Banking and Finance MSc

Program Overview

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Banking and Finance MSc

Why choose Banking and Finance MSc at Middlesex?

The banking and finance industry has become a major end-user and even a major driver of technological innovation, such as machine learning, big data analysis and algorithm trading. This course uniquely combines theory and applications of finance, economics, quantitative methods, and big data analysis to allow you to increase your career opportunities in this fast-paced field.

Based near the heart of the UK's financial centre, our MSc Banking and Finance degree provides the foundations for a career in financial services and the banking industry.

This course emphasises prominent contemporary issues for the sector such as financial regulation, risk management, corporate finance, banking institutions, equity analysis and securities markets. It covers all aspects of the industry from macroeconomic and corporate to computational and quantitative.

We'll also teach you advanced skills in financial modelling, econometrics, equity analysis and quantitative risk management that will leave you in an excellent position when entering the industry.

What you will gain

By the time you graduate from this course, you will have developed a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of:

• Banking theory and regulation and compliance of financial institutions
• Financial assets, such as equities, fixed-income securities and derivatives
• Financial engineering and other quantitative techniques to evaluate financial instruments
• Financial databases such as Bloomberg, Datastream, Eikon and Thomson Reuters
• Equity analysis and investing in financial markets.

3 great reasons to pick this course

Top 6

UK university in Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024

Top 10

UK University for employability (UniCompare Rankings 2025).

Global Champions

Our Accounting Finance Department has been awarded a CIMA Campus Culture Excellence Award – Global Champion, 2022

About your course

Modules

Compulsory

• Big Data and Financial Modelling (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits)
• International Risk Management (15 credits)
• Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management (30 credits)
• Banking Regulations and Practice (30 credits)
• Applied Econometrics (15 credits)

Optional

• Research Methods and Dissertation (60 credits)
• Applied Professional Project (60 credits)

Teaching and learning

Teaching

Alongside lectures and seminars, you'll learn through individual and group presentations. This academic-focused work will be augmented by sessions and training in computer labs, including our Financial Markets Lab. You will also be shown how to collect data from resources such as Datastream, CapitalIQ, and Bloomberg.

Where will I study?

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon as well as the opportunity to study on our Dubai Campus as a part of your course.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study. We aim to make your timetable available at least 2 weeks before you the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning	Contact Hours per Week
On-campus	12
Independent Study	38

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time over two years.

Careers

How can the Banking and Finance MSc support your career?

Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career. We are a top 10 UK University for employability (UniCompare Rankings 2025), and a top 10 UK university for industry connections and funding in Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024.

Career paths

Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include investment management, hedge fund management, equity, bond and foreign currency markets, corporate treasury management and risk management.

Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include:

• Investment Analyst
• Fixed Income Trader
• Quant Trader
• Treasurer
• Hedge Fund Management
• The Equity, Bond and Foreign Currency Markets
• Corporate Treasury Management,
• Derivatives and Risk Management
• Credit Analyst

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

• The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023
• A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Entry requirements

Qualifications

We welcome your application regardless of your background or experience. If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

For this course, ideally, we are looking for these qualifications:

• A 2.2 honours degree.
• Graduate-level professional qualifications

Personal statements

Make sure that you highlight your best qualities in your personal statement that are relevant to this course. Such as your ability to be forward-thinking, creative and collaborative.

Interviews

You won’t be required to attend an interview.

Fees and funding

UK students

Full-time students: £12,800 Part-time students: £85 per credit Part-time students: £42 per dissertation credit

International students

Full-time students: £18,000 Part-time students: £120 per credit Part-time students: £60 per dissertation credit

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

• Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
• Free specialist software for your course
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

• The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
• The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
• The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
• The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
• Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees.

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

• Focus:
Combines theory and applications of finance, economics, quantitative methods, and big data analysis to enhance career opportunities in the fast-paced banking and finance industry.
• Location:
Middlesex University, London (short train ride from the financial centre)
• Duration:
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Emphasis:
Contemporary issues for the sector - financial regulation, risk management, corporate finance, banking institutions, equity analysis, and securities markets.
• Coverage:
All aspects of the industry - macroeconomic, corporate, computational, and quantitative.
• Skills Developed:
Financial modelling, econometrics, equity analysis, and quantitative risk management.
• Outcomes:
Graduates gain a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of:
• Banking theory and regulation and compliance of financial institutions
• Financial assets (equities, fixed-income securities, derivatives)
• Financial engineering and quantitative techniques to evaluate financial instruments
• Financial databases (Bloomberg, Datastream, Eikon, Thomson Reuters)
• Equity analysis and investing in financial markets

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Outline:

• Modules:
• Ethics and Aesthetics (30 credits)
• Advanced Research Skills (15 credits)
• Contexts: Critical Review (15 credits)
• Contexts: Materials and Methods (15 credits)
• Positioning your Research (15 credits)
• Collaborate: Strategies for Change (30 credits)
• Realise: Reaching your Audience (60 credits)
• Module Descriptions:
• Ethics and Aesthetics:
Explores ethics in photography, visual strategies for communicating ideas, critical debate in historical and contemporary photography.
• Advanced Research Skills:
Provides knowledge and skills for independent academic research in Visual Arts and Design at postgraduate level.
• Contexts: Critical Review:
Deepens knowledge and skills in critically reviewing influential research.
• Contexts: Materials and Methods:
Develops knowledge and skills in research methods and materials in the creative practice.
• Positioning your Research:
Develops confidence as a researcher and communicator, provides opportunity for peer review and public debate.
• Collaborate: Strategies for Change:
Explores photography as a collaborative practice, supports students in developing strategies for working productively with others.
• Realise: Reaching your Audience:
Supports students in producing and making public a significant body of photographic work or written commentary.
• Schedule:
Typically 1200 hours per year, balanced between on-campus and independent study.
• Independent Study:
12 hours per week.
• On-Campus Study:
12 hours per week.

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Assessment:

• Methods:
Presentations, in-class tests, written assignments (individual and group coursework), dissertation.
• Feedback:
Provided regularly on learning, progress, and skills development.

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Teaching:

• Methods:
Lectures, seminars, individual and group presentations, computer lab sessions, Financial Markets Lab, data collection sessions (Datastream, CapitalIQ, Bloomberg).
• Faculty:
Experienced teaching team with diverse expertise and professional experience.
• Support:
Personal tutor provides help and advice throughout studies.

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Careers:

• Outcomes:
95% of postgraduate students go on to work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022).

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Other: