MSc International Finance and Development SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time

Students take five core modules in Macroeconomics, Statistical Research Techniques, Financial Systems and Economic Development, International Finance, Theory of Financial Institutions and Policy. They are given the choice of three options and they have to write a 10,000-word dissertation on an approved topic relating to finance and development.

All students are required to complete the compulsory preliminary course in Mathematics and Statistics (including Computing) prior to commencing this programme. This course is taught over a three week period from the beginning of September.

Who is this programme for?

This programme replaces the MSc Finance and Development Programme. This programme combines the political economy of international finance with development economics. It is unique in Britain and draws on the specific strengths of SOAS, namely in development economics, political economy and area specialisation. It also draws on the international reputations of SOAS specifically in the political economy of finance.

Structure

Students registered for this MSc must take all the core courses listed below. The only possible exception is that students who have already an adequate maths and stats background may drop the Statistical Research Techniques module and take instead Econometrics, this requires the written permission of the course convenor for Econometrics. Students who wish to apply for this alternative quantitative structure, which includes the option of taking Advanced Econometrics A and/or Advanced Econometrics B, must contact the convenor of Econometrics prior to the taking of the Preliminary examination.

Dissertation

• Dissertation for MSc Finance and Development

Taught Component

Core Modules

All students will take the following five compulsory modules:

• Macroeconomics
• International Finance
• Financial Systems and Economic Development
• Econometrics
• Advanced Macroeconometrics
• Essay Writing Workshop - Postgraduate Economics

Guided Options

All students will take modules to the value of 45 credits from the list of options (below).

List of Modules (subject to availability)

• Economic development of Africa: microeconomic approaches
• Economic development of Africa: macroeconomic approaches
• Theory of financial institutions & policy
• Political Economy of Development and Change in the Middle East
• Topics in the Political Economy of Contemporary Middle East
• Capital markets, derivatives & corporate finance
• China and World Development
• China's Economic Transformation
• Economic Development of Japan
• Political Economy of Development and Change in South Asia
• Topics in the Political Economy of Contemporary South Asia
• Economic Development in the Asia Pacific region
• Economics of Environment and Development
• Gender Economics (PG)
• Global Economic Policy Analysis
• Global Production and Industrial Policy
• Green Finance
• Growth and Development
• History of Economic Analysis
• Institutions and Governance
• International Trade and Investment
• Islamic Banking And Finance
• Limits to Growth? (PG)
• Microeconomics
• Political Economy of Agriculture and Food
• Political Economy of Institutions
• Advanced Microeconomics
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Advanced Microeconometrics

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Employment

A postgraduate degree in Finance and Development from SOAS equips students with a range of important skills to continue in the field of research as well as a portfolio of widely transferable employability skills valued by a wide range of employers.

These include numeracy, analytical thinking and general skills such as organisation and effective communication skills. Graduates will develop their regional expertise and understanding of issues of development and the international financial market. In addition, the study of Economics gives students particular problem-solving skills including abstraction, analysis, quantification, strategic thinking and adaptability.

Graduates are expected to follow successful careers in the private sector, in national policymaking in developing countries, in international development agencies and in a range of non-governmental organisations. Continuing a SOAS tradition, they are also expected to be successful in gaining a highly competitive Overseas Development Institute (ODI) fellowships.