| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Aston University's MSc Financial Technology program equips students with cutting-edge skills in blockchain and investment analysis for careers in the rapidly growing FinTech industry. The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience through industry-standard software and trading room activities. Graduates are highly sought after by top companies in FinTech, banking, and consulting, with many pursuing roles as FinTech analysts, investment analysts, and data scientists.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
This program is a postgraduate FinTech degree offered by the Aston Business School. It is ideal for those who want to build a career in the rapidly growing financial technology industry by acquiring cutting-edge skills in blockchain and investment analysis.
Objectives:
- Equip students with theoretical and practical financial technology skills
- Enhance analytical and quantitative abilities for navigating financial complexity
- Provide hands-on experience with industry-standard software and financial markets
Program Description:
This 1-year program merges finance fundamentals with FinTech, focusing on financial markets, investment strategies, and emerging technologies like blockchain. Students gain analytical and quantitative skills through practical tasks and trading room activities, preparing them for careers in various financial technology fields. The program boasts industry-experienced academics who create a supportive learning environment.
Outline:
Content:
- Financial technology fundamentals
- Investment analysis
- Financial markets
- Blockchain technology
- Digital payments
- Fintech applications
- Quantitative analysis
- Research methods
Structure:
The program consists of two stages:
- Taught Stage: Comprises core and optional modules, providing in-depth knowledge and practical skills.
Module Descriptions:
The program offers a range of modules, including:
- Investment Management: Covers fundamental and advanced investment management principles.
- Foundations of Financial Markets and Technology: Introduces financial systems, markets, instruments, and FinTech basics.
- Emerging Topics in FinTech: Delves into advanced FinTech applications and their impact on society, addressing risks and limitations.
- Blockchain and Fintech: Explores blockchain technology, its architecture, and applications in financial sectors like payments, insurance, and fundraising.
- Corporate Risk Management: Provides advanced insights into risk sources for firms, financial and non-financial, and covers risk measurement, control, and regulatory environment of financial technology.
- Python for Finance: Equips students with data analysis skills for financial problems using Python.
- The Aston Global Advantage: Focuses on professional development, enhancing employability and global citizenship.
- Ethics in Academic Practice: Introduces the Academic Offence framework and emphasizes ethical conduct in academic work.
- Trading Techniques: Deepens understanding of financial market operations, news analysis, and asset performance evaluation.
- International Finance: Explores challenges in the global marketplace and their impact on firm strategies, including risk management.
- Financial Econometrics: Introduces advanced techniques for modeling financial markets.
Assessment:
- Written and oral examinations
- Class tests
- Individual and group coursework
- Projects
- Presentations
- Practical assessments
Teaching:
Methods:
- Interactive lectures
- Seminars
- Group discussions
- Case studies
- Practical workshops
- Guest speaker sessions
Faculty:
Experienced academics from industry, with expertise in various areas of finance and technology.
Unique Approaches:
- Aston Global Advantage: Develops professional skills through real-world projects.
- Research-led teaching: Incorporates current research findings into the curriculum.
- Trading room access: Provides hands-on experience with industry-standard software and financial markets.
Careers:
Career Paths:
- FinTech firms
- Banks
- Technology firms
- Consulting firms
- Investment banking
Opportunities:
- FinTech analyst
- Investment analyst
- Financial consultant
- Data scientist
- Project manager
Outcomes:
- Graduates are employed by top companies like J.P. Morgan Chase, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, and Ernst and Young.
Other:
- Students can participate in the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, earning two masters degrees in one year.
UK students(2024/25) Annual tuition fees: £12,000 International students(2024/25) Annual tuition fees: £23,500
