Structure and content
The programme comprises three elements: two 15-week semesters of taught modules and a three-month dissertation. Semester 1 concentrates on fundamental techniques. Semester 2 integrates, develops and applies these skills.
In the autumn semester you will take the following modules:
- Financial Economics: Financial instruments and how they are traded; the major topics in financial economics including portfolio theory, the pricing of bonds, stocks, and other financial instruments
- Quantitative Methods in Finance: The statistical and computing skills necessary to understand fully and perform modern financial analysis
- Principles and Practice of Programming: The design and testing of programs written in Java. You will study good practice in program construction, programming with data structures and graphical user interfaces
- Database Principles and Applications: Provides a critical understanding of the role of database management systems and the ability to creatively design and implement practical databases.
In the spring semester you will study two core modules:
- Decision Support Systems: IT methods and techniques in the support of decision-making in organisations, in particular modelling, simulation and intelligent decision support systems
- Energy Markets: The function of the major markets for energy: oil, coal, natural gas, electric power, and alternative/renewable energy in a national and international context; the environmental issues related to energy use and consumption; the effect on energy markets of national and international environmental policy
Plus one of the following two modules:
- Object-oriented Software Design: How to analyse and model requirements and develop object-oriented software, through the use of UML and CASE tools
- Networking: Investigates the principles of data communications, including layered network architecture, services and protocols
Plus one of the following two modules:
- Derivatives: Provides an understanding of the uses and the valuation of the main derivative financial instruments. It covers the trading mechanisms used on derivative markets and explains the fundamental principles underlying the pricing of derivatives and their use in portfolio management, and risk management
- Investments and Portfolio Management: Provides an understanding of portfolio management principles and the valuation of equities and fixed-interest securities
You may graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma after two semesters, or you may continue with a three-month project and dissertation to qualify for the MSc degree. The subject of the dissertation will usually be a computer application for a financial purpose.
Delivery and Assessment
Students will learn about computing, finance and economics topics through lectures, tutorials/seminars and practical sessions. Lectures involve the whole class, while tutorials and practicals are for small groups. Practical work is a key component in our degrees, and provides the opportunity for hands-on experience. It builds from self contained tasks in the first semester, over a larger programming assignment in the winter break to a group project in Semester 2. Finally, the dissertation project is your largest single piece of work leading to your MSc dissertation.
After two semesters of classes you will embark on a three-month project working on your dissertation topic. At the end of the project you will write up your findings as your MSc dissertation. For the MSc projects, we will make a number of industrial placements (usually unpaid) available. These will be offered to the best students in the class. Other project suggestions both from external bodies and from within the university are also offered. Furthermore, students' own ideas for projects are encouraged and welcomed. Often students bring in their previous expertise.
Timetable
Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.