PMINBAFI - MSc International Banking and Finance

The ‘MSc in International Banking and Finance’ course provides students with the broad range of skills required to secure and retain employment in the highly competitive labour market in international banking, finance and financial regulation. The academic depth and breadth of this postgraduate programme provide highly relevant subject specific knowledge and transferable skills. Students develop cognitive, problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills as well as quantitative and IT competence.

There are four core modules which all students will study on the course, and they will also have the opportunity of choosing two optional modules from a range of available options, making up 6 taught modules.

Thus all students will take 4 x 20 credit core modules that will cover the fundamentals of International Banking and Finance. Within the compulsory set of taught modules students will study the 20 credit research methods module, designed to familiarise them with business research methods. Students will also have the opportunity of choosing one alternative core 60-credit module, and two optional modules. The modules will allow them to develop an in-depth knowledge in areas related to international banking and finance.

Students are encouraged to choose options that are particularly suited to their individual skill development needs. Skills and expertise in various areas such as corporate finance, financial reporting, risk management, growth, and development are available in a range of core and optional module topics.

Lectures and seminars are essential activities that will support the development of knowledge and understanding. These sessions will provide students with tools of analysis, outline methods for evaluation and give clear guidance on how students may best extend and apply their learning independently. An important dimension of the skills they must acquire during the programme is the capacity to work successfully with others to achieve a desired objective. Assessments will include group assignments, which will help students to develop their interpersonal skills and personal awareness.

The course uses Bloomberg for teaching delivery and assessment tasks and enables students to join the elite group of Bloomberg users around the world. Bloomberg provides contemporary, historical and forward looking (forecast) business and financial data, news and insight. In addition, Bloomberg provides an array of financial tools which may be used for interrogating financial datasets.

The course also enables the development of expertise in the use of packages such as Sage, Eviews, NVivo and SPSS to analyse accounting and financial data. Sage accounting software simplifies and facilitates a diverse range of accounting tasks. It may be used for simple accounting assessments to the management of complex financial systems. EViews is a statistical package which facilitates statistical analysis of large and varied datasets; SPSS analyses social science data which may be used for market research, surveys, and data mining; and Nvivo employs qualitative and mixed-methods research to analyse unstructured text, audio, video, and image data, such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, social media, and journal articles.

Guest lecturers and teaching staff are renowned within the industry / discipline. A number of modules are offered in the evening to facilitate and enhance student engagement and participation

All modules will include the use of the University’s virtual learning environment (Weblearn). Core materials, e.g. handbooks, presentations, reading materials etc. will be made available on Weblearn and the platform will also provide the vehicle for online collaboration and other blended learning activities.

Students will have a course leader with whom they will be encouraged to discuss all relevant issues relating to their course.

Note: If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the School reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

The principal aims of the MSc in International Banking and Finance are to:

1. Provide knowledge and understanding of methods, theory and application in international banking, finance, financial regulation and compliance;
2. Provide a range of cognitive and transferable skills which promote employability and/or further study;
3. Develop students’ abilities to use and evaluate forms of analysis in a variety of contexts relevant to the financial services industry;
4. Engage students in a rich and challenging course which promotes personal and academic development and prepares them for a career in banking, finance, financial regulation, compliance and related areas;
5. Apply research skills in writing a formal report;
6. Develop students' understanding of the importance of the role of banking and finance plays in the global milieu, including the role of central banks and the pros and cons of digital finance and fintech
7. Promote an understanding of the role of bank regulation, including why it is necessary at all, who is responsible for it, its origins, current status and future developments
8. Develop students' understanding of the management and mitigation of financial risk arising from commercial and investment banking.

The course will equip students with the skills and attributes that will enable them to compete with success in the complex and challenging International banking and finance industries and employment markets. It brings together University and School distinctiveness, and refers to two principal sets of QAA Benchmark Statements:

The QAA Statement for Master’s Degree Characteristics (2020)

The QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Master's degrees in Business and Management (2015).

The University learning outcome that cuts across the entirety of the London Metropolitan University provision is:

On completion of this course, students will be able to: demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline (ULO)

Thus, upon graduating with an MSc International Banking and Finance, students will typically:

1. Have the confidence needed to take leadership decisions in challenging situations
2. Possess extensive communication skills that will help them adopt a global and multicultural perspective in their professional context.
3. Be critically cognisant of the effects of the social and environmental impact of their decisions and will remain active citizens of the places they live and work.
4. Demonstrate application and ability to reflect on creative thinking to practical problems, and possess the analytical and organizational skills to translate creative ideas to operational solutions
5. Have extensive knowledge and understanding of the broad range of areas of international banking and finance.
6. Demonstrate conceptual understanding that enables the critical evaluation of key theories, current research and methodologies relating to the operations and strategies of international banking and finance institutions, and the nature of the international competitive environment and regulatory framework within which they operate.
7. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge relating to international banking and finance.
8. Have sufficient theoretical, quantitative and statistical knowledge and understanding to be able to augment this knowledge with new developments in the field and be able to independently improve their analytical skills to a high level to be able to contribute to progress in international banking and finance practice.
9. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, use IT to access sources of relevant international banking, finance and economics-related information, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
10. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level.

The MSc in International Banking and Finance degree programme conforms to the Master’s Degree Characteristics Statement set out by the QAA (2020) in their descriptors for a higher education qualification at level 7, and to the Subject Benchmark Statement for Master's degrees in Business and Management (QAA, 2015). Since this is a specialist programme concentrating on the banking and finance sector, the benchmark statement and subsequent documents must be interpreted in the context of the banking and finance industry.

Assessment strategy

Principles

The course adopts the four assessment strategy principles of the School that are developed in the spirit of ESJ. These are:

i) The School is committed to ensuring that each student should have no more than 2 assessment points per 20 credit module.

ii) We provide balanced forms of assessment, both in terms of its overall volume and the types used.

iii) At PGT level group activities are part of the learning and teaching strategies but assessment should be at the level of the individual. Thus, assessment should focus on individual reflections and learning from participating in a group activity.

iv) Flexibility/choice in assessment methods will be introduced wherever possible (subject to PSRB requirements and QAA subject benchmarks) in order to facilitate different learning studies and support personalization

Assessment strategy

Principles

The course adopts the four assessment strategy principles of the School that are developed in the spirit of ESJ. These are:

The School is committed to ensuring that each student should have no more than 2 assessment points per 20 credit module.

We provide balanced forms of assessment, both in terms of its overall volume and the types used.

At PGT level group activities are part of the learning and teaching strategies but assessment should be at the level of the individual. Thus, assessment should focus on individual reflections and learning from participating in a group activity.

Flexibility/choice in assessment methods will be introduced wherever possible (subject to PSRB requirements and QAA subject benchmarks) in order to facilitate different learning studies and support personalization

The University has dedicated careers teams who will assist learners with all aspects of their job search and application.

The course draws on external links with banking and finance practitioners in the City and elsewhere in the UK. These links give rise to University and GSBL guest lectures, external speaker seminars and other meetings of interest to students. These events throughout the course provide opportunities for students to gain knowledge and experience from outside the University.

Students are able to take an optional single semester Business Work Placement Project (MN7W89); this module is not available along with 60-credit alternative core Work Placement module discussed below.

The one-year Work placement module (MN7W01) is one of the three 60-credit alternative core modules available on the course. It is offered as an alternative to the ‘Dissertation’ and ‘Business Consultancy Project’ with the same credits. There will be a series of work readiness and career preparation workshops / seminars to ensure students are engaging critically with their experiences.

The choice of MN7W01 alternative core module will have the effect of extending the course length by one more year. The student needs to have secured a one-year work placement within 6 months of start of teaching i.e., if their course starts in September/October the deadline for securing the placement will be 31 March of the following year; if their course starts in February/March the deadline for securing the placement will be 31 August of the same year. If students have difficulty securing a placement within the deadlines above they will switch to alternatives bearing equivalent credit without any detriment (e.g. Dissertation or Business Consultancy Project), and the length of their course will be converted from 2 years to 1 year, and the visa office informed accordingly in respect of tier 4 international students.

International students studying on a Student Visa will be required to submit weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken for the work placement. The timesheets will need to be signed by the student’s line manager to meet Visa regulations.

It is a student's responsibility to apply for opportunities and to engage with the University and/or partner organisations as required. The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module and Work-Based Learning Teams and all placement roles must meet the Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Accredited Work Placements.

Modules are required to be taken as indicated in section 22 above (Course Structure). Where a student is taking no more than 90 credits in an academic year within the maximum permissible time limit, they may be designated as Part Time.

Modules are required to be taken as indicated in section 22 above.

A student who has passed modules equivalent to 120 credits comprising four core and two option modules will be entitled to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma.

A student who has passed modules equivalent to 60 credits including any two core modules will be entitled to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate.

A Master’s degree shall be awarded to a student who has passed modules equivalent to 180 credits including a dissertation.

Students are introduced to reflective learning in an induction programme which is designed to promote active learning and development from the outset. This will include the principles of individual and team learning and development and preparation for academic study at master’s level. This, it is believed, will lead to an understanding of the students learning to work independently and in collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal development throughout the course. All core and option modules require students to reflect and formative feedback on this activity is provided by the course team

The final alternative core module requires students to engage in reflection and self-directed learning in undertaking an independent research project report.

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) (2014)

Taking this course opens up a wide range of career opportunities. In the past postgraduate students of banking and finance have found employment in financial institutions, international companies and public sector organisations. This course is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in commercial and investment banking and finance as well as in financial regulation, compliance and related areas in the financial services industry. The course content and embedded skills development provide students an excellent platform for entry into the employment market in financial services.

The course provides the opportunity for students to visit Placements and Employability office. Advisors from Employability services may address students during selected classes throughout the year to highlight the support on offer. Continuous support is also provided via academic mentors, academic tutors, and course leaders. All students are advised of the services available via our Placements and Employability office and encouraged to seek advice from them.

Guest speakers organised by the School of Business and Law and student societies bring students into contact with finance specialists and business managers from both national and international organisations. These meetings give students the opportunity to know more about future career paths and the best strategies to pursue their own career aspirations.

In addition, students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities including involvement in peer coaching of students, receiving professional mentoring, volunteering in the not-for-profit sector, joining or setting up student society and national competitions / activities.

The Careers and Employability Service is a university-wide resource made available to students which provides information about labour market opportunities and career development. The University’s Careers and Employability Service disseminates information on Employer Panel events, Recruitment events, Internships, Employability events organised by professional bodies and Career fairs; see for example https://blogs.londonmet.ac.uk/careersandemployability/

Students are also reminded that they have access to our Careers and Employability service for careers and employability related advice guidance for three years after graduation.

Our academic programme allows you to tailor your learning to future career plans. If you want to progress into a senior role within the banking and finance industry, a master's degree is increasingly becoming a requirement.

Our postgraduate students were able to progress on to senior roles in global organisations such as HSBC, JP Morgan, Barclays, Deloitte and Google.

You’ll be required to have:

• a minimum of a lower second class (2.2) honours degree, or equivalent undergraduate degree from overseas, or an equivalent professional qualification, or relevant work experience.

Credit transfer (where a student has completed units of study contributing towards a degree or a diploma) is possible if there is evidence that the material covered in any module has been satisfactorily assessed to the appropriate level. Credit can also be awarded for prior experiential learning that broadly matches modules within the curriculum and, where appropriate, evidence of attainment is available.