Finance (Dual Award) - MSc

Teaching

Teaching and assessment

The programme involves a taught component. The taught programme is assessed by a mixture of coursework assignments throughout the year, and by examinations in May and June. 

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• Develop students’ existing skills and knowledge and to provide students’ with an advanced conceptual understanding of the key issues in Finance/Financial Management
• Provide students with the knowledge to be able to evaluate relevant literature critically
• Provide students with a theoretical framework so as to understand, interpret and analyse key issues in finance
• Provide students with knowledge of research methodologies adopted in empirical research
• Provide students with the skills to test and evaluate theoretical models
• Develop an appropriate range of cognitive, critical and intellectual skills, research skills and relevant personal and interpersonal skills
• Provide preparation for and/or development of a career in the field of Finance/Financial Management by developing skills at a professional or equivalent level, or as preparation for research  or further study in the area
• Add value to a first degree by developing in individuals an 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 students’ ability to develop independent self-directed research

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain the following knowledge and understanding:

• The advanced concepts and theory within the field of finance and their application to         company’s financial decisions
• The research methodologies to test and evaluate finance and economic models
• Theoretical and practical aspects of key areas of finance
• Up to date relevant empirical literature in the fields of finance
• Econometric and statistical methods applied to financial data
  
• Quantitative techniques to the practice of risk management

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

• Critical thinking and creativity. Including the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate    statements, and generalise appropriately
• Ability to solve complex problems and make decisions
• Ability to select, organise, develop and synthesise complex material
• Analytical skills necessary for the analysis of problems and the identification of appropriate solutions
• Ability to plan work and study independently and use relevant resources in a away which reflects best current practice and anticipated future practice
• Plan, structure, and produce a dissertation, business report or project

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

• Ability to interpret financial data and perform quantitative analysis
• Ability to interpret and evaluate the results obtained from quantitative analysis
• Ability to apply theories to practical and theoretical problems
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills
• Ability to analyse important issues relevant for companies’ financial decisions
• Ability to conduct research in Finance issues
• Ability to perform statistical and econometric analysis

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

• Development of numeracy and quantitative skills
• Communication skills; listening, oral, and written communication using a range of media
• Effective use of communication and Information technology
• Ability to undertake independent and self-managed learning
• Capacity for self-development and continuous learning
• Effective performance within a team environment and the ability to recognise and utilise others’ contributions in group processes

Careers

You gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from Kent Business School – we enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects. Our finance programmes equip you with an impressive set of skills and specialist knowledge. In addition, inbuilt practical experience will help you succeed in a competitive job market.

This pathway is ideal preparation for a career with investment and commercial banks, insurance companies, specialised financial institutions, trading companies and financial management roles in other industries.

Careers in finance continue to provide exceptional earning potential in the UK and globally; the very highest-paying job specialisms in the finance sector include structurer, trader, M&A and fund management (13 May 2016, City A.M.).

Our students have an excellent record for employment. Recent graduates are now working in top global companies including AXA, BNP Paribas, FactSet, HSBC, PwC, Santander, Thomson Reuters, USB Investment Bank and Zurich Financial Services.

Professional recognition

The  MSc Finance programme is affiliated with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and recognised by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) as PRMIA academic partner at programme level.

Kent Business School is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS); and the Kent MBA is an Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredited programme.

In addition, KBS has accredited programmes with the following professional bodies:

• The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
• The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
• The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
• The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
• The Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA)
• The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)
• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• CFA Institute

KBS is a signatory of the United Nation's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), which provides a global network for academic institutions to advance corporate sustainability and social responsibility.

Study support

Quants workshops

Kent Business School (KBS) offers an optional one and half week refresher quantitative skills workshop in Mathematics, Statistics and Excel, prior to the start of your main MSc programme. The workshop is offered at no extra tuition cost; however, students will need to make their own accommodation arrangements and register to attend via the online booking form.

The workshop will refresh your knowledge of the quantitative concepts and techniques needed for your Master's 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 register to secure your place.

Full details and how to register.

Postgraduate resources

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.

On the Canterbury Campus, Kent Business School recently moved into a new academic building, known as The Sibson Building, a vibrant new campus destination. This state-of-the-art building includes lecture theatres, seminar rooms, dedicated MBA, PhD and IT suites. These new learning and teaching spaces, as well as modern social and breakout areas, encapsulate Kent Business School’s academic values and identity.

The Sail and Colour Loft features six seminar rooms, a group learning room, a computer suite, quiet study areas, student social spaces and a special reference collection of core text books. 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. Most academic schools have specific study areas for postgraduates and there is also a general postgraduate common room with work area.

An international focus

Kent Business School has more than 40 internationally recognised academics from 23 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 a number of European institutions including Neoma Business School, Jean Moulin University Lyon III and Rennes School of Business in France; EBS University of Business and Law, Germany; IE University, Madrid and LIUC Università Carlo Cattaneo in Italy.  Our international partners include Hong Kong Baptist University where we offer dual Masters programmes in both Finance and Business Analytics; City University of Hong Kong; Renmin University of China and Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money; International Journal of Finance & Economics; Journal of Banking and Finance; European Journal of Operational Research; Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting; Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control; European Journal of Finance; Journal of Asset Management; International Review of Financial Analysis.

Global Skills Award

All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.