International Banking and Development Finance — London Centre

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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 International Banking and Development Finance 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 study as part of your MSc International Banking and Development Finance degree programme include:

* Why do financial markets fail?
* How does bank regulation take account of the risks facing international banks across different countries?
* What are the likely policy responses of multilateral financial institutions?
* What is the role of the foreign bank in promoting banking system efficiency in developing countries?
* Are there any adverse outcomes associated with liberalisation and, if so, how would the institutional environment affect this?
* How do you explain the expansion of international banking markets and where are the efficiency gains?
* Why are the banking systems in different countries so diverse?
* What determines the structure, performance and efficiency of banking and financial markets?
* How volatile are international capital flows and how is monetary policy employed during episodes of financial distress?
* Why do banks conduct investment and private banking, what risks do they face, and what are the main strategic and performance features facing the global private and investment banking industry?
* How do we measure the risks undertaken by banks?
* Can regulators reduce the likelihood of systemic 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 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?

With these needs in mind, the MSc International Banking and Development Finance programme at Bangor 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 international banking, development finance and international capital markets. This programme provides a coherent theoretical framework for the various subject areas, but the emphasis throughout is on advanced practical application of banking and financial techniques in a real-world setting.

ESRC Recognition
The MSc International Banking and Development 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 International Banking and Development 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 equips students with knowledge of intermediate and advanced research methods, which they will encounter in other modules and in their dissertation.

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.

Banking and Development: This module critically evaluates the theory underlying the policy of financial liberalisation, and examines its implementation, primarily in developing countries.

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 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 2):

Financial Institutions Strategic Management: This module provides academic training and practical insight into some of the main structural, performance and strategic management problems faced by banks and other financial service firms.

International Financial Management: In this module, the financial management of multinational companies, and the influence of the macroeconomic, fiscal, currency and political environments on business and financial decision-making are examined in an international and global context.

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

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management: This module analyses portfolio strategies which can effectively control risk and enhance returns and develop intellectual skills and research expertise in the area of investment analysis and portfolio management. It also demonstrates appropriate modelling techniques for investment decision-making and risk management.

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.