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Economics, Finance and Banking MSc

Study for a postgraduate degree in Economics, Finance & Banking and take on a senior role in investment banking, tax consultancy or risk management.

Key information

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

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Overview

Sharpen your knowledge of economics and finance, and gain a deep insight into the financial services sector as you learn to interpret trends, identify market risks and assess public policy. 

If you have some knowledge of statistics or quantitative methods our Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) recognised course will help you to open doors to ambitious roles in the finance, banking, business and public sectors.

Rather than specialising in just one area, we'll make sure you gain an in depth overview of economics, finance and banking, and you'll graduate with a diverse and transferrable skill set.

You'll combine theory, research and data analysis to learn how to respond to real-world economic issues. You’ll develop the specialist knowledge, professional skills and forecasting techniques that'll make you a real asset to the financial services and banking sectors.

Course highlights

  • Use our industry-standard Bloomberg terminals and software to access data from the world's global financial markets
  • Earn your Bloomberg Market Concepts training certificate
  • Benefit from a student membership to the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), attend talks and network with industry professionals with the option to earn the internationally recognised a Certificate in Corporate Finance
  • Combine theory, research and data analysis to respond to real-world economic issues
  • Evaluate economic theories, principles and strategy, learn how to interpret trends and identify market risks, assess public policy arguments, and develop financial forecasting techniques
  • Complete an independent research project, based on economic research in a topic of your choice
  • Learn from teaching staff with rich research experience and strong industry knowledge 

Centre of Excellence recognition

The University of Portsmouth is recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). That means your degree carries a seal of approval, for future employers, that the teaching you receive is top-class and relevant.

When you graduate from this course, you'll also be awarded the Bloomberg Market Concepts training. This demonstrates you know your way around the Bloomberg Suite – the technology used to access the same data, analytics and software used by city traders.

Contact information

Faculty of Business and Law

+44 (0)23 9284 2991

bal-enquiries@port.ac.uk

Modules

Full-time

Core modules in this year include:

  • Competition Policy and the Regulation of Markets - 15 credits
  • Corporate Finance: Technical Foundations - 15 credits
  • Econometric Modelling - 15 credits
  • Financial Econometrics - 15 credits
  • Financial Markets and Instruments - 15 credits
  • International Banking, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy - 15 credits
  • International Banking: Efficiency, Competition and Regulation - 15 credits
  • Market Structure and Competition - 15 credits
  • Research Methods and Dissertation - 60 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Part-time

All modules on this MSc Economics, Finance and Banking course are core.

  • Corporate Finance: Technical Foundations – 15 credits
  • Econometric Modelling – 15 credits
  • Financial Econometrics – 15 credits
  • Financial Markets and Instruments – 15 credits

All modules on this MSc Economics, Finance and Banking course are core.

  • Competition Policy and the Regulation of Markets – 15 credits
  • International Banking, Financial Markets and Monetary Policy – 15 credits
  • International Banking: Efficiency, Competition and Regulation – 15 credits
  • Market Structure and Competition – 15 credits
  • Research Methods and Dissertation – 60 credits

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Careers and opportunities

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

This comprehensive degree prepares you for a range of careers, giving you the knowledge, technical ability and networking opportunities that allow you the freedom to consider your career options as you study.

You could go on to work in the finance and banking sectors, business and commerce, industry, or the public sector. You'll be taught the methods, processes and technologies used by real-world industry experts.

As a student on this course you'll have a membership with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). You'll cover all the material needed to take the CISI Corporate Finance Technical Foundations paper and earn an internationally recognised Certificate in Corporate Finance. The CISI membership will also provide you with access to events, forums, webinars and an international network of 45,000 financial practitioners.

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

  • Account Manager
  • Financial Analyst
  • Trader in financial assets
  • Purchasing and Acquisitions Officer
  • Commercial, Industrial or Public Sector Manager

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

9 Reasons to do a Master's 

Toni James sat at a green chair with a desk in front of them

Students are not only taught academically, but also trained for a future career. 

I am better prepared for the start of a new career. 

Toni James, MSc Economics, Finance and Banking graduate

Read Toni's story

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert career support from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Business and Law Career-Ready Programme. This support will continue for 5 years after you graduate.

Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

Career support

You'll benefit from:
  • Networking events
  • Regular emails from the Career Ready Programme sharing job opportunities, application tips and events
  • Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
  • Workshops to enhance your employability skills
  • Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
  • 1-to-1 appointments 
  • CV and cover letter advice
  • Interview preparation and practice
  • Support starting your own business

Learn more about your career support

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

It is our expectation that all international students will join us here on campus in Portsmouth.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

  • 1 year (full-time study)
  • 2 years (part-time study)

Full-time study

You can expect:

  • 8 hours of teaching time every week (lecture, seminar or workshop).
  • 24–30 hours of independent study each week.

In the last 3 months of the course you'll be focusing on your dissertation.

Part-time study

You can expect:

  • 4 hours of teaching time every week (lecture, seminar or workshop).
  • 12–15 hours of independent study each week.

In the last 3 months of the course you'll be focusing on your dissertation.

Teaching

Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.

You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.

Teaching methods on this course include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials 
  • student presentations
  • in-class exercises
  • practical sessions using the Bloomberg Suite

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through:

  • essays
  • examinations
  • reports
  • presentations

Full details of assessment can be found in the modules in the 'What you'll study' section.

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Shabbar Abbas Jaffry Portrait

Professor Shabbar Jaffry

Professor of Economics

Shabbar.Jaffry@port.ac.uk

Economics and Finance

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

Read more
Eun Young Oh Portrait

Media ready expert

Dr Eun Young Oh

Senior Lecturer

Ey.Oh@port.ac.uk

Economics and Finance

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

Read more

Term dates

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.

See key dates

Facilities and specialist equipment

Student monitoring data on Bloomberg suite software

Bloomberg Suite

Access data from the world's global financial markets, gain experience using industry standard software and have the option to earn your Bloomberg certificate with training and an online exam, paid for by the University. 

Discover our Bloomberg Suite

Supporting you

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your Master's.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

All our labs and practical spaces are staffed by qualified laboratory support staff. They’ll support you in scheduled lab sessions and can give you one-to-one help when you do practical research projects.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

The Maths Cafe offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your mathematics skills at a workshop or use our online resources.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Graduation Class of 2021

Joining us as an international student

You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.

Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in. 

Information for international students

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (September 2024 start)

  • Full time: £12,000
  • Part time: £4,000 in year 1 and £8,000 in year 2

(including Transition Scholarship)

  • Full time: £12,000
  • Part time: £4,000 in year 1 and £8,000 in year 2

  • Full time: £19,200
  • Part time: £6,400 in year 1 and £12,800 in year 2

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount

Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

If you're a UK student who achieved a first in your undergraduate degree you may be eligible for a £3,000 University of Portsmouth scholarship.

Loans, scholarships and bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

Female Master's student
Explore funding

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

international business students
Discover your options

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.

Postgrad students on campus
Explore funding

Additional course costs

Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

Entry requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2024 start

  • A second-class honours degree in a relevant or related subject, which includes some element of statistics or quantitative methods, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. 

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2023, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

  • a shorter application form to complete
  • access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
  • a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses 

Learn more about fast track

Applying from outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things. 

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.