Finance MSc

This module will provide you the knowledge and skills of empirical finance that are important in the field of banking, finance and investment. The module will deliver you the knowledge of econometrics that is required to understand and analyse the real world financial data. You will learn about classical econometric models such as linear regression involving Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method, time series regressions, hypothesis testing. Furthermore, you will be introduced to forecasting methods and their applications. You will also learn panel data analysis.

The content of the module that you will study comprises four key blocks, which are listed below.

Block 1 - Properties of financial data, Classical Linear Regression Methods, Time series models and Hypothesis testing
Block 2 – Introduction to forecasting methods in Finance and their applications such as forecasting stock market returns and trading strategies.
Block 3 – Application of Classical Linear Regression models
Block 4 – Panel Data Analysis

In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).

Corporate governance offers the foundation for establishing transparency and accountability within organisations as well as support their strategic success. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the relationship between the organisation and its shareholders, other stakeholders, and the society at large. This module will explore various internal and external mechanisms of corporate governance that supports the organisation as a responsible member of the society and how this relates to the concepts of social responsibility, sustainability and business ethics. The module will also establish the links between responsible business practices and wider sustainable development initiatives such as the UN sustainable development Goals (SDGs).
The module will then consider the dynamic and complex landscape of sustainable finance which includes a myriad of players including security issuers, regulators, standard setters, rating agencies to investment companies. The module will introduce various sustainable and green investment vehicles. The module will consider green washing/impact washing, individual and collective actions among other contemporary issues in this area. Finally, the module will consider some of the technological innovations in the area of sustainable finance including innovations in banking and payment systems, applications of blockchain technology including digital assets and big data analytics including the use of AI. A key feature of the module are the workshops that will enable you to acquire data analysis skills using specialist software.

The module will also develop your curiosity and interest of ethical decision making in business, and to help you understand what ethics means from both an individual and organisational perspective. The module will enable you to develop an awareness of ethical dilemmas in business and challenge you to discuss and debate ethical decision-making as a future employer or employee
Topics

1 Responsible business and Sustainable development
2 Corporate governance and accountability
3 The use of ethical frameworks to aid the decision-making process
4 Sustainable finance landscape and issues
5 Fintech innovations in sustainability
6 Ethics and professionalism

Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This

module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments

and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively

for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your

use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.

• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.

• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’

• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).

• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.

• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.

• Presenting your ideas

• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.

• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.

• Developing self-reflection skills.

The module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills pertinent to responsible financial decision making practices. In doing so, this module will equip you with both theoretical and practical knowledge regarding corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainable strategic decision making in finance.

Within the module, you will cover the following five main topics:

• The role of finance, operations and marketing functions in strategic decision making
• Financial evaluation of sustainable investment projects
• Corporate governance, accountability and disclosure
• Socially responsible investment
• Corporate social and environmental reporting


The module will lead you to the development of critical evaluation of strategic decisions in finance and how they are affected by the governance, sustainability and ethical aspects of the business within an international context. You will become aware of how responsible decision-making can contribute towards meeting sustainable strategic objectives for companies operating in competitive global business environment.

On completing the module you will be able to apply knowledge of responsible and ethical behaviour to corporate financial decision making and critically appreciate the relevant factors influencing sustainable strategic decisions whilst being able to analyse corporate performance using corporate governance and ethical screening techniques.

The module introduces you to core concepts regarding the objective of finance, how capital is first raised and then deployed into wealth creating operations and then how wealth is then returned to the providers of capital in an optimal way. At the end of the module you should be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of corporate finance and develop the skills and ability to analyse corporate finance decisions in both quantitative and qualitative terms. You will also undertake an individual research project looking into capital market efficiency.

In this module you will gain a fundamental understanding of the concepts and theories operating within international financial markets, the financial institutions/participants that comprise the market and its regulation. Your learning will begin a the macro level, examining the financial system as a whole, the different institutions that comprise it, their roles within it and how they are regulated (with specific reference to banking). You will learn about market dynamics – what drives markets and finally what drives the markets for specific instruments, namely money market instruments, equities and fixed income. To apply the knowledge acquired in this module, you will be using financial information and data. You will also use basic financial arithmetic and statistics through Microsoft Excel.

In the module, you will learn the knowledge and skills that are important to understand and analyse the performance of portfolio composed of stocks and fixed-income securities. Additionally, you will develop a critical understanding of derivative instruments (options, forward and futures) and about market risk measurement technique (VaR). The module thus provides detail theoretical background where you will also learn the application side of investments in financial assets and portfolio management.

The content of the module that you will study comprises six key parts which are listed below.

Risk Management (VaR)
Derivatives (Options, Forward and Futures Contracts)
Investment Process, Asset Allocation and Developments in Investment Theory
Valuation Principles and Practices
Fixed Income Securities
Evaluation of Portfolio Performance