Investment Management MSc
Key information
Duration: 12 months full-time
Attendance mode: Full-time
Fees: £33,300 (more information)
Location: Bunhill Row
Start of programme: September 2024
Entry year: Showing course information for 2024
A highly practical course in investment and risk management led by industry experts
Overview
Investment Management MSc Who is it for?
You are an ambitious recent graduate looking to develop a full range of skills to help launch your career in finance or accounting. This is a highly practical master's course in Investment Management so you’ll need to possess a high level of quantitative skills.
Your coursework will involve you in examining accounting and finance from the perspective of those who use financial reports to evaluate company and managerial performance.
"I chose the programme at Bayes for a number of reasons: I liked the curriculum with its focus on venture capital and private equity and I wanted to opportunity to do a deep dive research dissertation. Living and studying in the heart of London also appealed to me.
The programme provided me with the skills I needed to work in private equity and become a venture capitalist. Over the last 15 years, I have invested $17B in market capital in over 20 of the world’s leading global technology companies and have founded three companies that have had successful exits."
- Bryan Ciambella
Why choose this course?
Learn from top finance and business leaders on a course delivered with extensive input from City of London financial institutions and leading practitioners.
Tailor your course to your career aspirations with a choice of options in the third term, including a supervised research project plus elective modules, or electives only.
Course objectives
On our postgraduate programme you will develop your ability to analyse, interpret and understand issues related to investment management and financial risk management.
You will acquire a sound knowledge of the theoretical foundations that underpin modern investment and risk management techniques, and learn how to apply these principles in practice through case studies and portfolio management simulations.
Teaching staff
The teaching staff on the MSc in Investment Management have many years of practical experience working in the financial services sector and are also active researchers in their fields
This knowledge and experience inform the highly interactive lectures that make up the MSc in Investment Management.
Course director:
Accreditation details
This MSc is accredited by several professional bodies.
CFA Program Partner
The CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, recognises the rigour and the relevance of the MSc in Investment Management and has awarded this course partner status. CFA Program Partner status is awarded to a select number of universities around the world whose degree courses incorporate at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge. The CFA Program is the essential qualification for those wishing to pursue a career in the finance sector and the CFA Institute recognises the MSc in Investment Management as strong preparation for their professional exams.
Each year a number of CFA scholarships are available to Bayes students, offering financial assistance with the CFA exam registration fees.
Member of CAIA Academic Partnership Programme
The Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts Association (CAIA) is an independent organisation committed to education in the field of alternative investments and is recognised globally as the hallmark of excellence.
The partnership recognises that the content of the MSc in Investment Management reflects the concepts, tools and practices required by investment professionals working with products ranging from hedge funds to commodities.
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
Graduates of the MSc in Investment Management will be eligible to apply for the following:
- General Insurance qualifications framework
- 60 non specific credits at Advanced Diploma level.
- Financial Services qualifications framework
- AF4 Investment Planning (30 credits at Advanced Diploma level)
- 30 non specific credits at Advanced Diploma Level.
Course content
On the Investment Management master’s degree, you will:
- Learn from top finance and business leaders on a course delivered with extensive input from City of London financial institutions and leading practitioners
- Tailor your course to your career aspirations with a choice of options in the third term, including a supervised research project plus elective modules, or electives only
- Get valuable international experience on electives in places such as New York or Madrid
- Study on a master’s course that’s - accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) - a CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Institute Partner Programme - a Member of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts (CAIA) Academic Partnership Programme
- Build on our links to financial institutions close by in the City of London to further your career and connect with alumni and industry leaders.
Course structure
Induction weeks
All of our MSc courses start with two compulsory induction weeks which include relevant refresher courses, an introduction to the careers services and the annual careers fair.
Term 1
Core modules
Equity and fixed income analysis
Understanding how to analyse and value financial securities is one of the most important and challenging jobs for anyone working within the finance domain.
For that reason, equity and fixed income analysis must be viewed within the context of the investment decision-making process.
One key characteristic of the course is its integrative framework, bringing the investment–valuation–strategy trilogy together into one place for the analyst to refer to in the quest for consistent value-maximising investment recommendations.
Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis
Modern portfolio construction, diversification, asset management and portfolio performance evaluation are based on a number of portfolio theory concepts and asset pricing models. Portfolio theory module provides an in depth analysis of the modern portfolio theory concepts, key asset pricing models and their use in asset management.
The main objective of the course is to give you a thorough understanding of modern portfolio theory and its implications for the pricing of assets. The course provides the students with a unified approach to portfolio diversification, optimal portfolio construction and asset pricing models. There will be practical exercises in asset pricing and portfolio construction, and you will be using specialised databases and software packages to gain practical experience.
Data Science for Investment Management
This module introduces key data science methods widely adopted in the financial industry to analyse and model financial and macroeconomic data. The module covers several econometric and machine learning methods ranging from linear regression model to principal component analysis to regression trees.
For all the methods presented, the key theoretical elements are illustrated in a gentle and intuitive way. Emphasis is placed on the practical applications of the methods, using computer-based exercises with real-world data, and on the interpretation of the results. Jupyter Notebook with Python will be used to conduct practical exercises. The teaching pattern will include both lectures and tutorials.
Research Methods in Modern Finance
The module will utilise specific training in a financial modelling package in order to provide a strong foundation for the in-depth and specialist teaching and learning of terms two and three of your course.
You will also learn how to gather information through database research, which you will be able to use to support your learning, substantiate your arguments and make assessments about the nature of the evidence you are using.
Macroeconomics for investment managers.
Any investment manager needs to understand the likely behaviour of the macroeconomy going forward as this will affect the types of securities that he chooses to include in his portfolio.
The behaviour of the macroeconomy is heavily affected by how the government intervenes in the economy and that is why it is important for an investment manager to understand how governments can intervene in the economy and the likely impact of their intervention.
Term 2
Core modules
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
This module aims to introduce you to the measurement and recognition principles underlying financial statements.
The main objectives are to (i) develop a solid understanding of the content and measurement and recognition principals of financial statements from the perspective of users of accounting information; (ii) develop the ability to analyse financial statements from the perspective of analysts and investment managers. In so doing, the module will develop fundamental skills that are important for successful security analysis.
Hedge Funds, Private Equity and Venture Capital
Over the past 20 years investors have increasingly looked beyond traditional asset classes (stocks and bonds) to alternative asset classes as both a source of return and diversification.
In this course, we will introduce you to two of these alternative asset classes, namely hedge funds and private equity, highlighting their pros and cons, and the role they can play in a diversified investment portfolio. This module will provide you with all the insights needed to make well-informed decisions with regard to today’s complex investment management environment.
This course will give you the tools necessary to understand these alternative asset classes and to understand how they can be integrated into more traditional portfolios.
Portfolio Management and Sustainable Investing
Gain a thorough understanding of practical application of modern portfolio theory and asset pricing theories. The course provides you with a unified approach to asset management and risk management.
There will be practical simulations in portfolio construction and evaluation, examples of style investing, long short portfolio construction, market timing and asset allocation strategies and discussion of fixed income investment strategies.
The coursework will be empirical, based on a simulated portfolio construction and evaluation so that you can gain practical experience. The software/s used for this simulation may change.
Structured Products.
The aim of the course is to develop your understanding of structured products from the point of view of both issuers and investors.
A strong emphasis will be placed on understanding the factors that drive the prices of futures, forwards, options and swaps in both vanilla and exotic forms which will then be used to reverse engineer structured products.
By the end of the course you should understand how existing products are structured, how they will perform in the secondary market and be capable of structuring your own products.
Term 3
You may choose from the three options in your final term.
- Option one: Students can opt to write a 10,000-word Business Research Project (40 credits) and take one specialist elective module (1 x 10 credits)
- Option two: Students can opt to write a 3,000–5,000-word Applied Research Project (20 credits) and take three specialist elective modules (3 x 10 credits)
- Option three: Students can take five specialist elective modules (5 x 10 credits).
Projects
Business Research Project
It is important for aspiring professionals to demonstrate, on an individual basis, their ability to apply concepts and techniques they have learned in an in-depth study of a topic of their choice and to organise their findings in a report, all conducted within a given time limit.
To train you to undertake individual research and provide you with an opportunity to specialise in a contemporary business or finance topic related to your future career aspirations, you are required to submit a project of approximately 10,000 words on any subject area covered in the rest of the programme.
Typical projects can involve any of the following: extracting data from electronic databases or by hand; statistical analysis of large or small populations; interviews; case studies of an industry or a sector or of a business / finance issue in a particular country setting.
Applied Research Project.
The aim of this module is to enable you to demonstrate how to integrate your learning in core and elective modules and then apply this to the formulation and completion of an applied research project.
You will be required to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have acquired throughout your MSc study.
You will undertake a short piece of applied research on a question of academic and/or practical relevance.
Guidelines will be provided in order to help you identify the research question.
Based on your chosen topic, you must write a report of around 3,000–5,000 words that summarises and critically evaluates your method and your findings.
Electives offered in 2023
- Advanced Company Valuation
- Corporate Restructuring
- Ethics, Society and the Finance Sector
- Financial Crime
- Intro to Python
- Investment Strategy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity Investment
- Technical Analysis and Trading Systems
- Trading and Hedging in the Forex Market
- Trading and Market Microstructure
- Country and Geopolitical Risk Management
- FinTech - Financial Services in the Digital Age
- Commodity Derivatives and Trading
- Energy Project Investment and Finance.
International electives:
- Project Finance and Infrastructure Investment (taught in Madrid, Spain).
Please note that electives are subject to change and availability.
Download course specification:
Investment Management MSc [PDF]Assessment methods
Term dates
Term dates 2024/25
- Induction: 9th September 2024 - 20th September 2024
- Term one: 23rd September 2024 - 6th December 2024
- Term one exams: 6th January 2025 - 17th January 2025
- Term two: 20th January 2025 - 4th April 2025
- Term two exams: 21st April 2025 - 2nd May 2025
- Term three - international electives: 5th May 2025 - 16th May 2025
- Term three: 19th May 2025 - 4th July 2025
- Term three exams: 7th July 2025 - 18th July 2025
- Resits: 11th August 2025 - 22nd August 2025
- Additional resit week - tests only: 25th August 2025 - 29th August 2025.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
Fees & funding
UK/Home/International fee
2024 entry
£33,300
Tuition fees are subject to annual change.
Deposit: £2,000 (paid within 1 month of receiving offer and non-refundable unless conditions of offer are not met).
First installment: Half fees less deposit (payable during on-line registration which should be completed at least 5 days before the start of the induction period).
Second installment: Half fees (paid in January following start of course).
Scholarships & bursaries
Scholarships, sponsorships, loans and other funding could support your education at Bayes Business School.
Learn about the cost of living as a Bayes student in London.
Scholarships
Find out more information regarding course scholarships, MSc Programme scholarships and alumni discounts for postgraduate study at Bayes Business School.
View our scholarships and fundingOther funding opportunities
A postgraduate loan is available from the Government to help cover the cost of postgraduate Masters study.
View other funding optionsCareers
As an MSc in Investment Management graduate you’ll be equipped for a career in asset management, wealth management, hedge fund management, investment and private equity.
Recent graduates are now working as analysts, associates, traders and advisers in investment banks, financial services organisations and professional services firms.
You’ll get help from our careers team to decide on your career path and realise your professional goals, and you’ll be able to make use of our connections with influential organisations in the finance industry.
Class profile
Previous graduates have gone on to work in consulting and financial services across the UK, the EU, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Example roles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Credit Analyst
- Operations Specialist
- Investment Analyst
- Equity Research Associate
- Private Equity Analyst
- Finance Data Analyst.
(Data provided from alumni who completed the annual destination data survey for 2021/22)
Download our latest MSc Employment Report
Recent employers
Alumni stories
Entry requirements
- A UK upper second class degree or above, or the equivalent from an overseas institution
- Some level of previous study or evidence of skills in finance or quantitative methods is essential
- Work experience is not a requirement of this course.
GMAT
- GMAT is not required for application, but may be requested as a condition of offer at the discretion of the Admissions Panel.
English language requirements
If you have been studying in the UK for the last three years it is unlikely that you will have to take an English language test.
If you have studied in the UK at degree level for less than three years (e.g. 3+1, 2+1, 2+2, etc.) you will be required to provide the results of an approved English language test and possibly resit the test to meet our academic entry requirements.
Full list of approved English language tests/qualifications and minimum requirements.
Apply
Please see our Application Guide for details of the documents you will need to supply as part of your application, and other useful information.
We cannot comment on individual eligibility before you apply. We can only make a decision on your application once it is fully complete, with all requested information received.
Frequently asked questionsIndividual Appointments
If you would like to arrange an individual appointment to discuss the application process and be given a tour of the facilities, please complete this form.
Please note - these are subject to availability.
Terms and conditions
Students applying to study at Bayes Business School are subject to City, University of London's terms and conditions.
Student life
We are located right in the heart of London. Being a student at City allows you to take advantage of all that London has to offer.
London is continually ranked as one of the 'Best Student Cities' in the world to study within (QS, 2019).
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