Banking and Finance MSc

Do you want a rewarding, exciting and challenging career? Then this is the course to set you on the path to a wide variety of careers that are available in banking, financial services, finance and financial consultancy. It is aimed at students from a variety of academic backgrounds, including those who have not studied economics, finance or accountancy at bachelors' level.

What will you study?

Like all UK masters degrees, this course requires you to accumulate 180 credits. There are eight taught modules worth 15 credits each, plus a research project and dissertation worth 60 credits. The taught modules are delivered in two 15 week semesters, with the third semester given over to the research project and writing the dissertation. There are six core modules and two electives.

After an induction programme introducing you to the Business School and the expectations and ethos of the course, you will go on to address the main operations of banks, money markets, capital markets and the role and functions of major central banks. You will cover major OECD and emerging countries' financial services, including offshore banking and Islamic banking and insurance. You will also develop a critical knowledge and understanding of the core theories and concepts in the field of corporate finance and investment.

In the second term you will examine key risks to which banks are exposed, and their measurement and management techniques. You will also consider the theoretical background to the regulation of financial services and study the main operations of investment banks. The research project will enable you to focus in depth on a specific area of banking or another area of financial services.

Research is an essential part of the day-to-day life of Kingston Business School and is embedded in its intellectual activities and development. In the most recent RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) undertaken in 2008, the research output of Kingston Business School was the highest rated of any new university. Ninety per cent of our research submitted was assessed as 'recognised internationally' or higher. Of this, 10% was classified as 'world leading' and 35% as 'internationally excellent'. 

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The course consists of eight taught modules, plus research methods and a dissertation.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules:

Available modules

• Bank Operations and Strategy
• Finance and Investment

• Finance and Investment

  This module enables you appreciate the theoretical developments and concepts in the area of corporate finance and investments. It includes:

  • the modern corporate finance theories and their applications;
  • the decision making process in respect to major corporate decisions and their implications for corporate stakeholders and investors;
  • risk and returns, portfolio theory and portfolio performance measurement and evaluation;
  • the valuation methods of securities traded in the financial markets;
  • security trading in the financial markets; and
  • issues related to agency theory, agency problems and corporate governance.
  
   
• International Financial Markets

• International Financial Markets

  This module analyses the operation, growth, development and economic significance of the main international financial markets. It also studies the most important financial institutions that operate in these key markets including the central banks and the large investment banks.

  
   
• Banking Regulation and Compliance
• Corporate Finance

• Corporate Finance

  This module provides a study of corporate finance and the issues relevant to it. This will include examining the relationship between firms, investors and financial markets, and looking at the implications of these relationships on financial management.

  You will also examine financial decision-making as well as issues such as investment, financing and risk exposure.

  
   
• Derivatives and Treasury Management
• Investment Banking

• Investment Banking

  The module aims to develop an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of investment banking.

  It will cover analysis of the main operations of investment banks, including the types of investment banks; strategies employed; private equity investments; debt and equity underwriting; mergers and acquisitions; securitisation; trading techniques; repos; investment management; clearance and settlement; Euromarkets; and emerging markets.

  It will provide you with the computer and research skills required by employers in this highly competitive sector. There will be also a programme of guest lecture from banking and financial services sector experts.

  
   
• International Financial Services
• Financial Risk Management

• Financial Risk Management

  The module develops a critical awareness of financial risk within financial institutions and in a wider context. It has a substantial quantitative component, but also provides intuition needed to understand the fundamental mathematics of bank financial risk management.

  It will begin with an analysis of financial institutions, and then build upon this foundation by:

  • analysing the measurement of key risks to which financial institutions are exposed – including a detailed analysis of credit, liquidity, interest rate and market risk;
  • considering management issues – including the role of capital; liability and liquidity management and product diversification; and
  • analysing the banks utilisation of the financial markets in risk management.

  It will cover the computer and research skills required by employers in this highly competitive sector. There will be also a programme of guest lecture from banking and financial services sector experts.

  
   
• Portfolio Analysis and Management

• Portfolio Analysis and Management

  The module provides an understanding of modern portfolio theory and its implications for the pricing of assets. It gives unified approach to asset pricing, asset management and risk management. It covers in detail:

  • the formulation and implementation of various active and passive investment strategies; as well as
  • the analysis and management of risks associated with particular strategies.

  Topics covered include portfolio diversification, optimal portfolio construction, expected utility theory, capital asset pricing model and arbitrage pricing theory with applications. Students use the dealing room and software packages to gain practical experience.

  
   
• International Money and Finance
• Islamic Banking and Insurance
• Research Methods and Dissertation

• Research Methods and Dissertation

  Initially this module will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete a research project.

  You will then investigate a specific business problem via a substantial piece of independent work, which demonstrates your proficiency in:

  • the design of a research project;
  • the application of appropriate methods;
  • the collection and analysis of data; and
  • the presentation of results.
  
   

The Faculty of Business and Law runs a number of postgraduate and post-experience open days. Visit us to find out how we can help you achieve your career ambitions.

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Learn more about the facilities available to our Banking and Finance MSc students.

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This course is taught by staff from Kingston Business School.

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