MSc International Finance & Economics

This course is ideal for graduates who want to change subjects or career direction. It has been developed with two key features in mind – the development of strong economic and finance skills, and the ability to apply them into practice.

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Full-time with placement

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Why study MSc International Finance & Economics at BU?

Get career ready by developing highly employable personal skills such as, objective analysis persuasion, negotiation and communication expertise
Learn from an expanding team of dynamic educators and researchers from around the world
Undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in an area that interests you in relation to your course
Enter a career in roles such as Market Analyst, Financial Consultant or Portfolio Manager
Study alongside a diverse portfolio of international students
Enhance your employability with an optional 30-week placement overseas or in the UK, with Bournemouth being home to many large financial companies such as J.P.Morgan and Barclay.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Course accreditation

This course is delivered by the AACSB-accredited Business School, an accreditation attained by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. It recognises our focus on excellence in all areas.

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Next start date:

September 2022, January 2023, September 2023

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus (with additional activities on Talbot Campus)

Duration:

September: 1 year full-time; 2 years with optional 30-week work placement. January: 16 months full-time; 2 years full-time with optional 30-week work placement

Accreditations:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 or equivalent in any subject. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Core units

Economics of Money & Financial Markets: Understand and analyse the working of various financial markets, providing you with the tools necessary to analyse and evaluate the factors that drive these markets and the role they play in the wider economy.
Statistics & Data Modelling: This unit aims to develop your knowledge of the statistical processes, techniques, and ideas used in the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of the data that are common in finance, economics, and business. Using a practical approach, you will be able to understand, interpret, and communicate quantitative results and show how quantitative methods may be used to provide reliable management information. This unit also prepares you for the development of further data analytical skills.
International Investment Management: This unit is designed to explore some of the wider issues in the global investment marketplace, providing an understanding of key theoretical concepts and how to apply this knowledge to the analysis of practical real estate problems.
International Economics: In this unit, you will underline the theories and basic models of international trade, finance, and exchange rates, with an emphasis on how the economics of international trade and finance plays out in the real world.
Research Project: The research project provides Master’s level students with an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in an area that interests you and is relevant to the course.

Option units (choose two)

Corporate Governance & Ethics: This unit covers the objectives, principles and methods of corporate governance practice in different economic environments, providing a range of frameworks for analysing complex ethical problems. You'll learn how to aid managerial decision-making, particularly for risk management.
Emerging Market Economies: In this unit, you will underline the theories and basic models of international trade, finance, and exchange rates, with an emphasis on how the economics of international trade and finance plays out in the real world.
SMEs & Entrepreneurial Finance: This unit aims to equip you with a theoretical and practical understanding of the major issues of sourcing funding to start or undertake a rapid expansion of businesses, especially in the context of regional economies.
International Corporate Finance: The aims of this unit are to address the importance of the corporate finance function in an internationally diverse corporation and to offer a framework for assisting corporate decision makers in a complex, dynamic and inherently uncertain external environment.
Portfolio Construction & Theory: This unit aims to provide you with the necessary theoretical background for the application of portfolio selection and how to apply modern portfolio theory to investment management, covering specific issues such as ethical investment strategies.
Global Economic Challenges: You’ll learn how economic theories and techniques can be used to address many of the most important issues facing humanity.

Optional work placement

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

You should consider how a range of financial theories can be used in practice to improve investment and financial management decision-making. The transferable skills developed will improve your performance in your future career in financial analysis and portfolio management.

You will complete semester one and two of your programme as well as completing your final disseration at BU, before you undertake the 30 weeks of work experience.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Download the programme specification (PDF 142kb)

Your application

For International Finance & Economics we are looking for applicants who:

Have good analytical and decision-making skills
Show an enthusiasm to the subject area
Demonstrate effective communication skills.

What we’re looking for

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow – some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%
Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0
Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Placements

An exciting and valuable part of your studies with us is the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time paid industrial placements, for a minimum of 30 weeks. You will have the option to start your placement when the taught units of the course are finished, and after the dissertation.

What support is available?

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a covering letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications.

However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work. The university does not guarantee that you will find a place. As you all probably know, it is hard work finding a job.

During your time on placement you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email.

International students

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course:

If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).

If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course:

We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.

If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, intregrated social media and advanced video features
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information
Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trip
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website
Clothing or equiptment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study
SportsBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

Repeat units

Deposits

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable £3,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Anna Hillingdon – Associate Professor & Programme Leader

Anna is currently working in the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at Bournemouth University. She teaches quantitative finance (e.g Risk Management, Derivatives, Statistics...). She has led a project for the UNWTO on crisis management, worked as a researcher for NATO on hybrid threats, as a consultant with the World Bank in Washington on reducing fragility and strengthening resilience post-conflict and presented oral evidence to the Parliamentary Committee on hybrid threats. Anna has given numerous interviews for various media outlets throughout the world, and currently reading for a PhD, this time in Economics, with the SOAS University of London.

View Dr Anna Hillingdon's staff profile

Dr Mehdi Chowdhury - Deputy Head of Department

Dr Mehdi Chowdhury is the Deputy Head of Department for Accounting, Finance & Economics in Bournemouth University Business School. Dr Chowdhury joined the School in September 2011 after obtaining his PhD from the School of Economics of the University of Nottingham. He received Masters's degrees in Economics from Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan and the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr Chowdhury worked as a Teaching Assistant in Economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Bristol from 2009-2011.

View Dr Mehdi Chowdhury's profile

Dr Dermot McCarthy – Principal Academic

Dermot's research interests are cross-disciplinary, encapsulating areas of economics and employee relations. More specifically, his research focuses on public-sector economics, theory of the firm, public-sector industrial relations, employee share-ownership, and employee psychology.

Dermot has published a number of papers relating to the impact of privatisation and employee share-ownership on employee attitudes and commitment in the workplace.

View Dr Dermot McCarthy’s staff profile

Spencer Barnett – Lecturer

Spencer graduated from Bournemouth University in 2003 with a first class honours degree in Accounting & Finance and has subsequently qualified as a chartered accountant. Prior to starting at BU in 2000, he was an equity analyst and arbitrageur at a major European investment bank.

Spencer's research interests lie within the field of equity arbitrage, particularly surrounding mergers and acquisitions.

View Spencer Barnett's staff profile

Dr Phyllis Alexander - Principal Academic

Dr Ishmael Tingbani – Lecturer

Ishmael has had over 10 years’ banking and consultancy experience in the banking sector, specialising in credit risk and stress test analysis regarding counterparty credit OTC exposures; utilising value at risk (VaR) methodologies for various assets classes. His research interests lie in the fields of Sustainable Finance and Clean Growth, Development Finance, Corporate Finance, Risk Management and Financial Resilience.

View Dr Ishmael Tingbani's staff profile

Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou – Senior Lecturer

Nikolaos’ research interests lie at the intersection of economics and finance. Nikolaos has established a concrete portfolio of teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has been awarded twice for his exceptional teaching performance. Alongside with his academic activity, Nikolaos has worked as a consultant, credit officer, and financial advisor in the financial services industry.

View Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou's staff profile

Professor George Filis – Professor of Financial Economics

George is Professor of Financial Economics. His main teaching interests include money, banking and financial economics. His main research interests include energy economics, financial economics, business cycles and tourism economics. Over the last few years his research has focused on the modelling and forecasting of oil prices and oil price volatility. However, he is also interested in the effects of oil prices shocks in the economy and the stock market.

View Professor George Filis' staff profile

Dr Marta Disegna - Senior Lecturer

Marta specialises in the statistical and econometric analysis of the consumer behaviour with particular focus on the tourism, environment, and food sectors. In particular, she has extensively studied and adopted non-overlapping and fuzzy algorithms for market segmentation, censored regression models for the analysis of expenditure behaviour and willingness to pay or donate.

View Dr Marta Disegna's staff profile

Dr Christopher Hartwell – Professor Of Financial Systems Resilience

Dr Christopher Hartwell is Associate Professor of Financial Systems Resilience at Bournemouth University, as well as Fellow at the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE) in Warsaw (where he was formerly President), an Associate Professor at Kozminski University in Poland, a Visiting Professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), and a senior non-resident fellow at China Europe International Business School Institute for Emerging Market Studies (CEIBS-IEMS). A leading scholar on the evolution of economic institutions, Dr Hartwell’s interests are in institutional development, especially the interplay between financial institutions and other political and economic institutions.

View Dr Christopher Hartwell’s staff profile

Professor Allan Webster - Professor of Economics

Allan has spent time outside the academic world with periods of employment as an associate director of an economic consultancy firm and in government. He has advised governments in a large number of emerging economies through consultancy projects funded by, amongst others, the World Bank, the European Union and the UN Development Programme. Countries which he has advised include Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago.

His core research interests are in the interaction between trade and FDI on the one hand and labour markets on the other. In recent years this has spilled over into an interest in tourism and labour market aspects of tourism in particular.

View Professor Allan Webster’s staff profile

Professor Sangeeta Khorana - Professor of Economics

Sangeeta's work focuses on conducting economic impact assessment (Brexit) and legal analysis of bilateral free trade agreements, EU’s trade agreements with emerging economies and public procurement reform. Ongoing and recently completed projects include economic assessment of Brexit for the Welsh Assembly and industry sectors, as well as providing advice on procurement reform in the Caribbean.

View Dr Sangeeta Khorana’s staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
29/04/2022	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Core unit title change: Business & Finance Analytics is now Statistics & Data Modelling.

Changes for 2021

Date	Changes to this course
17/05/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Programme restructure, completion of dissertation before optional placement year.

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