Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop knowledge of theories and their application in money, banking, and finance

• To give students general training that is vocationally relevant to employment in the financial services sectors of government, commerce and industry
• To equip students with appropriate tools of analysis that will allow them to undertake applied research for their employers in the areas of monetary policy, banking, and finance.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The academic level at which the Master of Science (MSc) programme is taught and assessed is guided by the criteria for the degree of Master in The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England Wales and Northern Ireland, published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Understand and explain the functions and operations of financial institutions and systems, with special reference to central banks, commercial banks and other financial intermediaries
• Understand and explain the core theories of financial economics with respect to risk management, asset pricing and investment, and to be able to use these theories to assist them in asset management
• Understand the inter-relationships between banking, the financial system, the conduct of monetary policy and the investment decisions of individual and institutional investors
• Undertake applied research in money, banking and finance, using research tools and quantitative methods appropriate to the conduct of such research.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Analyse theoretical and practical problems in money, banking and finance, by using the theories and quantitative methods appropriate to those disciplines
• Synthesise important issues and themes from the professional and academic literature in money, banking, and finance
• Use the professional and academic literature in money, banking and finance, to formulate questions suitable for empirical research
• Critically analyse professional and academic research papers in money, banking and finance financial markets.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Present word-processed written reports using structure, paragraphing and citation, appropriate to professional and academic standards in money banking and finance
• Construct tables of statistical data, interpret such data, and carry out statistical hypothesis testing.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply skills in analysis and problem formulation to areas of general debate in disciplines other than those the of the named award
• Use skills in synthesis to formulate key issues in areas of general debate in disciplines other than those the of the named award

More generally, students should have further developed skills in:

• Numeracy
• Logical thinking and problem solving
• Use of information technology (retrieval of data, web-based information searching, handling of data, word-processing and spreadsheet methods)
• Written and oral communication
• Time management and decision-making
• Independent study
• Group study.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Semester 1 (Total Modular Weight 60)

Compulsory Modules

4.2 Semester 2 (Total Modular Weight 75)

Compulsory Modules

Optional Modules

*One module (if both ECP150 and ECP152 are selected) or two modules (if only one of ECP150 or ECP152 are selected), each with a weight of 15, must be chosen from the MSc Module List (semester 2) to be published by the School before the end of semester 1.

4.3 Assessed Research Practice (Total Modular Weight 45)

During the summer period the student will be required to undertake supervised research practice, to be assessed by examination in two modules, following the completion of the research communication module. 

a) Research seminars will be provided in research subjects to be published by the School before the end of the third week of semester two.

b) Students must attend research seminars in one subject area and contribute to them by carrying out and reporting on research work, in 含羞草视频, under the guidance of the seminar convenor.

c) Attainment in the chosen seminar subject will be assessed in two modules, ECP303 and ECP304, each covering a different aspect of the chosen subject. ECP303 will examine specialist subject knowledge and ECP304 will examine research skills.

d)    Students will be allocated by the module organiser to a research subject relevant to monetary economics, banking, finance or financial markets.

e) A candidate who fails an examination will be permitted to undertake re-assessment on one occasion only. The candidate may choose to be re-assessed either at a special re-assessment exam to be held in October or at the normal next assessment of these modules during the next academic year.

f) Re-assessment with tuition is permitted during the next normal tuition period but tuition may not be available in the same research topic that was initially assessed.

g) The School reserves the right not to offer assessed research practice in every subject area covered by taught modules.

General Provisions

The School of Business and Economics reserves the right to offer or withdraw any taught module.

The School of Business and Economics may exercise its discretion in waiving prerequisites for its modules under exceptional circumstances. 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1  In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.  However for the Postgraduate Diploma candidates must accumulate 105 credits plus marks of 40-49% in modules worth a total of at least 15 credits.

5.2 Candidates who have a right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed in the University’s Special Assessment Period.

5.3 All examinations and tests must be taken at 含羞草视频 unless special permission is obtained in advance from the Programme Director.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification