Intro

With the banking industry undergoing major changes, there has never been a more exciting or challenging time to join the profession.

Our Finance and Banking MSc programme explores the changing environment within which financial institutions operate, the globalisation of finance, changes in technology, and the regulatory environment. You will also gain an appreciation of the evolution of finance and banking theory, as well as contemporary debates and controversies. 

Full-time students also have the option to add work experience to their masters through a year’s paid placement in industry.

This course is part of our Finance MSc programme. All students complete the same core finance modules, then from the end of the first semester you will be able to specialise in one of five areas.

The other specialisms offered are:

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year / 2 years with placement

Course content

Course structure

The course is composed of three phases:

  • Phase 1 teaches the core subjects of finance, economics and research methods
  • Phase 2 introduces specialist modules in finance and banking
  • Phase 3 is the dissertation or work placement project that draws together the learning from the whole of the programme, allowing you to develop your research skills and capacity for critical analysis while creating a specialisation in a particular field of finance and banking

All modules on the course involve both taught sessions and guided independent study. For a typical module, approximately 30% of the total hours comprise taught activity, 10% is guided study and supervision, and the remainder is independent study.

Finance student and lecturer in background

Syllabus

Core modules

  • Economics of Financial Markets
  • Financial Theory and Practice
  • Research Methods for Finance and Economics
  • Dissertation or Work Placement Project

Mandatory specialism modules (Term 2)

  • International Investment and Trading
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Economics of Money, Interest Rates, Banking and Financial Institutions

Completion of your final project (dissertation or work placement project) takes place throughout the summer after teaching finishes. You submit your project in October and receive your MSc award in December.

finance students in elm house

Dissertation

In the final phase of the course, if you are not taking a placement year, you will complete a dissertation relating to finance and banking.

The dissertation will be 10,000–15,000 words long. It will address an accounting problem that requires you to undertake research leading to practicable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgement. You will finalise the topic in consultation with the course leader and other specialists in finance, economics, accounting and business research.

You will receive help from your dissertation supervisor, who will monitor and support your progress. The dissertation is submitted in October.

Business student looking at a book in the library

Bloomberg trading room

As part of your course you will have access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages. For students on the International Investment and Trading module this includes access to our real-time trading room, fed by up-to-the-minute data from Bloomberg TerminalⓇ.

Bloomberg TerminalⓇ is the world’s leading market data and analytics system, which means you will have access to a wealth of data, news, and state-of-the-art analytics. You will use the terminal to define your market assumptions, develop a return-generating strategy and execute trades over a closed network.

Our trading room sessions are supervised by experienced lecturers or guest traders and provide you with the opportunity to apply your skills to real markets and real data, and make use of simulation software to recreate the pressure of a trading floor. 

We also invite guest traders to discuss curriculum topics, pass on their trading experience and supervise trading sessions.

Lecturer and PG student looking at Bloomberg screen

Student trading society

We highly recommend students join our thriving Student Investment and Trading Society, which is established and run by students for the purpose of organising social and networking events, arranging talks by visiting industry experts and facilitating annual trading competitions against other universities. 

Investmenttrading

Learning support

Experienced, professionally qualified lecturers and small class sizes will ensure your learning needs are supported. Online learning tools and libraries also ensure academic journals, e-books, business articles and other resources are available to you 24/7, both for use at the university and at home. 

You will also have access to our Careers Service, including CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. 

business school students

Placements year 

To further increase your employability and international experience we offer full-time students starting in September the opportunity to take a placement year. This means that your course will take two years, but you’ll be graduating with work experience.

The year on placement in a role related to your course will allow you to put all that you have learned on your masters into practice, enhancing your career opportunities and giving you practical experience in your area of expertise.

During your placement you will also complete a business project. This project is assessed as part of your masters and, depending on the topic that is agreed between you and your employer, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Our placement partners include BMW, Bosch, Deloitte, Disney, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, IBM, Ipsos Mori, L’Oréal, Nike, Panasonic, PwC, Renault and Warner Brothers.

Work placements are optional, and you are responsible for arranging your placement with support from our dedicated Placements and Employability team.

We are now offering a two-year international study visa route to support applications for this course.

Find out more about how we can support you finding a placement.

Course leader

Dr Robert Hayward

Robert is a principal lecturer and the course leader on our postgraduate finance and economics degrees. 

He has more than 15 years' experience of working in the financial services sector, with responsibility for producing economic forecasts and capital market strategies for traders and bank customers.

Robert has an MSc in Economics and a PhD on Speculation in the Foreign Exchange Market. He joined the University of Brighton in 2011 and his main interests are capital markets, foreign exchange and behavioural finance.

Read more about your course leader.

Robert Hayward

Careers

Career prospects 

Banking is a profession that offers a huge variety of opportunities, the possibility of rapid career progression, and good pay and benefits. 

The course prepares you for a range of careers in central banks, finance departments of industrial and service companies, regulatory bodies, government agencies, financial consultancies and auditors. Such companies are actively looking to recruit postgraduate-level professionals.

It will also prepare you to work in some of the new companies that are emerging in the areas between finance and technology. These new firms are disrupting the banking industry by using new technology to reduce the cost or improve the performance of some core banking activities.  

There is a particularly strong demand for banking graduates in developing economies where financial organisations are seeking postgraduate-level professionals with a sophisticated understanding of banking.

The course is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at MPhil or PhD level, or working as a professional researcher in finance.

Man in a suit standing by the IBM logo

Skills development 

Alongside traditional lectures you will gain practical experience by working on case studies and in our real-time trading room, all helping to prepare you for your career by putting strategies into practice. You will also benefit from talks from visiting alumni and industry partners such as American Express and Legal & General.

Woman in a suit giving a business presentation

Work-related experience 

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Enterprise-Rent-a-Car, Nike, BMW and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Careers advice 

Careers Service
Our Careers Service provides help and advice from the very start of your studies, on subjects including careers counselling sessions, CV checking, mock interviews and advice on setting up your own business. Find out more on our careers service website.

Mentoring
Momentum is our award-winning mentoring scheme. It pairs students with professionals who wish to share their experience. Students and their mentors meet regularly to exchange ideas. The scheme helps students to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Starting your own business 

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project. 

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. 

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

beepurple logo

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally a good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject is required. Work experience is useful but not essential. Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications may be considered. If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements then please contact us.

International students who need help meeting the academic entry requirements should contact our International College.

Applicants who hold an HND or foundation equivalent can take our nine-month Business BSc top-up degree and then progress onto this masters degree.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 11,800 GBP

International (full-time) 15,800 GBP

Placement year

Home 1,410 GBP

International 2,180 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Business and Law in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
  • Textbooks are available from the university library (many as e-books) but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
  • For the International Tourism Management BSc, International Tourism Management with Marketing BSc, International Event Management BSc, and International Event Management with Marketing BSc, field trips are an optional activity, but we do strongly advise participation as they contribute to the overall experience of studying this degree. The cost for field trips is not included in the tuition fee and must be paid for by students, however please be assured we do try to keep field trip costs to a minimum and don't anticipate the total cost of a few field trips each year to exceed £30. If you would struggle to meet this cost, there is a hardship fund that you may be able to access.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Find out more about what students do at our School of Business and Law by subscribing to our blog.

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