Program Overview

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MSc Investment & Finance

The MSc Investment & Finance is designed for those who want to develop careers in areas such as security analysis, portfolio analysis, and investment management. The course provides a comprehensive education in the theory of finance and covers various techniques and analytical tools used by investment professionals in practical decision-making.

Key Facts

• Start date: September
• Accreditation: Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA); CFA Institute University Recognition Program
• Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time

Why this Course?

This course is suitable for those intending to develop their careers in finance, broadly defined as asset management, corporate finance, security analysis, derivatives, financial engineering, and treasury management. The program will prepare students for a career in the financial services industry and is ideally suited for entrepreneurs who want to have a solid knowledge of finance and its applications.

What You'll Study

The course is divided into two semesters, with the first semester providing a solid foundation and understanding of financial services and investment theories and applications. The second semester delves deeper into advanced finance, financial analysis, and quantitative methods and techniques.

Core Classes

• Principles of Finance
  • Credits: 20
  • Teaching: 33 hours of lectures supplemented by 10 one-hour workshops
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)
• Accounting & Financial Analysis
  • Credits: 20
  • Teaching: 43 hours, split between lectures and workshops
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
  • Credits: 20
  • Teaching: 43 hours, split between lectures and workshops
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)
• International Financial Markets & Banking
  • Credits: 20
  • Teaching: 43 hours, split between lectures and workshops
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)
• Derivatives & Treasury Management
  • Credits: 20
  • Teaching: 44 hours, split between lectures and workshops
  • Assessment: two class tests (15% each) and final examination (70%)
• Portfolio Theory & Management
  • Credits: 10
  • Teaching: 15 hours of lectures
  • Assessment: assignment (30%) and final examination (70%)
• Equity Analysis
  • Credits: 10
  • Teaching: 15 hours of lectures
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and group assignment (70%)
• Topics in Corporate Finance
  • Credits: 10
  • Teaching: 20 hours, split between lectures and workshops
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)

Elective Classes

Choose one from the following:

• Textual Analytics for Accounting & Finance
  • Credits: 10
  • Assessment: final examination (50%) & individual assessment (50%)
• Behavioural Finance
  • Credits: 10
• Financial Modelling with Excel
• Fixed Income Analysis
  • Credits: 10
  • Teaching: 15 hours of lectures
  • Assessment: class test (30%) and final examination (70%)

Research Projects

Prior to the start of the work on the projects, classes are provided on research methodology for each project. These compulsory classes will provide the basis for the project work, the nature of research work in finance or accounting, and the writing and structuring of research reports.

Strathclyde Business School

Strathclyde Business School was founded in 1948 and is a pioneering, internationally renowned academic organisation with a reputation for research excellence. It is a triple-accredited business school (AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA) and was the first business school in Scotland to achieve this accolade in 2004.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements/experience: Minimum second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in accounting, economics, business studies, or a subject area with a strong quantitative component.
• English language requirements: Students whose first language is not English must have a minimum of 6.5 IELTS score, with no individual score lower than 5.5.

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £16,800
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £16,800
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £32,600
• Additional costs: Course materials, other costs (students are required to print and soft bind their project submission, graduation gown hire, visa and immigration costs for international students).

Careers

This course is suitable for those intending to develop their careers in finance, broadly defined as asset management, corporate finance, security analysis, derivatives, financial engineering, and treasury management. Some of our recent graduates have been employed in the following roles:

• Goldman Sachs – Analyst
• Blackrock – Analyst
• Morgan Stanley - Analyst
• JP Morgan – Associate, Corporate Finance
• UBS – Product Specialist
• State Street – Fund Analyst
• Johnson & Johnson – Analyst
• Lloyds Banking Group - Senior Finance Associate
• IBM – Treasury Professional
• HSBC - Derivatives Analyst
• Industrial and Commercial Bank Of China – Junior Advisor
• Capgemini - Applications Consultant - Financial Services
• SilverMile Capital - Investment Banking Associate
• MPA Morrison Park Advisors Inc. - Investment Banking Associate
• MNC Sekuritas - Fixed Income Analyst
• BondEvalue – Vice President
• First Derivatives – Financial Engineer
• PWC – Associate
• Central Bank of Bolivia – Deputy Manager Open Market Operations
• Dynamic Planner – Investment analyst
• iTech Capital – Investment Analyst
• UTB Bank – Relationship Manager
• Azania Bank – Risk and Compliance
• Grupo Pegasus S.A. – Senior Investment Analyst

Learning & Teaching

Core and elective classes will be taught across two semesters. Classes will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and computer labs. During your studies, you'll interact with the Bloomberg Trading Simulation Laboratory in the Business School. In addition, you'll interact with Equitysim, an online trading simulation with real-time data. Dissertation and research projects are undertaken during the autumn months.

Assessment

Class assessments will take the form of a class test and/or assignment for most classes. Each class will be examined at the end of the semester they are offered.