International Finance MSc

If you have a degree in any discipline and would like to significantly enhance your career prospects in the wider business practice of accounting and financial management, this International Finance MA course is ideal. It offers a rigorous and challenging programme of study that will provide you with a well-integrated knowledge of financial accounting, finance and investment, and management accounting, together with the ability to relate this to the wider issues of management and corporate strategy.

What will you study?

You will develop your understanding of the purpose and nature of financial accounting and reporting. You will look at the integration of theoretical and conceptual issues within the operational and practical activities of management accounting.

You will also look at the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors that influence an organisation's social responsibilities and how they integrate with a company's strategic decision-making processes. In addition you will examine the core theories of finance and investment and how they can be used in practical decision-making contexts.

Kingston Business School works closely with the business world's principal professional bodies in order to harmonise its education provision with the needs of today's business practitioners. You will learn how to turn theory into practice and gain a qualification that has real value in the real world. Find out more...

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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Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Quantitative Methods in Accounting and Finance

• Quantitative Methods in Accounting and Finance

  This module provides an underpinning and understanding of numerical techniques used in the business and finance world to aid strategic decision making. It aims to provide students with the mathematical and statistical foundations that are necessary in the areas of accounting and finance. The module will provide candidates with the computer and research skills required by employers in this highly competitive sector.

  
   
• Financial Accounting

• Financial Accounting

  This module introduces you to financial accounting in a business context. It provides you with a mix of practical 'know how' and deeper theoretical underpinning. The module covers:

  • the principles for constructing the key financial statements;
  • how to produce financial statements from transaction records using double entry principles;
  • how to conduct an appraisal of the financial statements of entities; and
  • company financial statements and their regulation.

  The module uses an active-learning approach in the lectures with informal feedback through discussion and practice questions.

  
   
• Corporate Finance

• Corporate Finance

  This module aims to develop a critical knowledge and understanding of the core theories and concepts in the field of corporate finance and of the issues related to the corporate decision-making process and the application of corporate finance theories in real life.

  
   
• Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis

• Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis

  The module provides students with an understanding ofmodern portfolio theory and its implications for the pricing of assets. It gives unified approach to asset pricing, asset management and riskmanagement. It covers in detail the formulation and implementation of various active and passive investment strategies as well as the analysis andmanagement of risks associated with particular strategies.

  Topics covered include: portfolio iversification, optimal portfolio construction, expected utility theory, capital asset pricingmodel and arbitrage pricing theory with applications. Students use dealing roomand software packages to gain practical experience.

  
   
• Financial Statement Analysis

• Financial Statement Analysis

  This module will analyse and interpret financial statements as well as accompanying notes and information in order to assess a company's financial situation and conduct a sound fundamental valuation. The focus of this module is analysis and valuation froma financial accounting perspective. Financial statement analysis builds on the knowledge learned in ‘Financial Accounting' and takes students a step further towards applying this knowledge in practise from the perspective of the users of financial statements. This module will be most useful for prospective financial analysts and other professionals who might use accounting information to judge a company's future prospects.

  
   
• International Money and Finance

• International Money and Finance

  Many companies engage in international collaborations, set up overseas operations and subsidiaries, or export their products to overseas markets. As a student of finance, you should:

  • have an appreciation of the international dimension of corporate activities; and
  • be aware of the specific risks and challenges involved in the globalisation of the economic environment.

  This module will cover:

  • the goals, motives and risks that multi-national corporations are facing;
  • the role and functions of international financial markets; and
  • the tools that can be employed to assess and control for risk in these markets.
  
   
• Financial Management

• Financial Management

  This module covers how organisations arrange their external financing and manage their internal resources. It looks at:

  • sources of capital and theories of how capital structures behave in response to changes in the choices of capital sources;
  • methods and costs of protecting the firm's capital and operational cash flows against currency, interest and maturity risk;
  • treasury and working capital management; and 
  • the firm's choice in of growth through acquisition or or reduction through spin-off, demerger or reconstruction will be studied.
  
   
• 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.
  
   

Option modules (choose one)

• Market-based Accounting

• Market-based Accounting

  Market-based accounting deals with the interrelationship between capital markets and accounting information. This module familiarises students with important issues in empirical accounting research and applies the concepts underlying accounting and finance, as applicable in capital market settings. The module builds on the knowledge gained in both ‘Financial accounting' and ‘Corporate Finance and provides skills necessary in both the accounting and finance profession.

  
   
• Fixed Income Analysis

• Fixed Income Analysis

  The module aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the nature of fixed income securities and how they can be used successfully by banks and other financial institutions. It starts by examining the nature of fixed income securitiesmarkets. Using this as the basis it goes on to look at the valuation and pricingmethods available and themathematics behind them. After this themodule focuses on the problems involved in managing a fixed income portfolio. It will also cover term structure analysis and the use of derivative instruments in bond portfolio management

  
   

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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This course is taught by staff from Kingston Business School.

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Read what some of our alumni have to say about studying at Kingston Business School.

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