international finance and banking student with charts and calculator

International Finance and Banking MSc

Develop the skills you need to take on roles in corporate finance, investment banking and financial management.

Key information

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

See full entry requirements
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Overview

Start or advance your financial career with a global perspective as you explore the conceptual, analytical and professional skills you need to excel in industry during this era of financial globalisation.

Our MSc International Finance and Banking course focuses on multinational corporate finance. You’ll cover topics including international money and financial markets, the theory and practice of corporate financial management, and how to analyse real-time financial market data movements. 

You'll use our industry standard Bloomberg terminals and software, and have the chance to complete your Bloomberg Market Concepts training during the course. This certificate is recognised in industry and shows employers that you have relevant Bloomberg experience when you graduate.

You'll explore finance in an international context and using academic theory and real-world practices to support your learning. Taught by staff who have rich research and industry experience, you'll gain a comprehensive insight into banking and international finance, and graduate with a variety of career options.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

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
  • Become a student member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) to attend talks and network with industry professionals
  • Have the option to earn a CISI Certificate in Corporate Finance
  • Learn from teaching staff who are experts in the sector, with research and consultancy experience and links to industry
  • Complete an independent research project which showcases your skills and knowledge in the field

Recognised by:

The University of Portsmouth is recognised as a Centre of Excellence for finance teaching by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). On successful completion of your Bloomberg Market Concepts training you'll be awarded the Bloomberg Certificate, an essential qualification for all city professionals.

Contact Information

Student Recruitment Centre

+44 (0) 23 9284 2991

Email us

Modules

What you'll study

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

When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Evaluate theoretical and empirical approaches to corporate financial management and decision making

  • Judge the strengths, and weaknesses of financial models used in the empirical analysis of corporate financial decision making

  • Assess the role of professional ethics, integrity and sustainability in corporate financial management

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Assess the properties and limitations of different econometric methods

  • Test economic models using a range of econometric techniques

  • Evaluate the results of econometric analysis

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Assess the properties and limitations of econometric methods as applied to the analysis of financial data

  • Formulate and test econometric models to examine different forms of financial data

  • Evaluate the results of econometric analysis

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Develop a critical understanding of theories used in the analysis of international currency markets

  • Appraise applied research on international financial markets

  • Appraise and apply techniques in problem solving

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Conceptualise the role and operation of financial markets and institutions

  • Evaluate the monetary policy framework currently implemented

  • Assess the appropriateness of policies aimed at various economic and financial market problems

  • Propose analytical models and analytical techniques to study financial markets and macroeconomic issues

  • Compose and present scholarship to a professional standard

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Assess the competitive environment of global banking operations

  • Critically evaluate risks in global operation of banks and assess risk management techniques

  • Conceptualise banking regulation in an international and global context

  • Evaluate international banking performance and test efficiency and productivity of the financial system

  • Critically evaluate research literature in relation to competition, efficiency and regulation

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Develop a critical understanding of theories used in the analysis of international capital markets
  • Appraise applied research on international financial markets
  • Propose how concepts and theories can be applied in addressing contemporary problems in international capital markets

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Assess the attributes of financial models used in international corporate financial decision making

  • Critically evaluate and assess the relevant research literature

  • Apply financial and strategic models and critically evaluate and communicate findings

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When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: 

  • Design an independent research project

  • Appraise extant research

  • Formulate conclusions and recommendations from research outcomes in a clearly written and structured dissertation

  • To be competent in using the Bloomberg platform

Explore this module

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. 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

You'll graduate with an understanding of the complexities of modern financial markets, and be in a strong position to begin or advance your career within global finance and industrial sectors. 

Through our MSc International Finance and Banking course you'll gain a worldwide appeal to employers, with the ability to work in a variety of areas including investment analysis, securities trading, banking and investment banking, accountancy, and financial management. You could also go on to further study. 

Your teaching staff are experts in their field and they have shaped this course to match the needs to the industry. You'll receive the knowledge, technical ability and networking opportunities you need to graduate with a rich and transferrable skill set. You’ll have an in-depth understanding of the industry and graduate prepared to work in international financial markets.

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:

  • Commercial Finance Analyst
  • Bid Pricing Executive
  • Graduate Econometrician
  • Hedge Fund Manager
  • Financial Regulator

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

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

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.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

  • 1 year (full-time)

You can expect:

  • 8 hours of teaching time every week
  • 24–30 hours of independent study each week

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
  • guest speakers
  • live case studies
  • practical sessions using the Bloomberg Suite

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through:

  • examinations
  • essays
  • presentations
  • reports
  • dissertation

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

Professor Shabbar Jaffry

I have more than 20 years of experience working as an applied economist in the Economics and Finance Subject Group. My research interests include applied econometrics, manpower issues, duration analysis, choice modelling and technical and economic efficiency.

I've participated and taken the lead in many research, knowledge transfer and consultancy projects, which have involved local and regional institutions and focused in the economic development, job creation and new investment issues in the area.

Read my full profile

Dr Ey Oh

Dr Ey Oh

I'm a senior lecture in economics and finance and the PhD programme coordinator for the Economics and Finance department.

My main research areas are Fintech, digital currency, digital economy, monetary policy and financial future. I have a particular interest in central bank digital currency and fintech in developing countries.

I was a visiting fellow at the Asian Development Bank and the University of Tokyo in 2019. I worked on fintech and financial inclusion in developing countries. 

Read my full profile

 

 

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

Student behind a computer

Bloomberg Suite

Access data from the world's global financial markets and gain experience using industry standard software.

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 independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

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.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.

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

You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.

They can help with:

  • academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
  • reflective writing skills
  • critical thinking skills
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.

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

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.

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

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.

Joining us as an international student

Graduation Class of 2021

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 per year

 

(including Transition Scholarship)

  • Full-time: £12,000 per year

  • Full time: £19,200

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 costs

These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:

  • Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
  • Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
  • General costs: such photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
  • Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

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, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.

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.

How to 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.

Extra information for international students

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of 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.

Start this course in September 2024

Apply now (Full time, 1 year)

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

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.