Overview

The MSc International Banking and Finances gives you the opportunity to develop specialist expertise to help you transition into professional and managerial careers in banking and finance. 

This master's programme has been developed by the ex-deputy Managing Director of Royal Bank of Scotland in response to industry demands, making you highly sought-after upon graduation, and giving you access to opportunities in employment, further education, and research. Your knowledge and skills will provide you with an international perspective on banking and finance, allowing you to continue your work or studies anywhere in the world.  

During the master’s programme, you’ll develop a systematic understanding and knowledge of international banking and finance and gain a critical awareness of current issues within the academic discipline and professional practice. You’ll understand and evaluate a comprehensive range of research techniques used in the area of finance and banking and how these are put into practice, in order to create and interpret knowledge. You’ll cover the core concepts in international banking and finance, including the operations of the forex market, the international money market and the international credit market. You’ll explore the way loan requests are analysed in banking, considering the risk/return trade-offs and the use of collateral and legal guarantees, and analyse the securitisation of loans through bank balance sheet management.

Your learning will equip you with highly employable expertise across crucial areas of international banking and finance. You’ll have the opportunity to choose three optional courses – from corporate finance, capital markets, empirical financial modelling, and coding for social science application in Python – to customise your learning and develop your specific subject interests.

The programme covers the core theories and concepts in international banking and finance, to provide you with the knowledge base and the analytical and research skills necessary for doctoral study or employment in a range of roles, including bankers, stockbrokers, tax consultants and financial advisors. You’ll develop key transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, and presentation skills to prepare you for lifelong learning and personal development in the banking and financial sector. Group work and tutorial discussions will provide you insight into the working practices and perspectives of different cultures, and prepare you for a global career.

Expertise  

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active academics whose work covers four key areas:  

• Employment, Work and the Professions  
• Logistics and Sustainability  
• Networks and Enterprise Excellence  
• Social and Economic Data Analysis  
• 
  

Your learning environment   

The MSc International Banking and Finance programme is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and group work allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your peers, the teaching staff and academics. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.   

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our state-of-the-art facilities, including our professional-standard Bloomberg Trading Room with 12 Bloomberg Terminals to enhance your employability with data skills. These Terminals are equipped with industry-standard software that provides live financial data and trading tools to the world’s leading banks and corporations.   

Outside of the classroom, you can join Heriot-Watt’s Business Society which holds regular social events and provides networking opportunities and insights into career prospects in Economics, Business, Finance, and other relevant industries.   

Customise your learning   

You’ll learn from the core five courses on the syllabus, with the choice of three optional courses to focus on the area of international banking and finance that interests you the most. This gives you the opportunity to customise your degree to match your specific interests or career pathway by selecting a specialist course option.   

In semester three, you’ll explore in-depth your chosen area of international banking and finance through your dissertation. You will be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by developing new insight from the analysis of valuable primary research.  

You can choose whether to study the programme full-time, part-time, or by course. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. You can begin the programme either in January or September, based on your availability, and the full-time course will last 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. If you decide to study part-time, you register for two courses per semester and progress to the dissertation at the end of your second year.   

You may have the opportunity to Go Global on our Inter-Campus Transfer. Opportunities for postgraduate study abroad are assessed on a case-by-case basis and if you are interested in studying at our Dubai campus or Malaysia campus for a semester or longer, you should contact the Go Global Team.   

Industry  

We work closely with industry to ensure our course content is up-to-date and reflects the current and emerging needs of industry and employers. You’ll gain the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills to set you up for life after graduation.