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
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The MSc programme in Money, Banking and Central Banking is designed to offer specialised teaching in banking and financial markets which is particularly relevant given all the changes introduced during the last global financial crisis, as well as the changes made by major central banks in the running of their monetary policies since then.
Monetary analysis has been mainly disregarded in the years running up to Global Financial Crisis and this contributed to high rates of growth of money which ultimately led to unsustainable economic growth and financial instability. Unlike any other degree in the UK ours emphasises the importance of high quality monetary and banking analysis so we can assess those policies compatible with stable economic growth and financial stability over the long term. Expert knowledge of monetary economics and monetary policy, risk management and financial institutions is going to be of crucial important to understand the world after the recent crisis.
The degree provides the latest research methods and tools to teach students to think analytically and critically, and apply their knowledge to practical problems faced by investment banks and central banks and other financial institutions.
This degree aims to produce graduates with this specialised knowledge and the skills required for a career in central banking and finance (in particular in investment banking), as well as monetary analysis suitable to pursue a career in consultancy businesses, research departments and specialised media. We welcome both recent graduates and those already in employment in these areas who wish to further their careers.
The bulk of the programme consists of several modules providing the theoretical and analytical tools for the students to understand central bank operations and policies, as well as banking business, so they can identify how money is created in modern economies and analyse how changes in the amount of money affect overall prices as well as the running of the economy along the cycle. Students will also learn the statistical techniques and use specialised software to gather and analyse macroeconomic and financial data. At the end of the programme students will submit a master’s dissertation.
Modules taught on this degree include:
We offer two entry points, in September and January. We also offer a part-time programme for those professionals already working and looking forward to furthering their education and careers in money and banking.
Students will be offered the option to take an examination and get the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) accreditation in financial risk management. In particular the students will be able to get the Associate Professional Risk Manager Certificate (Associate PRM Certificate), which is a PRMIA programme offered online for staff entering the risk management industry.
Internships possibilities at the Institute of International Monetary Research. Funding available (Santander scholarships)
Gain a strong grounding in advanced economics, and take your knowledge an important step further by applying it to the field that most interests you.
Our MSc Applied Economics is a suite of taught courses that provides rigorous training in all the main aspects of economics.
Starting with a comprehensive refresher course in essential maths and economics skills, you will go on to receive advanced training in the analysis of problems in applied microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and strategic decision-making.
Most importantly, you will then have the opportunity to tailor the course to the area of business or policy you are most interested in, giving you additional expertise and a head start when seeking work in that field.
We are one of the only universities in the UK offering this level of specialisation on this type of master's. You can select from MSc Applied Economics as a standalone option or with one of four specialist pathways:
Whichever pathway you choose, you will develop your knowledge of quantitative methods beyond undergraduate level and gain the mathematical, statistical and econometric skills to carry out quantitative analyses of applied economics problems.
You will consolidate your research skills further during the dissertation, which you will work on over the summer under the supervision of one of our experienced lecturers. The research training you receive will prepare you well for going into research positions in a government or commercial context.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
Our teaching staff are all active researchers and regularly publish in the top economics journals, so you will be working with some of the UK’s leading thinkers in economics.
This course is ideal preparation for careers within government or industry that require a thorough knowledge of economics.
We expect graduates of the Banking and Financial Markets pathway to be particularly suited to jobs in banks and other financial institutions.
Graduates of the Public Policy or Environmental Policy pathways are especially well-placed to find jobs within government and non-governmental organisations.
Graduates of the Behavioural Science pathway will be ideally suited to work within government or large private sector firms.
This course lasts 1 year. Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
These compulsory units are currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new units.
These optional units are currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new units.
The Economics of Public Policy Program will prepare you for analytical positions at public institutions, international organizations, consulting firms, research institutions, and think tanks.
The Economics of Public Policy Program provides students with the theoretical and empirical fundamentals to answer questions that impact entire populations.
How and why do particular public policies get implemented? How are they designed? How do we know if they work? Why are some policies more successful than others?
National-level finance and planning involves big numbers: pensions, health systems, income support, social programs, and so forth. Successful public policies can make all the difference for the lives of millions of individuals, with numbers and effects become much larger for developed countries and faster growing in developing ones.
Students will be exposed to the views of experts from fields other than Economics in order to build an appreciation for the multidisciplinary nature of public policy design and evaluation. A master's advisor will guide each student in completing an independent master's project by the end of the program, allowing specialization in a policy topic of the student's choice.
Our graduates will be prepared to take on analytical positions at public institutions, international organizations, consulting firms, research institutions, and think tanks.
Graduates will also be well-prepared to pursue advanced post-graduate study of Policy or Economics.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Master Degree in Specialized Economic Analysis awarded jointly with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The degree requires the successful completion of 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits of graduate courses (6 credits are equivalent to a 40 hour course), some compulsory and some elective. The students' final program must be discussed with and approved by the Master Director.
Examples of recent professional placements:
Examples of recent PhD placements:
If you have an undergraduate degree in a subject other than Economics, the Conversion programme offers you a two-year route to our Economics MSc programmes.
During the first year, you take the Diploma in Economic Analysis (DEA). This brings you up to the standards required to continue with MSc study. Students who pass the DEA with 60% and above then proceed to one of our MSc programmes. Students who pass but do not achieve 60% are awarded the DEA.
All of our MSc degrees equip you with a range of quantitative and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex economic concepts in a clear and concise style. Our programmes not only offer a stimulating education in economic theory, but also develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills to a range of national and international problems in the areas of finance, development, agriculture and the environment.
Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/196/economics-conversion-diploma-in-economic-analysis
- Year 1
During the first year, you take the Diploma in Economic Analysis (DEA), which is a qualification in its own right, and brings you up to the standard required to continue with MSc study. The DEA consists of five compulsory modules.
- Year 2
Students who pass the DEA with 60% and above can then proceed to one of the following MSc programmes in year two:
- MSc Economics
- MSc Economics and Econometrics
- MSc Economics and Finance
- MSc Finance and Econometrics
- MSc International Finance and Economic Development
Students who pass but do not achieve 60% are awarded the DEA.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.
Assessment is through a wide variety of methods including seminar presentations, extended essays, short projects, in-class tests, examinations, and the dissertation.
This programme aims to:
- provide the opportunity for students who already have a degree to proceed to study economics at Master’s level when they have not previously studied economics
- provide you with the knowledge, analytical and other skills from which you can proceed to further study in economics and develop a deeper understanding of economic theory, econometric and quantitative techniques and policy applications to specific areas
- provide a stimulating education in the principles of economics and their application, in which high-quality teaching motivates you to achieve your full potential
- provide options to enable you to study selected areas of economics in depth
- develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of theoretical, applied and policy problems
- develop your independent research skills and prepare you for work as a professional economist or in an area related to economics
- provide you with information and advice on future employment and further postgraduate study.
Labour and education economics
Staff research includes work in the areas of wage distributions, skills and job quality, education, migration and trade.
Macroeconomics, money and finance
Staff research in this area includes: macroeconometric theory; monetary policy; financial markets and macroeconomic performance growth theory and international macroeconomics; theoretical models of business cycles, labour market search and financial sources of economic fluctuations; DSGE models; growth theory and empirics.
Microeconomic theory, games and behaviour
Research interests cover public economics especially tax policy; gambling and uncertainty; international trade and government procurement; health economics; public goods; leadership in co-ordination games; industrial organisation; theoretic modelling; economic history.
Development economics
Research interests include work on growth; trade; the balance of payments; different aspects of migration and remittances on growth; applied studies focusing on particular developing countries.
Agri-environmental economics
Research interests cover non-market valuation, food safety, information economics applied to environmental problems, design and evaluation of agri-environmental policies, biodiversity, agricultural productivity, European agricultural policy, agricultural trade policy.
Transport and regional economics
Research strengths are the regional impact of transport investments; the economic evaluation of infrastructure; regulation and alternative funding models; the economics of public-private partnerships.
Kent has an excellent record for postgraduate employment: over 96% of our postgraduate students who graduated in 2014 found a job or further study opportunity within six months.
A postgraduate degree in the area of economics is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our graduates have gone on to work as economists in international organisations, the financial sector, business, UK and overseas governments, and to further postgraduate training and academic careers at Kent, UK and overseas universities. Recent MSc graduates have gone on to work for companies in the UK such as BNP Paribas, AXA, FactSet and PwC.
The School's employability officers and the University's Careers and Employability Service are available throughout the year to offer one-to-one advice and help on all aspects of employability at any stage in your postgraduate studies. We also offer online advice on employability skills, career choices, applications and interview skills.
Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/
