Investment and Risk Finance MSc

The course has been in existence since 1999 and has continued to evolve to meet the changing educational needs of the investment and risk finance professional. It's delivered by qualified academics and professionals who have worked many years in the industry and are actively engaged in research and consultancy.
The course consists of core modules which help you acquire the ability to perform quantitative investment and risk analyses on a variety of financial instruments and structured products. You'll also learn how to use capital market products in both investment and risk finance applications. As a result you will develop good transferable skills and solve financial problems in a group setting.
The research and project modules are designed to develop your research abilities and create opportunities to explore finance subject areas of your own interest in more depth. This will enable you to apply the analytical and technical management skills you will encounter to real-life situations.
A highlight for many students are the social events organised throughout the course which provide an opportunity for networking with fellow students and alumni. Students on this course also benefit from free access to part of the material on the course reading list.
Modules
The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course. For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the full course document.
Core modules
Data Analysis
Through this module you will cover a range of data analysis methods and concepts.
Financial Derivatives
This module develops your theoretical understanding of financial derivatives markets. You will price and value financial derivatives from first principles and explore how financial derivative products can be used effectively in risk and investment management applications.
Modern Portfolio Management
You will develop your understanding of contemporary portfolio theory and investment management principles in order to actively manage a range of investment funds used by professional institutional investors and the private wealth management industry.
Project
An 8,000-10,000-word dissertation in the area of finance.
Research Methods in Finance and Accounting
This module aims to develop your knowledge and competence of the research process, and the application of research methods in the area of investment and risk finance.
International Risk Management
This module provides you with the fundamental ideas and tools for thinking about risk management.
Sub-core modules
Choose two or three of the following:
Contemporary International Financial Management
The study is grounded in the case study method and provides the basic numerical toolkit required to analyse a range of listed companies that are pursuing value-based growth strategies. Thus, students will be able to apply a range of equity valuation methods to contemporary stocks, including those companies where growth is focused on mergers, acquisitions and restructuring events.
Financial Markets and Institutions
This module offers detailed coverage and analysis of global financial markets and institutions. Theory delivered in class is underpinned by real-life case examples. Students will gain hands-on training and exposure to the Bloomberg system in the Financial Market Suite.
Fixed Income Analysis and Trading
This module provides the fundamental ideas and tools for thinking about traditional fixed income securities.
Forecasting Markets and Risk Modelling
This module explores advanced ideas and applications of econometrics in forecasting financial markets and risk modelling.
Option modules
If you take two sub-core modules, you then need to choose one from the following:
Financial Accounting Policy
You will be able to prepare financial statements up to consolidation with consideration of some of the main accounting standards underlying international financial reports. This module also explores the issues, principles and theories underlying current developments in financial accounting and reporting.
Financial Information Systems
You will develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts and practical skills required by finance professionals as users, evaluators, designers and managers of computer-based financial information systems.
International Financial Reporting
This module will develop your systematic understanding of the principles underlying, and policy issues inherent in, the study of international financial reporting, with particular reference to multinational groups.
Managerial Accounting
Through the exploration of practical applications, critical appraisal, contemporary approaches and international perspectives, this module explores the role of accounting in the management of organisations, and the development and application of managerial accounting concepts and techniques.
Modern Finance
You will gain an overview of fundamental topics in the field of finance, including capital structure, corporate value, cost of capital, dividend policy, financial instruments, investment and modern portfolio theory.
You may also take another module from the postgraduate portfolio, at the course leader’s discretion.
Accredited internship
All students on our full-time business Masters courses can apply to undertake the PG/MBA Internship Programme Reflective Practitioner Module. This is an 8 week unpaid accredited internship, which can be taken in addition to option modules and will help students to gain invaluable work experience. The internships, which are with London-based organisations, take place during the summer period. To apply, students must submit a completed application form and a copy of their updated CV to the Business Experience Team; the team then shortlist from the applications and conduct group meetings with the applicants.
Ultimately it is up to our internship employers to decide whether they would like to interview the candidate(s) and offer him/her an internship. We have received very positive feedback from both postgraduate students and employers and expect that the internship programme will continue to remain popular amongst our students.
Course team
Dr Sheeja Sivaprasad, Course Leader
Dr Ka Kei Chan, Deputy Course Leader
Associated careers
This course is designed to prepare you for a variety of roles. Career choices include security and financial analysis, trading and fund management, capital market sales and administration. The skills you will acquire through the teaching and learning experiences combined with a post-graduate qualification in this area of finance will allow you to expand your career in a dynamic and rapidly evolving global industry. Our graduates go on to develop careers in treasury and front office positions in investment banks and securities companies. They occupy management positions as financial analysts, finance and sales administrators or similar jobs in the global financial services sector and the corporate finance world.
Additional costs information
To check what your tuition fees cover and what you may need to pay for separately, see our What tuition fees cover page.