Global Financial Trading MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
This programme is aimed at students with a strong interest in financial trading in integrated financial markets. You will focus on trading and the behaviour of global financial markets through the use of an on campus simulated trading floor, which provides practical exposure and hands-on experience in the art of trading.
Year of entry
2023-24
Location
Coventry University London (City of London)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
18 months Extended Professional Practice
Course code
LONT071, LONT072 (with Extended Professional Practice)
Start date
September 2023
January 2024
The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
Course overview
Explore the environment of the financial trading sector, helping you to build the quantitative and qualitative skills you need to work strategically within it.
Trading is at the core of global financial markets and covers a broad spectrum of activities, from arbitrage and market making by individual traders to proprietary trading by financial institutions. An understanding of global economic fundamentals, of market behaviour analysis, technical indicators, algorithmic trading and quantitative portfolio management is essential to be a successful trader.
- Explore the main theories of economics and finance and work with economic and financial data to examine how different activities and external events affect the world.
- Gain practical exposure and hands on experience in the art of trading by exploring the behaviour of global financial markets, on our dedicated, simulated trading floor.
- Study on a course which has been devised in close collaboration with city financial traders and informed by the advice of practitioners in this field.
- Apply to study our Global Financial Trading MSc with Extended Professional Practice route, an 18-month option aimed at individuals who are looking to attain a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way.

Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy you should study this course
- Industry-standard technology
Traders depend heavily on technology for research, modelling, decision-support and portfolio-tracking. You’ll receive exposure to industry-standard software and technical tools such as Bloomberg Terminals, S&P Capital IQ and their integration into Python, R & Excel. You are also encouraged to study for the Bloomberg Market Concepts qualification to enhance your employability.
- London location
Our location in the City of London means we are at the heart of the number one global finance and asset management city. You will be studying on the doorstep of the finance and asset management industries where you will have many opportunities for access to current market participants, placements2/employment and continuing personal development with financial employers.
- Industry insight
You’ll be taught by highly qualified industry-experienced academics with sound finance knowledge who are qualified academically and professionally (staff are subject to change). You’ll also have the opportunity to attend tailored talks by experts from academia, the City of London and the real world of finance and investment touching various areas of finance and leadership.
- Prepare for your future
This is a professionally focused programme which has been devised in close collaboration with industry experts and informed by the advice of the highest-level practitioners in this field. There is a strong focus on ethics and professional conduct. You’ll have many opportunities to mix with employers and to build your CV. Should you wish to start your own business, we offer business start-up advice and support through our Enterprise Hub.
- Real-world experience
This course offers the opportunity for you to undertake an internship2 in different aspects of finance with reputable companies in industries attractive to students and with whom the university has existing relationships. You also have the opportunity to apply for our Global Financial Trading MSc course with Extended Professional Practice. This is an 18-month option and is aimed at individuals who are looking to attain a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way. You are expected to spend twenty-two weeks at one (or more) work setting(s) and will have the opportunity to apply theory to practice. Find out more about our Extended Professional Practice study option.
Immerse yourself in Coventry University London’s global community and emerge as a talented, career-ready graduate with an international outlook.
The modules were the ideal balance each semester so that students like myself could comprehend and explore various subjects while working toward their absolute favourites through internships in the following semesters. My class included students from all around the world, with varying degrees of experience and a healthy competitive spirit, making class all about the worldwide experience.

An enriching time at university
Haris is an ACCA candidate from Lahore studying Global Financial Trading MSc with Extended Professional Practice at Coventry University London. After completing his course, Haris aspires to work in an investment bank as a successful analyst.
Read Haris' story

What you'll study
This course aims to offer hands-on experience in the art of trading. This practical dimension is underpinned by a solid grounding in the behaviour of global financial markets, the principles of equity trading and evaluation, bond trading and financial derivatives, stock markets in emerging economies, and proprietary trading. This course can be carried out over one academic year (full-time), or over two academic years (part-time).
Your main study themes are:
- Change
The recent financial crisis has led to fundamental economic, social, technological and geo-political changes, and the emergence of new and different realities in the markets. To respond effectively, traders, managers and leaders must develop very different patterns of thinking and behaviour. - Decision support
Successful trading depends on making the right decisions at the right time – which depends, in turn, on being able to access and analyse the right information. - Managing risk
Risk and reward are two sides of the same coin. Therefore, to achieve rewards, you must identify, assess, model and mitigate risk – and you must also master the various tools, including technology, which will help you. - Ethics
The crisis has also led to greater ethical scrutiny of trading in order to avoid a repeat of the morally dubious/illegal conduct which came to light; for example, trading sub-prime mortgages bundled into securities; trading financial instruments too complex to understand; and banks rigging interest rates in their favour.
Placement experiences
Our strong global business connections provide students with access to real-life work experience, so you can put your skills into practice and make connections in the world of work.
How you'll learn
Although your studies will be underpinned by solid academic theory, this course has been designed to provide every opportunity to apply what you’ve learned to real business contexts. You’ll use the industry-standard technologies of the trading desk to research and analyse market information and to execute simulated trades.
- Teaching methods may include live classes, textbooks, workshops, debates, case studies, consultancy projects, simulations and online collaborations.
- You’ll have opportunities to enjoy field trips, tours, guest lectures and visits to businesses and institutions in the UK and overseas. For example, you might visit the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange – or even Wall Street.
- Make the most of extra free self-learning resources such as Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) - a library of e-learning courses. To earn the BMC Certificate, you must complete all online learning resources covering financial markets and familiarise yourself with over 100 Bloomberg terminal functions (around 8 hours).
- Continue your learning outside of the classroom by joining one of our Student Union societies such as the Accounting, Finance and Economics society or the Banking and Finance society.
- You could also take part in ourHigh Flyers programme, to help you develop the personal and professional skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world, through a suite of extra curricula, non-course specific workshops.
This course can be offered on a 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 contact registry.london@coventry.ac.uk for more information about studying this course part-time.
Teaching contact hours
You will typically receive around 12 hours of contact teaching per week. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed studying and revising in your own time each week, which may include, for example, guided study using hand-outs, online activities.
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. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
Your performance will be assessed continually throughout the course. This helps to ensure that both you and your tutors understand your particular talents while recognising where you might need extra support. Besides sitting exams, you’ll experience highly applied and practical assessments which reflect the kind of work which goes on in the workplace. You’ll have opportunities to work on software simulations, consultancy projects, group projects and debates, presentations, business reports and even work experience placements2. Assessments will include the use of Bloomberg terminals, Python, R and its many data analysis libraries and integration interfaces. The practical nature of these assessments means you will develop increasingly critical awareness of your own performance, and that of others – a vital career skill.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
This course takes a globalised approach to the curriculum, placing your learning in the context of international challenges, opportunities and regulatory frameworks. It will prepare you for working globally, whether overseas, or for a multi-national, or for a firm which trades internationally. You will have the opportunity for an international field trip2, and you could also arrange to do either a consultancy project or an internship (as part of your final major project) overseas. You may benefit from studying alongside a truly international cohort of students, learning from the perspectives they bring while developing your own ability to work cross-culturally.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed.
Job ready
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability, knowledge and skills to be competent trader, analyst, risk manager, banking professional, financial engineer and effective leader of international organisations in the rapidly changing financial services environment
- Understand the core business, financial disciplines and methods of working in the financial sector, and be able to apply these in practical contexts
- Use powers of analysis, strategic approaches and communication skills to meet analytical and leadership challenges of the rapidly changing financial services industry
- Appraise the current and future environments in which companies operate, as well as develop a competitive, strategic response
- Define, investigate, analyse, evaluate and respond to tactical and strategic issues of concern to organisations in the financial industry
- Adopt an analytical and creative approach to problem solving through independent judgement and critical self-awareness, working as individuals or as part of a team
- Communicate ideas clearly, demonstrating a capacity for logical and coherent thinking
- Manage your own learning and self-development and use a range of personal skills and competencies that will enable you to operate effectively in your industry.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £15,400 | £21,250 (extended prof experience) | Not available |
International | £20,050 | £21,250 (extended prof. practice) per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Fees and Finance page.
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).
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
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
Our Global Financial Trading MSc students have access to a wide range of facilities4 to help you become proficient with some of the leading technology in the financial industry, and prepare for the world of work.
Take a virtual tour of our campus to explore all of the facilities available to you.

Bloomberg Trading Floor
Our Trading Floor has been created to reflect the environment where traders work on the London Stock Exchange. It contains Bloomberg Terminals, which provide access to real-time global financial data, which students learn how to use through teaching and simulated projects.

Standard & Poor Market Intelligence Suite (S&P)
The S&P Suite contains some of the same software used by Wall Street. Its databases and tools can help you track performance, identify investment ideas, and keep up with industry news and insights.

The Talent Team
Need employability support? Our dedicated Talent Team are on hand to help. They can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate-level jobs and offer skills development workshops. They also organise networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts2.
Careers and opportunities
Our MSc Global Financial Trading and MSc Global Financial Trading with Extended Professional Practice course aims to equip graduates with a set of highly employable behaviours, attitudes and competencies (technical skills: quantitative, analytical, regulatory and soft skills: problem-solving, creativity, communication, team-working, agile) which are in high demand among employers and are indispensable qualities within the financial industry, not only in the UK but worldwide.
Typical career routes for graduates from this course could include (but not limited to): Algorithmic trading, investment and credit analysts; risk management; portfolio managers; financial analysts; corporate financiers; asset management; trading and brokerage; working for international financial and government institutions and academia, including further PhD study.
Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have gone on to work at CitiBank, IBM, in investment management, trading houses, or have gone on to study for a PhD in financial computing.
I applied for this course because I wanted to have a worldwide perspective on the financial sector. Over the last 1.5 years, I've learned more about myself and focused down my areas of interest. I worked two separate internships during the internship term in order to figure out what was right for me and what wasn't. This helped me prepare for the job opportunities I'm currently pursuing.

Student experiences
Our students are at the heart of everything we do here at Coventry University London. Hear about Hitanshu, Shaikh, Amrin, Hani and Philippine’s experiences of studying with us in the City of London.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University London, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an postgraduate degree view our International hub.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
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), 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
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. 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.
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