Banking and Finance MSc

Overview

The financial services sector has grown worldwide. There is greater demand for professionals with specialist skills and competencies in banking and finance. This course responds to trends and issues in global financial services industries.

Our Banking and Finance MSc degree will:

• teach you how retail and investment banks function within financial markets
• strengthen your understanding of the role of other financial intermediaries

You'll develop the skills and expertise for a career in the banking and financial market industries.

This course will suit you if you're interested in the following careers:

• banker in retail and investment banks
• financial trader, financial analyst or risk manager
• economist in private and government organisations

You'll study and apply theoretical frameworks in banking and finance. The course will encourage you to engage with contemporary debates. This could include issues related to financial markets and institutions.

Throughout your study, you'll meet experts from the financial industry. You'll gain insight into the world of finance and advice on your future career.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute (CBI). The CBI is a UK-based global professional education body for bankers. At the start of the academic year, you can enrol with the CBI and enjoy the benefits of student membership. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be awarded Associate Chartered Banker status.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

We will teach you how retail and investment banks function within financial markets. You'll also understand the role of other financial intermediaries.

You'll study and apply theoretical frameworks in economics and finance. The course will also encourage you to engage with contemporary debates on issues related to financial markets and institutions.

We will provide you with the opportunity to understand and critically analyse:

• the role of commercial and investment banks within international financial markets
• the impact of financial technology and sustainability in financial markets
• a wide range of investment management topics

Advanced statistical software

Where possible you'll have access to advanced statistical software including:

• Eviews
• SPSS
• Stata
• Gauss
• MATLAB
• SAS
• Maple
• Minitab
• R

Financial databases

You'll also have access to a number of financial databases including:

• Refinitiv Workspace: DataStream and ThomsonONE
• Fame
• Amadeus
• Oriana
• WRDS
• Compustat
• CRSP
• CSMAR
• OptionMetrics
• ORBIS (cross-border investment)
• Bloomberg - access to Bloomberg trading terminals is available on campus only

You'll use these for your empirical projects in applied econometrics as well as your final dissertation.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Banking and Finance MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Dissertation	60
Retail and Investment Banking	10
Central Banking	10
Applied Econometrics	10
Research Methods in Economics and Finance	10
Introductory Econometrics	10
Financial Theory	20
Financial Technology	10
Green Finance and Sustainability	10
Critical Skills for Finance	0

Optional Modules	Credits
Money Laundering and Corporate Misconduct	20
International Money and Banking	10
Marketing	10
Behavioural Finance	10
Risk Modelling	10
International Finance	10
Financial Derivatives	20
Corporate Finance	10
Portfolio Management	10
Introduction to Financial Reporting	10
International Marketing	10

Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

MSc - Master of Science

An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:

• subject-specific taught modules
• a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words

You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.

A Master of Science is typically awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Delivery methods

This master’s degree offers you a stimulating curriculum and a supportive teaching and learning environment.

Lectures

Guest lectures on the course complement the study of theoretical frameworks. These lectures:

• analyse the most recent trends in financial markets and banking industries
• provide an overview of the available opportunities within the financial sector

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Dissertation
• Essay
• PC examination
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Research proposal
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff

This course builds on our established research strengths in finance and economics.

It is delivered by a mix of highly experienced and prominent academics. View profiles of the module leaders for this course:

• Dr Periklis Boumparis (Degree Programme Director)
• Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou
• Dr Andrei Stanou
• Dr Ian Corrick
• Dr Anastasios Evgenidis
• Dr Bahadir Dursun
• Dr Jose Liu
• Professor Robert Sollis
• Professor Bartosz Gebka
• Dr Minh Nguyen
• Dr Xueqi Dong

Your development

You'll develop relevant skills and a practical understanding of:

• the role of retail and investment banks in modern economies
• the operational behaviour of banks, financial markets and investors
• the impact of financial technology in the banking and financial markets industries
• the role of the banking and finance sector in the transition to the green economy
• contemporary debates in international financial markets
• empirical modelling techniques in the areas of economics and finance
• how to synthesise and present relevant data, conclusions and recommendations

Professional development

You'll benefit from our status as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner. Through self-study, you'll complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts certificate. This gives you an interactive introduction to the financial markets.

You'll be able to take part in a live financial trading simulation. This is delivered jointly with CFA annual global investment challenge.

You'll gain insights into different roles in the financial industry and boost your employability.

Your future

Graduate destinations

Graduates from this course have undertaken various roles including:

• banker
• fund manager
• relationship manager
• accountant
• financial trader
• auditor
• risk manager
• risk analyst
• PhD candidate

Recent employers include:

• KPMG
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• PwC
• HSBC Bank
• Oracle Corporation
• Santander UK
• Lloyds Banking Group
• China Construction Bank Corporation
• Beijing Chenghuai Technology Co. Ltd

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course

Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.

• Business and Humanities Pre-Master's

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events