Masters Degrees (Mortgage)

A Cass Masters degree is your gateway to a career in real estate.From Cass Real Estate you will get courses which:

• Equip you with the core skills required by the industry embracing valuation, financial analysis, development appraisal, market analysis and cash flow modelling.

• Are set in a framework of robust quantitative methods, financial and economic theory.

• With an emphasis on up to date industry techniques and practical tools taught hands-on in computer labs.

The MSc in Real Estate Investment requires a previous degree with a substantial quantitative element – which could be in social sciences like economics, geography or business so long as they have a good measure of statistics, econometrics, or in the sciences or engineering. Graduates from this course mostly enter the same businesses as those from the MSc Real Estate – indeed some go on to graduate entry programmes of the chartered surveyors – but will be qualified for more analytical roles within those businesses.

Visit the website: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/courses/masters/courses/real-estate-investment#courses-details=1

Course detail

Overall the MSc Real Estate Investment could be labelled as a degree in finance which is focussed on real estate. Since the topics and methods you study are of interest to all real estate businesses, including the mainstream employers like chartered surveyors, the MSc Real Estate Investment may give you a wider choice of the role you play but it does not pre-determine what sort of firm you work for.

Term 1 of the course gives you a grounding in the core skills of the real estate professional. You cover basic appraisal methods applied to valuation, development and financing of investments, plus a quantitative methods module incorporates econometric modelling. Those techniques are put in a wider context through a module on real estate economics and an investment markets module which ranges across all asset classes and financial instruments

Term 2 is more about applications of those core skills and principles. In Capital Markets you cover the different forms of indirect real estate – REITS, core and opportunistic funds, and derivatives. In Debt Markets you take in mortgage lending, mezzanine finance, mortgage-backed securities. And in term two you look in more detail at the financial instruments based on real estate – REITs, Mortgage Backed Securities, derivatives. Portfolio risk management deals with the role of real estate in investment portfolios and the mix of assets within real estate portfolios.

In term three, you pick a set of three elective topics from around six modules specific to real estate plus a range run by other Cass Masters programmes – some of them taught on trips to locations outside the UK. So you can focus on:

• Core real estate topics like building management, sustainability, residential markets.
• Or pick up on more general topics such as private equity and project management taught by experts from other Cass programmes.

And the last block of your course, the Business Research Project (BRP), is the one you design and build for yourself, in the form of a report of around 8,000 words submitted in August. We see the BRP as your opportunity to have a showpiece which shows potential employers what you know, what you can do, your ability to produce good-quality individual work.

Format

To satisfy the requirements of the degree programme students must complete:

• Eight core courses
• Three electives
• Business Research Project

Two Induction Weeks The MSc Real Estate Investment starts with two compulsory induction weeks, focused on:

• an introduction to careers in real estate and the opportunity to speak to representatives from over 75 companies during a number of different industry specific fairs.

• a refresher course of basic financial mathematics, statistics, computing and electronic databases

Assessment

Assessment of modules on the MSc in Real Estate Investment, in most cases, is by means of coursework and unseen examination. Coursework may consist of standard essays, individual and group presentations, group reports, classwork, unseen tests and problem sets. Please note that any group work may include an element of peer assessment.

Career opportunities

In recent years, real estate students have been some of the most heavily recruited of all Cass MSc degrees because:

• From week one, we host recruitment visits from all the largest real estate employers – like CBRE, JLL, Cushman Wakefield, Savills – plus other firms in real estate fund management, development, finance.

• Our real estate specialists in the Cass Careers Service hold contacts with businesses across the industry, and will notify you of job opportunities as they come in through the year.

• You will have un-matched opportunities to network with professionals and employers across London’s vibrant real estate industry at seminars and an annual conference run by our students’ Real Estate Club, and through our mentoring scheme which matches you up with a Cass graduate, and through industry events outside Cass,

The largest proportion of our students go on to the graduate entry schemes of major firms of chartered surveyors in the UK, going through the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence to become qualified professionals.

The others go into a very wide range of employers and roles – with smaller niche agencies, fund managers, developers, investment banks, lending banks, public agencies, rating agencies, research companies, not to mention setting up their own businesses. Many will go on to professional qualifications outside real estate, such as Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.

Around half our students come from outside the UK, many of them take up jobs in other countries with the boost that a degree from Cass, accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is a widely recognised and highly valued qualification world-wide. And they will generally find Cass real estate alumni already there to form the base of their professional network.

How to apply

Apply here: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying-to-city

Funding

For information on funding, please follow this link: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding-and-financial-support

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This course offers you an exciting opportunity to join one of the world’s most dynamic growth sectors, with relevance to areas including property, transport, shipping insurance, credit cards, wealth management and home and commercial mortgages

Key benefits:

• A programme that equips you with the necessary theory and skills to work successfully in the rapidly expanding financial services industry
• Excellent career potential and the opportunity to take a Business Innovation Project, enhancing your practical skills and experience
• Choose to take a one to three-month Assessed Internship with an employer, supported by Salford Business School

Visit the website: http://www.salford.ac.uk/pgt-courses/financial-services-management

Course detail

The fast-paced subject of financial services management also offers significant opportunities in banking and finance as these arenas have recognised the need to re-think their strategies. The chance to develop long and profitable client and customer relationships is open to firms which are thinking and acting strategically, by embracing new approaches, working creatively and innovating to effectively manage costs and improve the understanding of individual customer’s needs.

This course will provide you with the appropriate advanced-level skills and knowledge you need to contribute to the growing and sophisticated international banking and finance industries.

Suitable for

This programme is ideal if you are looking to build a career in the banking, insurance or mortgage industries, or want to pursue one of many other opportunities that exist in this popular and diverse commercial sector. The financial services sector is the UK's largest employer with over one million people working across a variety of industries.

Why study this course?

On completion you will be able to place yourself favourably in a managerial or consulting role. You will be equipped with the skills and understanding necessary to effectively and efficiently perform tasks relevant to your organisation. You'll learn to develop your ability to work effectively in teams and independently, to evaluate critically, think creatively and communicate effectively with respect to issues in the industry; and to recognise good practice in the analysis, planning and management of international banking and finance products and services. You'll also develop an advanced level of understanding of research methods and their application to a wide range of international banking and finance problems.

Format and assessment

- Semester 1 -

• Accounting and Finance
• International Financial Management

- Semester 2 -

• Risk, Regulation and Compliance
• Marketing and Service Management

- Semester 3 -

- Business Innovation Project:

For the final third of your studies you can choose from 4 differing pathways, all of which are designed to accommodate your career aspirations and enhance your professional practice:

• Dissertation - traditional 3 month research pathway.
• Internship - 3 month group project activity researching a commercial project.
• Live Project – 3 month opportunity to develop your skills working in partnership with an organisation.
• Placement – 6 month paid work experience implementing a commercial project.

The course is delivered in four blocks of three-day intensive study periods, followed by independent study and online support through the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard. Each module is taken and assessed over a six week block.

Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, using a wide range of learning activities.

Over the duration of your course a range of assessment techniques will be used. Types of assessment include; essays, assignments, exams, multiple choice tests, online tests, group reports, and portfolio work. The weighting between exams and coursework varies between modules and years, but exams still play a major role.

Career potential

This course will provide you with flexible employment opportunities leading to potential roles with a variety of management-level national and international sectors.

Recent Salford Business School graduates have gained employment with leading companies including:

• Ernst & Young
• Dixons Group plc
• British Airways
• Cooperative Insurance Services
• BMW
• American Express
• BBC
• Citibank
• Ladbrokes
• Numberica
• Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman
• KPMG
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Premier Travel Inn
• BUPA
• Thomson Holidays
• BT
• DTS Logistics
• Greater Manchester Police
• The NHS

How to apply: http://www.salford.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying

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Statistical science skills are powerful tools that play a valuable role in all pure and applied sciences as well as in finance, law and marketing. New and exciting opportunities in industry, medicine, government, commerce or research await the graduate who has gained the quantitative skills training provided by this MSc.

Degree information

The programme uses a broad-based approach to statistics, providing up-to-date training in the major applications and an excellent balance between theory and application. It covers modern ideas in statistics including applied Bayesian methods, generalised linear modelling and object-oriented statistical computing, together with a grounding in traditional statistical theory and methods.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of a foundation module, four core modules (60 credits) four optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-Foundation Course (not credit bearing)
-Statistical Models and Data Analysis
-Statistical Design of Investigations
-Statistical Computing
-Applied Bayesian Methods

Optional modules
-Decision and Risk
-Stochastic Systems
-Forecasting
-Statistical Inference
-Medical Statistics I
-Medical Statistics II
-Stochastic Methods in Finance I
-Stochastic Methods in Finance II
-Factorial Experimentation
-Selected Topics in Statistics
-Bayesian Methods in Health Economics
-Quantitative Modelling of Operational Risk and Insurance Analytics

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project, culminating in a dissertation of approximately 10,000–12,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and classes, some of which are dedicated to practical work. External organisations deliver technical lectures and seminars where possible. Assessment is through written examination and coursework. The research project is assessed through the dissertation and a 15-minute presentation.

Workshops running during the teaching terms provide preparation for this project and cover the communication of statistics e.g. the presentation of statistical graphs and tables.

Careers

Graduates typically enter professional employment across a broad range of industry sectors or pursue further academic study.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Management Associate, HSBC
-Statistical Analyst, Nielsen
-PhD Statistics, University College London (UCL)
-Mortgage Specialist, Citibank
-Research Assistant Statistician, Cambridge Institute of Public Health

Employability
The Statistics MSc provides skills that are currently highly sought after. Graduates receive advanced training in methods and computational tools for data analysis that companies and research organisations value. For instance, the new directives and laws for risk assessments in the banking and insurance industries, as well as the healthcare sector, require statistical experts trained at graduate level. The large amount of data processing in various industries (known as "data deluge") also necessitates cutting-edge knowledge in statistics. As a result, our recent graduates have been offered positions as research analysts or consultants, and job opportunities in these areas are increasing.

Why study this degree at UCL?

One of the strengths of UCL Statistical Science is the breadth of expertise on offer; the research interests of staff span the full range from foundations to applications, and make important original contributions to the development of statistical science.

London provides an excellent environment in which to study statistical science, being the home of the Royal Statistical Society as well as a base for a large community of statisticians, both academic and non-academic.

The Statistics MSc has been accredited by the Royal Statistical Society. Graduates will automatically be granted the society's Graduate Statistician status on application.

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MSc in Economics and Business Administration - Finance is a general university education in finance. It provides students with thorough knowledge of and competence in finance. Upon graduation, our students are expected to begin careers in financial institutions, regulatory bodies, consulting businesses or finance departments in non-financial companies.

The programme has a clearly defined structure with a focus on global finance so the programme is relevant for all international students. The global financial markets are highly developed and integrated and as a consequence of this complexity and sophistication, there is an increasing demand for graduates with degrees in finance at the highest level. Therefore the programme is perfect for students seeking a career in finance in a global setting.

The ultimate ambition of the programme is to prepare our students for making the right decisions at the right time; this ability requires excellent analytical skills and a talent for embracing all relevant data, as well as cultural issues.

Finance and other advanced research areas are based on statistical and mathematical models. Therefore it is an advantage for students to be familiar with these areas before the programme begins. The models are integrated into the courses so that the students study the models in relation to their application. It is our experience that the learning outcome is much higher when the models are part of the various courses.

The latest research in finance is integrated into the programme and many of the professors are internationally well-known teachers and researchers. Our programme also uses external lecturers from local financial institutions as well as visiting faculty members from internationally acclaimed universities.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

PREREQUISITE COURSES

In the first term you follow three prerequisite courses that form the methodological and academic basis for the further study programme.

In Corporate Finance I the general aim of the course to provide the participants with profound knowledge about financial decision making in corporations. It is important to underline that although the course is focused on the managerial problems, decisions must be based on a solid theoretical framework.

In Corporate Finance II the aim of the course to extend the knowledge about financial decision making in corporations provided by the preceding course, Corporate Finance I, with a special focus on real options and risk management.

In Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis the course focuses on theories and empirical methods for analysing equity markets.

In Fixed Income Securities the course focuses on theories and methods for analysing fixed income markets.

In Applied Econometric Methods I the purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the most widely used quantitative and empirical methods in econometrics, including in particular financial econometrics.

In Applied Econometric Methods II the course extends the time series analysis from Applied Econometrics Methods I with special emphasis on relevant financial models and applications. For forecast purposes, models of financial time series and econometrics will obviously be of major relevance.

SPECIALISATION COURSES

Bank Management focuses on the financial system and the role of banks in the capital market. Also the financial regulation of markets and institutions is integrated into the course. The main aim of the course is to provide students with insight into the management tasks that banks and mortgage credit institutions face.

Securities Market covers the parts of the financial curriculum that are related to trading in markets for financial instruments. As such it complements the standard courses in asset pricing, corporate finance, bank management and financial institutions with issues from the field of market microstructure.

Financial Engineering
Financial derivatives such as forward, futures, swaps, and options are increasingly important instruments applied by agents of financial markets. The course focuses on describing and understanding these instruments, and on the underlying markets such as money markets, bond markets, stock, currency, and commodity markets.

Empirical Finance
Financial economics is nowadays quite often based on empirical investigation. This course provides you with many different methods to analyse financial data. Among the many models are event studies, models to analyse the term structure of interest rates as well as ARCH and GARCH models.

In the third semester you can choose elective courses within your areas of interest. The courses can either be taken at Aarhus BSS during the semester, at the AU Summer University or at one of our more than 300 partner universities abroad. You can also participate in internship programmes either in Denmark or abroad.

The fourth semester is devoted to the final thesis. You may choose the topic of the thesis freely and in this way get a chance to concentrate on and specialise in a specific field of interest. The thesis may be written in collaboration with another student or it may be the result of your individual effort. When the thesis has been submitted, it is defended before the academic advisor as well as an external examiner.

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Teaching at PhD-level

The two-year International Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (IMSQE) MSc programme is an elite fulltime MSc programme at the Department of Economics and Business, Aarhus BSS. Students tailor their own study programme on the basis of a range of advance-level courses with a quantitative orientation and selected PhD-level courses. The programme requires strong analytical skills in quantitative methods and there are special requirements regarding the level an qualitative contents of written assignments.

Learning objectives

The IMSQE programme provides its students with a number of outstanding qualifications. They will acquire analytical skills at a very high level, and they will thus be able to apply the methods that they have learned to new cases, to formulate new theories, to formulate and test hypotheses, and to reflect upon the validity and relevance of various scientific methods and substantive theories within the field. This implies that the students will be able to go well beyond reproduction of known material, and working independently on new topics within the area will be a core competence of the elite students.

Aims

The purpose of the IMSQE programme is to provide candidates with advanced-level training within the analytical, quantitative disciplines of macroeconomics, microeconomics, economics, econometrics, finance and accounting. The IMSQE programme aims at recruiting candidates within quantitative economics and management internationally in competition with leading institutions such as London School of Economics, Oxford University and Cambridge University.

Candidates completing the IMSQE programme will acquire analytical skills at a very high level which are in increasing demand. Potential future employers of the candidates are Danish as well as international organisations, consulting firms, ministries and government agencies, and financial institutions such as commercial banks, mortgage institutions, pension funds, insurance companies and investment banks. Furthermore, the IMSQE programme provides an excellent opportunity for candidates to continue their studies at PhD level. For students who wish to continue in the PhD programme, a special transitional arrangement will be provided to bridge the transition from the IMSQE programme to research training.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

General Content
The IMSQE programme is a two-year, full-time programme of instruction corresponding to 120 ECTS credits within the areas of macroeconomics, microeconomics, economics, econometrics, finance and accounting. The courses in the IMSQE programme consist of a mixture of regular MSc courses with a quantitative orientation and PhD courses offered through the PhD programme in economics and management. Furthermore, there are special requirements regarding the level and qualitative contents of written assignments, and particular emphasis will be put on the students’ analytical, quantitative skills.

Besides the courses constituting the formal programme of study, the students are expected to take a number of special, intensive courses at the PhD level offered through various network programmes like the Danish Graduate Programme in Economics (DGPE) and the Danish Doctoral School of Finance (DDSF). Further, a Summer School will be organized in August between the first and second year, where the students must attend lectures for two weeks and prepare a written report.

A personal academic advisor - or mentor - from the faculty associated with the programme will be appointed to each student in the IMSQE programme. The advisor will assist the student in putting together the individual study programme.

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