Course overview
The MSc Finance (Banking and Risk Management) programme in UCC involves an advanced study of the theory and practice of investment, banking and risk management.
You will study advanced Finance, Financial Economics, Macroeconomics and Quantitative Financial Techniques – taught through in-demand data analysis software such as Python or R.
Your studies build to one of the following:
- An independent applied research project which you undertake over the summer term, where you put the theories and quantitative financial techniques taught to you during your studies into practice, using advanced statistics and software. You choose your own research topic in term 2 and are given one-to-one supervision support by an experienced academic from our teaching team over the summer term.
- An Industry Placement in banking or finance, you will undertake over the summer at a financial company, where you can put the knowledge and skills gained during the course into practice under the supervision of an academic mentor. From this, you will write a professional report relating to your role.
This programme has been accepted into the Global Association of Risk Practitioners (GARP) Partnership for Risk Education. GARP Partnership for Risk Education is granted to institutions that cover at least 70% of the GARP curriculum and allows the programme to award 6 scholarships to students from the programme to take Part 1 of GARP’s professional exams each academic year.
Job outcomes
Our past graduates have gone on to work in a broad range of areas such as:
- Commercial and Investment Banking,
- Treasury Risk Management,
- Regulation,
- Central Banking,
- Economic Consulting,
- Investment Research,
- Hedge Funds and,
- Academia
What you'll learn
The course brings you into direct contact with financial markets, their issues, and practices through practitioner seminars and visiting speakers throughout the year, across your modules.
In this course:
- You will be trained in financial research, consulting, and report writing.
- You will be taught about the quantitative methods relevant to the financial sector and required for Ph.D. level research in economics and finance.
- Your interpersonal, organisational and leadership competencies will be developed.
- Your oral and written communication skills will be improved through assignments, dialogue, exercises, presentations, etc.
The blended learning approach to education combines lectures, projects, seminars, group discussion, presentations, and individual and group reports.
Study method
- Blended
- In-class
- Online
Duration study load
- 1 Year Full-time
- 2 Years Part-time
Entry requirements
The course is open to applicants with a second-class honours grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) or equivalent in a business subject
Or
Applicants with a 2.1 degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a related subject with a quantitative element, such as mathematics, statistics, engineering, science, etc.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information, please submit an enquiry.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure, please submit an enquiry.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants; please check the fact file above. For more information, please submit an enquiry to find out more.
English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a mix of examinations and practical coursework, with a focus on analysing different aspects of financial markets.
Testimonials
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Edward Hanlon – Financial Risk Analyst, Wells Fargo, DublinMSc Finance (Banking & Risk Management)"The programme provided me with the practical and theoretical knowledge that is required to confidently work within the industry. In particular, the quantitative elements of the course helped develop the analytical skills which are highly valued by employers."
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Monica Serafinus – Analyst, Accenture, CorkMSc Finance (Banking & Risk Management)"TheMSc Finance (Banking and Risk Management) programme offered subjects that taught us about real events, rather than just theories."
Delivery
You attend lectures for approximately 12 hours per week. There are additional research workshop hours, and you will also attend regular visiting speaker seminars and practical sessions using statistical and data analysis software for financial analysis.
The part-time option is taught during weekday working hours over two years.
The blended learning approach to education combines lectures, projects, seminars, group discussion, presentations, and individual and group reports.
Subjects
Candidates take taught modules with examinations and coursework over two semesters and then complete a dissertation in the summer term. Modules cover three broad streams: Finance, Financial Economics, and Quantitative Finance.
Examines models of asset returns, stock price predictability, and market efficiency.
introduces the concepts and mathematical techniques in pricing derivatives, including options, swaps, forwards and futures on underlying assets.
Examines the term structure of interest rates and yield curve analysis, exotic bond valuation, duration, convexity, immunisation, asset-backed securities, and bond portfolio management.
Prepares students to have an awareness of the professional financial environment, to ensure that they can meet the professional and ethical expectations of employers and begin developing their leadership skills in a modern sustainable business environment.
Looks at the measurement and management of risks facing banks and corporations arising from volatility in currency and money markets.
Covers the guiding principles behind financial regulation and the main differences between the roles and key legal aspects of different regulatory institutions.
Looks at the role of money markets and banks in the economy, focuses on understanding the types of risk facing banks and the management of this risk.
Looks at macroeconomics theories, models and techniques relevant to financial markets.
Topics include business cycles, economic growth, uncertainty, monetary policy, inflation, and the labour market.
Focuses on how economic policy and the behaviour of agents impact international capital flows, exchange rates, and global investments.
Teaches the theory and application of econometrics for finance.
This is taught without the need for prior knowledge of econometrics and is all applied throughout the course using cutting-edge data analysis software in demand throughout the finance industry.
Developing from EC6062 this module introduces you to time series methods in econometrics.
It also deals with the application of these methods in finance by providing the experience of advanced methods of analysing time-series data sets.
Prepares you to undertake your independent research for your dissertation module in the summer term by developing your writing skills and knowledge of research methods.
Lecturers from the programme and guest lecturers present their current research throughout the year.
Students complete an individual academic research project, building on their work in the Research Methods Model, with the help of an academic supervisors.
Complements classroom teaching with exposure to institutional work processes in international finance and other relevant organisations.
It will develop students’ experience in writing and reporting to a professional audience.
This will be done by examining business issues so that students can apply the skills and knowledge developed within the programme by using this industrial placement as an opportunity for business-focused research.
About University College Cork
University College Cork is ranked in the top 1.1% of universities in the world. It is Ireland’s leading institution for the delivery of research impact and the top Irish institution for highly cited researchers. We are the leading global university for sustainability and the Irish university with the highest level of industry collaboration.
The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Colleges located in Belfast, Cork, and Galway. It became University College, Cork, under the Irish Universities Act 1908. The Universities Act 1997 renamed the university as National University of Ireland, Cork, and a Ministerial Order of 1998 renamed the university as University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork, though it continues to be almost universally known as University College Cork.
