The financial services industry is one of the UK’s biggest. Learn how to succeed in an international finance career with our course.
This is an advanced financial services course designed to provide you with the financial knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed.
Your studies will cover the emerging needs of an increasingly global financial services market, including building societies, banks, insurance, investment management, and much more. It’ll build on your existing knowledge to ensure that you’re meeting and exceeding the demands of the financial sector.
You’ll learn how to apply analytical quantitative techniques to a range of fiscal subject areas. Additionally, you’ll extend your understanding and application of economics theory in finance. Beyond theory, you’ll graduate with a proficiency in financial software programmes like Minitab and SPSS, equipping you with transferable skills for a career in finance.
Our London campus offers you plenty of access to some of the world’s biggest financial institutions and start-ups so you’re able to build professional experience before you graduate.
Throughout your time with us, you’ll work with specific software that’s used within the industry to best prepare you for your career. In the Financial Markets Lab, a state-of-the-art facility you’ll have access to, you’ll be trained on how to use Bloomberg and Datastream financial software. You’ll even have an opportunity to gain a CIMA certificate following training on Sage accounting software.
All this opens a lot of different career doors. Previous graduates have gone on to work as accounting technicians, accountants, financial advisors, insurance brokers, and many others.
From your Personal Tutor to your Graduate Academic Assistant, each one has studied your subject and will provide the support to help you based on their own experience.
If you need a little help with writing, numeracy or library skills, we can help with that too.
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Building on your financial services background, you will gain a thorough knowledge of finance theory and policy; international monetary theory and policy and the operations of modern financial institutions including services, products, risks, and markets.
Through studying the course core modules you will explore the issues involved in delivering financial services in a real-world context, examining regulatory and ethical issues. You will also develop an understanding of the theory and practice of financial data analysis and the marketing approaches employed in the sector. Further modules will train you in the marketing function of financial services, and quantitative and computing methods applicable to fiscal sectors.
You will develop a suite of transferable skills including the analytical, numerical (finding and evaluating information) and information technology skills required for financial services professionals. Alongside this you will learn to write effectively for business and communicate more proficiently in both written and spoken form.
In summary, we aim to;
This module primarily aims to provide students with the technical and theoretical knowledge necessary to understand and critically review the global financial system and contemporary issues in the financial services industry.
The module introduces the structure of domestic and international financial markets, characteristics of market instruments, and gives students an overview of the strategies used to manage risks faced by investors and savers. Students will review the operation of financial institutions and the application of financial instruments and techniques used in managing the financial assets and risks. In addition, they will examine the role of international financial regulation, viz., the Basel Capital Accords from the perspective of global financial and banking crises.
This module aims to explore the impact of national and international regulatory and market experiences that impact financial services marketing.
Drawing on the theoretical frameworks and practical applications of both marketing and the business of financial services, the module enables the student to identify, critically evaluate and apply relevant knowledge and derive viable solutions to complex real life situations that currently impact the marketing of financial services.
Students will be introduced to a wide range of analytical, managerial and theoretical techniques and concepts which experts in the field believe to be relevant and useful for financial services marketing. They will also be introduced to new developments in the field including issues surrounding the ethics, professional practice and industry standards that affect financial services marketing.
This module aims to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of financial data analysis techniques used in financial services.
The module uses mathematical and statistical techniques to develop an understanding of the models underlying finance, and statistical and probability methods used in analysing financial data. Throughout the module, computer software is used to develop a deeper understanding of the techniques.
This module aims to provide level 6 students with knowledge of theories of exchange rate and balance of payments, and skills of managing international financial assets and exchange rate risks in a global environment.
Students have the opportunity to study the operations of the world capital markets, grasp the principles essential to understanding of global financial issues and policies, and apply tools to effectively evaluate and manage foreign exchange risks in order to succeed in international financial environment.
This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of contemporary corporate finance and the tools to solve the financial problems confronting business today. Students will develop their understanding of the main aspects of corporate finance, including investment decision, financing choices, and dividend decision. It will enable a critical appreciation of the interaction between financial decision-making and capital market behaviour.
Students will be able to rationalise and apply their financial skills to practical problems solving, case studies and coursework to develop their understanding of corporate finance within business environments and prepare themselves for a future career.
The module aims to develop your knowledge of modern investment theory and practice. A detailed study of classic portfolio theory provides the basis for an appreciation of, and further investigation into, themes that are currently at the forefront of reflection and research in investment theory, including sceptical views of the classic paradigm whose status has been boosted by the international banking crisis that began in 2008.
In tandem with a critical approach to theory, the module offers insights into the quantitative methods (and supporting technology) that are used to inform the construction and management of investment portfolios. Furthermore, you will analyse institutional, product and technological innovation in the sphere of investment management, particularly in relation to a heightened concern with risk control, market liquidity and disclosure of information.
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
You will gain knowledge and understanding through guided reading of textbooks, academic journals, computer aided packages, online tests, seminar exercises, workshops and lectures.
Your knowledge and understanding is assessed by case study reports, written coursework and presentations. Summative assessment is supported by formative feedback from tutors in seminars and labs and by on-line and in-class activities.
This programme provides a sound academic background for students wishing to pursue a career in the public or private financial services sector, or in quantitative aspects of consultancy, Government or NGOs.
To support students we run a comprehensive series of weekly employability and skills sessions, which have been recognised as excellent by one of our professional bodies and we have been awarded a CIMA Employability Global Silver Excellence award.
Previous graduates from our accounting and finance courses have secured roles such as Accounting Technician, Actuary, Accountant, Financial Adviser, Insurance Broker, Investment Analyst, Investment Banker and Tax Adviser. You could be working in organisations like:
You can also go on to further study on courses such as MSc International Banking & Development, MSc Banking & Finance, and MSc Technology & Innovation Management.
Our Employability Service can help you to develop your employability skills and gain valuable work experience. We provide workshops, events and one-to-one support with job hunting, CVs, covering letters, interviews and networking. We also support you in securing part-time work, placements, internships, and volunteering opportunities, and offer an enterprise support service for those looking to start their own business.
Dr Nguyen 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 career, 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
Dr Bace has spent a long career in finance and banking in New York and London. He has worked for Standard & Poor's, Lehman Brothers and EBRD, among others. Now he specialises in transmitting his experience and expertise in credit, commercial and investment banking in educational settings. He is a frequent speaker and participant in international conferences, is involved as a journal editor, is a CFA and a Charter Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. He has served on the global Ethics Committee of the Professional Risk Managers' International Association, of which he is also a member, and is on the Board of Trustees of the Council for British Archaeology.
Dr Badreddine's research work, which focuses on understanding stock markets and how their movements underpin and drive our economies, is critical for policy makers and business leaders alike. Through the investigation of persisting anomalies in stock markets and investigating the sources for the consequent abnormal returns, he examines whether the behaviour of certain stock reflects earlier anticipation.
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.
Start: September 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N420
Start: September 2023, September 2023: EU/INT induction
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N390
Start: October 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, Usually 5 years part-time
Code: N302
