International Finance - MSc

Program Overview

With a focus on practical skills, the program prepares graduates for careers in trading, analyst, and other finance-related positions. Graduates benefit from strong industry connections and professional exam preparation, ensuring high employability in the global financial industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

MSc International Finance is designed for individuals working or aspiring to work in finance or accounting. The program provides an academic qualification in domestic and international financial operations, addressing current challenges and issues facing global financial institutions and markets.

Objectives:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of international financial operations and their complexities.
• Develop the ability to apply theoretical principles to practical situations faced by investors, businesses, and financial institutions.
• Enhance research skills to formulate problems/questions in the areas of investment, banking, and finance.

Description:

The course links theory and practice in international financial matters through intensive, selective, and expert-oriented modules with a clearly defined business outlook. It offers a wide range of modules to suit individual interests, focusing on financial markets, analysis and management of financial intermediaries, their interaction with financial instruments, investment, and risk management.

Key Features:

• Practical Focus: The course is highly practical, with a significant portion dedicated to learning Bloomberg software.
• Real-World Experience: Students gain practical skills in a real-world environment through visits to Bloomberg and the Bank of England.
• Residential Weekend: The program includes a residential weekend focused on personal development and in-depth learning.
• Bloomberg Market Certificate (BMC): Students earn a BMC during their studies.
• Top Rankings: LSBU ranks among the top universities in London for Accounting and Finance, particularly for career prospects and teaching satisfaction.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• Full-time: 12 months (September start) or 15 months (January start)

Core Modules:

• Creativity, Enterprise, and Innovation: This module focuses on developing creative thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills.
• Curiosity, Creativity, and Research: This module introduces students to the research process, the researcher's mindset, and the concept of creativity in research.
• Research in Action: This module focuses on the nature, approaches, methods, tools, and techniques of research within relevant business disciplines.
• Management Consultancy in a Global Environment: This module develops professional consultancy skills, including organizational structure and culture, situational analysis, communication strategies, and group dynamics.
• Corporate Financial Management: This module covers the theory and techniques of making value-maximizing investment and financing decisions.
• Financial Risk Management: This module investigates how different financial risks can be managed, including market risk, credit risk, etc.
• Capstone Business Project: This independent research project allows students to apply their skills and knowledge to a real-world scenario, creating added value for an organization.

Optional Modules:

• Behavioural Finance: This module links finance theory and practice to human behavior, exploring how psychological principles impact financial decision-making.
• Digital and Social Media Marketing: This module examines digital and social media technologies and their application within marketing.
• Effective Business Negotiation: This module improves negotiation skills through interactive workshops.
• Everyday Sustainability for Business: This module offers a practical approach to sustainability in everyday business practice.
• Global Operations and Logistics: This module focuses on global operations and logistics, including supply chain management and international trade.
• Governance and Leadership: This module examines governance and leadership within organizations, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of directors and officers.
• Investment Management: This module provides an understanding of the theory and practice of investment management, particularly in the UK.
• Managing Virtual Work: This module explores the specifics of managing virtual work, including distributed teams, remote employees, and virtual organizations.
• Organizational Risk Management and Internal Controls: This module examines internal review, control, and feedback to implement effective governance and risk management.

Assessment:

• Mix of Assessment Methods: Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, individual and group presentations, and written exams.
• Bloomberg Integration: The use of Bloomberg is embedded within modules.

Teaching:

• Experienced Lecturers: The program benefits from experienced lecturers, excellent learning materials, and small class sizes.
• Active Learning: Workshops, seminars, case studies, and student-led discussions facilitate active learning.
• Bloomberg and Software Training: Students receive training in Bloomberg, Thomson-One Banker, SPSS, and N-Vivo.
• Personal Tutoring: Students are allocated a personal tutor for individual and group support, enhancing academic and personal development.

Careers:

• High Employability: Graduates with an MSc in International Finance from LSBU are highly employable in trading and analyst positions globally.
• Career Opportunities: Excellent career opportunities exist in finance, banking, and investment.
• Industry Connections: Graduates have secured positions in major international companies, financial institutions, regulatory agencies, credit rating agencies, and financial consultant firms.
• Professional Exam Preparation: The program partially prepares students for professional examinations from ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, and CISI.
• Collaboration Agreements: LSBU has collaboration agreements with institutions in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Paris, providing international networking opportunities.

Other:

• Guest Speakers: The program regularly invites guest speakers from industry to deliver lectures, hold events, and participate in conferences.
• Centre of Excellence Status: LSBU Business School holds Centre of Excellence status from the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IoEE), recognizing its entrepreneurial culture and leading-edge practice.
• BGA Membership: LSBU Business School is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), providing students with access to resources and support for professional and personal development.