University of Bradford



University of Bradford

School of Management

|Awarding and teaching institution: |University of Bradford |

|Final Award: |Master of Science |

| |[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level M] |

|Programme titles: |Master of Science in Finance |

|Programme accredited by: |EQUIS |

|Duration: |1 yr full time |

|Subject benchmark statement: |General Business and Management |

|Date produced: |Original: April 2007 |

| |Updated: January 2008 |

Philosophy

In accordance with the University’s mission ‘Making Knowledge Work’, the School of Management aims to provide programmes that educate individuals as managers and business specialists, and thus improve the quality of management as a profession.

MSc Finance

The MSc in Finance focuses on the key elements of corporate finance, investment management and applied quantitative finance. The aim is to produce specialists who have a strong financial perspective on corporate activity, pension fund behaviour, the economy and international financial markets. There will be particular focus on providing students with the conceptual understanding, knowledge and technical skills that are required to implement advanced financial models in a practical way. Throughout the programme, there will be widespread use of financial software packages that are the most widely utilised in industry and the City.

The MSc in Finance is a specialist level career entry programme; type 1A under the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s “Benchmarks for Masters Degrees in Business and Management”. The subcategory is “professionally oriented leading to a job in a company/organisation”

Programme Aims

• To prepare students for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, portfolio management, financial consultancy, fixed income & derivatives trading, risk management and other finance related disciplines. To prepare students for further advanced study (at MPhil / PhD level) in finance.

• To provide advanced study of financial markets, financial institutions and business organisations, their financial and organisational structure and the political and economic environment in which they operate

• To provide a critical understanding of the main theoretical and empirical evidence relating to equity, currency, fixed income and derivatives asset pricing models

• To provide a critical understanding of the theory and practice of corporate finance.

• To provide the knowledge and technical skills required to undertake advanced financial modelling using the most widely implemented software packages

• To provide a supportive, structured environment in which students are encouraged to develop independent learning skills and provide original contributions to the field of finance

• To develop personal transferable skills, particularly in the areas of teamwork, communication, computing, analytical reasoning and mathematics.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, you will be able to demonstrate:

• A detailed knowledge of the political, economic and business environments in which international financial markets and institutions operate

• A detailed knowledge of the types of financial assets that are available for trading on international financial markets and a critical understanding, both theoretical and empirical, of the way in which these assets are priced.

• A critical understanding of how multinational corporations can be financed

• Advanced technical skills in the areas of financial mathematics, financial statistics and computational finance

• A knowledge of recent developments in the theory and practice of finance (e.g. credit risk management)

• An ability to apply financial models to real-world problems, particularly through the use of popular computer software packages

• Have developed research skills and demonstrated original thought in finance by preparing for and writing a Masters dissertation

• Experience of interpersonal skills of communication, negotiation, leadership and teamwork, through group work and tutorial activities

Curriculum

The MSc programme in Finance is a 12-month full-time programme, and starts in September of each year. Attendance is required during the week and, on occasions, at weekends, in the evening and during vacation periods. The MSc is organised into three phases. In phase one, students are required to attend six compulsory modules in financial accounting, corporate finance, capital markets, business economics, financial modelling and financial mathematics. These modules provide the knowledge, critical understanding and technical skills that are of key importance to the whole field of finance and that provide an in-depth foundation for the subsequent stages of the degree. In phase two, students are required to take four compulsory modules that cover advanced topics in corporate valuation, international finance, asset pricing and fixed income securities. Students will also choose two electives either in specialist areas of finance or more general aspects of accountancy and management. Modules are usually offered on a weekly basis but may occasionally be taught in four or five-day blocks. The final phase involves the completion of a dissertation with a specialist financial focus.

Personal and professional development (PDP) forms an integral part of the MSc, with emphasis on independant learning, computing, analytical reasoning and mathematics. Your PDP will be developed and monitored in each module by a combination of formative and summative assessment

Phase 1.

The following modules are taken in phase 1:

|Module Code | |Module Title |Credit |Core/Option |

|MAN4134M | |Business Economics |10 |C |

|MAN4257M | |Corporate Finance |10 |C |

|MAN4275M | |Accounting |10 |C |

|MAN4269M | |Financial Modelling |10 |C |

|MAN4264M | |Portfolio Management |10 |C |

|MAN4265M | |Quantitative Methods in Finance |10 |C |

Phase 2.

In phase 2, students will study a combination of four compulsory modules (see below) and two elective modules from a range offered.

Compulsory subjects for the MSc in Finance are:

|Module Code | |Module Title |Credit |Core/Option |

|MAN4261M | |Bond Market Analysis and Credit Risk |10 |C |

|MAN4270M | |Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation |10 |C |

|MAN4260M | |Asset Pricing |10 |C |

|MAN4271M | |International Finance |10 |C |

Subject to sufficient student demand and staff availability, electives will be offered in:

|Module Code | |Module Title |Credit |Core/Option |

|MAN4274M | |Advanced Financial Modelling |10 |O |

|MAN4266M | |Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance |10 |O |

|MAN4258M | |Derivatives and Risk Management |10 |O |

|MAN4137M | |E-Business |10 |O |

|MAN4155M | |Financial Risk Management in European Banking* |10 |O |

|MAN4810M | |Advanced Financial Management |10 |O |

|MAN4151M | |Strategic Accounting |10 |O |

* As part of the School’s exchange agreement with the École Supérieure de Commerce in Toulouse, students are offered the opportunity to study a module ‘Financial Risk Management in European Banking’ in Toulouse each year. Travel and maintenance costs are additional.

Phase 3.

|Module Code | |Module Title |Credit |Core/Option |

|MAN4268Z | |Dissertation (MSc Finance) |60 |C |

The dissertation

The dissertation is an extended piece of written work of up to 22,000 words involving an original and in-depth investigation of a specialist finance issue. Guidance on dissertation choice and supervision is provided during the first two phases of the degree, thus giving you the opportunity to prepare in advance for phase three.

International School/Study abroad

It is possible for students on the School’s Masters programmes to choose to take as an elective a 2 week International School offered in April each year in collaboration with the Leon Kozminski Academy for Entrepreneurship and Management (Warsaw), EADA (Barcelona) and Audencia Ecole de Management (Nantes), all members of the Alliance for Business Education. This is hosted by a different partner each year and students are taught with students on the European Masters in International Management. It provides students with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge in key managerial areas and enhance their learning experience by studying in a culturally diverse setting. Attendance at the International School is subject to an additional fee and travel/maintenance costs.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching involves a combination of formal lectures, group discussions, seminars and directed reading. Generally the programme aims to integrate applied and theoretical knowledge with assessment processes that test both knowledge of the disciplines plus their application and limitations. Each module represents approximately 100 hours' study time of which typically 24 hours is contact time with the module tutor(s) and the remaining 76 hours is made up of pre-reading, directed reading, preparatory work and assessment

Methods of assessment are varied and linked to learning requirements. They may include open and closed book examination, essays, coursework assignments and case studies.

The programme requires students to undertake significant amounts of applied financial modelling using popular software packages. In addition, Blackboard, the University’s virtual learning platform is widely utilised. It is therefore a requirement that students on this programme own a PC or laptop running Windows 2000 / XP or similar and with an internet connection, preferably broadband.

Assessment Regulations – a summary

The University of Bradford Postgraduate Regulations for Taught Programmes can be found on the web at . You are advised to make yourself familiar with these.

The School operates a non-numerical assessment system. All assessment (coursework and examination) is graded as below:

AD Pass with Distinction

B Pass with Merit

C Pass

D Marginal Fair

EF Poor Fail

Assessment – Awards

The determination of awards is via a credit count where to gain a Masters degree all subjects should be completed at Pass level or not more than 20 credits condoned as Marginal fails.

On successful completion of 60 credits students are eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate. On successful completion of 120 credits are eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma.

Students with 100 credits at the Pass with Distinction level including any dissertation and who has completed all subjects at Pass level will be eligible for a Masters with distinction. Students with 100 or more credits at the Pass with Merit level including any dissertation, not more than 20 credits condoned as Marginal fails and no Poor fails, will be eligible for a Masters with merit. Further information on award and progression is available on request.

Admission requirements

Applications for the School’s taught postgraduate programmes are made directly to the School and are processed through the recruitment office. Applicants will normally have a good degree (ideally first or upper-second class honours) or its equivalent, in accounting and finance, economics, management (with a significant component of economics and/or accounting and finance) or a quantitative science such as mathematics, physics or engineering. The School recognises that there are able students who lack the usual academic qualifications but have appropriate professional qualifications; such cases are considered individually on merit.

All non-UK applicants are required to provide proof of proficiency in English Language (a score of at least 6.5 in the IELTS test of English and 94/240/580 internet based/computer based/written in TOEFL) unless their first degree was taught in English.

Learning resources

The School of Management is a self-contained facility, some 2½ miles from the main University campus. Its activities are supported by its own library dedicated to management, a language laboratory, a bookshop and a dedicated computer services centre. Study assistance is provided in the form of Blackboard, a virtual learning environment.

Student support and guidance

Guidance is provided by both the Directors of Study and the School of Management Programme Team. Each MSc student is allocated a Personal Tutor. International students can take advantage of the support and advice offered at University level by the International office. You will benefit from the assistance of the School’s Effective Learning Service and are able to take advantage of the language lessons available at the School to improve your language skills. You are also able to take advantage of Careers advice via the University Careers service and the School’s Careers advisor.

Disclaimer

The curriculum may change subject to the University’s course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Further Information

If you would like more information about the University of Bradford, please check the undergraduate prospectus at .

For further information about the School of Management please contact:

Bradford University School of Management, Emm Lane, Bradford BD9 4JL

Tel: +44 (0)1274 234393 Fax: +44 (0)1274 546866 E-mail: management@bradford.ac.uk

or go to

The School of Management is a school of the University of Bradford

Appendix– Awards and Locations

M.Sc. in Finance (full-time)

University of Bradford School of Management, UK

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