Finance and Investment MSc (PGCert PGDip)

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 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.

Syllabus

Modules

Core modules will give you practical background knowledge in key finance subjects. From term 3 you will be able to tailor your course through a choice of specialisms and option modules. The specialisms currently offered are banking, accounting, investment, economics and risk management.

Core modules

• Economics of Financial Markets
• Financial Theory and Practice
• Research Methodologies for Finance and Economics
• Dissertation

Specialism modules (choose two)

• Advanced Financial Mathematics 
• Financial Derivatives
• Financial Risk Management
• International Portfolio Management
• Market-making and Investment Strategies

Option modules (choose one)

• Applied Econometrics and Financial Time Series Analysis
• Banking and Financial Institutions
• Emerging Financial Markets
• Financial Regulation: Economic Principles and Institutional Frameworks
• Issues in Financial Accounting
• Issues in Management Accounting
• Money, Interest Rates and Banking 

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

Modules in focus

International Portfolio Management

The module provides an introduction to the understanding and valuation of major investment assets. There is an analysis of the risk of managing an international portfolio of assets. 

The module will be run as a series of short lectures and workshops. The lectures will introduce broad subjects while the workshops will involve market simulations and set exercises. Workshops will be take place in the dealing room. 

• Introduction to the financial markets and instruments, securities markets and transactions with a special focus on the London Stock Exchange, major types of investment companies and their relevance for investors.
• Risk and return analysis of common stocks and portfolio theory.
• CAPM, APT and Index models for asset pricing.
• Efficient market hypothesis, behavioural finance, technical analysis and empirical evidence on security returns.
• Analysis of fixed income securities: bond pricing, yields, duration and convexity.
• Analysis of investment environment; macroeconomic, industry and financial statement analysis. 

Market-making and Investment Strategies

The module introduces students to the operation of financial markets and encourages them to consider ways of taking advantage of inefficiencies in the way that they operate.

A series of case studies examine the process of market-making, the measurement of liquidity and the process of price discovery. A series of short assignments guide students towards their presentation of an investment strategy. Workshops will take place in the dealing room. 

• Market microstructure
• Liquidity and market depth
• Price discovery
• Market efficiency
• Risk
• Behavioural finance
• Technical analysis
• Trading strategies
• Trading derivatives

Dissertation

In the final phase of the course, you will complete a dissertation relating to finance and investment.

The dissertation will be 10,000–15,000 words long. It will address a financial markets problem which will require you to undertake research leading to implementable recommendations based on sound analysis and judgment.

Alternatively, you may wish to carry out a more theoretical dissertation relating to a financial markets topic of personal interest. You will receive help from your appointed dissertation supervisor who will monitor and support your progress. The dissertation is submitted in October.

Real-time trading room 

As part of your course you will have access to modern computing facilities and specialist computing packages, for students on the Market-making and Investment Strategies module this includes access to our real-time trading room, fed by up-to-the-minute data from Reuters. 

One of a handful of such facilities across the UK, our trading room sessions are supervised by 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.

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. 

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. 

Staff profile

Robert Hayward, Course Leader
Robert has 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.

He 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.

Meet the rest of our finance team on our blog. 

International requirements

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

Course fees

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.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. 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. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map