International Finance and Banking MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 18,000 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International Deadline | Home Deadline – 4 September
** international | UK: £14,900
Key Summary
About: The International Finance and Banking MSc at The University of Westminster trains you in financial markets, institutions, analytics and regulation. You’ll use the Financial Markets Suite and Bloomberg for hands-on work with assets, indices, currencies, derivatives, stocks and interest rates. The programme includes internships, guest lectures and industry-shaped curriculum.
Career Outcomes: You’ll be ready for a global career in banking, finance, insurance and investments with roles such as financial consultant, financial analyst/manager, venture capitalist. Graduates join banks and organisations like Citibank, Standard Chartered, Amazon and the World Economic Forum. You’ll also be prepared for MPhil/PhD or further professional qualifications.
Open days, both online and on campus, are an excellent opportunity to explore study options at Westminster. An open day allows prospective students to visit the facilities, learn more about specific courses and speak directly with academic staff.
The International Finance and Banking MSc will equip you with the practical and technical skills needed to work anywhere in the world as a self-employed financial consultant, financial analyst/manager or venture capitalist in a multinational company, financial institution or government setting.
With its strong analytical focus and emphasis on financial institutions and their markets, this course will be of interest if you already work in the financial markets and are seeking career progression, or if you don’t have a traditional background in finance but wish to change careers.
In our state-of-the-art Financial Markets Suite (FMS), you'll receive hands-on training and have access to live and historical news and data, experiencing the same Bloomberg platform used by leading global investment banks. You’ll gain a real-world understanding of assets, indices, currencies, derivatives, stocks, shares and interest rates, better preparing you for the business and finance world that awaits.
Our graduates have gone on to work for large banks, including Standard Chartered, Citibank, Société Générale and Paribas, and governmental agencies, such as the World Economic Forum and Taiwanese government
Top reasons to study with us
Access to one of the largest financial databases in our state-of-the-art Bloomberg virtual trading room
- Opportunity to undertake an internship – one student recently spent a summer at Santander in Madrid
- Guest lectures from industry practitioners – recent talks featured a senior business manager from Barclays and a seasoned entrepreneur
- Field trips to financial institutions – students recently had a guided tour of the new Bloomberg HQ in London
- Structured orientation programme to meet students and staff and find your way around campus
Programme recognition
Our course was designed with input from a range of industry professionals with expertise in financial markets, institutions and financial regulation.
To retain currency and relevance, we receive ongoing feedback from the Business School’s Departmental Employability Board, whose members include representatives from Vanguard, JPMorgan and Global Structured Finance.
You’ll be introduced to the latest financial theories, learn how to analyse financial matters, and consider the current challenges and issues facing financial institutions, markets and multinational corporations, such as the changing ethical and corporate responsibility issues or need for continuous improvement in a digital age, where omni-channel service and operational strategies are now essential.
With the launch of the inaugural Finance and Accounting Annual Research Symposium in June 2020, we are committed to sharing new insights. Three members of the course team are currently conducting research into cryptocurrencies and machine learning, as part of a project funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust.
Your studies culminate with the final Project, an intensive piece of research and 8,000 to 10,000-word dissertation. As a guide, previous students have considered topics as diverse as the effect of issuing green securities on a firm’s financial performance, the impact of trade openness or the effect of mergers and acquisitions on economic growth, and the relationship between profitability and capital structure.
Modules
The modules listed below are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Please note that option module availability can be limited due to factors like timetabling and space constraints, so your first choice is not always guaranteed.
Core modules
- Capstone Project
- Financial Risk Management
- Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
- Global Banking and Lending
- Global Entrepreneurial Finance
- International Financial Management
- Wealth Management
Optional modules
- Banking Technology
- Behavioural Finance
- Compliance and Banking Law
- Financial Modelling
- Sustainability in Finance with ESG
This degree can lead to a global career in banking, finance, insurance, investments and a variety of other roles in financial analysis, management, public administration and accountancy. You may even decide to start your own business venture.
Recent graduates have gone to work for Amazon, Banco Santander and family businesses that operate internationally. You'll also have the knowledge and skills to study an MPhil/PhD degree or seek further professional qualifications.
Industry links
We have excellent industry links with some of the top firms in the financial services, along with leading financial technology and data vendor services providers such as Bloomberg.
Staff who currently teach on this course also have extensive professional experience, having worked in a range of roles and areas including:
- Credit risk analyst
- Financial analyst
- Financial consultant
- Global entrepreneur
- Lending specialist in the banking sector
- Research consultant
- Risk management
- Software development and management
Job roles
- This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Financial consultant
- International financial analyst
- International financial manager
- Investment advisor
- Market analyst
- Venture capitalist
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- Amazon
- Citibank
- Financial Conduct Authority
- Paribas
- Santander
- Sberbank
- Société Générale
- Standard Chartered
- World Economic Forum