Course Summary

This new course is designed to build on your undergraduate skills in finance. If you have an undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, economics or other related areas and want to learn more about international finance and banking especially with a view to developing your career this course is for you. Londons finance and banking centres are easily accessible giving you real-world resources to aid your learning.

The course will be delivered through lectures, seminars and expert visiting speakers, and will also involve visits to the institutions that you are studying. Our tutors have many years of experience in finance and banking and excellent expertise in the area.

Why choose this course?

This course is designed to prepare you for senior management through the development of technical expertise in aspects of the banking and finance industry. Many applicants will aspire to work in the capital markets of their home countries, while others will wish to work in specialist areas of banking and finance. The international nature of the banking and finance industry makes this course highly desirable for those with an ambition to succeed in the industry.

During the course you will:

• Mix with other postgraduate students from around the world
• Benefit from excellent contacts within the Securities and Investments Institute (SII)
• Experience a course developed through consultation with professionals in the banking and finance industry
• Be located close to the City of London for study and placement opportunities
• Benefit from an international teaching team who have presented at conferences throughout the world

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Financial modelling
• Banking and financial intermediation
• Advances in corporate finance
• Corporate banking
• International finance
• Financial markets
• Research methods
• Dissertation
• Financial statement analysis and security valuation
• Foundation of investment theories

MSXFB

Assessment

A range of assessment methods are used throughout the programme. Students are required to undertake a variety of group and individual based assessments throughout the duration of the programme. These assessments include individual essays, reports presentations and examinations and group based reports and presentations. The assessments are designed to test knowledge and understanding of the appropriate subject matter, but also to demonstrate the range of skills identified in the 'Curriculum Structure, Assessment Methods and Learning Outcomes section.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Make sound judgement, sometimes based on incomplete information, make decisions to extract relevant data and information from carefully selected data sources, pay attention to the industries and economic trends, perform the necessary analysis and modelling, derive conclusion based on evidence.

2. Demonstrate detailed knowledge at the forefront of finance and investment theories; and the development of financial strategies in response to changes in the macro economy.

3. Have a critical awareness of different financial instruments those are available in the financial markets that allow both individuals and institutions to manage risk exposures, originality in the application of the risk management techniques in solving complex issues.

4. Engage in the debates of the roles of financial institutions and financial markets, Evaluate the impacts of financial system to the rest of the global economy. Innovatively apply alternative techniques to solve capital budgeting problems.

5. Critically evaluate the contemporary corporate financial decision making processes and theoretical foundations and formulate corporate policy decisions; adopt critical thinking to synthesis and analyse appropriate financial models to solve emerging problems.

6. Evaluate critically current research results and methods used, Identify and analyse the specific statistical techniques required for the analysis of various data set in order to solve problems.

7. Critically discuss the nature of treasury function within a bank in managing credit and market risks (interest-rate, foreign exchange rate risk (FX) and operational risks.

8. Critically examine the effects and consequences of banking and financial intermediation. Identify primary and secondary assets. Gain an insight to financial markets within an International context.

External Benchmarking

QAA- Masters awards in Business and Management.

Educational Aims

The programme of study aims to achieve the following:

• To enable graduates to expand on undergraduate skills and enable them to contribute to a global knowledge economy


• To enable students to appreciate the integrated nature of finance and banking study and to relate both hard and soft issues to problem solving


• To emphasise the international nature of finance and banking study


• To add value to students to make them better employment prospects


• To undertake advanced studies of finance and banking and the changing external context in which they operate


• To enhance students career aspirations in finance and banking by developing skills at a masters level


• To develop the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of finance and banking to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve practice


• To enhance lifelong learning skills and personal development so as to be able to work with self direction and originality and to contribute to business, society and the global economy

Student support

All students attend a number of induction sessions in their first week (administrative, academic, corporate and safety). Ongoing support regarding academic matters is provided by the Academic Advisory Service. Other support is provided by Student Services and by the Students Union.

Team working

Students engage with their peers and form teams that present material and PowerPoint presentations to other student members. These types of seminar activities and discussion encourage and engender team building and working together effectively.

Career Management Skills

For further guidance on career management skills, see the SOAR summary document.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

• Finance and Banking


• Further study


• PhD

Entry

Additional:

• Relevant undergraduate degree

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire.

Teaching Strategy

The proposed programme is varied, both in curriculum content and delivery methods.

Lectures, seminars and tutorials will be used extensively, but in addition, a great deal of students time will be spent in small groups, involving, for example, discussion of case studies, simulation exercises, preparation for assessments and work on presentations.

Formal lectures are an important component of programmes, and these will be used on most modules. In general, however, the lecture will be limited to one hour in length, and will be followed by small group work with or without direct lecturer supervision. As with masters programme much of the learning of students will be from group and individual research and this process will be facilitated by the style of delivery and the assessment methods.

Whilst contact time will be quite low (in student perceptions) it is clear that the private study demands on this type of programme are considerable.

Project support will be through tutors from the Division of Accounting and Finance.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

There are no foreseeable issues that may discriminate against students with disabilities and all such students are able to undertake any element of the course.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

Engage in seminar activities and interact with your peers to increase the level of communications and awareness within the context of foundations of investment and finance; and similarly, participate in the communication of finding clear solutions to problems presented.

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

Be expected to gain insights into the areas of study through independent reading and research, heightening your awareness of the theoretical materials and case journal papers; also to make full use of the resources provided to increase and widen your perspectives and views.

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

Present your findings both in-group form and individually. You will research appropriate material relevant both in contact sessions and seminars through the resources provided and independently.

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

Discuss and challenge both the practicality of investment decision analysis and the underlying principles of financial theory; also bring your own perspectives to the unit studied.

Improving learning and performance

Students actively participate in a number of group sessions, some of which encourage lively debate and discussion, whereas, other might include group work and presentations. Peer group reviews facilitates in students awareness and self assessment. Similarly, individual awareness of progression is improved through a series of feedback and discussions with course team tutors.

Progress files

Further guidance and support on Progress Files is available on the CETL website.

Professional standards

N/A

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

N/A