Kent Business School’s specialist Master’s programmes in Finance are specially designed to respond to the rapidly changing needs of the finance and financial services sector, cultivating practical financial skills and developing real-world business knowledge.
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Overview
The MSc in Financial Services in Banking is designed to provide you with a good grounding in the principles and practices of banks and financial institutions. It develops your knowledge and understanding of how banks and financial institutions function in the economy and global financial system.
The programme will be of particular interest to those wishing to build careers within banks, building societies, specialised financial institutions and fund management, securities dealing firms, multinational companies, or to occupy roles in corporate financial management and independent financial advice.
The programme been recognised by PRMIA (Professional Risk Managers’ International Association) the world renowned professional body, granting Kent Business School the status of PRMIA academic partner reserved for a limited and select number of Finance programmes in the world.
Kent Business School (KBS)
We are a world-class business school combining rigorous teaching with real world relevance and strong links to the business community.
Our research, which is within the top 30 business schools, underpins and enhances our teaching. Our flagship programme, the Kent MBA, has AMBA accreditation and together with our Master’s in Management, Marketing, Business Analytics, Human Resource Management, Logistics, Management Science, Value Chain Management and programmes in finance and accounting, we continue to attract applicants with a wide range of backgrounds from 102 countries leading to excellent results in the 2012 Guardian and Sunday Times university league tables.
Studying at KBS gives you the opportunity to increase your employability with real-life case studies, a student council and a business society. We have strong links to local and national organisations providing opportunities for projects, internships and graduate placements. The School attracts many high-profile speakers from industry and last year included visits and lectures from staff of the Bank of England, BAE Systems, Barclays, Lloyds Insurance, Cummins, Delphi and Kent County Council.
A wide range of funding opportunities is available for postgraduate students, including scholarships, bursaries, the Double Loyalty Scheme (for Kent graduates) and our Early Bird Scheme which offers a 10% tuition fee discount to students who apply before 31 March 2014) and commit early.
- For more information on funding, see Student Funding.
National ratings
Kent Business School was ranked within the top 30 business schools in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 55% of our Business and Management studies research was rated as “Internationally excellent” or “World leading”.
Kent ranked 20th for Research Assessment within the Accounting & Finance subject area in the 2014 Complete University Guide.
Course structure
This programme provides a solid background in the principles and practices of financial institutions, markets and systems. You develop your knowledge, understanding and insight into how financial institutions and markets function in the economy and global financial system. You also develop an appropriate range of cognitive, critical, intellectual and research skills, plus relevant personal and interpersonal skills to interact in the real world of business and finance.
Elements of practical work will be carried out in the Business School’s dedicated Bloomberg Lab. The virtual trading platform allows you to access and engage with market data through practical case studies and the use of online databases. The programmes also provide you with the necessary training required for the Bloomberg Certificate.
Modules
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.
| Modules may include | Credits |
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Teaching and Assessment
The programme involves a taught and a project component.
The taught programme is assessed by a mixture of coursework assignments throughout the year, and by examinations in May and June.
Once these are completed, you work full-time on the project component and write a dissertation based on this, applying techniques and insights presented in the programme to a specific problem.
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- provide knowledge and understanding of the financial systems and institutions that exist in Western economies and emerging markets
- provide you with the knowledge to be able to evaluate the relevant literature critically
- provide you with the knowledge to enable the application of appropriate risk management techniques
- enable you to interpret and evaluate banking and financial theory critically
- develop your ability to apply quantitative techniques to finance and banking practice
- develop an appropriate range of cognitive, critical and intellectual skills, research skills and relevant personal and interpersonal skills
- provide you with the knowledge of the financial regulations that exist within the financial world
- provide preparation for and/or development of a career in financial services/banking by developing your skills at a professional or equivalent level, or as preparation for research or further study in the area
- add value to your first degree by developing your integrated and critical awareness and understanding in the field of financial services
- provide teaching and learning opportunities that are informed by high-quality research and scholarships, from within the Kent Business School and elsewhere
- develop your ability to conduct independent self-directed research.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the advanced concepts and theories within the field of banking and finance and their application to developments and issues in the financial markets
- the current research methodologies and statistical techniques applied to financial data
- theoretical and practical aspects of key areas of finance
- up-to-date relevant literature in the fields of banking and finance
- the structure and operations of the financial markets and the financial regulations that exist
- the methods by which risk faced by banks is managed (both theoretical and practical)
- the quantitative techniques applied to finance and banking practice.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in:
- critical thinking and creativity, including the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements, and generalise appropriately
- the ability to solve complex problems and make decisions
- the ability to select, organise, develop and synthesise complex material
- the analytical skills necessary for the analysis of problems and the identification of appropriate solutions
- the ability to plan work, study independently and use relevant resources in a away which reflects best current practice and anticipated future practice
- the ability to plan, structure, and produce a dissertation.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- the ability to critically interpret and evaluate financial data and information
- the ability to demonstrate an advanced understanding in the field of finance and banking
- the ability to apply theories to practical and theoretical problems
- numeracy and quantitative skills required to analyse theoretical and practical problems in banking and finance
- the ability to analyse important issues in the area of banking and finance
- the ability to conduct research in the field of finance and banking.
Transferable skills
You will gain the following transferable skills:
- the development of numeracy and quantitative skills
- communication skills: listening, oral, and written communication using a range of media
- the effective use of communication
- the ability to undertake independent and self-managed learning
- a capacity for self-development and continuous learning.
Careers
We aim to enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects. You will gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from Kent Business School. In today’s business climate employers are increasingly demanding more from new employees, we are therefore proud that they continually target our graduates for their organisations across the globe. Employers respect our robust teaching and reputation for delivering international business expertise, leading global research and an outstanding international learning experience.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace.
For more information on the services Kent provides you to improve your career prospects visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability.
Professional recognition
Our MSc in Financial Services in Banking has been recognised by PRMIA (Professional Risk Managers’ International Association) the world renowned professional body, granting Kent Business School the status of PRMIA academic partner reserved for a limited and select number of Finance programmes in the world.
Kent Business School is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Association of Business Schools (ABS).
Study support
Quants Workshop
Kent Business School (KBS) offers an optional two-week refresher workshop in Mathematics, Statistics and Excel, prior to the start of this programme. The workshop is offered at no cost (please note however that attendees must arrange their own accommodation).
The workshop will refresh your knowledge of the quantitative concepts and techniques needed for your Master studies. It is organised as a series of short lectures and practical workshops, and you will have the opportunity to go through a series of theoretical and practical exercises with staff from the School. There will be no assessment at the end of the course.
If you have accepted a formal offer for this programme and you would like to attend the workshop, please email kbsadmissions@kent.ac.uk to secure your space.
Postgraduate resources
Kent’s libraries offer over a million books, periodicals and journals, and we have subject specific librarians to help you secure access to the information you need.
We also offer excellent teaching facilities with tailor-made specialist resources. Postgraduate students can access a range of specialist software packages used in quantitative analysis and in finance. Kent Business School occupies a purpose-designed building consisting of executive learning facilities with wireless provision throughout. Each postgraduate student is assigned a specific member of academic staff who acts as your first point of contact throughout your studies. There is a lively postgraduate community at the School, with plenty of space to relax and interact with your fellow students and our academic staff.
An international focus
Kent Business School has more than 50 internationally recognised academics from 22 different countries. Most of our teaching faculty are involved with researching the latest issues in business and management, working with organisations to provide new insight for business leaders and policymakers. Their knowledge and findings feed into the programmes to ensure they are both cutting-edge and globally relevant.
Worldwide partnerships
Kent Business School has close links with: ifs (Institute of Financial Services); dunnhumby, who partner the Consumer Insight Service in the Centre for Value Chain Research; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, where we have strong research links in tourism management; Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences (Germany); Chinese Academy of Sciences; Hong Kong Baptist University, with whom we offer a joint Master’s programme in Operational Research and Finance Business Statistics; University of Castellanza (Italy); University of the Littoral (France); University of Lille (France); University of Rouen (France); University of Deusto (Spain); and University of Tasmania (Australia).
Dynamic publishing culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Applied Mathematical Finance; International Journal of Financial Economics and Econometrics; European Journal of Finance; Journal of Banking and Finance; International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance.
Entry requirements
A good first degree (minimum 2.1 or equivalent) in areas such as business, economics, finance, accounting, humanities, engineering and computer science.
Please also see our general entry requirements.
English language entry requirements
For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
Research areas
Research activities at Kent Business School are broadly organised into five areas:
- Accounting and Finance
- Management Science
- Marketing
- People, Management and Organisation
- Strategy and International Business
Our Accounting and Finance group pursues research in a variety of areas including financial management in the public and profit-seeking sector, environmental and social aspects of accounting, cash flow analysis, the law and practice of auditing, accounting history and international accounting, financial econometrics, corporate finance, asset pricing, real-estate modelling, security price behaviour.
- For more information on our Applied Research Centre see Centre for Quantitative Finance.
Staff research interests
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Dr Li-cheng Chang: Senior Lecturer in Financial Accounting
Institutional theory and organisational change; performance measurement and balanced scorecard; behavioural aspects of budgetary and management control; public sector accountability.
View ProfileDr D Godsell: Senior Lecturer in Financial Accounting
Auditing, Auditing and corporate governance, Auditors’ legal responsibilities.
View ProfileDr Mohammad Hasan: Senior Lecturer in Finance
Financial economics, international finance, macro and monetary economics.
View ProfileDr Abdullah Iqbal: Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance
Market-Based Accounting Research, financial reporting following the implementation of IFRS, asset valuation and capital structure under Islamic finance.
View ProfileDr Ortenca Kume: Lecturer in Finance
Credit risk; Mutual fund performance; Behavioural finance; Capital structure.
View ProfileMr Arvind Lall: Lecturer in Taxation and Ethics
Tax planning and business start up's. (Corporate) tax avoidance.
View ProfileDr David Morelli: Senior Lecturer in Finance and Financial Management
Examining the behaviour of securities in the equity markets, analysing potential determinants of security price movements along with testing various pricing models.
View ProfileMrs Angela Ransley: Senior Lecturer in Finance and Financial Management
Financial management; The role of management accounting in decision making; Structures of corporate finance; Financial markets.
View ProfileDr Nikolaos Voukelatos: Senior Lecturer in Finance
Option returns, option-implied information, forecasting, hedge funds and cross-sectional asset pricing.
View ProfileFees
As a guide only, the 2014/15 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| International Banking and Finance - MSc at Canterbury: | ||
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Exceptions may apply. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk