credits)

Assessment

The programme involves a taught and a project component. The taught programme is assessed by a mixture of coursework assignments throughout the year, and by examinations in May and June. Once these are completed, you work full time on the Business Report in Finance.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

- provide students with an advanced conceptual understanding of the key issues in Finance and Management within both national and international contexts.

- provide awareness of up-to-date practices in key areas of both Finance and Management.

- provide knowledge, as well as to facilitate understanding, of corporate social responsibility, sustainability and responsible management.

- provide students with knowledge of research methodologies adopted in empirical research and the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theories.

- provide students with the skills to test and evaluate theoretical models.

- provide preparation for and/or development of a career in Finance/Financial Management/ International Management by developing skills at a professional or equivalent level, or as preparation for research or further study in the area.

- develop an appropriate range of cognitive, critical and intellectual skills, research skills and relevant personal and interpersonal skills.

- provide teaching and learning opportunities that are informed by high-quality research and scholarships, from within the Kent Business School and elsewhere.

- foster the enhancement of lifelong learning skills and personal development so as to be able to work with self-direction and originality and to contribute to business and society generally.

- develop students’ ability to develop independent self-directed research.

- bring the scholarly and critical insights of the Social Sciences to bear on the subjects, activities and processes associated with the financial management of global organisations.

Careers

Our finance programmes equip you with an impressive set of skills and specialist knowledge. In addition, inbuilt practical experience will help you succeed in a competitive job market.

This programme is ideal preparation for a career in business, banking, financial institutions, regulatory bodies or government bodies. You can also enter other industries with an invaluable blend of finance and management skills.

Careers in finance continue to provide exceptional earning potential in the UK (The very highest-paying job specialisms in the finance sector include structurer, trader, M&A and leveraged finance, 2 November 2015, CityA.M.).

Our students have an excellent record for employment. Recent graduates are now working in top global companies including AXA, BNP Paribas, FactSet, HSBC, PwC, Santander, Thomson Reuters, USB Investment Bank and Zurich Financial Services.

Professional recognition

KBS is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EMFD), CIPD, CIM and the Association of Business Schools (ABS). In addition, KBS is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

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About the course

This innovative Banking and Finance MSc programme with professional placement provides you with postgraduate training and experience designed to develop your career in the banking and financial services sector. You will gain a thorough understanding of this field through practical and theoretical application, addressing financial economics, the economics of banking, international financial markets, quantitative methods as well as financial regulation both nationally and internationally.

Graduates of the Banking and Finance Masters at Brunel will be able to pursue a wide range of careers in financial institutions, banking regulatory organisations and investment banks. Internationally, graduates of this Banking and Finance course are attractive candidates for their domestic regulators, central banks and private sector banks. In addition, many graduates will follow other career paths in the financial services sector and could undertake doctoral research.

Aims

You will be provided with a good balance between the four pillars of the programme:

Theories and debates about banking and financial regulation.
Broader financial theories and related issues.
Quantitative methodologies which are critical for economic and financial analysis.
Successful completion of a dissertation in this field.

On completion of this Banking and Finance postgraduate degree course:

You will be able to effectively manage a range of issues within banking and finance, such as recent banking regulations and successfully deal with matters arising in private banking.

You will develop the art of thinking through economic problems within structured frameworks and the course will encourage you to critically evaluate and deliver strategic solutions.

Course Content

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

Full-Time

Compulsory

Quantitative Methods for Finance and Economics
International Finance
Global Financial Markets
Banking
Bank Regulation and Macro-Prudential Policy
Banking and Finance Workshops
Dissertation

Optional

Foundations of Finance
Security Analysis and Funds Management
Financial Analysis
Business Finance

Part-time

Level 1

Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics
Banking
Quantitative Methods for Finance and Economics
Bank Regulation and Macro-Prudential Policy
Global Financial Markets

Level 2

International Finance
Banking and Finance Workshops
Dissertation

Students must choose two optional modules from the following:

Foundations of Finance
Security Analysis and Funds Management
Financial Analysis
Business Finance

The dissertation must be submitted in the spring term of the third year.

Special Features

The course is one of four specialist master's programmes developed by leading experts in the Economics and Finance Department at Brunel. As a postgraduate student here you will be part of a long standing and thriving environment for research and study with many advantages and benefits such as:

Outstanding academic expertise and research-led teaching
95% of our academics are nationally and internationally recognised for their work in economics and econometrics in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008).
As a result, you will benefit from up-to-the-minute research-led teaching by academic staff who regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals, have an impact on international regulatory design and obtain significant research grants.

Professional training facilities
As a Banking and Finance Master's student, you will have access to a variety of professional databases used in business and the finance industry which include Datastream, Bloomberg, Bank Scope, Osiris, Reuters 3000 Xtra and Thomson One Banker.
We hold regular training sessions and external visits with Bloomberg, which will enhance your research and expose you to real-world factors that will be important in future banking related employment.

Postgraduate scholarships
Brunel offers a number of scholarships for UK, EU and international students.

Excellent links with leading organisations
We have excellent links with business and the finance industry, which will help you to network with organisations and get ahead in your career.

Industry talks, guest lectures and research seminars
A number of industry talks with professionals from the private sector will be invited to teach part of the Banking and Finance programme and will provide you with further practical experience.
There is a wide range of events on offer, such as guest lectures and research seminars to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments and help you build your contacts.

Teaching

The modules on the Banking and Finance postgraduate programme incorporate a diverse range of teaching methods which reflect the module learning outcomes and the demands of the subject material.

Effective learning is achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed independent study, workshops, oral presentations, and varied assessment patterns.

Use of appropriate IT resources is expected (e.g. electronic resources to access data, and relevant software programmes used in research methods).

Dissertation research will give you the opportunity to integrate your knowledge of important themes, frameworks and research findings in banking and finance obtained via lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Students who successfully complete a professional placement will be invited to attend a tutorial day to give a presentation about their experience. An optional reflective journal during the placement may assist in preparation for the presentation and dissertation.

Assessment

All modules of this master's degree course are assessed by a combination of coursework and final examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage. MSc students who do not complete a placement are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September.

Students who do complete a placement will work on their dissertation from September and submit in January.

Work Placements

All students who enrol on the full-time Banking and Finance MSc will have the opportunity to complete a placement. A placement can significantly improve your employability and expose you to real-world situations in the Banking and Finance industry, and importantly, allow you to network with industry professionals.

Students completing the work placement option will have a competitive edge in pursuing careers as high-level analysts, economists and managers in financial institutions, governments, financial regulators, business companies and central banks, as well as international organisations.

The placement option is available to full-time applicants and will last for 12-15 weeks during the summer of your course.

For students who complete the placement, their dissertation will be completed after the placement has finished. Students who do not find a placement will do their dissertation throughout the summer and submit in September.

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The HEC Paris MSc in International Finance (MIF) program caters for highly-motivated top achieving graduates looking to succeed in a career in finance and consulting. The program has a strong analytical focus yet is accessible from either business and finance (business track) or economics, math, physics, engineering (accelerated track) backgrounds.

FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM

A ‘tailor-designing’ approach towards education is at the core of how we design programs at HEC Paris. This shows in at least two respects of the HEC Paris MSc International Finance curriculum (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Program-Details#block-21071):

> What courses you take during the first semester depends on what you have done before joining HEC Paris. If you have already covered basic financial accounting, investment theory and corporate finance, you will start finance classes at advanced level (business track). If you have not done so, you will start at a more basic level but have significantly more class hours at an accelerated pace so as to enable you to cover the same material at the end (accelerated track)
> The second semester is comprised of more than 30 electives (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Program-Details#block-34760), which you can choose as you see fit: you are free to choose all corporate finance classes, all capital markets or a mix of the two. You may also decide to choose an elective about corporate strategy or macroeconomics.

BALANCE BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE

The number of hours spent in the classroom by HEC MIF graduates significantly exceeds the international standards. Around half of that time will be spent in front of world class researchers (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Program-Details#block-21085), teaching you state-of-the-art knowledge. The other half will be spent in front of top-notch practitioners. The latter is one of many ways in which the learning experience at HEC Paris is different. The reason why we feel it is important to complement theoretical teaching by top researchers with practitioners lectures is that we have learned it is giving our graduates a small "extra edge" compared to graduates of other institutions. The more competitive the environment you are in, the more important having this extra edge is.

STRONG AND COHESIVE PEER GROUP

Who your peers are matters: for the quality of your learning experience, for the perception by potential employers and for the value of your network after you graduate. This is why academic performance is at the top of our admission criteria. But academic performance is not enough: smart, ambitious individuals will underperform if they do not cooperate. We strongly emphasize group cohesion and encourage it any way we can. For instance:

> Honours are granted on the basis of absolute GPA and not class percentile so as to make sure that no HEC MIF student can benefit from underperformance by one of his or her classmates
> A study trip is organized the 3rd week of the program with all HEC finance students participating and interaction for both professional and non-professional activities

LIFE LONG TIES

We are proud of the fact that ties built on campus with both professors and peers carry on after students graduate and become alumni. Alumni get directly involved in coaching the "new generation" of HEC MIF students and making sure they achieve the same success as past students. A few examples:

> Career and job training workshops the first week of the program - http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Career-Paths#block-35012
> More than 250 participants in the Thursday night formal networking event of the 2014 London study trip… and many more at the less formal Friday night HEC Finance pub crawl: a unique opportunity to get privilegded access to young professionals from bulge bracket banks!
> Finance event organized the 4th week of September

INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY

With 29 different nationalities making up the class of 2014 (http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Meet-the-Students#block-21087), the International Finance program is enriching on a cultural level as well. Working with so many different nationalities can be highly educational and rewarding and is a true highlight of the program for many. London is the main hub for HEC MIF graduates in terms of placement even though we also have alumni working in Continental Europe, Asia, Americas, and Middle East.

A CORE OF COMMON VALUES

Last but not least, we believe that values matter. Given various unsavory episodes during the crisis, this is even more important for a finance program than for any other program. Our values can be seen in a variety of different ways:

> How we select students: no matter how good or how strong your file is, if we catch you lying or cheating in any way during the admission process, you are out! No second chance…
> Ethics classes: in collaboration with the CFA Institute (the HEC MIF is a CFA partner program https://www.cfainstitute.org/Pages/index.aspx), we included an ethics seminar and an ethics class in our curriculum years before the crisis started.

A WORLD-RENOWNED PROGRAM

The Financial Times (http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-finance-pre-experience-2015) has ranked the HEC Paris MSc International Finance number one pre-experience global master in finance worldwide in 2016 and for the sixth consecutive year (see the article http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/News/2016-06-20-HEC-Paris-Masters-in-Finance-ranked-number-1-worldwide-by-the-Financial-Times).

Program details

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Program-Details

Double and Dual Degrees

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Double-and-Dual-Degrees

Careers

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/Career-Paths

FAQs

http://www.hec.edu/Masters-programs/Master-s-Programs/One-Year-MSc-MS-Programs/MSc-International-Finance/FAQ

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Objectives

UNDERSTAND THE STRATEGIC IMPACTS OF FINANCIAL DECISIONS

The mission of the MSc in Finance program is to provide graduates with an advanced knowledge of finance and to prepare them, through an understanding of the strategic impacts of financial decisions, for careers in banking, financial services or corporate finance with international companies at a managerial level.

The program covers the fundamentals of finance, as well as advanced topics in corporate finance, financial management, and financial markets.

DEVELOP YOUR SENSE OF THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Its aim is to provide students with strong technical and analytical skills in the principles and application of finance, as well as solid industry knowledge and multicultural exposure.

PREPARE YOUR CAREER IN THE SECTOR OF FINANCE

The MSc Finance prepares students for careers in the financial sector such as investment and commercial banking, asset management, financial services and consulting, or for corporate finance positions within international companies at a managerial level.

The program provides an excellent preparation for the Chartered Financial Analysts® (CFA) exams, as it is based on the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and is part of the CFA University Recognition program. It also covers related fields such as management control systems, economics, corporate governance, and private equity investment.

LOCATIONS

Students have the opportunity to follow the MSc Finance program in:

- Grenoble
- London
- Singapore

Students may also spend a semester at a campus other than the one in which they are enrolled (subject to specific conditions).

MAIN FEATURES

- A two-year program: requires full-time attendance during one academic year for coursework. The second year is dedicated solely to the Final Management Project and can be completed in parallel with a job or internship.
- Curriculum based on the CFA program.
- International perspective.
- Combined academic and 'real-world' expertise within the faculty.
- International and multi-cultural student body.
- GGSB expertise on the financing of innovative companies, given our location within a high-tech international marketplace.
- An integrative case study based on inter-campus, virtual team work
- A choice of two electives
- Exchange campus option (subject to conditions)

Program

The MSc Finance program begins in the Fall semester of each year and requires full-time attendance during one academic year for completion of coursework. The second year is dedicated solely to the Final Management Project.

INTRODUCTION WEEK (E-LEARNING MODULES)

- Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance
- Fundamentals of Excel and Statistics

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES FOUR STAGES*:

- Fundamentals of Finance - http://en.grenoble-em.com/module-1-fundamentals-finance
- Mastering Financial Management - http://en.grenoble-em.com/module-2-mastering-financial-management
- Advanced Finance - http://en.grenoble-em.com/module-3-advanced-finance
- Electives - http://en.grenoble-em.com/modules-4-electives
- Followed by a Capstone course - http://en.grenoble-em.com/module-5-capstone-course
- and Final Management Project on a finance-related topic or based on an internship in a company in France or abroad - http://en.grenoble-em.com/final-project

*Content subject to change.

The program is taught entirely in English by both academics and professionals, all with extensive experience in finance. The teaching style is very interactive and emphasis is placed on group work.

CAREER PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE MSC PROGRAM

- Job market presentations
- Access and training on the international job platform (TopMBA)
- CV writing workshop
- Workshops on job search and networking techniques
- Mock interview sessions with alumni, business leaders and international headhunters
- Personal coaching to clarify career goals, CV and cover letters, and development gaps

CNCP RECOGNITION

MSc Finance graduates are also awarded a certificate conferring the title of Manager Financier. This title is recognized by the CNCP*, an agency of the French Ministry of Labor. It is a recognition that the graduate’s core financial management skills conform to the standards established by the Ministry of Labor for managers of financial activities.

*Commission Nationale de la Certification Professionnelle

Careers

SOME OF OUR MSC FINANCE GRADUATE JOB TITLES:

- Financial Controller
- Cash Manager
- Hedge Fund Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- Investment Banking Manager
- Portfolio Manager
- Sales Manager in Asset Management
- Commodity Markets Manager
- M&A Financial Analyst
- Debt Capital Markets Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Buy-side/Sell-side Analyst
- Financial Auditor
- Credit Analyst

EMPLOYERS OF OUR MSC FINANCE GRADUATES:

- Airbus
- Amazon
- Barclays Capital
- BNP Paribas
- Cadbury
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- General Electric
- HSBC
- Hewlett-Packard
- JP Morgan
- KPMG
- PWC
- Schneider Electric
- Société Générale
- Thyssenkrupp
- Tyco Electronics

Admission

Junior professionals already working in the financial services sector will enhance their experience with the formal training provided through the MSc Finance program.

This program is also suitable for graduates from a wide range of disciplines, such as management or engineering, who would be well served by a formal finance credential.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor-level undergraduate degree.
- Work experience is not compulsory.
- Fluency in English - see test requirements below.
- Quantitative proficiency is required for this program. This can be demonstrated by one of the following:
- A prior degree from a recognized institution in a quantitative major showing good academic performance (Mathematics, Finance, Engineering, Economics…)
- CFA level 1
- GMAT
- GRE

This quantitative aptitude test requirement may be waived at the discretion of the MSc Finance Admissions Board for candidates that exhibit previous academic excellence from top ranked universities or business schools, especially in quantitative subjects.

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About the course

Finance and Accounting MSc with professional placement is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) as part of the CIMA Masters Gateway. Students enrolled on this degree can apply to obtain 12 of the 17 foundation modules of the CIMA Professional Qualification.

The Finance and Accounting MSc programme includes topics such as the theory of finance, company valuation, the assessment of corporate risk, international accounting standards, corporate governance and financial statement analysis. The professional placement option allows students to apply what you learn.

Designed for students interested in a career in business and consulting, accountancy firms, financial institutions and government, this course also provides a thorough preparation for academic research in finance and accounting.

It is also appropriate for those with professional qualifications in accounting who wish to obtain a deeper understanding of financial accountancy.

Aims

You will develop a sound knowledge of both accounting standards and corporate governance, as well as their role in the operation of financial markets.

You will be provided with a solid platform of specific subject knowledge alongside a set of highly valuable and transferable employability skills for a successful career in the financial sector.

Course Content

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

The full-time course comprises of four equally weighted modules in each of the first two terms, with three being compulsory and one optional.

The dissertation carries one third of the marks for the course and is undertaken after the taught modules have been completed.

The part-time option is designed with two modules in each of the four terms. The compulsory modules give an excellent coverage of the core material in finance designed in a way that is applicable to accounting.

The Finance and Accounting programme includes topics such as the theory of finance, company valuation, the assessment of corporate risk, international accounting standards, corporate governance and financial statement analysis.

All students will also be offered research training to prepare them for undertaking independent research and writing a dissertation in an accounting and/or finance related topic.

All students take a one-week introductory course in mathematics and statistics.

Compulsory Modules

Financial Theory
Financial Reporting in Capital Markets
Quantitative Methods for Finance and Economics
International Accounting Standards and Policy
Company Valuation
Investment Valuation Models
Dissertation

Optional Modules

International Finance
Derivative Securities
Business Finance Workshop
Global Financial Markets

Special Features

Finance and Accounting MSc is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) as part of the CIMA Masters Gateway. Students enrolled on this degree can apply to obtain 12 of the 17 foundation modules of the CIMA Professional Qualification.

Students enrolled on the degree can sit the CIMA Masters Gateway in advance of completing their MSc (after the exam components are completed). Upon successful completion of both, students would achieve dual awards (MSc Finance and Accounting AND CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting).

This Master's course in Finance and Accounting allows specialisation through the appropriate programme along designated pathways in Financial Reporting, International Accounting Standards, or Financial Management. It combines quantitative methods, financial theory and technical accounting, in order to provide a solid platform for a successful career in the financial sector.

The course is one of four specialist Master's programmes developed by leading experts in the Economics and Finance Department at Brunel University London. As a student here you will be part of a long standing and thriving environment for research and study with many advantages and benefits such as:

Outstanding academic expertise and research-led teaching
95% of our academics are nationally and internationally recognised for their work in economics and econometrics in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008).
As a result, you will benefit from up-to-the-minute research-led teaching by academic staff who regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals, have an impact on international regulatory design and obtain significant research grants.

Professional training facilities
You will have access to a variety of professional databases used in business and the finance industry which include Datastream, Bloomberg, Bank Scope, Osiris, Reuters 3000 Xtra and Thomson One Banker.
We hold regular training sessions and external visits with Bloomberg, which will enhance your research and expose you to real-world factors that will be important in future finance related employment.

Scholarships
Brunel offers a number of scholarships for UK, EU and international students.
Excellent links with leading organisations
We have excellent links with business and the finance industry, which will help you to network with organisations and get ahead in your career.

Industry talks, guest lectures and research seminars
A number of industry talks with professionals from the private sector who will be invited to teach part of the programme and will provide you with further practical experience.
There is a wide range of events on offer, such as guest lectures and research seminars to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments and will help build your contacts.

Teaching

The modules on the Finance and Accounting Master's programme incorporate a diverse range of teaching methods which reflect the module learning outcomes and the demands of the subject material. Effective learning is achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed independent study, workshops, oral presentations, and varied assessment patterns.

Use of appropriate IT resources is expected (e.g. electronic resources to access data, and relevant software programmes used in research methods). Dissertation research will give you the opportunity to integrate your knowledge of important themes, frameworks and research findings in finance and accounting obtained via lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Students who successfully complete a professional placement will be invited to attend a tutorial day to give a presentation about their experience. An optional reflective journal during the placement may assist in preparation for the presentation and dissertation.

Assessment

All modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and final examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage. Students are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September. Students who follow the Professional Practice pathway will complete their placement during the summer and work on their dissertation afterwards, submitting in January.

Professional Placement

All students who enrol on the full-time Finance and Accounting MSc will have the opportunity to complete a placement. A placement can significantly improve your employability and expose you to real-world situations in the Banking and Finance industry, and importantly, allow you to network with industry professionals.

Students completing the work placement option will have a competitive edge in pursuing careers as high-level analysts, economists and managers in financial institutions, governments, financial regulators, business companies and central banks, as well as international organisations.

The placement option is available to full-time applicants and will last for 12-15 weeks during the summer of your course. Placements will begin at the earliest in the last week of May and will finish by September. Some employers may also provide a salary.

For students who complete the placement, their dissertation will be completed after the placement has finished. Students who do not find a placement will do their dissertation throughout the summer and submit in September.

For more information regarding the professional placement please visit the website

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/Finance-and-Accounting-MSc

Graduate School workshops

In addition to the college's events and training sessions, you will have the opportunity to undertake workshops and skills training provided by the university’s Graduate School

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Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Finance at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

The Master's (MSc) in Finance is designed for graduates who are seeking a specialist programme to enable an accelerated start to a career in finance.

Key Features of MSc in Finance

- An enhanced specialist programme that maybe completed in a single year
- All modules on the Finance programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge
- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)
- A wide range of professional accreditations to accelerate your career depending on the optional modules you take
- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating
- Access to the School of Management investment and trading simulation room to support in-depth understanding of finance in practice
- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week
- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities
- Scholarships available for outstanding students
- Swansea is 3rd in the UK for international ranked research outputs (REF 2014)

The Finance programme combines the academic theory of finance with a strong practical perspective closely related to the world of finance. Specialist modules include: corporate finance, financial econometrics, international financial markets, derivatives and risk management, contemporary issues in finance and empirical finance.

Modules

Modules on the MSc in Finance typically include:

Corporate Finance
Financial Econometrics
International Financial Markets and Institutions
Financial Reporting and Statement Analysis
Derivatives and Risk Management
Empirical Finance
Financial Market Efficiency & Behavioural Finance
Equities & Fixed Income Securities
Corporate Governance & Ethics
Asset Management
International Financial Crises and Bank Regulation
Risk Management in Banking
Contemporary Issues in Finance
Economics of Banking

Careers and Employability

We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates including those from the Finance programme with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a student on the MSc in Finance programme we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:

- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative
- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting
- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week
- Complete the Swansea Employability Award
- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’

Location and Facilities

Finance students will be based in a state-of-the-art building and will benefit from the applied research, innovation and employment opportunities offered by this exceptional working environment on the Bay Campus.

Finance students will have access to high-tech teaching and research spaces, that together with collaborative working and practice areas will ensue the School is able to deliver its commitment to offer an engaging and innovative student experience.

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Gain a comprehensive framework of knowledge, insight and vision regarding the key issues in finance and investment banking. The MSc in Finance (Finance, investment and Risk) pathway develops your cognitive, critical, intellectual and research skills, plus relevant personal and interpersonal skills to interact in the real world of business and organisations.

In today’s competitive global environment, employers are increasingly selective in their search for competent business and finance professionals. Our Master’s in Finance programmes equip you with a solid background in financial principles and practices and help to cultivate your practical finance skills and real-world business knowledge.

This pathway has been specially designed to develop your practical finance skills and give you real-world business knowledge. It prepares you for a career in investment banks, financial and management consultancies, auditing firms, risk management departments of financial institutions and government departments.

You gain a sound understanding of the theories that underpin modern techniques in investment and risk management. The application of the theories is demonstrated in our finance lab with the aid of Bloomberg, via case studies and the use of online databases. Regular training sessions led by experienced Bloomberg trainers help you gain valuable practice in accessing and using market data. The Bloomberg platform also provides an opportunity for virtual trading practice and competitions.

The programme is well established and attracts a substantial number of applications from over 20 countries each year. This international aspect enables you to gain a deeper and wider learning experience and to benefit from networking opportunities during your studies and after graduation.

In the 2015 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) the MSc in Finance Suite achieved a 97% student satisfaction rate, placing us in the top quarter of the UK Higher Education sector. PTES is a Higher Education Academy initiative and is carried out among 99 institutions. This result, coupled with our strong performance in the national league tables, underlines the strength of Finance programmes at Kent Business School and quality of our postgraduate teaching.

About Kent Business School

Kent Business School has over 25 years’ experience delivering business education. Our portfolio of postgraduate programmes demonstrates the breadth and depth of our expertise. Academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is relevant and current. We are ranked as a top 30 UK business school for the standard of our teaching and student satisfaction. We also hold a number of accreditations by professional bodies.

Studying at Kent Business School (KBS) gives you the opportunity to increase your employability with real-life case studies, a student council and a business society. We have strong links to local and national organisations providing opportunities for projects, internships and graduate placements. The School attracts many high-profile speakers from industry and last year included visits and lectures from staff of the Bank of England, BAE Systems, Barclays, Lloyds Insurance, Cummins, Delphi and Kent County Council.

The School currently has 60 PhD students, who form a dynamic and close-knit research community.

Course structure

The syllabus of the programme is in line with the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) professional qualifications.

For those students planning to take the CFA examinations, revision sessions for Level I and Level II examinations are provided. These sessions are taught by professional tutors with industry experience and are provided free of charge. The programme is currently seeking accreditation from relevant professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). Exemption from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Core Technical subjects CT2, CT7 and CT8 are in place.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

- provide you with the in-depth skills necessary to analyse and find solutions to problems arising in areas of finance, investment and risk

- enable students who successfully complete the programme to follow careers in various areas of finance and investment

- provide you with a fully grounded and integrated knowledge base in areas of corporate finance, investment analysis and risk management

- develop your understanding, knowledge and awareness of the current problems that preoccupy academic researchers, financial institutions, regulatory bodies and governments

- ensure you gain the necessary computing skills essential to the current professional practice.

Careers

You gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from Kent Business School – we enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects.

A postgraduate qualification in the area of finance equips you with an impressive portfolio of skills, specialist knowledge and practical experience to help you succeed in a competitive job market.

Students studying finance have an excellent track record for employment and are consistently targeted by leading organisations. Recent graduates are now working in top global companies including AXA, BNP Paribas, FactSet, HSBC, PwC, Santander, Thomson Reuters, USB Investment Bank, Western Power and Zurich Financial Services.

Professional recognition

The programme is currently seeking accreditation from relevant professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). Exemption from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Core Technical subjects CT2, CT7 and CT8 are in place.

Kent Business School is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EMFD) and the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS); and the Kent MBA is an Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredited programme. In addition, KBS have accreditations with The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

KBS is a signatory of the United Nation's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), which provides a global network for academic institutions to advance corporate sustainability and social responsibility.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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Take your skills and knowledge to the next level with the best accounting and finance group in the world. Whether you want to further your professional career, or go on to study for a PhD, this course gives you the qualification you need to succeed.

A career in accounting, financial services or related sectors of the economy requires a high level of understanding of both the theory and practice of accounting and finance. This course is designed to give you a broad-based understanding of the core subject areas with an emphasis on empirical research methods and on accounting and finance practice.

Our wide range of modules allows you to specialise and during the course you have the chance to build on your growing knowledge and expertise by completing a dissertation on a research area of your choice. This, coupled with the support you get from our staff, ensures a first class learning experience.

The MSc Accounting and Finance is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council as postgraduate preparation for a PhD. It also holds the award of partnership status from the CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals.

CFA training
We're pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Kaplan Schweser to facilitate student preparation for the CFA exams. Students attending our finance-related Masters - MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance - who perform well in Semester one and show a strong interest in CFA, will get free access to Kaplan's online training materials for CFA Part One.

Kaplan is a global firm offering professional training and helping individuals and organisations obtain financial certifications and designations. They will support our students by giving them access to tuition material, online question banks and progress tests, as well as mock exam runs. They will also offer tutor support and 1-2-1 sessions.

Students enrol in the CFA Program to build a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Preparing for the Level I exam is the first step toward earning the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) credential, the most respected and recognised investment designation in the world.

Trading BootCamp Week
Each year, Alliance MBS runs a five-day Trading BootCamp for all current students studying MSc Accounting, MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance and MSc Quantitative Finance. These trading simulations provide students with experience of real world trading and the opportunity to engage with contemporary financial markets, enabling them to apply their classroom theory in practice.
To deliver the Trading BootCamp, the School has teamed up with Amplify Trading to provide those looking to enter the financial industry with a crucial skill-set. Amplify Trading are a global financial trading and training firm, which offers training to some of the world's largest financial institutions, such as HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. They have developed specialist software that enables students to experience a live trading floor and two experienced traders will deliver the week-long training.

Each day there will be four hours of classes in the morning followed by four hours of trading practice in the afternoon. Engaging in live breaking news, economic data and geo-political events, students will be able to apply their understanding, technical expertise and risk management practises in trading different asset classes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for accounting and finance students at Alliance MBS and is another way in which we prepare students for successful careers after graduation.

The Finance Zone
The Finance Zone in Alliance Manchester Business School gives you access to one of the UK's most comprehensive collections of specialist financial and business databases that are used by top researchers around the world. These include Bloomberg, Datastream, Thomson ONE, Compustat, WRDS, Capital IQ and many more.

Course unit details

The course consists of both compulsory and optional taught units.

Semester 1
Core course modules:
-Asset Pricing
-Cross Sectional Econometrics
-Corporate Financial Reporting

Optional modules:
-Portfolio Investment
-International Accounting Practice & Regulation
-International Finance

Semester 2
Core course modules:
-Corporate Finance
-EITHER Advanced Management Accounting OR Corporate Governance in an Accounting Context
-Qualitative Research Methods

Optional modules:
-Financial Statement Analysis
-Time Series Econometrics
-Mergers & Acquisitions: Economic & Financial Aspects
-Managerial Economics
-Current Issues in Empirical Finance
-Advanced Management Accounting
-Corporate Governance in an Accounting Context
-Real Options in Corporate Finance
-Accounting & Society

Scholarships and bursaries

New for 2017 entry - Masters scholarships for Accounting and Finance programmes for UK/EU students.

We are delighted to be able to offer five scholarships available across the four Accounting and Finance programmes with a value of £10,000 towards the cost of the tuition fee. The scholarships will be awarded in line with our scholarship deadlines so early application is advisable.

Career opportunities

The course provides suitable training for those who wish to take up specialist positions in the accounting and financial services sector of the economy or those who wish to subsequently pursue a research and/or an academic career via a PhD in Accounting and Finance. Many students go on to work in the financial sector either in the City or across other sectors.

Read less

Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Management (Finance) at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

We offer an MSc Management (Finance) for students from any background who would like to work in business or management. The programme has been specifically designed with a clear focus on management in an interconnected global community. This programme in Management (Finance) covers core management concepts such as international marketing, operations management, global strategy, finance and international human resource management. To help you get the best from your studies, the Management (Finance) programme also includes an academic skills module that covers issues such as research methods, presentation skills, group dynamics and employability support.

MSc Management Pathways

- Generalist MSc Management - for you to create your own mix of specialist modules
- Marketing - focused on the challenges of global marketing activities
- Finance – for students interested in financial aspects of management
- Human Resource Management – focused on the challenges of leadership and managing a global work force
- Entrepreneurship – for students interested in the dynamics of starting their own business
- Operations and Supply Management – focused on the management of global operations and supply networks
- International Management – considers contemporary management practice in a global setting
- International Standards – focused on the role of internationals standards (such as ISO) in quality improvement
- Business Analytics – to equip students to work in the era of ‘big data’
- E-Business - investigates the challenges and opportunities of global information systems networks and e-commerce

Key Features of MSc in Management (Finance)

- An enhanced specialist programme that may be completed in a single year
- All modules on the Management (Finance) programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge
- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)
- A wide range of professional accreditations to accelerate your career depending on the optional modules you take
- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating
- Access to the School of Management investment and trading simulation room to support in-depth understanding of finance in practice
- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week
- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities
- Scholarships available for outstanding students
- Swansea is 3rd in the UK for international-ranked research outputs (REF 2014)

The MSc Management (Finance) is designed for students who are interested in finance or a finance career but who do not want to take a full Accounting & Finance degree scheme. Management (Finance) students pursue modules on advanced finance topics such as corporate finance, financial innovation and risk management, financial services and international financial management.

Modules

Modules on the Management (Finance) programme may include:

Managing Financial Resources
Human Resource Management
Marketing Management
Operations Management
Strategy
Principles of Corporate Finance
Research Methods

Careers and Employability

We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates including those from the Management (Finance) programme with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a student on the Management (Finance) programme we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:

- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative
- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting
- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week
- Complete the Swansea Employability Award
- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’

School of Management

Environment:

The School of Management comprises over 150 staff and more than 2000 students studying at the new £450million Bay Campus, with the School of Management building itself providing truly world-class facilities with an impressive communal Atrium, new teaching rooms, meeting room and IT equipment.

School of Management, alongside the Great Hall, also proudly offers high quality conferencing and event capacity all within half a mile of the M4 corridor, that has already attracted several high profile and key events during the short time that the Bay Campus has been open.

Ambition:

Through its enterprise and innovation activities of business engagement the School plans to focus on three global challenges: Health & Wellbeing, Digital Society and Sustainable Economies. The School of Management's aim is to deliver world-class education through collaboration, innovation and fresh thinking, and we pride ourselves on the outstanding student experience on offer here at the School of Management ensuring a rich learning environment, while also developing our staff in line with Swansea University's wider ambition to anchor and underpin everything we do with a core set of values.

Opportunity:

School of Management aspires to be known globally as a centre for educational excellence, working in partnership with other Swansea University departments and organisations to create joint programmes that reflect the skillsets required by an evolving workplace.

Read less

Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Finance and Business Analytics at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

The Master's (MSc) in Finance and Business Analytics is designed to pair the key areas of finance and business analytics. This programme takes a data driven approach to the analysis of financial, market and organisational information. In addition, to cover the key principles of finance, financial modelling and financial markets, the programme includes modules on business analytics and data mining to equip students to work in the data driven areas of finance and financial management.

Key Features of MSc in Finance and Business Analytics

- A full conversion programme that may be completed in a single year
- Does not require accounting, finance or any quantitative study to be completed at undergraduate level
- All modules on the Finance and Business Analytics programme are taught by our world-class faculty who have a breadth of industrial and academic knowledge
- Swansea is joint 1st in Wales for international ranked research (REF 2014)
- A wide range of professional accreditations to accelerate your career depending on the optional modules you take
- Access to the School of Management investment and trading simulation room to support in-depth understanding of finance in practice
- 93% of Swansea students in employment six months after graduating
- High contact time – our modules come with a lecture (in class sizes capped at approximately 150 students) and seminar/tutorial (in class sizes capped at 30) every single week
- Fully refurbished facilities – we have invested half a million pounds in a recent refurbishment to our student facilities
- Scholarships available for outstanding students
- Swansea is 1st in Wales for world-leading impact - 60% at 4-star level (REF 2014)

No previous study of business analytics or any quantitative subject is required to undertake the Finance and Business Analytics programme.

Modules

Modules on the MSc Finance and Business Analytics programme may include:

Principles of Finance
International Financial Markets
Financial Statement Analysis
Quantitative Financial Analysis
Principles of Law for Accounting and Finance
Financial Modelling
Business Analytics
Data Mining
Corporate Governance & Ethics
Contemporary Issues in Finance
Business Planning and Theory of Entrepreneurship
Project Management
International Management

Accreditation

The MSc Finance and Business Analytics has been awarded the following ACCA exemptions:

F1 - Accountant in Business

F2 - Management Accounting

F3 - Financial Accounting

This means that graduates of our MSc Finance and Busines Analytics will be exempt from three out of nine of the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ examinations. Students graduating from the Finance and Business Analytics programme can now leave Swansea as part-qualified accountants and just have to sit the remaining eleven.

Careers and Employability

We have an excellent track record of placing our graduates with major multinational companies and our graduate employment rate is 92%.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management as a Finance and Business Analytics student we will work with you to help you build your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you’ll have the chance to:

- Undertake a work placement or internship through the Swansea Paid Internship Network (SPIN) or ‘Week of Work’ initiative
- Work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
- In conjunction with the International Development Office, undertake an Internship in India, with a company such as GE, Thomson Reuters, 3M, Private Equity or Kanvic Consulting
- Boost your skills and meet employers during our biannual Employability Week
- Complete the Swansea Employability Award
- Participate in one of our student challenges and competitions, such as the Branding Challenge, and CIM student competition ‘The Pitch’

Location and Facilities

Finance and Business Analytics students will be based in a state-of-the-art building and will benefit from the applied research, innovation and employment opportunities offered by this exceptional working environment on the Bay Campus.

Finance and Business Analytics students will have access to high-tech teaching and research spaces, that together with collaborative working and practice areas will ensue the School is able to deliver its commitment to offer an engaging and innovative student experience.

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Overview

Got an undergraduate finance degree? Looking to advance your career in accountancy or corporate finance? Southampton Solent University’s MSc International Accounting and Finance programme combines academic theory and practical application, helping you to improve your employment or promotion prospects.

- International accounting and finance at Solent covers risk, ethics, financial strategy, decision making, financial reporting, and auditing over the course of eight distinct units.
- Students can also tailor the curriculum to their own unique career ambitions by choosing from a range of optional units.
- Students work alongside experienced academics, researchers and business specialists, benefiting from their first-hand industry insight.
- Solent's strong links with industry help provide students with access to live briefs, case studies and guest speakers.
- Students will graduate in a good position to pursue chartered accountant, chartered management accountant or chartered certified accountant status.
- Two employability events are held throughout the year, introducing students to a range of employers and guest speakers.
- The course concludes with a final master’s project. This project gives students the opportunity to specialise their knowledge further, researching a subject that will help them throughout their careers.

The industry -

Finance is fast-moving, complex and ever-evolving – an industry that’s adding billions to the UK economy each year. Employers in this challenging environment are always looking for motivated and intelligent students to fill a variety of graduate roles. A postgraduate degree can help students to secure these roles – proving their academic commitment and bringing them one step closer to chartered accountant status.

The programme -

Southampton Solent University’s MSc International Accounting and Finance programme combines academic theory and practical application, helping students to understand the impact of accounting information on business performance, stock markets and corporate finance. It is also designed to prepare our graduates for essential professional accreditation.

Students study financial accounting and corporate finance, exploring their contribution to the strategic development of organisations through real-world examples and case studies. Students will also cover contemporary global issues in accountancy and finance, preparing them well for careers with multinational businesses.

The curriculum is taught by lecturers with professional qualifications and industry experience. This helps them to teach academic theory alongside practical application, enriching the student experience and ensuring that graduates understand how the skills they have learnt relate to ‘real world’ practise.

The accountancy, finance and economics tutoring team have significant experience of delivering postgraduate, professional accountancy and finance units. Tutors are friendly, approachable and accessible.

Course Content

- Risk, Governance and Ethics
- Financial Strategy
- Financial Aspects of Decisions (Strategic Management Accounting)
- Academic Skills for Accounting, Finance and Economics
- Corporate Financial Reporting
- Strategy and Performance
- Audit and Assurance
- Project.

Plus one of the following options:

- Taxation
- Finance in Context
- Current Issues in International Accounting and Finance
- Financial Risk Management.

Programme specification document - http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6152

Teaching, learning and assessment -

The course is taught through a variety of lectures, seminars and workshops which will guide your individual learning. You learn through taught sessions and independent study, with good access to support from tutors. You will have personal supervision for the project.

Assessment:

The course is assessed through individual coursework, with a variety of portfolios, written work, presentations, exams and the final project.

Web-based learning -

The University’s virtual learning environment is an integral part of the learning and teaching of the MSc course. It is used for course content, case studies, access to additional study resources and interaction with peers and tutors.

Why Solent?

What do we offer?

From a vibrant city centre campus to our first class facilities, this is where you can find out why you should choose Solent.

Facilities - http://www.solent.ac.uk/about/facilities/facilities.aspx

City Living - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/southampton/living-in-southampton.aspx

Accommodation - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/accommodation/accommodation.aspx

Career Potential

The MSc International Accounting and Finance will provide a foundation for anyone wishing to pursue a career in accountancy or corporate finance. It has been specifically designed to be a stepping stone to professional qualifications in accounting.

Suitable roles for graduates of this course include:

- Auditing
- Financial accounting
- Management accounting
- Financial management
- Tax
- Corporate finance
- Consultancy.

Links with industry -

All members of the course team have professional qualifications (chartered accountant, chartered management accountant or chartered certified accountant) and connections with the various professional bodies of which they are members.

The course team runs two employability weeks for students interested in careers in accounting and finance, with visiting speakers from over a dozen individuals and organisations.

Students will be encouraged to enter various business competitions and attend industry events.

Transferable skills -

In-class activities and assessments, and in particular the contemporary, real-world project, will help you to develop business awareness and skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and communication.

Further study -

The course provides a foundation for further study for professional accounting qualifications.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2016/2017 academic year are:

UK and EU full-time fees: £5,665

International full-time fees: £12,380

UK and EU part-time fees: £2,835 per year

International part-time fees: £6,190 per year

Graduation costs -

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2015, there is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £42 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost.
For more details, please visit: http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/graduation/home.aspx

Next steps

Think employment in accountancy and finance might be for you? With modern facilities, experienced teaching teams and a specialist focus on international regulations, Southampton Solent University’s postgraduate accountancy and finance programme could be the ideal next step towards your dream career.

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About the course

This Finance and Investment Masters programme with professional placement is a specialised postgraduate degree course focusing on security/portfolio investment decision making. As such, it is structured around the syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute.

The emphasis of this postgraduate course is on issues related to investment in capital markets, such as:

Investment strategies.
The evaluation of investment performance.
The use of financial statement information in evaluating company performance.

The MSc in Finance and Investment at Brunel University London provides a systematic understanding of the techniques of modelling financial decisions, the valuation of investments and pricing securities using data from a range of different markets.

Aims

This postgraduate degree will allow students whose career choices are likely to lie with financial institutions or in financial management to develop the relevant analytical tools and techniques necessary for such a career.

The Finance and Investment MSc would also be beneficial and of interest to applicants who are already practitioners in the financial field.

You will gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of corporate finance, financial markets, financial institutions and securities.

Course Content

The MSc course comprises of four equally weighted modules in each of the first two terms, with three being compulsory and one optional. The dissertation carries one third of the marks for the course and is undertaken after the taught modules have been completed. The compulsory modules provide an excellent coverage of compulsory material in finance designed in a way that is applicable to the areas of finance and investment.

The MSc consists of compulsory modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics
Financial Theory
Financial Analysis or Business Finance Workshop
Security Analysis and Funds Management
Modelling Financial Markets and Forecasting
Macro and Financial Econometrics
Corporate Finance
Derivative Securities
Risk Management
Dissertation

Special Features

The course, is one of four specialist Master's programmes developed by leading experts in the Economics and Finance Department at Brunel University London.

As a postgraduate student here you will be part of a long standing and thriving environment for research and study with many advantages and benefits such as:

Outstanding academic expertise and research-led teaching
95% of our academics are nationally and internationally recognised for their work in economics and econometrics in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008).
As a result, you will benefit from up-to-the-minute research-led teaching by academic staff who regularly publish in international peer-reviewed journals, have an impact on international regulatory design and obtain significant research grants.

Professional training facilities
As a Finance and Investment Master’s student, you will have access to a variety of professional databases used in business and the finance industry which include Datastream, Bloomberg, Bank Scope, Osiris, Reuters 3000 Xtra and Thomson One Banker.
We hold regular training sessions and external visits with Bloomberg, which will enhance your research and expose you to real-world factors that will be important in future finance related employment.

Postgraduate scholarships
Brunel offers a number of scholarships for UK, EU and international students.

Excellent links with leading organisations
We have excellent links with business and the finance industry, which will help you to network with organisations and get ahead in your career.

Industry talks, guest lectures and research seminars
A number of industry talks with professionals from the private sector who will be invited to teach part of the Finance and Investment programme and will provide you with further practical experience.
There is a wide range of events on offer, such as guest lectures and research seminars to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments and will help build your contacts.

Teaching

The modules on the Finance and Investment Masters programme incorporate a diverse range of teaching methods which reflect the module learning outcomes and the demands of the subject material. Effective learning is achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed independent study, workshops, oral presentations, and varied assessment patterns.

Use of appropriate IT resources is expected (e.g. electronic resources to access data, and relevant software programmes used in research methods). Dissertation research will give you the opportunity to integrate your knowledge of important themes, frameworks and research findings in finance and investment obtained via lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Students who successfully complete a professional placement will be invited to attend a tutorial day to give a presentation about their experience. An optional reflective journal during the placement may assist in preparation for the presentation and dissertation.

Assessment

All modules of this postgraduate degree course are assessed by a combination of coursework and final examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage. MSc students are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September. Students who follow the Professional Practice pathway will complete their placement during the summer and work on their dissertation afterwards, submitting in January.

Professional Practice Placement

All students who enrol on the full-time Finance and Investment MSc will have the opportunity to complete a placement. A placement can significantly improve your employability and expose you to real-world situations in the Banking and Finance industry, and importantly, allow you to network with industry professionals.

Students completing the work placement option will have a competitive edge in pursuing careers as high-level analysts, economists and managers in financial institutions, governments, financial regulators, business companies and central banks, as well as international organisations.

The placement option is available to full-time applicants and will last for 12-15 weeks during the summer of your course. Placements will begin at the earliest in the last week of May and will finish by September. Some employers may also provide a salary.

For students who complete the placement, their dissertation will be completed after the placement has finished. Students who do not find a placement will do their dissertation throughout the summer and submit in September.

For more information regarding the professional practice placement please visit the website

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/Finance-and-Investment-MSc

Graduate School Workshops

In addition to the department’s events and training sessions, you will have the opportunity to undertake workshops and skills training provided by the university’s Graduate School

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