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Banking and Finance MSc

Located a short train ride from London's financial centre, Middlesex University is the perfect place to develop the foundational skills to thrive in banking and finance

Banking and Finance MSc

Code
PGN302
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£12,600 (UK) *
£17,600 (INT) *
Course leader

The banking and finance industry has become a major end-user and even a major driver of technological innovation, such as machine learning, big data analysis and algorithm trading. This course uniquely combines theory and applications of finance, economics, quantitative methods, and big data analysis to allow you to increase your career opportunities in this fast paced field.

Why choose Banking and Finance MSc at Middlesex?

Based near the heart of the UK's financial centre, our MSc Banking and Finance degree provides the foundations for a career in financial services and the banking industry.

This course emphasises prominent contemporary issues for the sector such as financial regulation, risk management, corporate finance, banking institutions, equity analysis and securities markets. It covers all aspects of the industry from macroeconomic and corporate to computational and quantitative.

We'll also teach you advanced skills in financial modelling, econometrics, equity analysis and quantitative risk management that will leave you in an excellent position when entering the industry.

What you will gain

By the time you graduate from this course, you will have developed a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of:

  • Banking theory and regulation and compliance of financial institutions
  • Financial assets, such as equities, fixed-income securities and derivatives
  • Financial engineering and other quantitative techniques to evaluate financial instruments
  • Financial databases such as Bloomberg, Datastream, Eikon and Thomson Reuters
  • Equity analysis and investing in financial markets.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Excellent reputation
    Top 2 university in the UK (Times Higher Education Young Universities 2022)
  • Postgraduate success
    95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022)
  • Global Champion of Campus Culture
    Our Accounting Finance Department has been awarded a CIMA Campus Culture Excellence Award – Global Champion, 2022.

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

Our modules are specifically structured to give you plenty of time to utilise large amounts of data and explore complex subjects to their fullest. The course will equip you with the theory and practice needed to communicate and evaluate empirical work, as well as give you valuable training in specialist databases and software packages.

You will then move on to explore relevant theories such as financial derivative products, international financial regulation, financial risk management and key aspects of equity analysis and corporate finance, as well as how to apply them to practical situations in the financial sector.

The dissertation research project is a chance for you to extend your knowledge of a selected topic and apply it to the formulation and design of a substantive investigation.

Modules

  • Modules

    • Applied Corporate Finance (15 credits) - Compulsory

      The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the major issues in corporate finance. In particular you will develop your ability to analyse corporate finance issues, apply finance theories to deal with practical issues in corporate finance and investigate emerging issues and contemporary trends in the field.

    • International Financial Markets (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to provide an overview of the nature and operation of international financial markets and their traded instruments. You are introduced to the organisation of the international financial system, the markets for foreign exchanges, stocks, bonds, commodities, and the risks and opportunities offered in these markets and systems. You gain essential knowledge for their future career in business, especially in the financial sector.

    • International Risk Management (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to equip your with knowledge essential to critically engage with modern financial risk management theory and practice undertaken by both financial and non-financial institutions. It offers advanced study of key issues, including categories of managed financial risk, the arbitrage-free theory of spot-forward price relations, valuing optionality in a financial risk environment, a comparison of over-the-counter and exchange-traded risk management arrangements, the limitations of risk management techniques and the evolving regulatory environment. You will be able to develop risk modelling skills, analytical and quantitative skills through engagement with current market data on Bloomberg Financial Database and Capital IQ.

    • Portfolio Theory & Equity Analysis (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module will provide you with a sound grounding in portfolio theory and equity analysis. You will be exposed to the key concepts and tools involved and be required to apply those tools to analyse real life financial assets.

    • Banking and Financial Institutions (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to advance students understanding of modern financial systems and institutions, utilising economic theory and empirical evidence. The programme initially explores the complexity and the integrated nature of international banking systems and regulation.

      The module emphasises the relationship between financial systems and economic performance, particularly the mechanisms by which the former may help to improve resource allocation and economic growth and stabilise banking systems. It also examines the causes of weaknesses in financial systems, including the roots of financial crises. Information-related problems and the way these are addressed by different types of financial institutions and systems will be central to the analysis.

      The investigation of emerging issues and contemporary trends in domestic and international banking will also be an important part of the programme. It aims at developing students ability to apply economic/finance tools and techniques in a variety of decision-making contexts for banking.

    • Applied Econometrics (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module deals with basic statistical methods and explores the application of these methods to analytical models in finance. You will gain the analytical and programming skills necessary to pursue empirical studies in finance. You will also be encouraged to use previous knowledge in statistics and computer programming.

    • Fixed-Income Securities (15 credits) - Compulsory

      This module deepens your knowledge and practical understanding of fixed income products and their pricing mechanics. The module will also incorporate new developments in fixed-income derivatives such as mortgage-backed securities, collateralised debt obligations, and other structured fixed-income financial products. You will have the opportunity to use the Bloomberg Financial Database in learning the concepts, valuation principles and application of financial derivative products.

    • Research Methods and Dissertation (60 credits) - Compulsory

      The module provides you with the opportunity to select your own specialised research topic in the area of financial management. You will be expected to apply relevant theoretical frameworks, the existing seminal and the most up-to-date scholarly literature together with the relevant research methodologies and methods whilst conducting your research. You will be required to independently plan, organise, and coherently produce a limited but a well-researched work.

To find out more about this course, please download the Banking and Finance MSc specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

Alongside lectures and seminars, you'll learn through individual and group presentations. This academic-focused work will be augmented by sessions and training in computer labs, including our Financial Markets Lab. You will also be shown how to collect data from resources such as Datastream, CapitalIQ, and Bloomberg.

The course also includes several workshops on the various aspects of writing a dissertation delivered by academics who have produced high-quality, internationally-reputed research.

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Your personal tutor will support you with help and advice throughout your studies.

Where will I study?

Our Hendon campus, north London

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study. We aim to make your timetable available at least 2 weeks before you the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Contact hours per week

On-campus

12

Independent study

12

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time. A breakdown of what is covered in each part-time term is outlined the course specification.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed by presentations, in-class tests, and written assignments in the form of individual and/or group coursework and through the research and writing undertaken to complete your dissertation.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

How can the Banking and Finance MSc support your career?

Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career. 95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022).

Career paths

Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include investment management, hedge fund management, equity, bond and foreign currency markets, corporate treasury management and risk management.

MDXWorks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Start-up accelerator programme

We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme that includes masterclasses with high-profiles entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed-funding.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/24 academic year:

UK students1

Full-time students: £12,600
Part-time students: £84 per credit
Part-time students: £42 per dissertation credit

International students2

Full-time students: £17,600
Part-time students: £117 per credit
Part-time students: £59 per dissertation credit

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Work while you study

If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Dr Nitin Deshmukh
Senior Lecturer

Dr Deshmukh joined the Business School in 2012. Before joining academia, he worked for several years in industry as a successful fund manager.

Dr Edward Bace
Senior Lecturer

Dr Bace specialises in transmitting his experience and expertise in credit, commercial and investment banking in educational settings, having gained experience with Standard & Poor's, Lehman Brothers and EBRD.

Dr Suman Lodh
Senior Lecturer

Dr. Suman Lodh joined the business school in 2012. He received his PhD in applied economics from the University of Bergamo, Italy. Prior to joining Middlesex, he has held a visiting scholar position at the Lally School of Management and Technology, RPI (USA) for a year and engaged in a large research project. He also held academic position at the University of Surrey. He attended workshops by David M. Drukkar (STATA Corp.) and Badi Baltagi (Syracuse University, USA). He has several years of teaching experience in India at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and work experience in industry.

Dr Md Rubel Khondoker
Associate Lecturer

Dr Rubel's teaching interests include, sovereign risk and rating, international finance and portfolio investment his research outputs include "Determinants of tourism in African countries: The market value of the economy, financial factors and country risk". Middlesex University, Business School and 'The impact of country risk spillover on tourism'

Dr Ann-Ngoc Nguyen
Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance

Ann-Ngoc was awarded her Master degree by the Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Advanced International Studies. She subsequently obtained her Doctorate at Brunel University. During her education, Ngoc has been awarded a number of prestigious commercial and governmental scholarships. Prior to joining Middlesex University, Ngoc held appointments within the educational sector and government agencies.

Professor Ephraim Clark
Emeritus Professor

Author of eight books and over 90 papers in professional and academic journals, Professor Clark has been a full-time academic since 1989. He has two PhDs from the University of Paris, one in Development Economics and the other in Financial Economics.

  • Aisha Asad

    MSc Banking and Finance graduate

    I am studying my Masters (MSc Banking and Finance) having previously studied Business and Business Economics. I chose to continue studying with Middlesex at a postgraduate level as the structure of my undergraduate course and the teaching was prodigious, which assisted me in achieving a First Class degree.

    One of the most rewarding aspects of studying at Middlesex was the opportunity to meet the inimitable academics who are inspirational individuals and experts in their subject area; knowing and working with them has been a pleasure. My studies here have enabled me to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Economics for the University. I am thoroughly enjoying the experience so far and I am now keen to remain in the field of academia. I would highly recommend Middlesex University to those considering post graduate study. The teaching is prodigious, the ambience is delightful and the academics are truly inspirational. There really isn’t a better venue to build your academic foundations and shine.

  • Jamshed Shaikh

    MSc Banking and Finance graduate (was MSc Money, Banking and Finance)

    I chose to study this course at Middlesex University because I have experience in the banking industry and the modules offered on the course make it a good combination to climb the career ladder in the banking and financial industry.

    The tutors on the course were helpful, cooperative and some of them, Dr Amrit Judge and Marie Wong especially, were great. The way of rendering knowledge is appreciable and this helps me a lot. The interaction in seminars and the support extended by the tutors remained remarkable.

    I currently work in Credit Risk Analysis at the Standard Chartered Bank in Pakistan. I am currently planning to work on my Doctorate within the next few years, and Middlesex University would be my first choice of institute.

  • Myint Chit

    MSc Banking and Finance graduate (was MSc Money, Banking and Finance)

    I chose to study at Middlesex University because it was one of a few universities providing a master degree in banking and finance. My decision to come here was based on the expertise of the teaching staff, the course content, location and value for money. I chose this course to extend my knowledge. I wish to apply my knowledge and expertise developed on the course to help to develop the financial sector of my home country. I want to become a senior research fellow in a research institution focusing on East Asian economies.

    The course lecturers at Middlesex are very helpful and because of their encouragement and help, I graduated MSc degree with distinction. Based on my experience, I then decided to do a PhD in Middlesex University and was awarded a four-year PhD studentship by the university. The basis of my research is analysing how exchange rate volatility affects the exports of emerging East Asian economies: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The staff always encourages me to do more and more research and at the same time they are ready to challenge the results to improve the research. Since I came to study in Middlesex University, I have changed my world. Now I am just like in a new world doing what I enjoy.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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Code: PGN390

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