Financial Technology and Innovation MSc

Core modules

• Financial markets and financial intermediation

  This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the workings of modern financial markets and the banking industry. We will introduce the key classes of financial securities, describe and reflect upon their valuation and discuss and evaluate how markets are organised for their trading. We will proceed to describe how the investment management industry works within this landscape. Finally, we will focus on the major features of the banking industry, the different types of banks that exist and their activities. Throughout there will be focus on the changing nature on these industries and institutions and reflection on how and why they are being affected by regulatory change, globalisation and financial innovation.

• Foundations of Fintech

  This module aims to examine the history, development and ecosystem of Open Banking and Financial Technology (FinTech). It analyses their relationship with financial institutions and transformation of the global financial system and business. The global financial system, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other financial intermediaries are discussed in the connection to fintech. An outline of regulation and governance of financial institutions, banking and fintech would also be presented. Finally, the module examines various fintech applications (e.g. cryptocurrencies, payment systems and trading platforms) and evaluates their impact on finance and business.

• Foundations of Data Science

  This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary to use data science methods in addressing various problems related to financial markets and the financial industry more in general.

• Innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial technology

  The module has two key aims. The first is to develop your understanding of the business implications of adopting or competing with a digital business model. The second is to describe how particular technologies (e.g. blockchains and AI) are impacting and may continue to impact industries related to financial services.

Core modules

• Regulatory Compliance, Ethics, Social Values

  This module provides an overview of legal and ethical issues relating to the creation, dissemination, organisation and use of information, documents, and data.

  It has also become increasingly important for multinational companies and other businesses to justify the social and environmental impact of their business practices. To achieve these businesses, need to design Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and publish CSR reports.

• Digital money and banking

  The "Digital Money and Banking" module offers a transversal understanding of the profound developments in the monetary landscape. With money playing a central role in the economy, its transformation has accelerated, encompassing digital money and cryptocurrencies. As key players in the monetary system, banks are actively participating in these transformations. Concurrently, monetary authorities are adapting their operations in response to these innovations. The module is specifically designed to provide participants with comprehensive insights into these advancements, empowering them to grasp the intricacies of digital money, banking, and the evolving monetary ecosystem.

• Data Analytics for Fintech

  This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how AI and ML technologies can be used in big data analytics and in addressing classification and prediction problems of the financial industry. The module will cover several methods including tree-based methods, support vector machines, and neural networks.

• Decentralised finance and blockchain applications

  To develop clear understanding of how blockchains work and what classes of financial problems they can (and cannot) solve. To understand some of the blockchain-based solutions that have been proposed and to evaluate the impact and success of these decentralised finance applications. To guide you to areas where future decentralised solutions might be most fruitful.

In your third term you'll work on a compulsory and supervised industry-led project alongside a choice of three elective modules.

• Industry project

  The industry project aims to train you to undertake individual research within the context of an industry-related problem or issue and to provide you with an opportunity to specialise in a contemporary business or finance topic related to your future career aspirations.

Elective modules

• Sustainable Finance with ESG
• Data Management Systems
• Financial Crime
• Ethics Society and the Financial Sector
• Field trip and study – international exposure
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Trading and Hedging in the FOREX Market
• Investment Strategy
• Hedge Funds
• Foreign Exchange.

Throughout the programme you also acquire direct knowledge of current issues in the Fintech industry through events and guest lectures from professionals / alumni, working in relevant fields.

Where applicable, lecturers address any ethical issues that might arise in the practice of finance and banking.  In so doing you are always encouraged to share your views with your lecturers and with your classmates, where a diversity of opinion is to be expected and appreciated.

* The list of electives offered in a given year will be confirmed by February.