Banking and Finance (MSc) 2021 entry
The Masters in Banking and Finance (MSc) provides students with the skills and knowledge needed for specialist roles in banking and wider financial services sector, as well as the exposure to contemporary global issues and research in banking and finance.
The MSc Banking and Finance programme is accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute. Students who successfully complete this programme will achieve Chartered Banker Status.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Science (MSc)
Course dates
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year (12 months) full time
Entry requirements
- A good 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in a closely related discipline such as finance, accounting and economics from the UK or the equivalent international qualification. Applicants with business experience are welcome, and the University may take work experience into account when evaluating applications.
- If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £11,990
Overseas: £24,240
Application deadline
Admission to this programme will close once the programme is full. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes and to ensure their application is submitted before the programme is full.
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement explaining why you have chosen the programme, why this subject is important to you and why you have applied to study at the University of St Andrews in particular (500 words)
- one original signed academic reference
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
A sample of academic writing is not required for this programme.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The Masters in Banking and Finance is a one-year taught programme run by the School of Management.
Highlights
- The course provides an in-depth study of the theory and practice of modern banking and finance.
- The Centre for Responsible Banking and Finance (CRBF) exposes students to the research and work of eminent academics and business executives.
- This programme opens a wide range of new and exciting career opportunities as many financial firms and government agencies require an in-depth knowledge of the functioning of financial markets and institutions.
- The MSc Banking and Finance Programme is accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute. Students who successfully complete this programme will achieve Chartered Banker Status. Please note that in order to obtain this status students are required to choose MN5608 Risk Management and MN5604 Financial Systems as their optional modules.
Teaching format
The taught elements of the programme are delivered through a mixture of core and optional modules, using a range of delivery methods including lectures, small group tutorials, workshops and seminars. The average lecture size is 30 students, but in some cases, there will be seminars of 15 to 18 students or larger lectures with up to 100 students, which would normally be augmented by small group tutorials or seminars.
Assessment comprises a combination of coursework and examinations. From June to August, students undertake a research project culminating in a written dissertation of 15,000 words. You will attend a weekly series of lectures and workshops focusing on research methods and other topics to help prepare you for the dissertation.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. Typically, each module consists of three to five contact hours per week including lectures, seminars and tutorials. Assessment is either entirely by coursework or through a combination of coursework (50%) and a two-hour end-of-semester examination (50%).
For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2020–2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
- Applied Financial Econometrics: develops students' ability to undertake quantitative research by equipping them with econometric tools and techniques to analyse and interpret financial data.
- Advanced Corporate Finance: focuses on empirical and theoretical issues that arise in modern corporate finance.
- Banking and Finance: provides students with an in-depth knowledge and a rigorous background in the mainstream areas of modern banking and finance.
- Financial Technology: equips students with an understanding of the technology underlying FinTech by introducing advancements in blockchain, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Provides an overview of key trends and considers the impact of FinTech on financial services such as payments, investing, lending, borrowing and spending.
Students choose two optional modules, taking one in each semester.
Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered.
- Advanced Financial Econometrics: further develops econometrical skills of students to implement statistical analysis in the area of banking and finance.
- Alternative Investment: provides students with an overview of investment opportunities alternative to the main equity and bond markets.
- Behavioural Finance: introduces students to key concepts in behavioural finance and distinguishes between conventional financial theory and behavioural approaches. Focuses on deviations from rational models, illuminating resulting biases that impact upon financial markets, their institutions and other participants.
- Financial Systems: outlines the fundamentals of financial systems, focusing on the influence of technology and innovation along with the challenges that these pose to regulators. This module is required for achieving Chartered Banker Status.
- International Financial Management: studies in the international monetary frameworks and the conduct of monetary policies in major developed economies.
- Risk Management: provides an insight into managing the exposure to risk and how to apply relevant theories to realistic financial decision problems. This module is required for achieving Chartered Banker Status.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
Students attend lectures throughout Semesters 1 and 2 to prepare them for conducting the research portion of the dissertation. The dissertation is normally on a specific area of Banking and Finance, however at the School of Management, you will have the freedom to develop a topic of your own, which is of interest to you and will contribute towards career development or further study goals.
You will be assigned a supervisor based on your research proposal submitted in the second semester. Students will then research and write a 15,000-word dissertation over the summer to be submitted on a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for their Masters degree (MSc), there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Events
The School of Management hosts events and guest lectures beginning in Orientation Week and throughout the year, providing students and staff with opportunities to socialise, and to engage with visiting scholars, professionals and practitioners.
The Management Society, a student-led organisation, hosts a broad range of activities, both subject-related and social. The University also has a number of other student societies relating to the management discipline.
Funding
Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
For women pursuing a business or business-related degree.
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
Careers
Alumni from the Banking and Finance programme and more generally from other Masters programmes in the School of Management have secured employment in the fields of management consultancy, accountancy, investment analysis, investment banking, commercial banking, fund administration and other aspects of the financial services industry.
Graduates from the Masters in Banking and Finance have taken up roles in a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sector including:
- Accenture
- Blackrock Global Investment Management
- Credit Suisse Group
- Deutsche Bank
- HSBC
- IBM
- Nomura Bank
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Procter and Gamble.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills. Further information about career destinations.
Masters Extra (MX) Programme
The Masters Extra (MX) programme is designed specifically for taught masters students in the School of Management and focuses on careers, and personal and professional development. This series of talks, workshops, networking opportunities and activities includes guest lectures from leading academics and experienced managers.
Research degrees
Many graduates from our Masters programmes continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science
Fully funded awards for PhD students in the School of Management.
Management PhD studentships
The School of Management often offers PhD studentships comprising a stipend at RCUK level and a fee waiver at home/EU level.
"I have had the opportunity to collaborate with students of various backgrounds because of the large diversity of students and staff as well as obtaining Chartered Banker Status by completing the required modules. The MX programme is a unique feature of the degree, providing an insight into different industries around the world. Research-based learning has been a new approach for me but will help in my future career because a lot of business situations require this kind of solution. There are so many opportunities and events for you to meet up with other postgraduates and I now have best friends from all over the world."
- Florida, USA
Contact
School of Management
University of St Andrews
The Gateway
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9RJ
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2200
Email: pgmanagement@st-andrews.ac.uk
Website updates
On 5 January 2021, this page was updated due to curriculum changes. The 'Advanced Financial Econometrics' module was changed to be an optional module, and the 'Financial Technology' module was added as a compulsory module.
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.