About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: N39012
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Bristol Business School
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: One year full-time
Introduction
This course is suitable for graduates looking to move into a career in finance. It will develop your knowledge and understanding of:
- Financial markets
- Corporate finance
- Financial intermediation
- Strategic decision-making
- Mathematical and statistical methods
- Financial accounting and other financial information
- Risk management
- Macroeconomics of finance
The course is designed to be a practical, comprehensive and academically rigorous grounding in finance. As well as learning about current practice in the fields of financial markets and corporate finance you will be equipped with specialist skills, knowledge and a toolbox of finance techniques you will be able to apply in your work from day one.
You will also develop problem-solving and decision-making skills and judgement in the context of key investment decisions in financial markets and key strategic decisions in corporate finance.
You will study in one of the top Accounting and Finance departments in the UK. Bristol Business School has been ranked as one of the top centres in the country for Accounting and Finance and is also home to the Centre for Global Finance.
Find out more about studying Accounting and Finance at UWE.
Structure
Content
The Postgraduate Certificate is made up of three or four of the seven core modules detailed below.
Core modules:
- Fundamentals of Financial Management - Equip you with the principle functions of financial management and develop knowledge and skills as finance managers in relation to financing, investment and controlling decisions.
- Financial Instruments - Provides you with an overview of the valuation of competing financial instruments and an introduction to how they might be combined in portfolios
- Financial Statement Analysis - Provides you with the tools for analysing individual companies, from a financial viewpoint, within the context of their industry and their wider macroeconomic environment.
- Fund Management - Equips you with the necessary tools and fundamental techniques in modern finance theory and their application to fund management.
- Risk Management - Provides you with the knowledge, understanding and a critical awareness of recent techniques and issues in risk management.
- Corporate Financial Strategy - provides you with a range of strategic tools and approaches to problems and opportunities in the real-world corporate finance arena.
- Research Methods - provides you with the research training sufficient to produce a quality quantitative Finance dissertation.
The Postgraduate Diploma is made up of the remaining core modules and one additional optional module allowing you to specialise in areas relevant to your chosen career path.
Option modules:*
- Corporate Financial Reporting
- Financial Context and Contemporary Issues
- Financial Econometrics
- Principles of Financial Intermediation
*the availability of option modules is subject to demand
Masters
Dissertation
In addition to these modules, your dissertation gives you the chance to research an area of finance of particular interest to you and of relevance to your career or company. Previous dissertation topics include:
- An empirical analysis of the determinants of US equity returns
- Company Analysis and Valuation
- Financial Analysis Report
Teaching and learning
You'll learn through formal classes and seminar sessions, as well as through group work and independent study. The work will include assignments, exercises, case studies and presentations, with an emphasis on independent learning to develop your problem solving skills.
The fully established Trading Room with access to the Reuters 3000 Xtra trading platform will enhance your understanding of the operations of financial markets by providing real time data used for pricing purposes. It is also incorporated in the delivery of a number of modules on the programme to develop your analytical and decision making skills.
Assessment
Assessments will be a mix of assignments, supervised mini-projects, role playing, presentations and examinations.
Special Features
Study facilities
BBS has invested in an impressive new trading room built around the Reuters 3000 Xtra system. This latest state-of-the-art financial platform is the same that is used by large city investment banks and provides you with a commanding view of the global financial data, news and information. The trading room puts BBS at the forefront of business teaching and research among the universities in UK.
Further certificates are available should you wish to develop more detailed understanding and knowledge of this platform and enhance your job prospects even further.
Meet leaders of industry
As a student at Bristol Business School, you will have the unique opportunity to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership. Our inspirational line up of speakers has included Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Scotland who spoke on 'Reconnecting Banking and Values'. For more information, visit the Business School website.
Careers/further study
When you understand corporate finance and the world's financial markets, you are then on the road to a successful, challenging and high-flying career. Those with qualifications in finance are in demand for positions in areas such as investment banking, corporate finance, risk management, consultancy and as independent financial assistants.
Entry
Entry requirements
You'll need either:
- You'll need an honours degree (minimum 2:2) in a business, business-related or quantitative discipline from a recognised Higher Education institution or equivalent from a recognised overseas institution.
Or if do not hold a first degree:
- To have completed parts 1 and 2 of the ACCA syllabus, or the SII diploma, plus two years relevant work experience, or
- A minimum of two years relevant work experience and to take a written test before being accepted.
If English is not your first language, you will be required to meet the UK Border Agency and Universities minimum English Language requirements, such as:
- the International English Language Test (IELTS) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all components
Further details of our English Language requirements can be found here.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
How to apply
You can apply for this course online or download an application by clicking on the link in the 'next steps' red box which is on the top right corner of this page.
Deadline for application
The deadline for applying for this course is three weeks before the start date.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011