Banking and Finance (2014 entry)

MSc, 1 year full time/2 years part time

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Our degrees are taught by world-renowned faculty with a strong background in relevant areas of research. Our research was highly rated in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). On average 80 per cent of our research was rated as recognised internationally or higher, and half rated as internationally excellent or higher. 

Business studies at Sussex was ranked in the top 25 in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2013. 

Our range of business, management and finance degrees builds on Sussex’s strong foundation of interdisciplinary study. 

Our part-time MBA builds on Sussex’s extensive research reputation including that of SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research, ranked 2nd science and policy think tank in the UK and 11th in the world (University of Pennsylvania: Global Go-To Think-Tanks Report 2012). The MBA focuses on the application of acquired knowledge and skills to practical and strategic challenges within the management of public- and private-sector organisations. 

Our American Express-sponsored MSc in Technology and Innovation Management has a strong record of employment opportunities and many graduates go on to work with American Express. 

The University of Sussex offers opportunities encompassing corporate risk management, entrepreneurship, international finance, and international and innovation management. 

Our teaching is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to compete effectively in the fast-paced world of work. We are tailoring our taught degrees to meet current and future employer demands, and will continue to adapt to the changing employment market. 

Our degrees offer a choice between practice-and research-oriented study opportunities. They have been developed drawing on the expertise and input of experienced practitioners from industry and professional bodies. These experts complement our own expertise in research, and help to enrich the learning experience for all our students. 


Emmanuel's faculty perspective

Emmanuel Mamatzakis

'One point that I have treasured, from my days of working for the Greek government and taking part in eurogroup and ECFIN meetings in Brussels, is that the banking industry is the cornerstone of financial stability worldwide. The recent global credit crunch has clearly identified the necessity to keep a close eye on the balance sheets of banks and other financial institutions. My recent research focuses on the idea that by achieving efficiency in regulation while enhancing a rules-based financial framework, we could improve bank performance and thereby boost growth.

'I am strongly committed to continue publishing in leading banking and finance journals. This provides me with the opportunity to bring the best from new research into my teaching. Against this background, the MSc in Banking and Finance comes in a timely manner to provide you with essential knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical and applied concepts in banking and finance, delivered from the international and multicultural perspective, preparing you for an amazing range of careers.'

Emmanuel Mamatzakis
Professor of Finance,
University of Sussex

Programme outline

The banking and financial industry is highly competitive and evolves rapidly. As a result of increasing financial integration worldwide, the industry has gone through a number of remarkable structural changes in the last five years. The general trend towards greater integration has been bolstered by the increasing harmonisation of the regulatory framework and the increasing integration of the underlying financial infrastructure. Against this background, our MSc provides you with essential knowledge and understanding of the banking and finance industry. 

Within our School, a strong team of academics from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds is devoted to research in banking and finance at the forefront of the contemporary research agenda and has a strong publication record in leading economics and finance journals. This experience makes our MSc stand out from degrees offered elsewhere. We offer modules in line with the most recent developments in the industry, delivered from an international and multicultural perspective, and specialist modules in the recent financial crises and Islamic banking. 

The MSc gives you a comprehensive under-standing of the main theoretical and applied concepts in banking and finance, delivered from an international and multicultural perspective. In addition, it offers you comprehensive training in banking management and accounting as well as in-depth appreciation of the finance industry, giving you a wide range of opportunities to specialise in advanced topics in banking and finance. You: 

  • get professional training in banking, accounting, risk management, investment analysis, corporate finance, derivatives, financial microstructure and taxation 
  • review modern theoretical and real-world practical developments relating to banking and finance 
  • look at the diverse nature of the banking industry in geographical areas such as Europe, America, Asia and the Arabic peninsula 
  • gain technical skills through a scheme of quantitative analysis 
  • look at advanced practical applications of financial techniques in a real-world setting 
  • examine the underlying theories of the banking firm 
  • study the structure, performance and efficiency of banking and financial markets 
  • learn about bank regulation and risk management in light of the recent credit crunch 
  • focus on the measurement of risks undertaken by banks 
  • look at futures, options, derivatives and swaps as used by banks to manage their balance sheet and off-balance-sheet risks. 

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and include unseen examinations and dissertation/projects. 

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2014 entry to ensure you have the best student experience.In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.

Autumn term: you take Accounting for Decision-Makers • Bank Financial Management • Corporate Finance • Quantitative Methods for Finance. 

Spring term: you take Banking and Financial Institutions • Financial Derivatives • Research Methods • Risk Management. You choose two options from Corporate Governance • Financial and Time Series Econometrics • Financial Crises and Bank Regulation • Islamic Banking • Monetary Theory and Policy • Multinational Financial Management. 

Summer term: you conduct a Research Method Project in Banking and Finance. 

Back to module list

Accounting and Finance for Managers

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module is designed as an introduction for non-financial managers to comparative international accounting and financial reporting and analysis within the context of converging standards. No prior knowledge of accounting procedures is assumed or required. As part of the module, you will produce a business financial analysis report.

Bank Financial Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module provides a comprehensive account of the primary aspects of bank financial management. Bank financial management covers the fundamental bank instrumental techniques, such as bank asset investment and bank funding instruments, and measuring costs and yield curves. The module demonstrates how bank managers evaluate bank performance, specifically using operational performance measures and frontier analysis, then details the elements of bank asset and bank liability management. Novel aspects of bank strategies are covered, including bank funding alternatives, pricing off balance sheet items, and contingent claims products. International banking and foreign exchange are also discussed. In addition, the module deals with bank mergers and acquisitions.

Banking and Financial Institutions

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The module aims to provide you with a combination of theoretical background and practical insight into some of the main strategic issues faced by the modern banking institutions. The module provides a good grasp of both the basics (the structure and environment of banking) and selected aspects of the applied economics of the modern banking firm. The topics covered include structure-conduct-performance, competition, bank efficiency, regulation, international banking and bank failures and crises.

Corporate and International Finance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module covers the most important topics in corporate finance such as: capital investment decision-taking; financing andcapital structure; risk management; and portfolio theory. You will then analyse issues in international finance including: models of exchange rates; efficiency in foreign exchange markets; monetary unions; and international financial crises.

Financial Crises and Bank Regulation

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the financial sector regulation and supervision and central bank liquidity management. The ongoing financial crisis implies that the focus should be on the implications and lessons for the future of the financial markets. The module presents the inadequacies in macroeconomic, in particular fiscal, policies and the need to redesign the international financial architecture regarding the regulatory framework.

Financial derivatives

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module provides up-to-date coverage of the main aspects of financial derivatives. Moreover, it gives an overview of the mechanics of futures markets, the hedging strategies using futures, the determination of forward and futures prices, the mechanics of options markets and the swaps, and the Greek letters. The module presents the cornerstone of financial derivatives, namely the Black-Scholes-Merton model and goes further to introduce 'Value at Risk'.

Financial and Time Series Econometrics

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course introduces you to a variety of applied time-series econometric techniques, giving you the skills  to enable you to independently use these techniques with confident. An important emphasis of the course is to provide you with hands-on experience of econometric analysis through using a variety of economic data sets.

Multinational Financial Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aim of this module is to evaluate the financial decision-making of companies operating internationally, providing an understanding of global capital markets, in the context of international trade patterns, international monetary systems, exchange rate regimes and foreign exchange markets, as well as tax rules and legal and institutional complexities. You will also develop competences in the appraisal of international capital expenditure choices and in the effective implementation of multinational management control systems. In addition, the module considers the political risks faced by multinational enterprises, including firm-specific risk, country risk, and global risk, together with an assessment of the origins and repercussions of the current credit crisis, including the international scale of securitization, and the impact of market failure in international interbank markets on multinational financial management.

Summary outline: currency regimes and markets and the management of foreign exchange risk; measuring and managing exchange exposure; international financing and capital market integration; the cost of capital for foreign investments; capital budgeting for the multinational corporation; working capital management; taxation and transfer pricing; country risk analysis and the implications of the financial crisis of 2007-09 and module resumé.

Quantitative Methods for Finance

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This course provides an introduction to statistical techniques needed in the study of finance. It covers parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing with financial applications, ANOVA, diagnostic testing, regression analysis in a financial context and experimental design It provides the key tools needed for the FATSE course which follows in the spring term.

Research Methods

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to introduce a range of research methods for the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, to advance your analytic research skills through practical experience, and to develop your skills in reading and evaluating journal articles and research papers.

The main topics to be covered are: literature reviews, searches and referencing; social science research; case study research - comparative and longitudinal methods; survey research; basic concepts in statistical analysis; goodness-of-fit tests & contingency tables - correlation analysis; simple comparative tests; ANOVA: one-way and RCB designs; two-variable regression and multiple regression.

Research Project (MSc Banking and Finance)

30 credits
Summer teaching, year 1

The main aim of this module is to enable you to undertake an applied research project. Specifically, it involves researching and writing up, in the form of a dissertation, a specific aspect of banking in a way that would support effective decision-making within an international/national banking context.

Research skills will be taught as part of this module to enable students, through reflective practice, to apply those skills to a specific research topic in banking.
For example, you will be able to estimate bank efficiency scores using either non-parametric (DEA) or parametric (SFA) methodology so as in a second stage to examine empirically the impact of underlying contributing factors, such as Basel III regulation framework, on efficiency. Towards this goal, you will benefit from the new state of the art academic building and the new on-line data bases such as Bloomberg and Bankscope.

The aim is to enable you to critically survey and identify relevant theories and models and then to employ them in banking and finance. The skills and context aspects of the module prepare you for this task as well as fulfilling programme objectives related to generic transferable skills. Some students, such as those sponsored by organisations, may wish to examine a particular problem/area for their organisation.

Planning Phase (Teaching Block 2/Spring)
Research problems, issues and controversies in the field of banking and finance;
Planning and designing research; literature review; methododologies in banking;
analysis of data; empirical estimations; implications and conclusions.

Research Phase (Teaching Block 2 - Teaching Block 3/Spring - Summer)
Individual, self-directed research of the approved topic, leading to the submission of a written Research Portfolio and Research Project.

Risk Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module addresses the various aspects involved in the management of risks in project and operational business environment. Such aspects include: factors from the external and internal (relative to the project, firm and industry) environment that contribute to the emergence and escalation of risks; the processes required to manage those risks and the tools and methods applied to identify, assess and control risks. The management of stakeholders plays a central role in the characterisation of risk events and in their associated impacts once such events occur.

Back to module list

Entry requirements

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent professional qualification.

Overseas entrance requirements

Overseas qualifications

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

CountryOverseas qualification
Australia Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Visas and immigration

Find out more about Visas and immigration.

Additional admissions information

You are strongly advised to submit your application by 31 March.

For more information about the admissions process at Sussex

For pre-application enquiries:

Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

For post-application enquiries:

Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk 

Fees and funding

Fees

Home UK/EU students: £6,9501
Overseas students: £14,6002

1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.

Chancellor's International Scholarship (2014)

Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 1 May 2014

25 scholarships of a 50% tuition fee waiver

Fulbright-Sussex University Award (2014)

Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 15 October 2013

Each year, one award is offered to a US citizen for the first year of a postgraduate degree in any field at the University of Sussex.

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2014)

Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013

The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.

Santander Scholarship (2014)

Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 1 May 2014

Two scholarships of £5000 fee waiver for students studying any postgraduate taught course.

USA Friends Scholarships (2014)

Region: International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 3 April 2014

Two scholarships of an amount equivalent to $10,000 are available to nationals or residents of the USA on a one year taught Master's degree course.

Faculty interests

The research interests of selected faculty are briefly described below. For more details, visit the Department of Business and Management, Department of Economics, Department of Mathematics, and SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research.

Mike Barrow Public-sector economics, local government, efficiency and value for money. 

Dr Odul Bozkurt International human resource management. 

Dr Ioanna Chini Social study of ICT, ICT policy. 

Professor Ian Davidson Financial markets and instruments, application of quantum mechanics. 

Dr Bertram Düring Applied and financial mathematics. 

Rob Eastwood Demographic change and economic development. 

Dr Sonja Fagernas Development economics. 

Professor John Forker Financial accounting and reporting, earnings quality, equity pricing. 

Dr Bruce Hearn Emerging financial markets of Asia and Africa. 

Dr Surendranath Jory Mergers and acquisitions. 

Dr Norifumi Kawai Internationalisation of Asian firms, strategic human resource management. 

Dr Marv Khammash Marketing and consumer research. 

Dr Andreas Kornelakis Globalisation and models of capitalism, outsourcing, training policies. 

Dr Omar Lakkis Numerical analysis and scientific computing. 

Dr Rebecca Liu New product development. 

Professor Robert Livingston Intergroup relations, managing cultural and ethnic diversity, conflict resolution. 

Dr Anotida Madzvamuse Bio-membranes. 

Professor Emmanuel Mamatzakis Banking and finance, forecasting, public finance. 

Dr Monica Masucci Strategy and entrepreneurship. 

Professor Roman Matousek Bank efficiency, microeconomics of banking, monetary policy. 

Dr Piera Morlacchi Entrepreneurship, organisation studies, technology. 

Dr Mike Osborne Applications in economic theory. 

Dr Dimitra Petrakaki Implications of technology in organisational change. 

Dr Matias Ramirez Relationship between labour mobility, knowledge flows. 

Professor Barry Reilly Applied econometrics. 

Dr Josh Siepel Development of the venture capital sectors in the US and the UK. 

Dr Malcolm Stewart Global marketing, digital marketing, advertising and branding strategy. 

Professor David Storey OBE The economic environment in which small firms operate. 

Professor Roger Strange Corporate governance and FDI decisions. 

Richard Sykes Working for a range of clients in the public and private sectors. 

Dr Qi Tang Mathematical and statistical modelling of financial, corporate and technological risks. 

Dr Shqiponja Telhaj Economics of education. 

Professor Joe Tidd Innovation strategy. 

Dr Joana Vassilopolou Organisational behaviour, employment studies. 

Dr Jie Wen Banking and finance. 

Dr Mirela Xheneti Entrepreneurship in post-communist countries. 

Careers and profiles

This MSc provides you with the essential skills and knowledge for a successful career in banking and finance, and will help you develop the managerial and technical analytical skills required by employers in the private and public sectors. This degree may be attractive to you if you aim to work in: 

  • the City of London 
  • multinational banking and financial corporations
  • investment banking and fund management 
  • large international financial bodies such as the IMF and the World Bank 
  • Central Banks such as the Bank of England, ECB 
  • Government bodies such as the Treasury. 

For more information, visit Careers and alumni.

School and contacts

School of Business, Management and Economics

The School of School of Business, Management and Economics is a unique, research-focused business school, which takes a strong policy-directed view on business practices while also developing the underlying core disciplines.

School of Business, Management and Economics,
Jubilee Building,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SL, UK
T +44 (0)1273 872668
E bmec@sussex.ac.uk
Department of Business and Managament
Department of Economics

Postgraduate Open Day 2013

4 December 2013, 1pm-4pm
Bramber House, University of Sussex

  • talk to academic faculty and current postgraduate students
  • subject talks and presentations on postgraduate study, research and funding
  • choose from our exciting range of taught Masters and research degrees
  • find out how postgraduate study can improve your career prospects
  • get details of our excellent funding schemes for taught postgraduate study.

To register your interest in attending, visit Postgraduate Open Day.

Can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day? You might be interested in attending one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions.

Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions

If you can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day, you’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.

Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.

Other ways to visit Sussex

We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.

You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.

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