Finance and Risk Management MSc

Intro

Since the banking crisis, risk managers have been increasingly sought after. Large companies rely on them to advise on appropriate risk-taking, identify and assess threats, and decide how to avoid, reduce or transfer risks.

Our Finance and Risk Management MSc will develop your knowledge of risk management theory at a company, country and international level, investigating contemporary debates and controversies in risk management.

This course is part of our Finance MSc programme. All students complete the same core finance modules, then from the end of the first term you will be able to tailor the course to your individual strengths and career aspirations through option modules and the option to specialise in one of five areas.

The other specialisms offered are:

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year

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Please make sure that you meet the entry requirements before applying. If you have any questions the course team will be happy to help.

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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 risk management

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 risk management

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

Core modules

Economics of Financial Markets
Financial Theory and Practice
Research Methods for Finance and Economics
Dissertation

Specialisms modules

Financial Derivatives
Financial Risk Management

Option modules (choose one)

Advanced Financial Mathematics
Applied Econometrics and Financial Time Series Analysis
Banking and Financial Institutions
Emerging Financial Markets
Financial Regulation: Economic Principles and Institutional Frameworks
International Portfolio Management
Issues in Financial Accounting
Issues in Management Accounting
Market-making and Investment Strategies
Money, Interest Rates and Banking

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.

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

Financial Risk Management

This module introduces you to the most recent developments in the area of risk analysis and risk management. Using the powerful risk management tool Value at Risk (VaR), you will learn to calculate VaR using a number of different methods, and examine the usefulness of VaR against other risk management approaches. You will examine the wide range of financial risks that corporations are exposed to and how to manage those risks.

Types of risk
The methodology of VaR
Parametric approaches to the calculation of VaR
Mapping and the Riskmetrics approach
Historical simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, stress testing
Developments in the analysis and management of credit risk
Analysis of non-standard risks such as liquidity, volatility, operational, insurance and weather
Use of risk measurement techniques for performance measurement
The relationship between developments in financial regulation and risk management
Integrated risk management

Financial Derivatives

This module focuses on the application of derivatives securities in risk management and financial engineering. You will learn how derivative securities can be used to deliver a desired payoff, or to manage the risks of a market exposure. The module covers the role of financial engineering and risk management in the banking crisis and the latest post-crisis developments.

Review of fundamental concepts in finance
Basic tools of financial engineering
Forwards and futures
Swaps and repos
Plain vanilla and exotic options
Risk neutral pricing
Static and dynamic replication of a portfolio
Structured products
Credit default swaps
Financial asset price dynamics in theory and practice
Derivatives and risk management: hedging market exposures
Regulatory requirements and VaR
Financial innovation and the crisis of 2007–8
Risk management and the financial crisis

Dissertation

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

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 financial risk research.

You will receive help from your 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.

Robert Hayward, Course Leader

Our latest news

The influences on the increase of upper degrees

A research report on grade inflation authored by economist Dr Ray Bachan from Brighton Business School and commissioned by Universities UK on behalf of the UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (UKSCQA) has been published on the Universities UK website along-side a UK-wide consultation document.

OSTC Brighton v Sussex Trading Challenge 2018

For the second year in a row, Brighton brought the OSTC Trading Challenge cup home.

How to shop smarter this Christmas – tips from our innovation expert

Shutterstock Paul Levy, University of Brighton Record smartphone sales on Black Friday suggest this Christmas is set to be another festival of innovative gadgets for consumers worldwide.

New plans for the Moulsecoomb Campus

Careers

A postgraduate qualification from Brighton Business School will help you to specialise and stand out in today's highly competitive job market.

Finance and Risk Management MSc graduates are in demand among financial institutions, regulatory bodies, government agencies and risk management divisions in large non-financial companies.

According to Michael Page’s 2015 annual Banking & Financial Services Survey, employment is expected to grow across the sector, with 45% of respondents expecting an increase in their team’s headcount as levels of optimism have generally improved.

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

Careers advice and support
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.

Careers counsellor
The Business School's career development advisor, Christina Keiller is available to help you to write your CV, prepare for interviews and plan your career. She also works closely with tutors to ensure that our courses teach vocational skills as well as academic ones.

Entrepreneurship network
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.

Mentoring scheme
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.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2019. They should be used as a general guide.

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 degree equivalent can take our nine-month Business Management BSc top-up degree and then progress onto this masters degree.

For non-native speakers of English
In order to benefit from, contribute to and enjoy the course, a good command of spoken and written English language is required. If English is not your first language, you will need English language proficiency equivalent to an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5, with 6.0 in the written test and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

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 institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Fees

UK/EU (full-time) 10,602 GBP

International (full-time) 15,012 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.

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.

Location

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.

You can also enhance your experience by getting involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, Pride, the London to Brighton bike ride, the Brighton Marathon, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few.

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits. Find out more...

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Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

All eligible 2019-entry applicants are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton at Grand Parade, 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 Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls
- Varley Park offers a mix of room and catering options. Varley Park 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 catered and are located right on campus.
- Find out more about our halls at Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties at locations across the city.

Find out more about our accommodation and confirm your eligibility.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private rented accommodation. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.