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Banking and Finance MSc

Course code

N300PBANKFIN

Start date

September

Placement available

Mode of study

1 year full-time

16 months full-time with placement

2 years full-time with placement

2 years part-time

Fees

2024/25

UK £13,750

International £26,400

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Overview

Due to the high volume of applications we receive there may be a short delay in the time it takes to make a decision on your application. However, please be assured that we fully assess and review all applications we receive in a fair, transparent and consistent way in line with our Admissions Policy. If you need any more details on our application process please refer to this webpage.

The Brunel Banking and Finance MSc is designed to give graduates the knowledge and advanced skills needed for careers in the complex and rapidly changing banking and financial services industry.

Your studies will cover key subjects including financial economics, the economics of banking, international financial markets and quantitative methodology, as well as financial regulation at national and international levels and matters arising in private banking.

Crucially, you’ll develop your problem-solving skills and ability to critically evaluate and deliver midterm and long-term strategic solutions. 

Throughout the course you’ll have access to a variety of professional databases used in business and finance including Datastream, Bloomberg, Fitch, Osiris, Reuters 3000 Xtra and Thomson One Banker.

You can choose to study one year full-time, two years full-time with a year's work placement or 16 months full-time with a 6-12 week work placement.

While you study for your Banking and Finance MSc you can take advantage of the opportunity to follow the CFA Program (Chartered Financial Analyst) specialist pathway and gain the skills required to complete the Level I CFA Program exam.  The CFA Program has become the most respected and recognised professional qualification in finance in the world. Find out more on our  Level I CFA® Program Pathway page. 

This programme is also accredited by CIMA offering exemptions to some of their professional papers depending on your module choices.

As the worldwide financial services industry grows, so does the demand for professionals with specialist skills and competencies in banking and finance. Your Brunel Master's will give you that and make you a preferred job candidate to employers across the sector.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

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Course content

Coursework for your banking and finance postgraduate degree consists of compulsory and optional modules, and a dissertation on a relevant topic of your choice.

Full-time students should complete four modules per term, excluding the dissertation. Part-time students should complete two modules per term, excluding the dissertation.

This course can be studied 1 year full-time, 16 months full-time with placement, 2 years full-time with placement or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

Year 1

This course has a professional placement option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

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Careers and your future

Our aim is to teach you ‘employable knowledge’, which can be applied to real-world situations giving you the skills you need to find the right role after you graduate.  Therefore, you’ll be well prepared for work, especially if you undertake a work placement. Securing economics and finance degree jobs is highly competitive so we’ll support you to gain a strong foundation in the skills employers are looking for.  We offer opportunities within the Department of Economics and Finance as well as through the University’s Professional Development Centre (PDC) to help you build skills and experience.   

With the knowledge and expertise you'll gain on the course, you'll be well equipped to progress into academic careers and many of our graduates now hold teaching positions in institutions like the Australian Business School, EDHEC Business School in Nice, Glasgow University and Oslo Business School.

Others have used the skills and experiences gained to pursue a career within financial institutions and now hold senior positions in prestigious organisations like Standard Life in the UK, Bank of Cyprus, HBSC Istanbul and TD Bank Financial Group in Canada. 

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UK entry requirements

2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree (or equivalent internationally recognised qualification) in Economics & Finance, Banking, Finance & Accounting, Mathematical or Scientific subject areas, with evidence of some study of Corporate Finance and  Economics.

Applicants with 2:2 degrees not in the specified subject area will be considered on an individual basis by the Admissions Tutor provided they achieve high grades in core subjects. e.g. Maths, Stats, Econometric, Finance or two years relevant experience e.g. statistical, or banking.

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EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
  • BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 entry

UK

£13,750 full-time

£6,875 part-time

£1,385 placement year

International

£26,400 full-time

£13,200 part-time

£1,385 placement year

More information on any additional course-related costs.

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. 

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

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Teaching and Learning

How the course will be delivered

Required equipment

How you'll learn on your course

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Assessment and feedback

Modules are assessed by combinations of coursework, contribution to seminars, oral presentations and examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage.

Students are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September. Students who follow the Professional Practice pathway will complete their placement during the summer and work on their dissertation afterwards, submitting in January.

Students studying part time must submit their dissertation in the spring term of the third year.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.

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