MSc Banking and Finance

In this course you will learn how to analyse risk and make credit decisions, how to deal with small and large business firms, and how to manage a bank treasury operations.

In addition to traditional banking skills, the course will provide the skills for those areas of finance which have expanded significantly in recent years, such as digital banking, cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings. Modules and assessments will include real-life case studies and exercises. Staff involved in designing this course have significant practical experience of working in the areas taught.

The content of the course relates closely to that offered by the Chartered Banker Institute (CBI), thus helping students to gain the Advanced Diploma in Banking and Leadership in the Digital Age or a Professional Banker Certificate. This Master’s course prepares you for such positions as credit and loan officer, financial advisor, risk manager, treasury specialist and underwriter.

You will be taught by highly-qualified academics with industrial and professional experience and actively involved in research. The MSc Banking and Finance is one of the most popular Master’s programmes in finance in the UK. The banking sector is one of the most successful and stable sectors in the UK. The banking sector has also seen strong growth in Birmingham in recent years, with some banks moving their headquarters from London to Birmingham, including HSBC.

What’s covered in this course?

In Semester 1 (Certificate stage) you will take Financial Institutions and Regulation, Advanced Corporate Finance and Strategic Risk Management. In these modules you will receive an overview of financial institutions, financial markets and their regulation and develop your skills in financial analysis related to different types of business decisions and operations.

In Semester 2 (Diploma stage) you will take Commercial and Investment Banking and Credit Risk and Lending Strategy. These modules will provide you with in-depth knowledge of asset-liability management of financial companies, banking business and operations, as well as develop your skills in financial risk management including credit risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk. You will also select among optional modules available based on your interest. The rationale for optional modules is based on our vision on supporting students be successful in a finance or banking career.

In Semester 3 (Masters stage) you will develop advanced research skills and work on your dissertation, which will involve an in-depth exploration of both the theory and practice of international finance using primary research.