Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)

Bachelor in Banking & Finance (Hons) - Financial Technology Specialization

Program outline

This program is specifically designed to provide students with:

• Knowledge and skills in handling financial products, product development, and working within the rapidly changing Global Banking and Finance Industry.
• Opportunities to develop into highly competent managers, who are well qualified not only in Banking and Finance but also in other professional areas required for successful business administration and management.
• Basic technical competency and professionalism on the technology that will transform the delivery of financial services.

Degree level 1

Students will learn fundamental skills required for every banking and finance professional, the basic understanding of business management and finance as well as the fundamentals of Financial Technology. We will also expose them to business & communication skills, accounting skills, and management skills.

Common modules

• Quantitative Skills
• Introduction to Management
• Business and Communications Skills
• Financial Accounting 1
• Business Economics
• Introduction to Banking & Finance
• Financial Accounting 2
• Essential of FinTech
• Business Law
• Marketing

Degree level 2

A broader range of skills will be learned, in which students will gain a better understanding of banking instruments, procedures, regulatory framework as well as an overall financial system environment. Students will be introduced to the hands-on training on the underlying technologies enabling FinTech solutions. They will also be exposed to the new FinTech solutions namely digital currencies, peer-to-peer lending and etc. In addition, they will also familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of data mining techniques. We will further nurture their independent learning to prepare them for the workplace and for further researches.

Common modules

• Financial Statement Analysis
• The Financial System
• Banking Instruments & Procedures
• Times Series & Forecasting
• Enabling FinTech
• Law of Banking and Finance
• Financial Econometrics
• Business Research Methods
• Financial Management
• Data Mining & Predictive Modelling

Specialized modules

• Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technologies
• Crowdfunding and Alternative Lending

Internship (16 weeks)

Students will undertake a short Internship/ Industrial Training for a minimum period of 16 weeks to prepare them for a smooth transition from the classroom to the working environment.

Degree level 3

Students will make use of their previous studies and industrial experience to learn about the governance, risk management, and compliance of financial technology and theories as well as the globalization of banking and finance in International Banking. Concept of empirical application of Robo Advisor and Entrepreneurial Finance will also be target with aims to groom them as a leader in financial technology. A final year project requires them to explore a topic individually- they will demonstrate the academic and practical aspects of their ability in the chosen area of study.

Common modules

• Risk Management in Banking
• Financial Derivatives
• Corporate Finance
• International Banking and Investment
• Investigations in Financial Technology
• Building Customer Relationships
• Portfolio Management
• Financial Technology Project

Specialized modules

• Entrepreneurial Finance
• Robo Advisor
• FinTech Governance, Risk Management & Compliance

MQA compulsory subjects*

• Ethnic Relations (M’sian Students)
• Islamic & Asian Civilisation (M’sian Students)
• Malaysian Studies (Int’l Students)
• Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students)
• Workplace Professional Communication Skills
• Employee & Employment Trends
• Co-Curriculum

(*All students are required to successfully complete these modules as stipulated by the Malaysian Qualification Agency.)

Note: The specialism will appear only in the academic transcript.

Career options

• Entrepreneur
• FinTech Specialist
• Banking Specialist
• Payment System Specialist
• Data Analyst
• Financial Analyst
• Product Developer
• Compliance Expert
• FinTech Quantitative Developer
• Strategy Analyst
• Business Development Associate
• Data Scientist (Finserv)

Professional recognitions

APU has been leading the way for its graduates in Professional recognition and exemptions in the areas of Accounting, Banking, Finance, and Actuarial Studies. These are valuable not only for moving your career as a full-time professional forward but also for expanding your skills and expertise to become a more well-rounded employee. These recognitions help you become a more desirable job candidate or employee, one who can command a higher salary.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program

APU is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program. This indicates that at least 70% of CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) is embedded in our curriculum, and students who have completed our Bachelor in Banking and Finance (Hons) programs are prepared to undertake the exams leading to the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, which is the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. In addition, APU is also eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Program every year.

Did you know?

Finance is always at the heart of commerce that no one could get rid of. However, the advent of financial technology has disrupted the delivery of financial services. In order to remain competitive in the digital banking sphere, banks have started to employ more staffing resources in digitization initiatives. Thus, our Bachelor in Banking and Finance (Hons) with a specialism in Financial Technology (one of the first industry-driven FinTech curriculum in Malaysia) will prepare the graduates to meet the needs of a rapidly disrupted Financial Services industry in Malaysia and internationally with the ability to develop innovative ideas and to employ state-of-the-art technologies.

• All Banking & Finance Programmes are accredited by the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers
  AICB collaborates with APU in sharing leading practices, knowledge, and expertise in banking trends and developments through industry surveys, publications, and thought leadership initiatives.
• All Banking & Finance Programmes are empowered by FAOM
  APU is the first University in Malaysia to sign MOA with FAOM to jointly develop future talents to embrace FinTech. FAOM also advises APU in the FinTech curriculum development to align with the industry requirement.