Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

• develop an integrated advanced interdisciplinary knowledge of theories and issues in financial and political development, beyond bachelor degree level;
• introduce applications of theory, beyond bachelor degree level;
• give students general training that is vocationally relevant to employment in government, commerce and industry;
• equip students with appropriate tools of analysis that will allow them to undertake applied research for their employers in the areas of financial and political development.

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

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the functions and operations of institutions, financial markets and systems, with reference to central and commercial banks and other financial intermediaries, and the significance of financial institutions and markets in international financial and political development;
• the core principals of economic geography, with reference to financial globalization, the regional agglomeration of financial services and the significance of trends in globalization for international financial and political development;
• the core principals of politics and international relations, with reference to political communication, international institutions and the governance of the world economy, and the significance of trends in international relations for international financial and political development;
• independent applied research in the core disciplines of the degree, using basic research tools and quantitative methods appropriate to the conduct of independent 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 banking and the operation of financial markets, the development of financial markets in a global economy, international relations and the governance of the global economy, by using the appropriate theories and research methods;
• analyse the impact of developments in banking, financial globalization, international political relations on international financial and political development;
• synthesise important issues and themes from the professional and academic literature in the disciplines of the degree;
• use the professional and academic literature of the disciplines of the degree to formulate questions suitable for research;
• critically analyse professional and academic research papers in the disciplines of the degree.

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 the disciplines of the degree;
• collect and analyse statistical and qualitative data, interpret such data, and carry out statistical hypothesis testing and other research analysis, appropriate to the professional and academic standards in the disciplines of the degree.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

• apply skills in analysis (including statistical analysis) and problem formulation to areas of general debate other than the disciplines of the degree;
• use skills in synthesis to formulate key issues in areas of general debate other than the disciplines of the degree.

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 in computer files, basic 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

(i)         COMPULSORY MODULES              (total modular weight 60)

4.2 Semester 2

(i)         COMPULSORY MODULES              (total modular weight 75)

(ii)       FURTHER COMPULSORY MODULE

Semester 2

for the award of MSc only                   (total modular weight 45)

The subject of the dissertation will be come from one of the three disciplines of the degree.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must not only satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI but are also required to obtain the following:

(i) PGCert – 60 credits from modules other than the dissertation.

(ii) PGDip – 105 credits from modules other than the dissertation and not less than 40% in the remaining modules.

(iii) MSc – 150 credits and not less than 40% in the remaining module(s).

With the exclusion of module GYP600 (Dissertation), provision will be made for candidates who have the right of re-assessment to undergo re-assessment in the University's Special Assessment Period (SAP).

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