Course summary

Our 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, in the public and private sectors. 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. You’ll examine the international financial markets and institutions, the way they operate, and their impact on the global banking system. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop critical thinking and analyses, as you evaluate relevant academic research, professional research pronouncements and financial media articles. 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, corporate governance and sustainability, capital markets, empirical financial modelling, and coding for social science application in Python – to customise your learning and develop your specific subject interests. Your international banking and finance dissertation will allow you to build upon this interest, by carrying out an original research project at the forefront of knowledge. As Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University is situated on the edge of Edinburgh, you’ll have excellent links to the financial sector of Scotland’s capital city, and the UK’s second-biggest financial and economic hub. Edinburgh is a major centre for fund management and is home to two of the world’s largest banks. You’ll also benefit from our close ties to the London Stock Exchange and Bloomberg, which can provide you with excellent industry-focused learning opportunities. 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. 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. Accreditation Heriot-Watt University is accredited as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner, recognising us as a leader in experiential learning in the area of finance.