MSc Finance and Risk

Course Aim and Title MSc Finance and Risk

Intermediate Awards Available Postgraduate Certificate in Finance and Risk
Postgraduate Diploma in Finance and Risk

Teaching Institution(s) UEL on campus

Alternative Teaching Institutions N/A

(for local arrangements see final section of this
specification)
UEL Academic School Royal Docks School of Business and Law
UCAS Code N/A
Professional Body Accreditation Chartered Bankers Institute (CBI)
Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment
(CISI) (If approved)
Relevant QAA Benchmark Statements QAA Subject Benchmarks for Masters Awards in
Business and Management
Additional Versions of this Course N/A
Date Specification Last Updated 28th March 2019

Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a rigorous grounding in the core concepts, knowledge and skills of
finance and risk through the thorough examination of the specialist literature in these areas and the practical
use of data collection and analysis. The key objective of the course is to develop knowledgeable, technically
competent and highly employable graduates who are able to critically engage both with core concepts and a
diverse set of ideas. While the course is conceptually driven, it is also pragmatically focussed with a view to
teaching concepts that have a high degree of relevance to finance, banking and its regulation, such as
professionalism, ethics and risk within the financial sector. The modules will consist of a variety of learning
approaches including scheduled lectures and seminars, in-class workshops, computer practicals, Bloomberg
trading sessions, case studies and guest lectures from leading practitioners.

The MSc Finance and Risk course offered at UEL will provide the essential postgraduate skills to those wishing
to follow careers in applied finance, investment management, retail or corporate banking as well as those
wishing to pursue further research. The course content is closely mapped to the Chartered Banking Diploma
awarded by the Chartered Bankers Institute and is accredited by Chartered Institute for Securities and
Investment (CISI) (If approved). UEL has close partnership with both these professional bodies.

This course is designed to give you the opportunity to:

 • Intellectually synthesise an understanding of the role of financial firms and organisations as a system
for the effective conduit of funds from surplus financial units to those in need of finance
• Critically develop students’ academic knowledge of financial instruments practices and processes
from both an organisational and individual perspective
• Significantly enhance students’ analytical ability in financial, mathematical and statistical technique
• Develop and embed a range of personal, communication and critical analytical skills
• Enhance students’ abilities to engage in critically reflective practice to foster personal development
and life-long learning
• Rigorously educate and practically train students for a career in Finance and Banking or to pursue
doctoral studies

What you will learn:

Knowledge

• Models explaining attitudes to risk and how this affects the behaviour of firms

• Implications of capital structure for dividends and tax

• How to specify and estimate financial and risk models

• The structure and operation of different markets from which firms might obtain finance

• How governments and supra-governmental organisations address risks in the finance

Industry

Thinking skills

• Critically evaluate the specification, estimation and use of econometric models

• Modelling and evaluation of factors critical to risk financing decisions

• Synthesis of problems in the financing of firms

• Critical examination and evaluation of specialist literature

Subject-Based Practical skills

• The collection, collation and presentation of financial data and analysis

• Identification and application of appropriate statistical and mathematical tools.

• Effective use of specialist ICT tools and systems

• Identify the implications of research methodologies and findings

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Analyse complex quantitative problems to inform decision making

• Demonstrate effective management of time and planning to deliver required outputs

effectively

• Effective written and oral communication

• Develop as an independent self-learner

Learning and Teaching

Knowledge is developed through

• Directed and general reading in the module

• Participation in lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and computer classes

• Research requiring the collection and analysis of financial data

• The use of information technology including specialist analytical software to undertake secondary
research

Thinking skills are developed through

• Preparing tasks set for tutorials, seminars and workshops

• Preparing for computer classes and reinforcing learning through independent study using the virtual
learning environment.

• Satisfactorily completing the continuous assessment process including essays, presentations, reports,
and projects

• Preparation for examinations or major assignments such as the dissertation

• Problem-solving and critical analysis in seminar activities

Practical skills are developed through

• Academic and research skills sessions

• Computer classes

• Case studies and workshops

• Undertaking data collection and analysis

• Planning and staging of presentation

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Managing time so that assignment deadlines are met, whether working in groups or individually
• Forming and working in teams which will develop organisational, motivational and communication
skills

• Being able to produce clearly argued solutions when problem solving

• Academic writing ability

Assessment

Knowledge is assessed by

• Evidence of comprehensive reading in the module

• Ability to explain, identify, describe, discuss, draw upon (as appropriate) the ideas presented in the
module in the context of the given assessment tasks

• Ability to apply the analytical tools presented and practiced in the modules

Thinking skills are assessed by

• The ability to compare, examine, contrast, question, debate, distinguish between (as appropriate)
the ideas in the module and how they are relevant to the piece of assessment

• The ability to develop, elaborate, redefine, propose alternatives, re-conceptualise, integrate,

establish new connections from (as appropriate) the knowledge in the module

• The ability to assess, judge, appraise, debate, criticise (as appropriate) the issues in the module in
addressing the assessment task

Practical skills are assessed by

• The ability to prepare an assignment using appropriate resources, including Information Technology,
to address the issue or question in the assessment

• Evidence of logical planning in preparing the assessment

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Evidence of effective team or group working

• Ability to work under pressure or in time constrained environments

• The application of appropriate problem-solving skills and critical analysis

Knowledge is assessed by

• Evidence of comprehensive reading in the module

• Ability to explain, identify, describe, discuss, draw upon (as appropriate) the ideas presented in the
module in the context of the given assessment tasks
• Ability to apply the analytical tools presented and practiced in the modules

Thinking skills are assessed by

• The ability to compare, examine, contrast, question, debate, distinguish between (as appropriate)
the ideas in the module and how they are relevant to the piece of assessment

• The ability to develop, elaborate, redefine, propose alternatives, re-conceptualise, integrate,

establish new connections from (as appropriate) the knowledge in the module

• The ability to assess, judge, appraise, debate, criticise (as appropriate) the issues in the module in
addressing the assessment task

Practical skills are assessed by

• The ability to prepare an assignment using appropriate resources, including Information Technology,
to address the issue or question in the assessment

• Evidence of logical planning in preparing the assessment

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Evidence of effective team or group working

• Ability to work under pressure or in time constrained environments

• The application of appropriate problem-solving skills and critical analysis

Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss assessments with the Course
Leader to ensure they are able to fully engage with all assessment within the course.

Work or Study Placements

N/A

Course Structure

All courses are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and
private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

 3 Equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an
undergraduate degree course.

4 Equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree course.

5 Equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree course.

6 Equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree course.

7 Equivalent in standard to a Masters degree.

Courses are made up of modules that are each credit weighted.

The module structure of this course:

Available by
Module Credit Weighting Core/Option Distance
Level Module Title Learning?
Code
Y/N

International Finance and

7 FN7020 30 Core N
Securities

Bank Credit and Investment

7 FN7022 30 Core N
Management

Risk Management in Banking

7 FN7021 30 Core N
and Corporate Finance

Bloomberg Trading
Simulation and
7 FN7023 30 Core N
Professionalism & Ethics in
Banking

Mental Wealth 4: Mental

7 HR7004 Wealth and Applied 30 Core N
Research

7 SG7002 Applied Business Project 30 Core N

Please note: Optional modules might not run every year, the course team will decide on an annual basis which
options will be running, based on student demand and academic factors, in order to create the best learning
experience.

Additional detail about the course module structure:

A core module for a course is a module which a student must have passed (i.e. been awarded credit) in order
to achieve the relevant named award. An optional module for a course is a module selected from a range of
modules available on the course.
The overall credit-rating of this course is 180 credits. If for some reason you are unable to achieve this credit
you may be entitled to an intermediate award, the level of the award will depend on the amount of credit you
have accumulated. You can read the University Student Policies and Regulations on the UEL website.

Course Specific Regulations

N/A

Typical Duration

It is possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors
such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and
this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

PG
The duration of this course is one calendar year full-time if enrolment is in September, and two calendar
years part-time. For February enrolment, the duration becomes 12 months full time, and 24 months part-
time.
The time limit for completion of a course is four years after first enrolment on the course.

Further Information

More information about this course is available from:

• The UEL web site (www.uel.ac.uk)
• The course handbook
• Module study guides
• UEL Manual of General Regulations (available on the UEL website)
• UEL Quality Manual (available on the UEL website)
• School web pages

All UEL courses are subject to thorough course approval procedures before we allow them to commence. We
also constantly monitor, review and enhance our courses by listening to student and employer views and the
views of external examiners and advisors.

Additional costs:
N/A

Alternative Locations of Delivery

N/A