Masters Degrees (Financial)

Understanding modern financial economics, which includes asset pricing, risk management, monetary policy and financial regulations for pursuing careers at, for example, banks, capital funds and finance ministries.
The spectacular growth of international capital markets is creating great opportunities. But, as the latest financial crisis has shown, this also entails major challenges for financial decision-makers and regulators of financial markets. The academic Master’s specialisation in Financial Economics is ideal for students who want to understand the workings of global financial markets, from asset pricing and risk management to monetary policy and financial regulation. It provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills set for careers in not just banks, investment funds, and financial exchanges, but also finance ministries or other governmental or non-governmental bodies of financial market oversight.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/fe

Why study Financial Economics at Radboud University?

- You will be part of a new generation of finance professionals, who not only understand traditional approaches in financial economics but who can also integrate modern behavioural and institutional aspects. This gives you a good understanding of the highly volatile behaviour of financial markets, including bubbles, crashes and crises.

- Besides offering a sound theoretical foundation, there is also plenty of attention for applying these concepts to real-world situations.

- You will be trained to think independently and critically about the way in which financial economics can be applied in your professional field and you will develop skills that will make a difference in the highly competitive global labour market.

- The specialisation pays special attention to global aspects of corporate finance, preparing students for an international career.

- Our lecturers are active in academic and applied research which allows them to incorporate the latest academic developments and applied issues. This will also enable you to actively participate in academic research in your Master’s programme.

- Professors and students interact in small groups, thus strengthening the academic atmosphere.

- Radboud University offers ‘Economics Plus’. Traditional economic models and business approaches are expanded with relevant knowledge from related disciplines such as psychology, teaching more in-depth knowledge that can be applied in today’s globalised world.

Ground breaking ideas

One of the most important aspects of this specialisation is to fully understand how financial markets work and what the possible implications are of measures taken to regulate them. How are asset prices of stocks, bonds, derivatives and other financial assets determined? How do markets deal with financial risk and how can we manage it? You are challenged to go further than simply understanding the concepts and to think creatively about ground breaking ideas of how to regulate constantly developing financial markets and new financial instruments. It’s about trying to get financial markets to work more efficiently, without exuberant bubbles and catastrophic crashes, and in support of a prospering world economy.

Career prospects

Employers are increasingly looking for a new generation of financial professionals, who understand more than the traditional concepts in financial economics and who can integrate this knowledge with institutional and behavioural insights to tackle a wide variety of problems. This Master’s specialisation will provide you with in-depth knowledge in asset pricing, risk management, monetary policy and financial regulations as well as behavioural finance. With this specialisation you will get the best possible understanding of how financial markets work and how to use your analytical skills to deal with today’s problems in financial markets.

Job positions

Our graduates have the necessary knowledge and skills to work for commercial banks, investment banks, and various types of stand-alone investment funds, as well as financial exchanges. Furthermore, careers in finance ministries or other governmental or non-governmental bodies of financial market oversight, such as central banks, the IMF and the World Bank, are also well within your reach. Due to our international approach, and by choosing the relevant electives, this Master’s can also prepare you for financial careers in multinational enterprises or large national companies.

Our approach to this field

The Master’s specialisation in Financial Economics primarily looks at financial markets, their behaviour, their regulation, and monetary policies. In this specialization we take a bird’s eye view and investigate global financial markets as a whole, for example, stock markets, commodity markets or derivative markets. But we also analyse the different classes of market participants, for example, banks, insurances, pension funds, activist investors and hedge funds. There are many topics that will be studied including bubbles and crashes in financial markets, exchange rate policies between countries and how they affect economic growth. But also measures that a government can take to minimise the risks that banks take, or financial innovations and how they can help to improve economic growth.

- Much more than traditional financial economics
We want to educate a new generation of finance professionals; ones who not only understand traditional financial economics, but can also work with modern institutional and behavioural insights. Financial markets are internationally integrated and often truly global. That is why at Radboud University, we also teach students how to be aware of the different institutional, cultural and psychological aspects in various financial markets. At Radboud University, we also know that psychological biases and emotions play a role in financial decisions. Therefore, a good understanding of financial economics includes knowledge about behavioural finance. Behavioural finance is a modern field in finance that uses psychology-based theories to explain financial decisions of individuals and how these can influence financial markets and create anomalies.

- Other specialisations of Economics
This specialisation looks at Finance from a market perspective and how financial markets can be regulated takes a broad view on markets. If you are more interested in Finance from a firm’s perspective and at its positioning within financial markets, we suggest you take a look at our Master's in Corporate Finance and Control. And for those wanting to know more about the trade relations between countries should take a look at our specialisation in International Economics and Business.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/fe

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One of our flagship programmes with a leading world-class reputation for over 10 years and the first one in the UK to be accredited by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).

The financial system has undergone major restructuring in preparation for the new regulatory frameworks, affecting existing roles and creating different skillset requirements within risk management divisions of financial institutions. 

This programme is tailored to the needs of the rapidly changing financial markets, providing graduates with an insight into the new innovations in the area of risk management. Through its long-term academic partnerships and accreditations by leading professional bodies, the MSc Financial Risk Management offers a cutting edge learning experience, aligning research excellence and current market intelligence.

The graduates benefit from exemptions to certain professional certifications from leading professional bodies worldwide. Click the ‘Careers & professional accreditation’ tab on the right for more information.                                                                                       

The MSc Financial Risk Management is accredited by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). The degree syllabus is enhanced with the most up to date professional practices in the area of risk management, integrating applied academic knowledge to industry needs and providing a competitive advantage to the graduates. Integral to the academic course is the parallel study of the GARP FRM Part I certificate. Upon successful completion of their degree, students will be registered to take the FRM Part I examination.

Highlights

• Enhance your career prospects in one of the most sought after areas of finance
• Study one of the most recognised risk management master’s courses in the UK
• Develop your professional skills by studying for GARP FRM Part I as part of the course and benefit from the programme’s accreditation by GARP
• Focus on highly specialised topics such as market risk, financial instruments and credit risk
• Benefit from additional professional exam exemptions from PRMIA

Course structure

October – December: Part 1 Autumn Term

January: Part 1 Exams

January-April: Part 2 Spring Term

May – June: Part 2 Exams

June – August (12 month programme only): Part 3

August/Sep (12 month programme only): Part 3 Coursework deadlines

Course content

Part 1 compulsory modules

• Financial Markets
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Securities, Futures and Options
• Fixed Income and Equity Investments

Part 2 compulsory modules

• Market Risk
• Financial Instruments
• Credit Risk

Part 2 optional modules

Students on the 9-month (12-month) programme can select 40 (20) credits from the following modules:

• Advanced Financial Analysis
• Portfolio Management
• Financial Econometrics
• Research Project
• Fixed Income Cash and Derivative Markets
• Commodity Derivatives
• Topics in Financial Regulation
• Liquidity Risk and Algorithmic Trading
• Behavioural Finance
• Programming for Finance 

Part 3 optional modules

Students on the 12-months programme should take 20 credits from the following:

• Energy Finance
• Advanced Finance Theory with Empirical Applications
• Stock Index Futures

Learning options

Full-time: 9 months Full-time: 12 months

Students will be resident and undertake full-time study in the UK. Under both, the 9 and 12-month programmes students take compulsory and/or elective modules in Part 2.

The 12 month option involves taking an elective 20 credit module between July and August, which would also mean a 20 credit reduction in the number of taught modules taken in the spring term.

Careers

After completion of this programme, students are well-prepared to follow a career in the challenging fields of risk management, or risk analysis with banks, regulators, portfolio managers, corporate treasuries, risk management software houses, specialist financial boutiques and hedge funds. Regulators, governments, advisors and commentators are unanimously endorsing the call for more and better qualified risk managers and analysts to join the financial industry.

Professional accreditation

Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)

MSc Financial Risk Management is accredited by GARP and the degree syllabus is enhanced with the most up to date professional practices in the area of risk management, integrating applied academic knowledge to industry needs and providing a competitive advantage to the graduates. Integral to the academic course is the parallel study of the GARP FRM Part I certificate. Upon successful completion of their degree, students will be registered to take the FRM Part I examination.

Professional Risk Managers’ Association (PRMIA)

ICMA Centre MSc Financial Risk Management students are eligible for exemption from Exams I and II of PRM Certification. In addition MSc FRM students are provided with assistance to take PRM Exams III and IV.

CISI Diploma

The ICMA Centre is a Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) Centre of Excellence. Centres of Excellence are a select group of UK universities, recognised by the CISI as offering leadership in academic education on financial markets. Students who are on a financially-related masters course recognised by the CISI are eligible for exemptions and membership. 

ICMA Centre students who register and successfully complete two CISI Diploma in Capital Markets modules (Securities and Bonds & Fixed Interest Markets) are eligible for an exemption from the third module (Financial Markets).

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The MA in Financial Journalism is unique in its international reach. Supported by the Marjorie Dean Foundation the course aims to develop the professional skills and knowledge needed to work in a multimedia environment.

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for journalists who want to specialise in financial journalism, and for individuals with a background in the financial sector who want to work as journalists. We welcome applications from UK/EU graduates or non-EU graduates with good English skills.

Objectives

The MA in Financial Journalism is unique in its international reach and includes the chance for overseas travel. The course teaches the skills needed for finance journalism. Supported by the Marjorie Dean Foundation the course aims to develop the professional skills and knowledge needed to work in a multimedia environment.

By the end of the course, students have had extensive education in reporting business and financial news.
Students develop interviewing, researching and writing skills using state-of-the art Bloomberg and Reuters terminals, and produce their own special and exciting coverage of the UK Budget.

Through the generous support of the Marjorie Deane Foundation for Financial Journalism, the MA Financial Journalism degree offers two unique features:
-A study abroad programme that subsidises student travel to study financial journalism in New York and Shanghai.
-Full tuition scholarship opportunities through the generosity of the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation for both UK/EU students and overseas students from developing countries.

Placements

Many media organisations approach the MAFJ course with requests for interns. All students are encouraged to seek work experience while they study on this course.. Internships can be undertaken full-time during the six-week winter break and the summer, as well as part-time during the spring. This programme does not grant academic credit for any work experience undertaken. Some internships, particularly those by large media organisations over the summer, are paid. Examples of the kind work experience students on this programme have successfully arranged:
-Bloomberg
-Reuters
-BBC
-Financial Times
-CNBC
-Sky News
-CityAM
-Which Money

Additionally, there are two dedicated internships from Argus Media only open to City, University of London students, subject to a successful recruitment process.

Throughout the course there are opportunities for you to visit and gain inside understanding of the application process at a number of leading media organisations including: Reuters, Bloomberg, CNBC and the Wall Street Journal.

Scholarships

The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation - Studentships
The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation funds several full studentships exclusively for students who have been offered places on the MA in Financial Journalism. Students must be from an OCED country and a UK/EU resident, and have been made an offer to be eligible, and a separate application has to be submitted to the Course Officer for forwarding to the Foundation, who has the sole responsibility for awarding the studentships. The studentships can cover the full cost of tuition, and discretionary living costs, dependent on need

Marjorie Deane International Excellence Studentships
The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation is also offering a few competitive studentships to outstanding students from developing countries who wish to study on the MA Financial Journalism course. The aim is to improve the standard of financial and business reporting around the world. Students from EU countries, or countries that are members of the OECD, are not eligible.
All other students who have been offered a place on the course are eligible to apply. The selection criteria are academic achievement and promise, relevant practical journalism experience, and the potential to make a difference in their home countries. The studentships can cover the full cost of tuition.

Academic facilities

In 2014 we completed a £12m development projects for our Journalism facilities. These facilities were developed in consultation with experts from the BBC and ITN, and were praised by the BJTC. Our facilities include:
-A television studio: enabling simultaneous multi-media simulated broadcast and a major expansion in the number of news and current affairs programmes produced.
-4 radio studios: enabling an increase in output and the potential to explore a permanent radio station.
-2 radio broadcast newsrooms: high-tech facilities that enable you to learn how to produce a radio programme.
-2 digital newsrooms: impressive modern facilities that enable you to learn the skills required to produce newspapers, magazines and websites.
-2 TV editing and production newsrooms: state-of-the-art facilities that enable you to learn about TV production.

Teaching and learning

The MA Financial Journalism is led by Professor Steve Schifferes, former BBC economics correspondent. Recent guest speakers have included Wall St Journal editor Gerard Baker, Bloomberg News editor-in-chief Matt Winkler, economist Jim O'Neill, the inventor of the BRICs idea (Brazil, Russia, India and China), and David Mulford, former US ambassador to India and Deputy US Treasury Secretary for International Affairs. Guest lecturers from the highly rated Cass Business School also provide tuition on specialised topics in business and financial journalism.

The course includes two online production days on the UK Budget and Autumn Statement, producing a web-based special report, and radio and TV production weeks.

This pathway is taught by professors, senior lecturers and lecturers, with industry practitioners as Visiting Lecturers, and a number of key industry visiting speakers

Activities include lectures, practical work in groups and individually, personal tutorials, and independent learning. Assessments vary from module to module but include coursework, practical work both in groups and individually, a Final Project, and essays.

Modules

By the end of the course, you will have had extensive training in the best professional practice of reporting business and financial news, working across television, radio, print and online media.

You will develop professional skills in:
-Interviewing
-Researching
-Writing news stories and features

You will develop an understanding of how to obtain and use key economic and financial data, using state-of-the art Bloomberg terminals. You will have a firm grounding in corporate, financial and economic reporting, the ability to understand and manipulate financial data and to critically analyse announcements by companies and government departments. You will also complete a final project which demonstrates their ability to write a longer piece of written journalism or a broadcast video to a professional standard.

All of our MA Journalism students must undertake underpinning core modules in Ethics, Rules and Standards and a Final Project.

Teaching hours are between Mondays to Fridays during working hours, and occasionally outside those times.

Core modules
-Ethics, Rules & Standards
-Journalism Portfolio
-Editorial Production
-Final Project
-Key issues in Financial Journalism

Electives
-Introduction to Data Reporting
-Journalism Innovation
-Reporting Business
-Reporting Finance

Career prospects

Three quarters of our Alumni are still working in London, with others located in major financial centres like New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Singapore. In 2014, nearly all our students had received job offers within three months of graduating from the programme.

Recent graduate destinations include:
-Financial specialist PR
-Chief Sub-editor at Financial Times
-Sub-editor at Financial Times
-TV Producer at Bloomberg
-Press Officer at Commonwealth secretariat
-Financial Advisor for the Financial Times group
-Blogger for beyondthebrics at Financial Times
-Financial Times, production desk
-Hedge Fund Manager
-Intern at Reuters London,
-Billionaires Reporter at Bloomberg,
-Reporter at Argus Media,
-Researcher/Reporter at Financial Times Hong Kong (MandateWire)
-Freelancing for the Financial Times (Scheme Xpert, Pensions Week, Money)and EuromoneyFXNews
-Reporter at Silu (http://www.silu.com)

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The ICMA Centre’s financial engineering degree is highly respected by quantitative analysts and their employers. The credit crunch and subsequent events have emphasised the need to develop better pricing and better hedging models for all complex products. The practical and quantitative skills that you will develop on the programme will equip you to meet this challenge.

Our compulsory modules provide a firm grounding in probability theory, stochastic calculus, derivatives pricing, quantitative and numerical methods, structuring products, volatility analysis, and the modelling of credit, equity, foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives. We also provide a thorough training in C++ and other programming tools.

Optional modules will allow you to focus on risk analysis, portfolio management, designing trading strategies or econometric analysis. This newly structured degree aims to further enhance the strong reputation of its precursor – the MSc in Financial Engineering and Quantitative Analysis, which was established back in 1999. A good background in mathematics is required for acceptance to this programme (see entry requirements below).

Highlights

• A highly technical programme for those with strong mathematical skills
• Gain knowledge of derivatives pricing tools and methods, as well as the use of programming languages like C++ and VBA
• Designed with the support of industry practitioners to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed
• Graduates are able to make an early contribution through the unique combination of hands-on, practical skills and the necessary underlying finance theory
• Benefit from the combined expertise of both the ICMA Centre and the Department of Mathematics

Course structure

October – December: Part 1 Autumn Term

January: Part 1 Exams

January-April: Part 2 Spring Term

May – June: Part 2 Exams

June – August (12 month programme only): Part 3

August/Sep (12 month programme only): Part 3 Coursework deadlines

Course content

Part 1 compulsory modules

• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Securities, Futures and Options
• Fixed Income and Equity Investments
• Stochastic Calculus and Probability

Part 2 compulsory modules

• C++ for Financial Engineering
• Derivatives Modelling
• Numerical Methods for Financial Engineering
• Advanced Derivatives Modelling

Part 2 optional modules

Students on the 9-month (12-month) programme can select 40 (20) credits from the following modules:

• Portfolio Management
• Financial Econometrics
• Market Risk
• Derivatives Securities: Pricing, Hedging and Trading
• Research Project
• Fixed Income Cash and Derivative Markets
• Corporate Finance and Investment Banking
• Commodity Derivatives
• Liquidity Risk and Algorithmic Trading
• Programming for Finance
• Essentials of Financial Engineering 

Part 3 optional modules

Optional modules

Students on the 12-months programme should take 20 credits from the following:

• Energy Finance
• Advanced Finance Theory with Empirical Applications
• Stock Index Future

Learning options

Full-time: 9 months Full-time: 12 months

Students will be resident and undertake full-time study in the UK. Under both, the 9 and 12-month programmes students take compulsory and/or elective modules in Part 2.

The 12 month option involves taking an elective 20 credit module between July and August, which would also mean a 20 credit reduction in the number of taught modules taken in the spring term.

Careers

Many of our financial engineering graduates are now working as Quants in large London banks and other financial institutions. Others have pursued PhDs and have successful academic careers. Financial instruments are becoming ever more sophisticated, so graduates that understand complex modelling techniques are always in great demand. The high quantitative content of this programme opens many doors to a wide range of careers. You could structure and develop new debt or equity solutions to meet clients funding and hedging needs, or you could become a proprietary trader in exotic derivatives, or a software specialist or a quantitative analyst supporting the traders.

There are excellent opportunities on the buy-side, with hedge funds and investment institutions, as well as in investment banking and in software analytics. Opportunities in quantitative research, or with a rating agency, are among the many other attractive alternatives. Outside of mainstream banking and investment, you might also consider firms involved in commodity and energy trading, or the treasury divisions of leading multinationals and management consultancies.

Professional accreditation

ICMA Fixed Income Certificate

To obtain the requisite knowledge to pass the rigorous FIC exam, students are required to take the ICMA Centre Fixed Income Cash and Derivatives Markets module at Part 2. In order to receive the FIC certificate, students will need to register and pass the FIC exam through ICMA.

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The programme aims to provide a thorough postgraduate education in accounting and financial management for graduates who wish to understand how businesses use financial information for decision-making purposes.

The programme provides an analytical and integrated study of accounting and financial management, combining a conceptual and theoretical approach with an emphasis on application to the relevant developments from the current international practice. It will cover issues related to international strategic management, management decision-making and performance evaluation, business finance, global financial reporting as well as ethics and corporate governance. Students will learn to evaluate alternative theories and methodologies and to make judgments on their applicability to complex practical scenarios.

Why Henley?

• Consistently maintain highest standards: Henley is in top 1% of business schools worldwide to hold accreditation from all three bodies in the UK, Europe and US
• Excellent networking potential : 72,000 Henley alumni members in 150 countries
• High calibre students: always oversubscribed, 1,000 ambitious new Masters students join Henley each year
• Award winning campus: beautiful, green, 134 hectares, with state of the art facilities
• World-leading faculty: widely published, frequently asked for expert comment by media and to speak at events
• Henley is proud to be part of the University of Reading. The University is ranked within the top 200 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016/17 and QS World University Rankings 2018) and 98% of the research is rated as being of international standard.

Course content

Compulsory modules

• International Strategic Management - MMM001
• Management Decision Making and Performance Evaluation - MMM040
• Business Finance - MMM041
• Cases in Financial Management and Control - MMM054
• International Financial Reporting 1 - MMM062
• International Financial Reporting 2 - MMM063
• Corporate Governance & Ethics - ACM001
• Study and Research Skills: Sources, Methods, and Practice - MMM070

Dissertation/project

• Dissertation (AFM and AIM) - MMM090
• Accounting and Finance Project - MMM049

Optional modules

Students choosing MMM049 must choose one optional modules to the value of 20 credits. For students choosing MMM090 Dissertation, a project to dissertation form must be completed and no optional modules are available.

• Comparative and Inter-Cultural Management - MMM028
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management - MMM042
• Accounting Information Systems - ACM005
• Multinational Enterprise Strategy and Performance - MMM095
• Management in Creative and Cultural Organisations - MMM087
• Enterprise Systems - INMR88
• Business Clusters - MMM131

Assessment

Exams, applied project and individual and group assignments

Careers and accreditations

Students will enhance their employability in their related first-degree disciplines or in any general business management roles. The programme will also enhance career opportunities in more specialised accounting and finance fields. As the programme offers an international perspective, career prospects are likely to be international. In addition, the programme will serve as a good basis for further academic development in accounting- and finance-related disciplines.

Graduates from this programme will enhance their employability in a range of careers related to their first-degree discipline or in a general business as well as more specialised accounting and finance roles.

This programme is granted exemptions from four Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional exams: BA1 - BA4.

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Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Financial Management at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).

The Master's (MSc) in Financial Management is designed for students from any background who are interested in moving into a career in finance. Modules on the Financial Management programme include: corporate finance, financial modelling, international financial markets, quantitative methodologies, and corporate governance and ethics. Financial Management graduates will also develop a sound understanding of the role and importance of accounting information in the financial management of complex organisations.

Key Features of MSc in Financial Management

- 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 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

- 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 3rd in the UK for international ranked research outputs (REF 2014)

The Financial Management programme combines the academic theory of finance with a strong practical perspective closely related to the world of finance, facilitating a sound understanding of finance and associated areas.

Modules

Modules on the Financial Management programme may include:

Principles of Finance

International Financial Markets

Financial Statement Analysis

Quantitative Financial Analysis

Principles of Law for Accounting and Finance

Financial Modelling

Corporate Governance & Ethics

Contemporary Issues in Finance

Project Management

Principles of Corporate Finance

Contemporary Issues in Finance

Advanced Corporate Finance

Financial Market Efficiency & Behavioural Finance

Development Finance

Business Planning and Theory of Entrepreneurship

International Management

Business Analytics

Data Mining

Accreditation

The MSc Financial Management has been awarded the following ACCA exemptions:

F1 - Accountant in Business

F2 - Management Accounting

F3 - Financial Accounting

This means that graduates of our MSc Financial Management will be exempt from three out of nine of the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ examinations. Financial Management students graduating from this 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 including those from the Financial Management 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 Financial Management 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

The School of Management at Swansea University is building on long-established foundations as one of the UK's top providers of Management, Accounting & Finance and Economic education.

The School of Management's vision is to make a difference to society and the economy locally and globally through excellence in research-led teaching that has resulted in the School being ranked 17th in the UK for research impact* and 26th in the UK for research excellence, all working towards continuing our trend of becoming one of the top business schools in Wales and the UK.

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.

*THE Research Excellence Framework 2014: Institutions ranked by subject

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Financial institutions have been forced, by the globalisation of trade and finance, to engage in the international financial market. This specialised Masters degree focuses on international banking and financial system development for enhancing economic performance. It is ideal if you want to pursue a successful career in investment banks, multinational banks and domestic banks of your country.

The programme will enable you to offer flexible solutions to complex problems such as the recent financial crisis. Without a knowledge and understanding of international banking theory, practice and procedure, policy makers and finance managers cannot take the strategic steps required to restructure financial systems, in order to operate effectively and efficiently in this new and evolving environment.

The MSc Management and Development of International Financial Systems will empower you to play a valuable role in this exciting field, by developing your skills in the areas of banking, finance and strategic management, with particular emphasis on the international dimension.
The course combines academic rigour with a policy orientation. The varied backgrounds of our teaching team and their range of research and consultancy activities, ensure an appropriate blend of academic and practical perspectives. The course also invites input from practitioners in national and international roles at major financial institutions.

The MSc Management and Development of International Financial Systems at the University of South Wales is a unique programme designed to address the shortage of skilled manpower at a strategic level in the Financial Sector of emerging and transitional economies.

This is a unique programme which combines management, development and finance simultaneously. The varied backgrounds of the teaching team and their range of research and consultancy activities ensure an appropriate blend of academic and practical perspectives. The programme also invites input from practitioners of major financial institutions with national and international roles.

The first international postgraduate course of its kind, MSc Management and Development of International Financial Systems has proved popular among policy makers, practitioner bankers, financial institutions and international organisations in a number of emerging countries.

You will study in Atlantic House which is part of our Cardiff campus and is situated at the heart of Cardiff’s Business Enterprise Zone.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/468-msc-management-and-development-of-international-financial-systems

What you will study

Throughout your studies you will develop an understanding of the theoretical frameworks for designing and analysing financial systems in developing, transitional, merging and market economies. You will review the banking services and their relevance as a driver of economic development and poverty alleviation. You will also examine the challenges of delivering innovative services in view of the internal and external changing environment.

Modules include:
- Comparative Study of Financial Systems in Developing Countries
- Multinational Operations in Finance and Banking
- Accounting Research Management and Methods
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Finance
- Issues in International Management
- Business Venturing
- Dissertation

Modules are subject to change.

Learning and teaching methods

Teaching methods range from lectures, group discussions, case study workshops, individual investigative projects, a variety of audio and visual methods and field trips.

Separate induction and dissertation preparation sessions will also be held.

Teaching is primarily research led, your interests will be aroused and expanded prior to the dissertation period.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

This course is designed to equip any student intending to work in the financial sector of developing and emerging countries with the concepts and tools to cope successfully in the rapidly changing world of financial instruments and markets.

From finance directors to investment bankers, our recent graduates have attained positions within a variety of local, national and international organisations.

Other possible career options include:
- Fund Manager
- Development banker
- Private client relationship manager
- Project finance analyst
- Risk Management in banking
- Regulatory bodies and consultancy.

Assessment methods

You will usually have to complete coursework as you progress, and normally sit exams at the end of each academic year.

Facilities

The MSc Management and Development of International Financial Systems offers outstanding facilities and a supportive environment in which Accounting and Finance students can flourish. From a fully equipped learning resource centre and a state-of-the-art trading room powered by leading industry software from Thomson Reuters to interactive teaching spaces.

The Accounting and Finance Advice Clinic is also based in Atlantic House, utilising specialist expertise within the University to provide free financial advice to the public and small businesses. The Clinic provides opportunities for Accounting and Finance students to gain experience in an applied setting, enabling them to gain and enhance the transferable skills they’ll need when entering the workforce.

Career Potential

This course is designed to equip anyone intending to work in the financial sector of developing and emerging countries, with the concepts and tools to cope successfully in the rapidly changing world of financial instruments and markets. From finance directors to investment bankers, our recent graduates have attained positions within a variety of local, national and international organisations.

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Description

Study for an MBA Banking and Finance Master's Degree at one of Europe's foremost Banking and Finance Schools. At Bangor, we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in the areas of banking and finance. The MBA Banking and Finance is designed for candidates with degrees or relevant business backgrounds, who wish to develop their expertise and further their professional careers. The MBA programme provides a more practical postgraduate course to complement our long established MA course in Banking and Finance and our distance-learning MBA with Manchester Business School.

A primary objective of the MBA Banking and Finance is to develop knowledgeable and capable executives to move quickly to key positions in the financial services sector. The programme will provide executive training at an advanced level covering the latest developments in the management of banks and financial services firms.

We have long held a strong international reputation in the study of banking and finance. Our long established and highly successful MA programme has run since 1973 and over this period we have also had a strong PhD programme where research typically focuses on banking and financial sector issues. Postgraduates have enjoyed a mix of both theoretical and practical elements covering contemporary developments in the banking and financial field. The MBA aims to extend and develop advanced training relating to the practical managerial issues faced by modern financial service firms.

The main aim of our full-time MBA is to introduce a much stronger practical emphasis focussing on the strategies and financial management of financial firms. Your MBA will give you practical insight and skills in a range of strategic and management areas in financial services. We invite practitioners to share their views and experiences. Case studies and contemporary issues figure highly in the programme.

The School has a lively group of staff, who are always willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Your teaching staff at Bangor are active researchers, combining high levels of expertise with a desire to extend their subject area, and, most importantly from a postgraduate viewpoint, an enthusiasm to encourage others to develop their academic, financial and business skills.

We are pleased that you are considering joining the MBA Banking and Finance programme. If you decide to do so, we are confident that we can offer you the guidance, stimulation and support that will make the next year a happy and productive time for you. I wish you every success in your MBA career.

Professor Philip Molyneux
Postgraduate Director

Why study the MBA Banking and Finance?

Financial systems and financial services firms' strategies are now involved in a fundamental, far reaching process of realignment and change. The strategic priority of banks and other financial institutions has shifted away from growth and size alone towards a greater emphasis on profitability, performance and shareholder value creation. The growing economic importance of financial sectors has also re-emphasised that bankers, fund managers, multinational companies, securities firms, regulators and financial advisers must have a clear understanding of the theory and practice relating to banking and finance.

Aims of the course

The Bangor Business School aims to build on our long-established expertise in the area of postgraduate training in banking and finance by offering a one-year modular MBA Banking and Finance, which aims to develop participants' academic and managerial skills in these areas. An important objective is to provide relevant analytical training to familiarise participants with the latest strategic, managerial and industrial developments in the financial services industry.

The MBA Banking and Finance course provides a coherent analytical framework for the study of banking and financial developments from a management perspective. The emphasis throughout the programme is on the application of contemporary, financial, managerial and strategic developments that affect real-world decision-making in the global financial industry.

We recognise that a thorough understanding of recent developments in banking and financial firm strategies, financial management, risk management, international financial markets, marketing strategies and performance evaluation are essential requirements for all those involved in financial sector activities (or those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of these important business and managerial areas).

Who should consider studying the MBA Banking and Finance?

The course will be of interest to the following people:

Graduates who have professional experience in the financial sector;
Managers and accountants in public and private organisations who wish to develop their financial management skills;
Managers employed in the financial services industry;
Graduates contemplating a career in the banking and financial services industry;
Graduates who have relevant practical experience and wish to enhance their skills in the areas of banking and finance;
Finance professionals (like corporate treasurers and accountants) who deal with the financial services industry.

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About the course

Mathematical finance is an area of applied mathematics where concepts and techniques that lie close to the heart of pure mathematics are applied routinely to solve a great variety of important practical problems arising in the day-to-day business of the world's financial institutions.

The objective of the Brunel MSc in Financial Mathematics is to guide students through to a mastery of the sophisticated mathematical ideas underlying modern finance theory, along with the associated market structures and conventions, with emphasis on:

- The modelling of the dynamics of financial assets, both in equity markets and in fixed-income markets
- The pricing and hedging of options and other derivatives, and
- The quantification and management of financial risk.

Candidates are also provided with the means to master the numerical and computational skills necessary for the practical implementation of financial models, thus enabling you to put theory into practice and putting you in a good position to carry out work for a financial institution. We therefore offer a programme that provides a balanced mixture of advanced mathematics (including modern probability theory and stochastic calculus), modern finance theory (including models for derivatives, interest rates, foreign exchange, equities, commodities, and credit), and computational technique (GPU-based high-performance computing).

The MSc in Financial Mathematics offers a range of exciting modules during the Autumn and the Spring terms, followed by an individual research project leading to a dissertation that is completed during the Summer term.

Aims

Financial mathematics is a challenging subject, the methods of which are deployed by sophisticated practitioners in financial markets on a daily basis. It builds on the application of advanced concepts in modern probability theory to enable market professionals to tackle and systematically resolve a huge range of issues in the areas of pricing, hedging, risk management, and market regulation. The main objective of the Brunel MSc in Financial Mathematics is to provide candidates with the knowledge they need to be able to enter into this exciting new area of applied mathematics and to position themselves for the opportunity to work in financial markets.

Among the main distinguishing features of our programme are the following:

We aim to teach the key ideas in financial asset pricing theory from a thoroughly modern perspective, using concepts and methods such as pricing kernels, market information filtrations, and martingale techniques, as opposed say to the more traditional but old-fashioned approach based on the historical development of the subject.

In our programme candidates are asked at each stage to undertake a critical re-examination of the hypotheses implicit in any financial model, with a view to gaining a clear grasp of both its strengths and its limitations.

The programme includes courses on high-performance computing that provide candidates with the techniques whereby financial models can be implemented.

Course Content

Programme structure

The programme offers five "compulsory" modules, taken by all candidates, along with a variety of elective modules from which students can pick and choose. There are lectures, examinations and coursework in eight modules altogether, including the five compulsory modules. Additionally, all students complete an individual research project on a selected topic in financial mathematics, leading to the submission of a dissertation.

Compulsory modules:

Probability and stochastics
Financial markets
Option pricing theory
Interest rate theory
Financial computing I

Elective Modules:

Portfolio theory
Information in finance with application to credit risk management
Mathematical theory of dynamic asset pricing
Financial computing II
Statistics for Finance
Financial Mathematics Dissertation

Special Features

The Department of Mathematics, home to its acclaimed research centre CARISMA, has a long tradition of research and software development, in collaboration with various industry partners, in the general area of risk management.

The Department is a member of the London Graduate School in Mathematical Finance, which is a consortium of mathematical finance groups of Birkbeck College, Brunel University London, Imperial College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics, and University College London. There is a strong interaction between the financial mathematics groups of these institutions in the greater London area, from which graduates can benefit. In particular there are a number of research seminars that take place regularly throughout the year which students are welcome to attend.

Assessment

Assessment is by a combination of coursework, examination, and dissertation. Examinations are held in May. The MSc degree is awarded if the student reaches the necessary overall standard on the taught part of the course and submits a dissertation that is judged to be of the required standard. Specifically, to qualify for the MSc degree, the student must: (a) take examinations in eight modules including the four compulsory modules, (b) attain the minimum grade profile (or better) required for a Masters degree and (c) submit a dissertation of the required standard. If a student does not achieve the requirements for the degree of MSc, they may, if eligible, be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

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What is the 'Master of Financial and Actuarial Engineering' all about?

The Master of Financial and Actuarial Engineering programme provides students with up-to-date, sound and advanced financial, actuarial and statistical skills. It is an intensive, advanced, one-year programme for university graduates interested in a career in risk management, financial and/or actuarial engineering within financial institutions. The discipline focuses on the application of quantitative methods to problems involving risk or uncertainty. You will gain an understanding of current and future problems and solutions in insurance and banking and be equipped with fundamental and conceptual knowledge of the mathematical and economic aspects of financial theory and insurance techniques.

The programme provides advanced insights into the actuarial aspects of life insurance, general insurance and risk theory as well as financial mathematics and the inter-relationship and integration of actuarial sciences and finance. The programme draws on over sixty years of experience and international recognition. The research team for risk theory, finance and statistics has a strong research profile and is ranked among the world top in terms of actuarial research productivity. The programme is jointly offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Science at KU Leuven, in collaboration with Université Catholique de Louvain.

Objectives

The main goal of the programme is to provide the students with an sound knowledge of finance and actuarial science. They develop the capabilities to understand current and future problems and solutions in the actuarial and financial context. They will be equipped with fundamental and conceptual knowledge of the mathematical and economic aspects of financial theory and insurance techniques. Graduates holding both the degree of Master of Financial and Actuarial Engineering and 'Master in de verzekeringen' (Dutch-language initial master at KU Leuven) are eligible for membership in the professional body of actuaries in Belgium (IA|BE), and the international actuarial professional body (IAA).

At the end of the programme students will:

• be equipped with fundamental and conceptual knowledge of the mathematical and economic aspects of financial theory and insurance techniques;
• have advanced insights in the actuarial aspects of life insurance, general insurance, risk theory as well as in the interrelationship and integration of actuarial sciences and financial mathematics;
• have a strong background in quantitative methods and financial models and will be able to select and apply those methods to problems that involve risk or uncertainty;
• dispose of enhanced analytical, critical, conceptual, problem solving and decision making capabilities and skills;
• have the ability to integrate actuarial, statistical and financial modelling techniques in order to arrive at effective solutions to problems occurring in insurance and financial practice;
• be able to conduct research, not only in an academic context, but also in view of a professional career;
• be able to stay up-to-date with the advances in actuarial sciences by following up and familiarizing with new insights, developments, results and methods;
• be able to communicate and report adequately on financial and actuarial topics.

Career perspectives

The programme addresses the rapidly-changing needs resulting from the accelerating globalisation of the banking and insurance sector. As such, it provides a sound basis for a career in various areas of risk management, financial and actuarial engineering and insurance. Most graduates find employment in insurance companies, whose financial stability depends on actuarial calculations (e.g. premiums, provisions, capital requirements, reinsurance policy).

As an expert in the field of risk and uncertainty, you can also play an important role in banking and finance. The increasing convergence between the insurance and financial markets as well as the use of mathematically based instruments, such as options and futures, offers excellent career prospects. Graduates are well placed to find employment in banks, pension funds, reinsurance companies, consulting and audit companies.

Some graduates go to work in government, for instance in social security or economic affairs departments. Graduates holding both the degree of Master of Financial and Actuarial Engineering and 'Master in de verzekeringen' (Dutch-language initial Master's programme at KU Leuven) are eligible for membership in the professional body of actuaries in Belgium (IA|BE).

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Managers in international companies require an understanding of accounting and financial management. With our programme you will gain an appreciation of economic, technical and institutional foundations of accounting and financial management and the importance of accountability and information, corporate governance, and ethics in global financial markets. After completing a series of core courses you can pursue electives in a range of management areas.

Key benefits

- You are taught in an internationally renowned department with impressive institutional and organisational links.

- You will study in the heart of London, the perfect location for building a career.

- Close links and regular speakers from outside organisations give you insights and up-to-the-minute knowledge of the subject area.

Visit the website http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/accounting-accountability-and-financial-management-msc.aspx

Course detail

- Description

Our programme provides a stimulating learning environment using various techniques to link theoretical knowledge to good business practice. You will have the chance to pursue your own interests through a selection of modules and dissertation topics. Our objective is to develop your accounting and financial management skills and provide you with the global capabilities required for business success.

After completing a series of core courses you may pursue electives in a range of management areas.

- Course purpose

Our MSc will enhance your knowledge of: theoretical foundations of accounting, accountability and financial management; application of technical accounting and financial management techniques to a variety of scenarios; internal workings of financial institutions and accounting firms and their inter-relationships; importance of accounting and financial management for businesses and financial institutions; need for accounting, accountability and financial management to incorporate corporate governance, social responsibility, the needs of a broad group of stakeholders and ethical considerations. Our MSc is international in its outlook.

Structure

Required Modules:
Dissertation - An original piece of research on an aspect of accounting and/or financial management undertaken by you under the supervision of a staff member.

- Corporate Governance & Accountability
- Financial Management
- Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Management Accounting & Control
- Research Methods

Optional Modules:
We review the modules offered on a regular basis in order to continue to offer innovative, exciting and relevant programmes, this list is therefore subject to change

- Accounting Organisations & Society
- Advanced Financial Management
- Advanced Financial Reporting
- Financial Statement Analysis

Course format and assessment

Term one: compulsory modules covering

- Financial management
- Reporting and analysis
- Management accounting
- Research methods

Term two:

- Compulsory module covering corporate governance and accountability
- Options covering advanced finance and other areas of management.

Term three:
- Individual research project.

Throughout the course you are assessed by a variety of methods, eg written examinations, coursework, individual or group projects, presentations, case studies, multiple-choice tests etc. More information on module-specific assessment can be found in module outlines. Assignment feedback is provided within four working weeks of submission.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme will enter multinationals as well as smaller firms, across the business spectrum: financial institutions, management consulting, industry, or government bodies.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught-courses.aspx

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Why take this course?

Focusing on international finance, this course has particular emphasis on multinational corporate finance and international banking. It is particularly suited to graduates looking to pursue careers in corporate finance in large financial and non-financial companies, corporate financial services in banking and investment banking, and central banking. On this course you will gain in-depth knowledge of corporate finance, financial markets and institutions, financial investments, and international banking.

What will I experience?

You will be taught by academically qualified and enthusiastic staff with research and consultancy experience and links to industry.

Access to extensive financial databases including Bloomberg, DataStream and Bank Scope is available along with excellent library facilities and with 24-hour internet access to leading databases.

On successful completion of your Bloomberg training you will be awarded the Bloomberg Certificate, an essential qualification for all city professionals.

What opportunities might it lead to?

Our graduates in finance and financial economics have gained employment in a wide range of roles and industrial sectors, including investment analysis, securities trading, banking and investment banking, accountancy and financial management.

The University of Portsmouth is recognised as a centre of excellence for finance teaching by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). You will be eligible for student membership and this provides access to a range of networking and career opportunities. During the programme you will be prepared for CISI's Integrity Matters and Corporate Finance Technical Foundation examinations. Successfully completing these examinations allows you to achieve an industry-recognised professional qualification alongside your degree.

Module Details

You will study the following four units and complete your studies with a dissertation:

Financial Econometrics:

Econometrics is a core tool used in the study of finance. This unit gives you a strong practical understanding of the econometric tools you will be using throughout your study of finance. The teaching philosophy of this unit is to take an applied approach, to provide you with a strong intuitive understanding of a range of econometric techniques and their applications to a wide variety of problem-solving situations in finance. You will gain extensive experience with econometric and statistical packages such as Eviews and SPSS. Your work in this unit is supported by lectures, tutorials and workshops. Many of the econometric techniques covered in this unit are used and applied in other units in the course, to help you gain a good understanding of how to apply them successfully to the theory and practice of financial management.

Multinational Corporate Financial Management:

In this unit you will study international finance from the corporate perspective. The first half of the unit focuses on the primary financial decisions of the firm, working capital management, advanced capital budgeting techniques, the strategic analysis of capital investment decisions, capital structure theories, and the financing and dividend decisions. Corporate financial management in a multinational context introduces many new problems, challenges and opportunities. In the second half of the unit the focus will be on corporate financial management from the global and international perspective. Topics you will study include the measurement and management of currency and interest rate risks, taxation, regulatory and political risks, mergers and acquisitions, and the international capital investment, financing and dividend decisions.

International Money and Capital Markets:

This unit covers international finance from the securities and markets perspective, and complements the unit on Multinational Corporate Financial Management. You will study the currency and Eurocurrency markets, the international equity, fixed income and derivatives markets, financial institutions, financial regulation, and the models used to price the financial securities trading in these markets. The topics in the International Money and Capital Markets unit are developed with a strong emphasis on their applications to multinational corporate financial management.

International Banking:

In this unit you will study commercial and investment banking at national, international and global levels. Topics covered include, money and the banking system, banking structures and regulations, risk management in banking, scale and scope economies and the measurement of competition in banking, determinants of bank crashes and failures, global banking and regulation, global financial markets and instruments, and derivatives related financial crises.

Research Methods and Dissertation:

This is a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training via lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. You will be assigned a Dissertation supervisor who will provide feedback, guidance and support on an individual basis.

Programme Assessment

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, computer-based workshops, invited speakers and live case studies. Student participation is encouraged and classes are challenging but informal and friendly, which promotes discussion and debate. The course tutors are available to support your studies and you will also have a personal tutor to provide help and guidance.

You are assessed in