The MSc in Financial Management is a specialist academic programme which aims to develop a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of financial management, and to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse complex situations that occur in financial decision-making.

There are very few specialised programmes on offer in the intersecting area between financial management, banking, securities and financial markets with the right balance of quantitative and qualitative subjects. This programme is a specialist degree covering extensively financial management, financial markets, and banking.

The individual modules have been designed in light of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute curricula as indicated in its CBOK (Candidate Body of Knowledge); thus, the programme provides excellent preparation for the CFA exams.

The programme will examine the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin financial decisions, the techniques that are employed in effective financial decision-making, and will consider finance theory and its application at a national and international level. The roles and the characteristics of financial markets and institutions are explored alongside the theoretical and practical aspects of investment analysis and financial portfolio management, aspects that are increasingly relevant to careers in the financial management area. The programme also covers recent developments in banking and finance such as financial regulation, finance in emerging markets, and Islamic banking and finance.

This programme is designed for you if you have a degree in finance, accounting, economics, business studies or a related discipline. It provides the requisite knowledge base and analytical skills if you wish to pursue a range of careers in the financial services sector such as financial officer, financial manager, financial analyst, financial-risk manager, investment analyst, fund/hedge fund manager, etc. It is also appropriate if you want to pursue further research at doctoral level with a strong interest in financial markets and services.

In summary the programme provides:

• The fundamental concepts, principles and techniques needed for effective financial decision-making
• An integrated analysis of the key elements of finance theory and its applications to those elements in corporate financial practice
• A consideration of the roles and characteristics of financial markets and institutions, and the theoretical and practical applications of investment analysis and financial portfolio management
• An examination of the regulatory framework within the international business environment and the utility of financial decision tools for multinational companies
• An understanding of econometrics techniques and research skills in order to apply this in context when undertaking appropriate research

The programme builds on UEL’s long experience of offering a wide range of postgraduate programmes in the UK and abroad and offers a number of distinctive features:

• Equips you with the appropriate level of analytical, computational, ICT and other skills in retrieving and analysing financial data, interpreting the results and making financial decisions
• Enables you to use state-of-the-art econometrics software, most up-to-date databases and other financial technology available
• Training in research methods and methodology underpinning research in financial management and banking, which enables you to critically evaluate financial research literature and understand recent trends and new developments
• Development of a range of other effective skills, embracing communication and personal effectiveness that will enhance your employability
• Significant support for academic skills at postgraduate level such as improving English language and other skills through support workshops
• Consequent opportunities for further employment facilitated by proximity and access to financial centres in London
• February as well as September intake

For admission to the programme, applicants normally need to have either:

• An undergraduate honours degree from a recognised/accredited university with a minimum 2.2 classification or equivalent, in disciplines like Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, or related discipline. If you do not have this but have relevant work experience then consideration will be given on a case by case basis providing you can evidence this
• Pass in a recognised Pre-master’s or Master’s Qualifying Programme

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

You can apply to enter stages of the programme and may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes. Therefore, you must be able to demonstrate and evidence that you have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which you are seeking exemption. For more information on AEL visit http://www.uel.ac.uk/apel/.

The programme is composed of four 30 credit taught modules and a 60 credit dissertation (180 M Level credits in total). There are no options, all the modules are compulsory. The four taught modules are Financial Reporting and Analysis, Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management and Banking, and International Finance. There is also a Postgraduate Dissertation that allows you to demonstrate your acquired skills and competencies on a focused research-based project.

Financial Reporting and Analysis provides a critical awareness of corporate financial reporting in an international context and develops your ability to analyse accounting and financial data by the application of selected statistical and econometric techniques used in finance and their application in practice. Corporate Finance, the second module, introduces and develops the theory and practice of corporate finance and emphasises the role of the financial manager as decision maker and provides the theoretical basis of financial decision-making as well as the practical tools and techniques for identifying and solving financial problems.

The third module, Portfolio Management and Banking, covers portfolio theory and management, and develops your understanding of how fund managers select asset management strategies. It also covers recent developments in banking and finance. The last of the four taught modules, International Finance, provides you with an in-depth understanding of specific issues of finance in a global context including the use of various financial instruments that can be employed to manage the risks associated with international business transactions and analysing the key financial decisions of a multinational firm when operating in an international setting.

The programme will utilise various teaching and learning strategies, including:

• Formal lectures to understand the theoretical concepts, models and theories necessary to comprehend Financial Management at the appropriate level
• Seminars and workshops where you have the opportunity to investigate specific areas of interest within financial management, and discuss these with their peers and lecturers
• Analytical and practical skills-based modules where you have the opportunity to contextualise and apply their knowledge
• Lectures/lab sessions on econometric software such as EViews and DataStream to equip you with necessary skills on data collection and analysis

The assessment strategy takes into account the different focus of each individual module on the programme and the assessment strategy employs a range of assessment methods such as individual coursework (essays, reports, literature reviews), group projects (reports, presentations and case studies), formal examinations, and a dissertation of up to 14,000 words. The range of assessment is designed to reflect the learning outcomes of each module. The programme team has been careful to ensure that the assessment weighting/burden for each module is roughly equivalent. Each module has a maximum of three components comprising individual or group assignments appropriate to the learning outcomes. More detailed assessment criteria will be made available in each Module Handbook.

The MSc in Financial Management is a specialist programme designed to enhance your understanding of the financial management function within organisations, and enables you to develop a career within that function. Finance and accounting are essential functions within organisations and there is a need to develop your skills and competencies to meet the demand for financial management within those functions in the modern dynamic and complex business environment.

The 60 credit dissertation/project module includes workshops on research methodology and techniques that are applicable in the finance domain.

The dissertation is an advanced independent piece of research in a specific area of financial management of 14,000 words maximum. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained on the programme, and you should demonstrate extensive knowledge of your selected topic area, adopting a critical approach, alongside the use of appropriate and relevant research methods/tools.

The rationale behind this piece of work is that it can be used as a showcase for you to display your abilities to third parties, and as a defining statement for your professional direction, as well as the basis on which you may be assessed.

You are encouraged to select dissertation/project topics which may be used in your future career or on returning to employment. You will be matched to a dedicated UEL supervisor who is familiar with the topic area and is there to advise, guide and supervise you during this research stage. Research methods workshops will support this process, as well as looking at your personal development and employability.

The added value for this specialist programme comes from its highly career-orientated focus and applied learning. The programme is modern in terms of content (knowledge and skills) and prepares you for employment in a financial/business environment at a managerial level.

The programme should attract students from a variety of backgrounds. This is an important added value, as it prepares you to work in teams with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and nationalities in your working career.

You should also benefit from the experience of guest speakers from industry to be invited to deliver seminars on current issues in the finance domain; examples include the credit crunch and its implications for business organisations, Islamic banking and finance, and hedge funds.

You are also encouraged, upon the completion of the four taught modules, to sit for the “Level I” exam of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute which is held every year in June and December. More information on this will be available upon request from the Programme Leader or the teaching team.

We expect that this qualification will gain national and international recognition and become an established passport to either starting a career in financial management, or lead to promotion opportunities for someone already working in that area.

Typical career paths for graduates from this programme include financial analyst, fund manager, investment banker, financial trader, and finance executive.

The programme aims to provide consistent and continuing support for students through staff involved in teaching, administration and programme management. Dedicated support is also available from staff experienced in the enhancement of numeracy skills and English language.
Our support mechanisms include:

• A dedicated personal tutor from staff teaching on the programme
• Accessible and supportive module tutors
• Business School Help Desk with dedicated administrative staff
• Induction process that will prepare you for academic study on the programme
• Early diagnostic tests to identify any skills weaknesses and guide you towards appropriate support
• Extensive learning resources that are accessible both on and off campus
• Comprehensive programme materials and handouts
• A dedicated supervisor for the applied dissertation/project
• Self-study areas in our state-of-the-art libraries and IT centre

• You will benefit from our modern and dynamic Business School building at our Docklands Campus, which is within easy reach of the City and very close to the financial centres of the City and Canary Wharf. The campus and UEL are also at the heart of a vibrant and growing area that is preparing for the 2012 Olympics.
• Guest speakers will be invited from different areas within financial management to deliver seminars on current and emerging issues such as hedge funds, Islamic banking, and the recent financial crises