MSc Economics and Finance

The MSc Economics and Finance programme combines a solid foundation in economic theory and applied econometrics with the study of finance. The study of financial microeconomics and macroeconomics will help you to understand complex issues related to financial decision-making while econometrics will provide the necessary tools to perform rigorous research in applied economics and finance. In addition, finance modules included in this programme cover a wide range of subjects related to portfolio theory, corporate finance, investment and strategy, and derivative instruments.

International Business School Suzhou attracts self-motivated students who are interested in a programme related to economics and specialising in finance. Students considering applying for this programme should have some prior learning in quantitative methods, statistics or econometrics, especially students with a bachelors degree that is not in economics or finance.

Graduates of this programme, as with all XJTLU masters degrees, earn a University of Liverpool degree that is recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) is one of an elite group of institutions worldwide to be accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System）in 2016 and 2018 respectively. AACSB accreditation is a globally recognised standard for the highest quality in business education. Only five per cent of business schools worldwide have been awarded the accreditation. The EQUIS accreditation is a quality certification system for business schools set up by the EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development). It has become the most global authoritative and select business school certification body in the world with its comprehensive and rigorous review process. IBSS becomes the youngest business school in the world to have received both EQUIS and AACSB accreditation. There are only less than 100 business schools that have received both AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. This is an important milestone in becoming a world class business school and highlights the strength and significant influence of IBSS at the international level.

Distinctive features

The IBSS Financial Lab and Trading Floor:

• Gives access to a world of data for study and research
• Includes data feeds from Datastream and Thomson One
• Provides training by Thomson Reuters staff on EIKON system, leading to a TR EIKON training certificate.

Enhanced employment prospects:

• Develop both economics and finance skills
• Connect with industry through internship opportunities
• Build a solid foundation for PhD studies in economics and related fields.

Knowledge and skills

The MSc Economics and Finance programme will equip you with:

• Knowledge and understanding of core and advanced principles, theories and models relevant to finance and financial management
• The ability to explain, understand and apply statistical and econometric techniques and their application to the analysis of financial information and data
• An understanding of portfolio selection, risk and risk management, and the macroeconomic context of international financial transactions
• Skills in creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, data collection and analysis, and report writing.

Modules

Core modules

• Financial economics
• Econometrics
• Macroeconomic theory
• Time series analysis
• International finance and economics
• Economics and finance dissertation.

Elective modules

• Advanced derivatives
• Money and banking
• Microeconomic theory
• Advanced corporate finance
• Advanced investment
• Alternative investments and strategies
• Fixed income and derivative instruments.

Additional learning activities

The completion of additional learning activities is required to obtain your masters degree. Normally, required ALA hours will be distributed evenly across each semester, amounting to 200 hours per semester. Part-time programmes will normally require 100 to 150 hours per semester.

The additional learning activities on MSc Economics and Finance may include learning activities that do not count credits, such as:

• Introduction to Research Methods
• Personal and Employability Skills
• Postgraduate English
• Chinese Language
• Graduate Teaching Assistantship
• Graduate Research Assistantship
• Graduate Work Placement
• Independent Study with an IBSS Tutor
• Participation in IBSS research seminar series
• EIKON Certificate Achievement
• Datastream Certificate Achievement
• Professional Software Skills
• Volunteer Work for University and School Projects and Events
• In-Company Project
• Field Trip/Company visit
• Career Development Activities
• PhD course 1: Time Series Analytics
• PhD course 2: Asset Pricing Analytics
• PhD course 3: Empirical Data Analytics
• Family Enterprise and Ownership

Careers

The MSc Economics and Finance programme is designed to give you an advantage when pursuing career opportunities in the financial sector, and with central banks and other monetary financial institutions, international organisations, academia and research institutions. Since it has a strong foundation in economics, it is also attractive to students who may have an interest in the wider business sector, especially within multinational enterprises. Examples of such positions include:

• Portfolio manager
• Investment strategy analyst
• Director of research
• Market risk analyst
• Head of investor relations
• Senior economist
• Industrial economist.

The programme is also well-suited for the students who would like to continue to PhD level.

Visit the MSc Economics and Finance page on the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University website for more details!