MSc Banking and Finance

The overall objective of this course is to help you develop the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in banking and finance, or a related field. A particular strength of our course is the focus on the practical application of key banking and finance concepts, financial reporting, risk management tools, and professional ethics in the banking industry.

You’ll develop a sound understanding of the different types of banking and financial systems that exist globally, including those in emerging countries and countries in transition. The course also covers theory, methodology and research techniques within the dissertation module.

Throughout this Masters course you’ll develop:

• A systematic understanding of key concepts and methods in banking and finance, such as operations and strategy, risk management tools and the regulatory framework for risk management, financial reporting and data analysis. 
• Critical awareness of current problems and new insights in banking and finance.
• Practical understanding of the techniques of enquiry and research used in banking and finance, and how they are used to create and interpret knowledge.
• Conceptual understanding for evaluating current research and scholarship in banking and finance.

Preparing business leaders of the future

Postgraduate education at the University of Stirling Management School goes beyond text books and lecture rooms, we also focus on your personal and professional development.

Our unique Flying Start Leadership programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career. These range from practical skills, like effective public speaking, to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations such as conflict management.

Developing Real-World Experience

As part of our focus on enhancing your employability we offer an intensive trading Boot Camp. Delivered on campus in conjunction with industry training specialist Amplify, the course helps you to bridge the gap between academic theories of financial markets and the real world.

The Chartered Banker Institute recognises the relevance of the course and offers our graduates credit against its professional qualifications. Once you graduate, and as long as you pass our three CBI-accredited modules on your first attempt, you will be entitled to become an associate member of the Institute. If you decide then to work towards Chartered status you can follow an accelerated route. This fast-track means you only have to study two further modules (instead of the usual four) to attain the Chartered Banker status, a globally recognised, professional qualification.

The University of Stirling Management School is rated among the top 25 in the UK for research impact, according to REF 2014. In Scotland, the School was ranked in the top five.

64% of our research outputs were classified as world-leading and internationally excellent in terms of their originality, significance and rigour. We were ranked 14th in the UK in terms of research impact with over 60% of our research impact judged to have outstanding reach and wide-ranging impact on the policies of public, private and governmental organisations.

The Economics Division at Stirling Management School is committed to the pursuit of excellence in both research and teaching. The Division is ranked in the top 10% of institutions in the UK and Europe by RePEc (Research Papers in Economics).

We have several prominent staff members within the School, including David Bell, Professor of Economics, and a renowned economics expert. He has recently been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours list for his services to economics and public policy.

Teaching is carried out through lectures and small group teaching, seminars, workshops and computer labs.

Our lecturers have global reputations for advancing knowledge in the fields of banking and finance. The course reflects current developments in banking and finance. We encourage our students to explore contemporary challenges in seminars and workshops. Students will have access to and engage with labs, practical workshops, live markets via the Student Managed Investment Fund and the Amplify Trading Boot camp, and learn from contemporary banking and finance analysts. 

Assessment includes coursework and exams. You’ll undertake a dissertation project in the third semester. Your dissertation will be based on an original research question agreed by yourself and your supervisor. The dissertation project should reflect your own understanding and knowledge of selected topics covered in the taught modules.

Dr Theo Diasakos

+44 (0)1786 467474
banking-finance@stir.ac.uk

Dr Kevin Campbell
Dr Theo Diasakos
Dr Maria Grydaki
Professor Rob Webb

Ask an expert

Hear from Dr Kevin Campbell who researches primarily in the fields of corporate finance and corporate governance.

Read more about Dr Kevin Campbell

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

European Union and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

This is a challenging and worthwhile course which will be ideal preparation for students wishing to work in the Banking and Financial sector.

Professor David Blanchflower, CBE, External member of the Bank of England's MPC 2006-09

Everything you do while studying here is designed to help you build the personal skills that will make you stand out to future employers.

You’ll start your MSc course on our Flying Start leadership programme which will challenge your perspective of culture and develop your self-awareness, as well as team-working, problem-solving and presentation skills.

Find out more about how we prepare you for the world of work.

As a student on the MSc Banking and Finance you’re given the chance to go to regular guest lectures. These are typically held on a Wednesday afternoon and are delivered by eminent speakers drawn from leading financial institutions, think tanks, regulatory and professional bodies. Previous speakers include:

• Kweku Adoboli - Former Trader at UBS
• Dr. Dimosthenis Archontidis – General Manager, Eurobank Ergasias SA
• Nick Bartlett - Director of Education at CFA Society of the UK
• Richard Dunbar - Head of Economic and Thematic Research at Aberdeen Asset Management
• John Goodwin - Executive Vice-President and CFO at Lego
• Ross Lorrimer - Client Service Associate at State Street
• Bill McCall – (Chartered Banker, FCIBS, Chartered FCSI) Principal, McCall & Partners Ltd.
• Colin McLean - CEO at SVM Asset Management
• Russell Napier - Co-founder and Chairman of ERIC (Electronic Research Interchange)
• Maxim Skorniakov - Investment Manager at Walter Scott Global Investment Management
• Dr. Theodoros Stamatiou - Senior Economist, Economic Analysis and Market Research Division, Eurobank-Ergasias SA