MSc in Banking, Investment and Finance (Distance Learning)

The innovative design of the program and its market led curriculum equips students with relevant, up to date, skills and knowledge in the areas of finance and banking. The goal of the curriculum is to give well-qualified students the analytical and conceptual foundations for future high-level financial executive positions in any country in the world. The program combines the theoretical rigor of financial and banking economics with empirical, real-world aspects of finance, banking and risk management and accounting.

Whilst the program provides students with a robust grounding in finance and banking, the curriculum also encourages critical thinking fosters skills of research, analysis, synthesis, creativity; and ethical behavior.

The teaching method in the program is a mix of distance learning (teleconferences) and active learning techniques. More precisely, the teaching method is participatory and interactive, so that students can develop their interpersonal skills through active participation in the learning process such as relevant to the content videos presentations followed by critical discussions in forum and through the institution of collective work in game simulation, which are the standard method for developing team skills. Moreover, recent research papers and current issues will be discussed in forum.

The plan is achieved through a curriculum of many core courses covering economics, corporate finance, risk management, statistics, mathematics, banking, accounting as well as a sizeable number of elective courses covering real estate finance, market and credit risk management and portfolio management.

Intended learning outcomes:

To gain theoretical background and specialized knowledge in order to be able to explain the structural and constituent components that make up the financial markets of investment services firms, investment funds, hedge funds or insurance companies.

On successful completion of the program students will be able to:

1. Identify different theories and concepts to explain financial issues and decisions in business organizations and financial institutions.
2. Apply financial and quantitative skills and select the appropriate decision tools to real-world financial problems to produce applicable recommendations that create value for the organization.
3. Critically reflect on the existing literature by reviewing academic and practitioners’ sources and empirically testing research hypotheses
4. Demonstrate the ability to be adaptable and demonstrate originality, insight and critical and reflective skills so as to make informed decisions in complex and unpredictable situations and environments
5. Use information technology (spreadsheets, econometric techniques software, and databases) to interpret and analyse financial and banking data.
6. Understand and critically evaluate the practical applications of financial theories and techniques and how they are used in the financial industry.
7. Apply the techniques and methods of finance, investment and banking to conduct independent research projects.
8. Work collaboratively, exercise team leadership, demonstrate the ability to manage group conflict and produce team outcomes.

1.5 academic year (3 academic semesters)

The Master program will be offered full-time and the program’s normal duration is 1½ years (18 months). Master students must complete 90 ECTS of coursework to fulfil the degree requirements. The first-year core program consists of six integrated thirteen-week modules, totalling 60 ECTS. Master students must also complete a 30 ECTS Dissertation to fulfill the degree requirements. The program will be delivered within three (3) academic semesters. During the 1^st semester, a student has to take four (4) compulsory modules, totaling 30 ECTS and during the 2^nd semester another two (2) compulsory modules will be provided and two (2) electives out of three (3), totaling 30 ECTS. After completing their first year in the Master program (60 ECTS), students shall take a compulsory Master Dissertation, corresponding to 30 ECTS.

Furthermore, in accordance with the relevant announcements made by the Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, students have the opportunity to complete their postgraduate studies in two academic semesters as long as they start the conduction of their Master’s Dissertation during the first or second semester of their studies, including the summer period. In this case, the completion of the Master’s Dissertation may be prolonged during the summer period, for one or two months. In any case, the total ECTS remain 90.

The University reserves its right to define the electives offered on an academic year basis.

The programme structure may change without prior notice, as a result of quality assurance procedures or/and programme recertification.