Overview

 Financial analytics arms decision makers with the tools to make sense of an increasingly complex world. By combining internal financial information and operational data with external information such as social media, demographics and big data, financial analytics may address critical business questions with unprecedented ease, speed, and accuracy.

The Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Analysis has been designed to meet the growing need for financial professionals with the practical skills required for a rapidly evolving data driven financial function. Upon completion of this programme, graduates will understand the core principles of finance, be equipped to utilise data analytics, machine learning, and visualisation tools, apply the appropriate financial analytic models, and acquire enhanced understanding of business decision making in an ethical and cyber context.

Both full time and part time programme options are designed to facilitate learners with a Mathematic/Economic/computing/technology background who wish to upskill in this new and emerging area of Financial Analytics. Students can opt to take the theory and practical modules only and not complete the dissertation.

Aims of the Programme

The overall aim of the programme is to produce graduates with strong proficiencies in the application of financial analytics in a contemporary and evolving data driven environment, while also enhancing practical and technical skills.

The Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Analytics programme specific aims are to:

• Enable learners to develop in-depth knowledge and analytical skills in current and developing financial technologies.

• Provide learners with the ability to think critically and make informed, value creating, decisions based on complex and voluminous data.

• Develop learners’ core competencies and technical skills in the fields of applied finance, quantitative modelling risk management techniques and financial statement analysis.

• Enhance the learner’s ability to operate effectively in cross-cultural settings, understand the nature and complexities of globalisation with an ongoing commitment to the importance of business ethics in a global financial business environment.

• Foster learners’ leadership characteristics which will enable graduates to lead teams and to achieve organisational goals.

• Create an innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set that will enable learners to solve real problems in an evolving, technologically driven work environment.

• Enable learners to identify, develop and apply detailed analytical, creative, problem solving and research skills.

• Provide learners with a comprehensive platform for career development, innovation and further study.

 Delivery

This programme is taught on a hybrid basis. This means learners are timetabled either in-class or online, in a mix of online and in-class days.

Career Opportunities

The Chartered Global Management Accountant’s (2019) “Re-inventing finance for a digital world”; found that financial analytics can enable better decision making across a business by providing accurate, timely and high quality data analysis which supports improved planning and forecasting capabilities.

Graduates from the Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Analytics programme will have the potential to work in a wide range of industries, such as:

• Accountants - Financial or Managerial

• Financial Analyst

• Corporate Finance

• Treasury Operations/Analyst

• Portfolio Manager

• Business Analyst

• Business Intelligence

• Consultant

• Private Equity Analyst (VC)

• Entrepreneur and/or Innovator

Assessment Methods

The programme teaching and learning strategy is designed to allow the learner to progress through the theoretical and practical concepts in an orderly and logical fashion. The assessment strategy is planned to ensure practical application of the core principles of the module and facilitates feedback, which underpins the overall learning experience.

The overall assessment strategy of the programme is a mixture of practical individual and/or group - project bases - continuous assessment, and where appropriate a final examination.

The programme emphasises the development and evolution of the skills and attributes relevant to the contemporary workplace, and the programme’s assessment strategy reflects this clear objective.