Banking and Finance — London Centre

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 20.8 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 20.8 k / Year(s)  
401–500 place StudyQA ranking:3956 Duration:12 months

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Banking and financial services represents a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy. Changes in customer requirements, technology, competitive conditions and regulation create the need for managers, traders and analysts to make rapid and often far-reaching decisions about their short term operations and long term strategies.

The MSc in Banking and Finance degree course offers you a unique opportunity to study advanced theory and practice relating to financial services, and to develop an appreciation of the causes and significance of current developments in this vitally important and dynamic sector of the economy.

Issues you will tackle as part of your MSc Banking and Finance degree programme include:

* Why are the banking systems in different countries (such as the UK, Germany, Japan and the US) so diverse?
* What determines the structure, performance and efficiency of banking and financial markets?
* Why do banks and financial intermediaries exist?
* What are the main theories of the banking firm?
* How relevant are financial intermediaries in a world of increasing securitization and with the evolution of virtual banking?
* How do banks optimally allocate capital?
* Does bank regulation increase or decrease risks?
* How do we measure the risks undertaken by banks?
* Can regulators reduce the likelihood of systemic (system-wide) risk?
* What are the relationships between risk and return governing investment in company shares and other derivative instruments?
* Can market risk be priced accurately? Can credit risk be priced accurately?
* How should institutional investors go about constructing a portfolio of assets to maximise returns on behalf of investors?
* How can we assess the investment performance of pension funds, insurance companies and unit trusts?
* How do banks use futures, options, derivatives and swaps to manage their balance sheet and off-balance sheet risks?
* What are the key principles of international portfolio management in a world of fast and unpredictable movements in exchange rates?
* How do banks manage their business so as to maintain customer relationships, improve operational efficiency and add shareholder value?

With these needs in mind, the MSc Banking and Finance programme is designed to develop participants' existing skills through a scheme of specialist advanced study. An important objective is to provide participants with relevant analytical training, so that they are familiar with the latest theoretical and practical developments relating to banking, finance and capital markets. This programme provides a coherent theoretical framework for the various subject areas, but the emphasis throughout is on advanced practical application of financial techniques in a real-world setting.

ESRC Recognition
The MSc Banking and Finance is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as the first year of a 1+3 PhD training programme.

Programme Structure
The MSc Banking and Finance is a full-time, year-long programme consisting of two parts.

Part 1:

Is taught from September to May, with examinations in January and May. Modules are taught in blocks, with 4 in Semester 1 (September December), and 4 in Semester 2 (January April). Continuous assessment is an integral part of all of our taught modules. The final module mark will be based on both coursework and examinations.

Part 2:

Consists of EITHER completing a supervised dissertation of around 12,000 words, during the summer months (June to September) to be submitted in September; OR attending the Financial Research Seminar Series, which is a taught series on research topics that are specific to our programmes of study. This is delivered in June, students then complete two assignments over the summer and take an exam in September.

Compulsory modules:

Research Methods: This module develops knowledge of intermediate and advanced research methods, and provides a basis in research methodology for those who may eventually wish to pursue research degrees.

Bank Financial Management: This module provides a grounding in the nature, strategic context and managerial functions of financial management in banks, and other financial services firms.

International Financial Markets: This module provides an overview of financial instruments in a multi-currency world, taking account of insights from portfolio theory concerning the relationship between risk and return, the diversification of risk, and the pricing of assets.

Financial Modelling: This module develops a combined theoretical and practical approach to mathematical modelling for specialists in finance.

International Banking: This module examines the origins of international banking, the activities of international banks, the markets in which they participate, and the sources of risk.

Financial Econometrics: This module provides advanced coverage of econometric methods and practices that are used to model financial and business data.

Financial Crises and Bank Regulation: This module examines why banks and financial markets are inherently vulnerable to crises, and analyses the role of policy makers and institutions. The roles of monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, corporate governance and ratings agencies in mitigating or exacerbating crises are considered.
Optional modules (choose 1):

Islamic Finance: This course provides an insight into topical issues relating to Islamic financial instruments and related risk management issues.

Financial Institutions Strategic Management: This module examines the main theoretical and practical issues concerning banking business. You will develop a critical awareness of the theory of the banking firm, the motives for international banking, and regulatory and structural issues impacting on bank behaviour.

Financial Engineering: This module develops a combined theoretical and practical approach to derivatives pricing and financial engineering.

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management: This module evaluates the development of investment strategies for bonds, equities and derivatives that are designed to achieve optimal risk-return outcomes, and examines the measurement and evaluation of the performance of a portfolio of investments.

We welcome applications from good graduates in relevant disciplines and from those with equivalent professional qualifications and work experience.A good degree from a reputable university is required, or equivalent overseas qualification and grade. Alternatively, possession of a suitable professional qualification and practical experience may also be accepted.If your native language is not English, you must provide satisfactory evidence that you have an adequate knowledge and understanding of written and spoken English. We require: * IELTS 6.0, with no individual score lower than 5.5 * TOEFL Internet Based: 75, with no individual score lower than 16 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.
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