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The MSc in Financial Analysis and Fund Management is a very challenging programme that offers students the opportunity to study for the Level I and Level II CFA® exams at the same time as the MSc Financial Analysis and Fund Management.
The MSc in Financial Analysis and Fund Management is one of a limited number of programmes globally which has been awarded ‘University Affiliation Program’ Status by the CFA® institute, this means that the programme covers at least 70% of the CFA® level I and II syllabus.
Run by the Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment, it is a twelve month full-time programme, and is designed for those wishing to learn fundamental and advanced theory in investment analysis.
Students on this programme will have access to a dedicated Thomson Reuters lab and in addition to Datastream and other financial databases and software systems.
All of the following are included in the fees for this programme:
CFA® Track
The MSc in Financial Analysis and Fund Management with CFA® Track enables you to take Levels I and II of the Chartered Financial Analyst® qualification, while also continuing to study Financial Analysis and Fund Management. We provide extensive additional training for the CFA® level I and II professional examinations in December and June.
MSc Only Track
With the MSc Only Track, you are not required to register for the CFA® exams, or attend the workshops organised for those on the CFA® Track.
The double degree option enables you to gain a second Masters qualification by studying for a year with one of our prestigious partner universities. For more information on this and other postgraduate study abroad opportunities, visit the Business School’s Study Abroad webpages at http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate/studyabroad/.
This programme is a 12 month full-time programme, studied over three terms. It is based at the Exeter campus of the University throughout this time.
During the programme you will study modules (including the dissertation) totalling 180 credits. Please note that modules are subject to change. To ensure a high level of coverage of the CFA® syllabus all of the modules on this programme are compulsory.
Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the Business School website at http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate/modules/
Recent examples of compulsory modules are as follows;
This degree programme prepares students for entry into the fast growing and exciting investment industry. It provides a practical knowledge of portfolio management and quantitative finance, together with an applied set of courses looking at industry structure and trends. Students benefit from professional guest speakers drawn from the heart of the global investment industry in the City of London, only a short distance away.
During the course you will develop expertise in a range of specialised areas such as trading strategies, portfolio and fund management, alternative and responsible investments, ethics in investment management and risk management, among others. You will also have the opportunity to apply this knowledge in practice through the use of simulations, case studies and take part in the portfolio management challenge designed for MSc Investment Management students.
Integral to the academic course is the parallel study of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA® ) programme, level 1. The two programmes support and reinforce the other, ensuring that graduates acquire both the academic and professional knowledge and qualifications required to succeed in the investment management industry.
The tuition for this programme includes the candidate’s registration in the June CFA Level I exam that is written just after the end of the academic year. The tuition also includes substantial CFA teaching outside of the academic teaching.
The ICMA Centre is a CFA University Affiliate; this is in recognition that this degree covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, the CFA Institute Ethical and Professional Standards, and other requirements.
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
Part 1 compulsory modules
Part 2 compulsory modules
Part 2 optional modules
Students on the 9-month (12-month) programme can select 50 (30) credits from the following modules:
Part 3 optional modules
Students on the 12-months programme should take 20 credits from the following:
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.
After completion, our graduates are qualified to work in a variety of investment functions, including as portfolio managers, hedge fund managers and traders, within a diverse range of organisations such as investment banks, regulators, fund management firms and consultants.
The wide recognition of the programme contributes to the majority of our graduates securing employment offers within 6 months of graduation.
CFA Level 1
Studied alongside the degree.
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).
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.
This one-year MSc in Advanced Financial Analysis is designed to give you the specialist knowledge and skills that you will need for a career in investment management or financial analysis and to help you acquire the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 2 qualification.
The programme consists of two elements. The first comprises eight taught modules, spread over the first and second terms. These modules, delivered jointly by Lancaster faculty and Fitch Learning’s professional instructors, are designed to cover the material you will need for the core CFA Level 2 syllabus relating to investments and financial analysis. Additionally, you will take the Personal Development for Careers in Finance module.
The second element of the programme is a specialist CFA dissertation stream which runs in the third term and through to September and includes:
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Core
Optional
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.
Many modules use a mix of coursework, projects and formal exams, so that you can demonstrate your abilities in various ways. You will be given specific training by the experienced Fitch learning tutors to prepare you for the CFA examinations and the online learning portal gives you access to a bank of practice questions and other learning resources too.
For many students, the desire to boost their career prospects and move more quickly into senior roles is a key reason for acquiring a Masters degree. That's why we integrate careers support into our MSc programmes, and offer a range of facilities to help you in your career development and job search process.
Like all of the School’s Masters students, you will have access to guidance and support from the LUMS careers team. But to give you extra industry-specific job-hunting skills, we have partnered up with a financial markets specialist who has worked for several leading investment banks and also financial technology institutions. As a financial careers coach still working in the financial markets, his role is to make you aware of many different opportunities that exist within the sector, giving you a clear picture of the particular skills required – and, crucially, an insider view on what employers will be looking for.
To help you differentiate yourself in a fiercely competitive market, he provides guidance on writing CVs and cover letters for the financial market, interview skills, and performing well at assessment centres.
The Investment Management MSc will provide you with advanced knowledge of the various functional dimensions of the complex world of investment management. It is distinctive in covering the principles, tools and techniques of both investment and management, as well as how to apply them in real work situations globally.
More than just an academic institution, Cranfield School of Management’s world-class research, expertise and teaching result in practical management solutions that are transforming the world of business today. For 50 years, we have been working with leading companies across the globe, pursuing our mission to improve the practice of management.
Our Investment Management MSc is distinctive in covering the principles, tools and techniques of investment management, as well as how to apply them in real work situations. You will gain an in-depth understanding of financial and management accounting, economics, international financial markets, statistical analysis, financial modelling, investment and portfolio management and derivatives and financial risk management.
The programme of study is distinct and unique in the way that it provides a link between the School and the business community. You will be taught by faculty with experience of the real world of finance and business, together with practitioners from different areas of finance.
Modules focus on real-world challenges, and include a combination of case studies, participative exercises, interactive lectures and group projects. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and get ready to face the professional world through attendance at regular seminars and speeches.
Our classes are small and each academic tutor has no more than five students in any one cohort, ensuring close contact continuous interaction.
The course will prepare you for roles in the investment industry such as portfolio management, hedge-fund specialist, investment specialist, trader, fund management, risk management, security analyst, broker or corporate treasurer. High standard content and fruitful discussions about its application within different cultures and geographical areas prepares you for working in every part of our increasingly globalised world.
An external advisory panel, comprised of senior practitioners in investment management, informs the design and development of the course, reinforcing its relevance to the modern financial world. Our faculty are also supported by a team of international visiting industry speakers and professors who bring the latest thinking and best practice into the classroom.
The course content covers much of the syllabus of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification, giving you the opportunity to work towards an additional professional qualification while you are studying with us through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. If you choose this option, you will receive revision support from our faculty ahead of sitting the first examination in term three of your course. You can then sit parts two and three of the qualification after completing your course. More information about the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program and associated CFA Program Awareness Scholarships can be found on the CFA website.
The course comprises 10 core modules and four elective modules. This enables you to tailor the course to suit your personal career plan. Throughout the course you will have access to a highly effective infrastructure including Bloomberg live financial news and data, DataStream, FAME and EBSCO, and use real-world, international case studies to support your learning. The culmination of the learning process is your opportunity to undertake an empirical research project for your individual thesis.
Individual project
You will undertake an empirical research project for your individual thesis, enabling you to apply the knowledge and skills you have learnt during the course. This provides the opportunity to work in an original way, and may involve undertaking a research project for one of our industrial partners on a real-world challenge.
Assessment
Taught modules 60%, individual project 40%
95% of School of Management students were employed within 3 months of graduation*.
The Cranfield Career Development Service offers a comprehensive service to help you develop a set of career management skills that will remain with you throughout your career.
During your course you will receive support and guidance to help you plan an effective strategy for your personal and professional development, whether you are looking to secure your first management role, or wanting take your career to the next level.
Our graduates are highly valued in the job market and aim for careers in investment banking, financial services or the financial function of a diverse range of global corporations. Last year's Investment Management MSc graduates secured jobs with a diverse range of organisations including JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, CommerzBank, Henderson and Gimv.
*based on those students for whom we hold data, across all School of Management full-time master's courses (2015/16 cohort).
This programme is now closed but you may want to consider other courses such as the Mathematics MSc.
The Financial Mathematics MSc programme enables graduates and professionals with a strong mathematical background to research, develop and apply quantitative and computational techniques to investment and risk management. Based in the Department of Mathematics, this course has a superb reputation for research-led teaching and strong links to industry.
Financial Mathematics studies problems of optimal investment and risk management, and this course covers a diverse range of topics, from classical options pricing to post-crisis investment and risk management
Like any branch of applied mathematics, financial mathematics analyses a given problem by first building a mathematical model for it and then examining the model. Both steps require detailed knowledge in different areas of mathematics, including probability, statistics, optimisation, computer science and many more traditional fields of mathematics.
Our Financial Mathematics MSc course is a unique study pathway that encompasses the essential skills required for successful risk management, trading and research in quantitative finance: probability, statistics, optimisation, computing and financial markets. You will explore probability theories, risk neutral valuation, stochastic analysis as well as interest rate and credit risk modules. We also offer you the opportunity to study an additional zero-credit supportive module called mathematical analysis for financial mathematics.
The Financial Mathematics MSc programme offers you the choice to study either full or part-time and is made up of optional and required modules. You must take modules totalling 180 credits to complete the course. If you are studying full-time, you will complete the course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your programme will take two years to complete, you will study the required modules in the first year, and a further selection of required and optional modules including the 60-credit financial mathematics report module in your second year.
Bloomberg terminal laboratory
King’s is one of only a few academic departments in the UK that offers full access to Bloomberg terminals. These terminals will provide you access to live financial data. They are heavily used within the financial industry, and the data they provide is critical in assisting traders in making investment decisions and for risk managers monitoring investment probabilities. We have 13 Bloomberg terminals available for exclusive use by the Financial Mathematics MSc programme.
You will use the Bloomberg terminals to:
The skills you will learn from using the terminals are highly valued by employers. King’s is part of a strong network of financial mathematics in London with connections both in academia and in the industry.
We are also members of the University of London and by arrangement, you can enrol in optional modules at other institutions within the University of London, which includes Birkbeck, London School of Economics and Political Sciences, University College London and many others.
This programme is suitable for students or professionals with a strong mathematical background. It covers the principles and techniques of quantitative finance to prepare students for advanced work in the financial sector or research in mathematical finance.
Teaching
We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the programme. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
Average per week: Three hours for 11 weeks per each 15 credit module.
You are expected to spend approximately 10 hours of effort for each credit (so for a typical module of 15 credits this means 150 hours of effort).
Assessment
The primary method of assessment for this course is a combination of written examinations, essays, coursework and individual or group projects and oral presentations.
Our graduates are highly sought after by investment banks, corporate risk management units, insurance companies, fund management institutions, financial regulatory bodies, brokerage firms, and trading companies. Recent employers of our graduates include, Capital Investment, Credit Suisse, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, Fitch Ratings, HSBC and Morgan & Stanley. Some graduates have pursued research degrees in financial mathematics.
Designed to evolve your decision-making capabilities and awareness of best practice in investment strategies and performance evaluation, our Finance and Investment MSc will prepare you for a career in investment, trading, financial analysis, fund management, banking, financial services or financial consultancy.
This course will equip you with a thorough grounding in the theoretical and practical aspects of economics, finance and investment. By the end of the course, you will have the skills necessary to use advanced tools and quantitative techniques to appraise financial opportunities.
As part of this course you will also have access to our real-time trading room, streaming up-to-the-minute data from Reuters.
This course is part of our Finance MSc programme. All students complete the same core finance modules, then from the end of the first term you will be able to tailor the course to your individual strengths and career aspirations through option modules and the option to specialise in one of five areas.
The other specialisms offered are:
The course is composed of three phases:
All modules on the course involve both taught sessions and guided independent study. For a typical module, approximately 30% of the total hours comprise taught activity, 10% is guided study and supervision, and the remainder is independent study.
Modules
Core modules will give you practical background knowledge in key finance subjects. From term 2 you will be able to tailor your course through a choice of specialisms and option modules. The specialisms currently offered are banking, accounting, investment, economics and risk management.
Core modules
Specialism modules (choose two)
Option modules (choose one)
Completion of your final project (dissertation) takes place throughout the summer after teaching finishes. You submit your project in October and receive your MSc award in December.
In the final phase of the course, you will complete a dissertation relating to finance and investment.
The dissertation will be 10,000–15,000 words long. It will address a financial markets problem which will require you to undertake research leading to implementable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgment.
Alternatively, you may wish to carry out a more theoretical dissertation relating to a financial markets topic of personal interest. You will receive help from your appointed dissertation supervisor who will monitor and support your progress. The dissertation is submitted in October.
As part of your course you will have access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages, for students on the Market-making and Investment Strategies module this includes access to our real-time trading room, fed by up-to-the-minute data from Reuters.
One of a handful of such facilities across the UK, our trading room sessions are supervised by guest traders and provide you with the opportunity to apply your skills to real markets and real data, and make use of simulation software to recreate the pressure of a trading floor.
We also invite guest traders to discuss curriculum topics, pass on their trading experience and supervise trading sessions.
We highly recommend students join our thriving Student Investment and Trading Society, which is established and run by students for the purpose of organising social and networking events, arranging talks by visiting industry experts and facilitating annual trading competitions against other universities.
Experienced, professionally qualified lecturers and small class sizes will ensure your learning needs are supported. Online learning tools and libraries also ensure academic journals, e-books, business articles and other resources are available to you 24/7, both for use at the university and at home.
You will also have access to our Careers Service, including CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business.
A postgraduate qualification from Brighton Business School will help you to specialise and stand out in today's highly competitive job market
Many of our Finance and Investment MSc graduates go on to work in investment, trading, financial analysis, fund management, banking and financial consultancy.
The course is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at MPhil or PhD level, or working as a professional researcher in finance.
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