MSc in Finance - Banking and Risk Management
University College Cork
Key Information
Campus location
Cork, Ireland
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
EUR 10,630 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* EU students; EUR 5,315 year 1 part-time; EUR 5,315 year 2 part-time; | non-EU students: EUR 18,500
Scholarships
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Introduction
The MSc Finance (Banking & Risk Management) programme is offered by the College of Business & Law at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. It involves an advanced study of the theory and practice of investment, banking and risk management. You will study advanced Finance, Financial Economics and Quantitative Financial Techniques through data analysis software such as Python which is very much in demand by the industry.
Your studies build to an independent applied research project which you undertake over the summer term where you put the theories and quantitative financial techniques taught to you during your studies into practice, using advanced statistics and software. You choose your own research topic in term 2 and are given one-to-one supervision support by an experienced academic from our teaching team over the summer term.
Our past graduates have gone on to work in a broad range of areas such as:
- Commercial and Investment Banking
- Treasury Risk Management
- Regulation
- Central Banking
- Economic Consulting
- Investment Research
- Hedge Funds
- Academia
You will be taught by experienced academics, many of whom have experience in financial markets as traders, financial economists, equity analysts, and economic consultants to the industry.
Students will also manage their own simulated asset portfolio online during the year, putting theory into practice and reflecting on current financial market events. The course covers much of the CFA Levels 1-3 syllabus and includes regular presentations and workshops from outside practitioners.
Why Choose This Course
The course brings you into direct contact with financial markets, their issues and practices through practitioner seminars and visiting speakers throughout the year, across all modules.
In this course:
- you will be trained in financial research, consulting, and professional report writing
- you will be taught about the quantitative methods relevant to the financial sector and required for PhD-level research
- your interpersonal, organisational, and leadership competencies will be developed
- your oral and written communication skills will be improved through assignments, dialogue, exercises, presentations, etc.
Our blended learning approach to education combines lectures, projects, seminars, group discussions, presentations, and both individual and group reports.
Connected Curriculum
Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as business, finance, and economics.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Course Modules
Candidates take taught modules with examinations and coursework over two semesters and then complete a dissertation in the summer term. You are taught in three broad streams: Finance, Financial Economics and Quantitative Finance. The taught modules for each stream are as follows:
Finance
- FI6003 - Asset Pricing and Allocation: examines models of asset returns, stock price predictability, and market efficiency.
- EC6046 - Fund Management and Evaluation: studies portfolio management, return and risk evaluation in-stock selection, market timing and persistence.
- EC6005 - Derivative Securities: introduces the concepts and mathematical techniques in pricing derivatives including options, swaps, forwards, and futures on underlying assets.
- FI6004 - Analysis of Debt Instruments: examines the term structure of interest rates and yield curve analysis, exotic bond valuation, duration, convexity, immunisation, asset-backed securities and bond portfolio management.
- FI6005 - Equity Valuation: develops practical knowledge, skills and abilities in the valuation of equities within international financial markets using a comprehensive range of valuation models.
- FI6001 - Treasury Risk Management: looks at the measurement and management of risks facing banks and corporations arising from volatility in currency and money markets.
Financial Economics
- FI6002 - Regulation and Compliance in Capital Markets: covers the guiding principles behind financial regulation and the main differences between the roles and key legal aspects of different regulatory institutions.
- EC6002 - Financial Institutions and Money Markets: looks at the role of money markets and banks in the economy, focuses on understanding the types of risk facing banks and the management of this risk.
- EC6001 - Macroeconomics for Financial Markets: looks at macroeconomics theories, models and techniques relevant to financial markets. Topics include business cycles, economic growth, uncertainty, monetary policy, inflation and the labour market.
- EC6003 - International Finance: focuses on how economic policy and the behaviour of agents impact international capital flows, exchange rates and global investments.
Quantitative Finance
- EC6062 - Applied Econometrics: teaches the theory and application of econometrics for finance. This is taught without the need for prior knowledge of econometrics and is all applied throughout the course using Python, a cutting-edge data analysis software in demand throughout the finance industry.
- EC6063 - Applied Time Series Analysis: developing from EC6062 this module introduces you to time series methods in econometrics. It also deals with the application of these methods in financial by providing experience of advanced methods of analysing time-series data sets.
- EC6009 - Research Methods: prepares you to undertake your independent research for your dissertation module in the summer term by developing your writing skills and knowledge of research methods. Lecturers from the programme and guest lecturers present their current research throughout the year.
- EC6010 – Dissertation in Financial Economics
Further details on the content and modules are available on the Postgraduate College Calendar
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
The course covers much of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) syllabus (Levels 1-3) and includes regular presentations and workshops from outside practitioners. You will also manage your own simulated asset portfolio online throughout the year to help you put theory into practice.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The course brings you into direct contact with financial markets, their issues and practices through practitioner seminars and visiting speakers throughout the year, across your modules.
In this course:
• you will be trained in financial research, consulting and report writing.
• you will be taught about the quantitative methods relevant to the financial sector and required for Ph.D. level research in economics and finance.
• your interpersonal, organisational and leadership competencies will be developed.
• your oral and written communication skills will be improved through assignments, dialogue, exercises, presentations, etc.
The blended learning approach to education combines lectures, projects, seminars, group discussion, presentations, and individual and group reports.