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Course overview

Our MSc in Finance and Investment has been developed to produce practical and proactive finance specialists, able to meet the demand of the financial sector both locally and abroad.

The programme offers rigorous and advanced intellectual training in the area of finance and investment, based on the most current and modern academic thinking and industry best practice. We also place emphasis on our students’ roles in and duties towards the financial community to prepare them for life after they graduate.

Our MSc Finance and Investment offers a well-focused education in the theories and methodologies that are utilised today for valuation using financial tools from both the investor’s and institutional perspective. It also examines the complexities behind the decision making processes required at all levels.

Who is this programme suitable for?

The programme is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in the financial sector who have recently acquired their bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, investment and banking related fields. It is for those who wish to enhance their knowledge of managing and working in organisations within an array of competing economic, social, political and cultural conditions.

Assessment

Students will be required to successfully complete 6 core modules and complete a written dissertation.

Our MSc has a unique feature – it provides the opportunity for students to attempt the CFA Level 1 examination (optional) while completing the MSc qualification and support will be provided.

This Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) qualification, adds the professional context to the postgraduate degree and develop skills and capabilities required by investment analysts, finance managers, finance directors and chief financial officers.

Facilities

Buckingham Business School offers excellent facilities and resources to the postgraduate students including:

• Real Time Data Software: Thomson Reuters EIKON.
• Time Series Database: A full range of economic and financial data is available through DataStream.
• Statistical Analysis Software: A wide range of Econometric software including SPSS, EVIEWS, Stata and Matlab.

Assistance towards registration will be provided to students who wish to attempt the CFA while studying for their MSc in Finance & Investment degree.

Work placement

Outstanding students on the programme will have the opportunity of a short work placement with either wealth management, financial services, banking or accounting related firms. This option is available for both international and full-time home/EU students.

Programme director

Dr Gurcharan Singh
Tel: +44 (0)1280 820 172
Email: [email protected]

Quality teaching

We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

High calibre staff

Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.

Teaching methods

Teaching across our postgraduate programmes is through a combination of formal lectures, tutorials and seminars. Our lectures aim to encourage healthy dialogue between faculty and students, and between students themselves, while our small tutorial groups ensure that students can engage even more closely with their teachers. Members of the Business School faculty also make a point of being available to students outside the scheduled teaching sessions – something which our postgraduate students find particularly valuable.

We frequently use case studies to examine business decisions taken in real situations, and business simulations and games give you first-hand experience of decision making in the world of work. Role-play and group problem-solving exercises help you to apply some of the theoretical concepts delivered in lectures and you will have the opportunity to undertake individual or group projects with local companies on topical business issues.

Assessment methods

The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. Please check module information for more details.

Preparation for work

All our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. Many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.

Graduate employment

Our graduates have gone on to further study at most of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, London, Oxford and Cambridge and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. Among our alumni we have a graduate who became the head of his country’s civil service and one who became a leading Formula One motor-racing driver. Another secured a position as the Minister of Sabah and one female law graduate became the first British lawyer to become a French Advocate.