MSc Banking

In today’s competitive and unpredictable environment, banks and other financial institutions are increasingly focusing on sound practices and tight risk management, while ensuring the continuing ability to operate profitably. On this programme, you will acquire the necessary theoretical and practical tools to operate in this environment.

This programme has a particular focus on banking regulation, which is becoming increasingly crucial in the post-credit crunch environment.  Its main strengths, however, are investment analysis and corporate finance issues such as optimal capital structure,  mergers and acquisitions, derivatives, finance microstructure and taxation.

Graduates of this programme are expected to pursue careers in retail and investment banking as well as elsewhere in the private sector in positions such as Banking Analyst and Corporate Banking Manager.

Key features of this course:

• Rigorous training in banking coupled with a strongly vocational approach.
• Dedicated core regulation module
• Tuition from visiting Practitioners who are city professionals and apply theory to real world scenarios
• Additional optional modules designed to equip students with the key technical skills which employers will look for

Course structure

Teaching

Teaching staff include: George Kapetanios (currently Head of the School and Research Economist for the Bank of England), Giles Spungin, (Goldman Sachs as a quantity auditor), Jesse McDougall (Portfolio Manager of a proprietary, quantitatively-driven asset management strategy for Liquid Capital Markets), and Gerry Perez (Director at Interactive Brokers Group with an equity capital of $4.4 billion.)Those registering for the MSc in Banking take four core modules in the first semester and two core modules plus two options in the second semester. In order to reflect the practical and applied side of this programme the School organises a number of extra optional modules that aim to provide further practical training to students, whose subject matter changes from year to year. These modules are often taught by City practitioners, who provide an insider’s view on topics of interest to the financial community.

Programme brochure

pub8860-msc-banking-v3.pdf

Module options

• Financial Derivatives
• Empirical Finance
• Behavioural Finance
• Applied Risk Management
• Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Finance
• Asset Management

The pre-semester modules in maths and statistics take place in September. They are especially designed for students who want to review concepts such as statistical distributions and matrix algebra. You will sit exams at the end of modules.

Read about the module options in detail

Assessment

A written examination is taken in May for each course unit. Some units may also include assessed coursework. You will also produce a 10,000-word dissertation over the summer, which includes both theoretical banking content and applied results.

Entry requirements

You should have at least a good second class honours degree, or equivalent. This doesn't have to be in Economics, though it is preferable and some background in quantitative subjects is necessary. Students are expected to attend intensive pre-sessional statistics and mathematics modules in September.

For international students, please refer to our International Students section. [new window]

How to apply

Further information

For further information please contact

Sarah Riley
Finance MScs Programme Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8848
Email: s.riley@qmul.ac.uk

For informal academic enquiries, please contact:
Yioryos Makedonis
Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8834
email:  y.makedonis@qmul.ac.uk

View the brochure online