Business Finance MSc

4.0
1 review
  • It was a fantastic experience while studying here,I had a time of my life. Thanks a lot.
    |

Postgraduate

In Uxbridge

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    Uxbridge

  • Start date

    Different dates available

The MSc in Business Finance with professional placement is designed to enhance students' understanding of the operation of firms, with a special focus on the financing decisions they must make. This requires an evaluation of the firm’s relationship to financial markets. It also requires an understanding of the theory and practice underlying corporate finance and investment decisions. By studying the operation and design of corporate financial systems, and analysing business financing and investment decisions, this masters programme should enable students to find a role within the finance department of large firms or in government bodies, as well as provide them with tools to help organise smaller businesses.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Uxbridge (Middlesex)
Brunel University, UB8 3PH

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
Pearson: 58 (51 in all subscores)
BrunELT: 65% (min 60% in all areas)

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

4.0
  • It was a fantastic experience while studying here,I had a time of my life. Thanks a lot.
    |
100%
4.6
excellent

Course rating

Recommended

Centre rating

Syeda

4.0
06/05/2018
What I would highlight: It was a fantastic experience while studying here,I had a time of my life. Thanks a lot.
What could be improved: Nothing
Would you recommend this course?: Yes
*All reviews collected by Emagister & iAgora have been verified

This centre's achievements

2018

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 14 years

Subjects

  • Business Finance
  • GCSE Mathematics
  • Financial Training
  • IT risk
  • Government
  • Financial
  • Finance
  • International
  • Economics
  • Mathematics
  • Business Economics
  • Statistics
  • Investment
  • Market
  • Financial Reporting
  • Risk
  • Corporate Finance

Course programme

Course Content

The MSc consists of both compulsory and optional modules, a typical selection can be found below. Modules can vary from year to year, but these offer a good idea of what we teach.

The full-time Business Finance MSc programme is designed with four equally weighted modules in each of the first two terms, with three being compulsory and one an option from a list. The dissertation carries one third of the marks for the course and is undertaken after the modules have been completed. The part-time option is designed with two modules in each of four terms. The compulsory modules give an excellent coverage of core material in finance designed in a way to be applicable to business. The Business Finance MSc analyses the theory and practice of business finance, focusing on financial decision making within firms and how they interact with the financial markets and institutions.

Through the optional modules the course is also designed to offer a broader perspective on the subject matter and allows you to cover specific areas in accounting and finance that is of particular interest to you.

Modules are subject to change.

Compulsory Modules

Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics: This module ensures that students have a systematic comprehension of the required minimum knowledge of mathematics and statistics to successfully meet the learning outcomes at postgraduate level. This course covers all the preparatory technical material needed to undertake the MSc Business Finance programme, and feeds into all assessed modules.

Quantitative Methods for Business Finance: This module provides an introduction to statistical techniques needed in the study of business and finance. The materials and explanations that will be presented are suitable for an introductory course on quantitative methods or statistics. The module assumes no previous knowledge of econometrics and is designed to give a thorough understanding of compulsory econometrics. In particular, students will learn how to (a) perform a statistical analysis and undertake hypothesis testing and (b) perform a simple and multiple regression analysis.

Foundations of Finance: On completion of this module students will have an understanding of various financial instruments, markets and concepts which are necessary when conducting the corporate investment decision. Topics include bond and equity markets and instruments, discounting, compounding and the time value of money, the decision rules relating to the capital budgeting techniques and their application, the incorporation of risk and uncertainty into an investment decision, including portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model.

Business Economics: Students will develop a sound knowledge of the theory of business economics and its applications, as well as acquiring an understanding of (i) the relationship between government and business and (ii) the macroeconomic environment of business. Topics include fundamental economic problems, analysing market structure, business strategy in different market structures, business activity, employment and inflation, globalisation and multinational business.

Company Valuation: This module discusses the fundamental approach to company valuation and applies the fundamental analysis in different contexts, such as security valuation and credit risk. In addition, the module examines the limitations of corporate financial statements in the context of company valuation.

Business Finance: This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the financing decisions and policy of modern corporations.

Business Finance Workshop: Following successful completion of this module, students will be able to: demonstrate a sound knowledge of the operation of financial markets and the theory underpinning corporate finance policy; understand how theory and applications are linked in practice and be able to relate this to the techniques used to model financial decisions and markets. Students will see the methods that arise in other modules being applied to different types of financial data from different countries, and gain a better understanding of how they are used in a corporate environment.

Dissertation: The objective of the dissertation is to bring to bear the techniques and perspectives covered in the taught part of the course upon a specific issue of interest. The dissertation should provide an independent and critical appraisal of an issue, normally (although not always) involving an empirical analysis of the topic being investigated. Although the dissertation is likely to be empirical in nature and will probably involve the use of econometric modelling, it is not about econometrics. The dissertation sets out to investigate a question/issue/problem of interest, and in this context, econometrics is simply a tool that helps us address and answer the question of interest.

Optional Modules

Students must choose two optional modules from the following.

Either Financial Reporting in Capital Markets: This module covers a variety of financial reporting issues related to the capital market: accounting for valuation with special emphasis on cash flows and revenue recognition; capital market efficiency related to financial statements announcement and financial analysts forecast; corporate disclosure and corporate governance (The Cadbury Report and The Combined Code on Corporate Governance); financial statements as the measurement of economic income and value.

Or International Finance: The aim of this module is to analyse the international financial system. In particular, it considers the operation of foreign exchange markets, including forward, futures and option markets. Special attention is paid to the use of currency derivatives for hedging and pricing decisions, discussing issues of foreign exchange risk management and international capital budgeting. In addition, the use of such instruments in speculation is assessed, relating them to key equilibrium notions. The main theories of exchange rate determination are analysed, discussing arguments in favour of fixed exchange rates/target zones and under which conditions these result in speculative attacks and/or currency crises.

Either International Accounting Standards and Policy: This module introduces and evaluates key accounting issues related to International Financial Reporting Standards required by investors. For example, the economic role of accounting standards, provisions and contingent liabilities, business combination, accounting for executive share options, financial instruments, pension accounting, and recent accounting topics in academic research e.g. accounting conservatism and accounting information environment.

Or Investment Valuation Models: This module analyses how financial market information (corporate, country-specific and global information) can be used to estimate the value of different investments. It covers a range of different models that are available to an analyst performing investment valuation, while presenting the common elements in these models to provide a framework that can be used to select the right model for any valuation scenario.

Part-time option

Level 1

  • Essentials of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Foundations of Finance
  • Quantitative Methods for Business Finance
  • Business Finance Workshop
  • Business Finance

Level 2

  • Business Economics
  • Company Valuation

Students must choose two optional modules from the following:

  • Financial Reporting in Capital Markets
  • International Finance
  • International Accounting Standards and Policy
  • Investment Valuation Models
  • The Dissertation must be submitted in the spring term of the third year.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.


Additional information

Teaching and Assessment Teaching Effective learning is achieved through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed independent study, workshops, oral presentations, and varied assessment patterns. Use of appropriate IT resources is expected (e.g. electronic resources to access data, and relevant software programmes used in research methods). Dissertation research will give you the opportunity to integrate your knowledge of important themes, frameworks and research findings in business finance obtained via lectures, seminars, and workshops. Students who successfully complete a professional placement will be invited to attend a tutorial day to give a presentation about their experience. An optional reflective journal during the placement may assist in preparation for the presentation and dissertation. Assessment All modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and final examinations. Students who successfully complete the taught part of the course can proceed to the dissertation stage. Students who do not follow the pathway with Professional Practice are expected to work on their dissertation in the summer and to submit the final draft in mid-September. Students who follow the Professional Practice pathway will complete their placement during the summer and work on their dissertation afterwards, submitting in January.

Business Finance MSc

Price on request