Finance MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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Are you interested in a career in a finance profession? By studying our MSc Finance, you should be able to gain the skills and knowledge needed, with pathways that allow you to focus on a particular area of interest.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Up to 2 years full-time (with professional experience)

Course code

FBLT043

Start date

May 2024


Course overview

This is a specialist course that seeks to educate and prepare you for a range of careers within the finance profession. It aims to provide you with specialist financial skills and knowledge – everything from derivatives, portfolio theory and risk management, to financial modelling, governance and ethical finance.

  • Three dedicated pathways (Finance, Banking and Investment Management), enable you to tailor the course to an area of specialist interest
  • Development of skills and knowledge to suit globally-orientated, enterprising financial working environments
  • You will have the option to apply for a ‘professional experience’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

  • By studying this course you can expect to develop the skills and knowledge needed, to successfully operate in a financial world of constant transformation and increasing complexity.
  • Once you’ve completed semester one, the three dedicated pathways: finance, banking and investment management, represent a chance for you to focus on a particular area of interest.
  • Additionally, there will be opportunities for you to practise financial, statistical and econometric analysis, as well as explore how to interpret, evaluate and communicate financial information in real-life business situations.
  • This course is accredited1 by the Chartered Management Institute and includes a module that provides you with the opportunity to gain a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following professional bodies:

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2023-24 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.


Chartered Financial Analyst Institute logo

This course is accredited1 by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute for the 2023/2024 intake. This course is part of the University Affiliation Program of CFA Institute and currently covers at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK), offering excellent preparation for an international career in finance, banking, or risk management. This allows students to apply for a CFA Program Student Scholarship and have the opportunity to be awarded a student scholarship including a one-time CFA program enrolment fee and discounted one-time CFA exam registration fee (please note that any scholarship award is subject to a competitive application process and availability). Students will also enjoy free access to CFA learning resources, annual exam review study guide, free access to a full series of Code of Ethics and Standard of Professional Conduct materials and other online presentations. Successful completion of certain modules does not entitle students to sit the professional examinations which are centrally administrated by CFA Institute. Students would need to apply to the professional body for completing the exams outside of the course and additional criteria and fees may apply. Please visit the CFA website for further information.


Memberships

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute

This course is part of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute’s University Affiliation Program for the 2023/24 intake, which recognises that the course curriculum is closely tied to the practice of investment management and is designed to be helpful to students preparing for the CFA Program exams. The University has a number of CFA scholarships to award to qualifying students.

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

This course is recognised by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII); this allows students to apply for 60 credits towards the CII’s Diploma in Financial Planning or Insurance (fees apply), with only another 80 credits required from the CII to gain the diploma.


What you'll study

This course seeks to provide you with the specialist financial skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in a finance-related position, across a variety of businesses, organisations and sectors, including banking and investment.

By offering you the choice of three sector-specific pathways, this course focuses on helping you understand how to practically apply your learning and consider current developments within finance and the wider world.

This course should help you to understand the importance of finance to corporations, banks, stock markets and investors, not just in the UK but overseas as well. The course’s international content is designed to help develop you into a global-ready graduate, able to work effectively in a variety of markets.

Additionally, this course is part of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute’s University Affiliation Program and is designed to help with your preparations for the CFA Program exams.

Modules

  • Semester one is common to all pathways and is designed to give you the chance to further develop your understanding of core financial topics.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of the module is to examine and critique key corporate finance issues, including financial management, risk and return, corporate financing and asset pricing, capital structure and payout policy. The module will take an international perspective and explore both theoretical models and empirical evidence.

    Compulsory

  • This module will cover some of the quantitative techniques commonly used by financial analysts, economists, accountants as well as individual investors. The aim is to give you the basic grounding in econometric methods used in the analysis of quantitative data.

    Compulsory

  • This module focuses on the major classes of derivatives and on the uses of these instruments in hedging, regulatory arbitrage, price discovery, arbitrage and speculation. You will be exposed to both introductory and advanced aspects of the theory and applications of all major classes of derivative products.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this module is to provide you with a framework to examine the key issues in corporate governance. These include underlying corporate governance theory and associated reporting and regulation, the role of monitors and issues of independence and ethics. It will also develop your ability to critically appraise relevant academic literature and current issues, then integrate and synthesise topics in order to participate in current debates and suggest potential insights for development.

    Compulsory

  • In your second semester, you can pick one of three pathways, each of which requires you to study four different mandatory modules. This flexibility aims to allow you to focus on the area of finance that most interests you. The three pathways are Finance, Banking and Investment Management.

    Please note that the final award for this degree will be Finance MSc, regardless of the pathway chosen, which will not appear on the degree awarded.

    Compulsory

    • Behavioural Finance – 15 credits
      This module aims to equip you with an understanding of how psychological and sociological factors influence financial decision-making. They should be able to identify possible biases in investment analysis and portfolio management arising from cognitive, affective and social influences. You should be able to use behavioural finance insights in the process of structuring saving and investment schemes.
    • International Risk Management – 15 credits
      The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the international aspect of risk management faced on a day-to-day basis by modern MNCs and especially those of political, financial, operational and regulatory nature. Particular attention and detailed coverage will be placed on the ideas and tools used in identifying exposure to risk inherent in corporate functions such as international trade and money transactions, corporate financing and finally international investment/expansion decisions.
    • Institutional Investments – 15 credits
      During this module, you will develop further knowledge of institutional investments and their relative merits, from the perspective of retail investors. You will gain insights into the operation and management of institutional investments and the specific types of investment funds available.
    • Financial Statement Analysis – 15 credits
      This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the content and purpose of a company’s annual report and published financial statements. The module also considers the accounting treatment of intangible non-current assets, the problems in attaching monetary values to these and how this impacts the usefulness of published financial statements.

    Compulsory

    • International Banking – 15 credits
      This module examines the underlying principles and characteristics of banks that are the foundation for understanding both their role and existence in an increasingly competitive global environment. The aim is to equip you with the necessary tools and concepts to be able to explain the role and importance of banks in financial intermediation, their fundamental characteristics as depository institutions, the management of risk involved in their operations, and how regulation addresses some of the risks. In this context, the module will specifically examine the recent developments in international banking and assess the implications of changes in banks' risk management.
    • Credit Risk Management – 15 credits
      This module aims to give you a clear understanding of the issues relating to the roles of credit risk management in financial institutions. You will learn to examine different aspects of the process of credit assessment in relation to the key areas of banking business, i.e. corporate and retail lending. You are expected to be familiar with the techniques for the prediction of corporate bankruptcy, country risk analysis and consumer credit, and to justify how these techniques can be used as practical tools in financial decision making. This module will examine theory and practice, and will draw on contemporary case studies and examples from around the world.
    • Banking Regulation – 15 credits
      This module aims to critically analyse the ways in which regulation seeks to ensure the integrity and stability of banks and the financial sector as a whole. Learning will be evidence-led and practice-based, being structured around critical policy-relevant questions in banking regulation. Upon completion of the module, you should be able to assess both the impact that a variety of regulation mechanisms can have on banks, as well as the potential costs and benefits that may arise from them. You will be required to critically analyse recent developments in regulatory policy across a variety of countries, thereby introducing an international element to the module. You will also be required to assess the recent focus on financial conduct to protect the interests of consumers.
    • Economics of Money and Banking – 15 credits
      This module aims to provide a more detailed discussion of the key issues in the theory and practice of banking, financial market and monetary policy by linking models of money, banking and finance into one generic or foundation view. It also examines how these macro principles can be used to model the interaction among sectors in the economy.

    Compulsory

    • Fund Management – 15 credits
      The aim of this module is to investigate the nature of fund management in a regulated environment and explore how effective diversification can be achieved. You will learn how to use alternative approaches (active versus passive management) to portfolio/fund construction, and how to measure a fund's performance in a way that accounts for the risks that have been taken.
    • Equity Investment Using Thomson-Reuters Eikon – 15 credits
      This module provides an opportunity for you to gain experience with one of the major financial databases used by investment management professionals4. You will use the database to explore equity investment decision strategies using market-timing-based technical analysis techniques and also using stock picking strategies based on elements of fundamental analysis. The use of Thomson-Reuters Eikon real market data will mean that you’ll encounter an environment similar to that experienced by investment management professionals.
    • Bond Market Analysis Using Bloomberg – 15 credits
      This module aims to develop your ability to undertake an advanced analytical study of the bond markets. You will be exposed to both introductory and advanced aspects of the theory and applications of the bond market, which will give you the opportunity to gain experience4 with another one of the major financial databases used by investment management professionals.
    • The Foreign Exchange Markets – 15 credits
      This module provides an essential starting point in examining the foreign exchange (FX) markets, the risks arising from uncertainty in foreign exchange rates, and how companies and banks in particular can mitigate foreign exchange risk using a wide range of techniques, including derivatives. It also reviews the economic framework of the FX market, identifies key market players, and explores the importance of liquidity and pricing. This is done not only by exploring the theoretical concepts but importantly, by also applying these ideas using contemporary, practical, real-world case studies.

    Compulsory

  • In your final semester, all students must undertake the Project and the Professional Development modules.

    • Dissertation/Consultancy Project – 50 credits
      As part of this module, you can either conduct traditional research on a topic of your choice or pursue a consultancy project in the form of a company internship2. You will be expected to draw upon the knowledge acquired, and the intellectual, technical and analytical skills developed during the course.
    • Professional Development Module: Entrepreneurial Practice – 10 credits
      This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategic and entrepreneurial way whatever the master’s degree of specialisation they elect to follow.
      The module empowers you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint, to encourage your continuing professional development.
      The Professional Development module was developed in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). It focuses on consultancy and can lead to a professional qualification upon successful completion. Please see the Accreditation and Professional Recognition Section for further details.

    Compulsory

*Please note that we reserve the right to limit the number of pathways available to each cohort to ensure you receive the best educational experience. Pathways may be closed due to low numbers. In this instance, you will be offered an alternative pathway.

Professional experience option

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability. 

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, for which 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience may be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met and is subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

 

More than just a degree

The CMI module was transformative, providing valuable insights into effective leadership and management practices, which I believe are indispensable in any professional setting. The emphasis on practical application and real-world case studies enriched my understanding of strategic decision-making.

Art Hoti, Finance MSc Alumni
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How you'll learn

Teaching methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Workshops

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.


Teaching contact hours

The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 13 contact hours per week in the taught semesters. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake around 12 hours of self-directed study, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

  • Reports
  • Tests
  • Exams
  • Practical coursework
  • Presentations as part of individual assignments or group work elements.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Applicants should hold an honours degree 2:2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as business, finance, accounting or economics.

Or should hold a suitable graduate level (Level 6 equivalent) professional qualification including ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, CFA, ICAEW and ICAS.

Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis. We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international pre-master's. Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants should hold a suitable graduate level (Level 6 equivalent) professional qualification including ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, CFA, ICAEW and ICAS.

Or a honours degree 2:2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as business, finance, accounting or economics.

Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component area

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £15,400 | £19,400 (with prof. experience)   Request fee information
EU £15,400 | £19,400 (with prof. experience) per year with EU support bursary**
£20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience) per year without EU support bursary**
Not available
International £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience)   Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2, you will need to pay a fee of £1,333.33 for 1 semester, £2666.67 for 2 semesters, £4,000 for 3 semesters. This will cover support throughout your time taking the professional placement.

This course may incur additional costs associated with any professional experience2, which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU support bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.


Facilities

We have a range of facilities4 available to support you in putting the theories you are taught, into practice such as:

Student in front of monitors in Trading Floor

The Trading Floor 

The Trading Floor is an invaluable facility that allows you to get hands-on with industry-standard software. Featuring contemporary dual-screen Bloomberg terminals, the facility adds a dynamic practical element to your course.

Crowded space for the Talent Team fair

Talent Team

Employability at the forefront of all our accounting and finance courses. You will have access to our dedicated employability service, the Talent Team, from the first day of your course, to graduation and beyond.
 

Student studying maths

sigma Centre

The sigma Centre is housed in our Lanchester Library, and offers maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions and bookable appointments, the ideal place to help you navigate any issues you might have while studying an accounting and finance degree.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

  • Financial concepts, theories and their application to real-world situations.
  • Financing arrangements, strategies and governance structures of business entities.
  • Complex operation and function of financial markets in different regulatory settings.
  • Contemporary and controversial issues of finance in global financial markets.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate diagnostic and decision-making skills – such as optimising investment strategies for both firms and individuals in dealing with financial management problems. 
  • Use advanced mathematical and statistical techniques for financial and investment analysis.
  • Select, retrieve and analyse relevant data and information from finance-related databases like Datastream and Bloomberg to solve practical problems.
  • Design and conduct research in financial management using appropriate methodologies to advance knowledge in these areas.
  • Critically evaluate the conceptual and theoretical frameworks of finance and challenge assumptions.
  • Exercise judgment in the selection of different methods and approaches to financial management in the corporate environment.

This master’s level course can help lead to careers in financial services, corporate finance, fund management, treasury or banking and insurance sectors, upon successful completion. Equally, the skills developed upon graduating should allow you to pursue a potential future career in the public and/or private sector, in financial management or in management more generally.

Typical roles may include financial planners and controllers, treasurers, stockbrokers, commodities traders, cash and fund managers, insurance adjusters and other positions in banking and finance.

Past graduates have gone on to work for the likes of HSBC, Boeing, and Standard & Poor's.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Past graduates have gone on to work in varied roles, such as a Financial Planning Analyst for City Bank Indonesia, Senior Finance Officer for Royal Jordanian Airlines and Financial Administrator for Bank of China.


How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.