Course overview

This course will help you deepen your knowledge of economics and finance, and develop your understanding of the financial services sector. It combines theoretical and applied aspects of economics, finance and banking to develop those skills that are most valued by employers in banking, finance and business , as well as the public sector.

The MSc Business Economics, Finance and Banking will help you understand the operation of retail, wholesale and international banking and their regulation. It develops contemporary approaches to understanding of applied corporate finance, linked to business decisions and strategy. It will also introduce you to the practice of economic and financial modelling, as well as forecasting techniques, and guide you in designing and delivering independent research to the highest standards.

A centre of excellence for finance teaching

The University of Portsmouth is recognised as a centre of excellence for finance teaching by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). You will be able to enrol as a student member of the CISI, allowing you access to a range of professional networking and career development opportunities. On graduating you will be eligible for associate membership of the CISI.

Bloomberg Suite

You will be able to access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders via one of the terminals located in our Bloomberg Suite. Bloomberg terminals, used by financial professionals daily to make fast-paced investment, trading and financial decisions will allow you to monitor and analyse real-time financial market data movements and trade virtually.

This system, created by the Mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg, is used by over a quarter of million finance professionals globally. Our investment in this resource provides you with an essential business research tool and real-life financial experience, helping you  to enhance your employability skills so that you can hit the ground running once you join the workforce.

Join us at an open evenings

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

Our curriculum offers an excellent learning experience and forms the basis for lifelong learning throughout your career.On completion of this course you will be a creative and effective problem-solver, capable of applying logical and critical thinking to a range of business problems.

This course is comprised of four taught units that you will study between September and May. You will also receive instruction in research methods during this period. The curriculum is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops that emphasise the acquisition of skills and developing confidence in communicating your ideas. The programme concludes with a written research project on a topic of your choice.

The units you will study are:

Business Economics: applying economics to decision making can greatly enhance business planning and help build successful strategies. This unit formulates problem-solving strategies for business problems using relevant quantitative and case study materials. Topics covered include:

• pricing strategies
• creating and sustaining competitive advantage
• information and incentives
• regulation

Applied Econometrics: this unit ensures that you will become familiar with essential econometric techniques and their applications, and can undertake econometric analysis, assess the properties and limitations of different econometric methods, and evaluate and interpret key results. Topics covered include:

• unit root testing: co integration, vector error correction models
• estimation and forecasting using ARMA and ARIMA models
• modelling stochastic volatility: ARCH and GARCH models
• AR(I)MA models with (G)ARCH errors, and their application to financial data

Finance and Financial Markets: you will develop a critical understanding of corporate finance, as well as a deep knowledge of the economics of financial markets and their instruments in this unit. You will be able to evaluate factors that influence corporate decision-making process, and how financial managers can use financial markets and their instruments. Topics covered include:

• portfolio theory, CAPM and APT
• factor models, efficient market hypothesis, behavioural models;
• market risk and volatility
• futures and options markets

Banking: this unit investigates the operation of banking and financial management at the national, international and global levels. It analyses the international operations and management of financial and non-financial multinational firms, and critically appraises the regulation of banking and finance. Topics covered include:

• banking structures and regulation
• measurement of competition in banking
• international money, bond and equity markets
• derivatives-related financial crises and issues

Research Methods: students on all economics postgraduate programmes complete a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training via lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. On completing this programme you will be ideally placed to develop your own research projects and work within professional research teams.

Dissertation: your dissertation engages you in economic research using the skills and judgement  you have developed during your course. You will start your research training when you join us and we will help you develop a working proposal through to concentrating on your project after completing your taught units. A member of staff with guide you through formal meetings and via the use of social media.

Teaching and assessment

We are committed to best practice in teaching and learning. Several of us are involved in major collaborative projects to integrate new teaching technologies into economics classrooms. We maintain an ongoing programme of continuing professional development (CPD) that brings us into contact with scholars from other institutions and disciplines. This is reflected in approaches to learning, assessment and feedback that are varied and constructive, and will help you to build the personal management and employability skills that are essential for fulfilling careers.

Career prospects

At Portsmouth Business School we have regular discussions with employers and professional bodies to help ensure that all our courses are relevant to their business and recruitment needs. Our Careers and Employment Service team will support you in developing the skills needed to pursue employment opportunities in your chosen career area.

Career opportunities include business professionals, commercial, industrial and public sector managers, as well as many other jobs with responsibility for decision making.

Facilities and features

You will attend lectures in the purpose-built Richmond Building, where an attractive Postgraduate Centre is located. It offers a computer drop-in and resource centre containing a wireless network access area, as well as printing and photocopying facilities.

The University Library

The University Library is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day in term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. Besides the law collection with key primary sources, journals and texts, there is also a European Documentation Centre and collection of Parliamentary Papers. The library has also heavily invested in the purchase of electronic sources. There are thousands of electronic journals available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Business Economics, Finance and Banking are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk