MSc Finance and Investment

01 Sep 2019 - 31 Aug 2027

Course Leader Jia Cao, Rebecca Bushell
Course Team Jared Davies, Geraint Evans, Jonathan Evans, Donald Amuah, Chibuzo Amadi, Liam Hutchinson, ,
Awarding Body University of South Wales
Teaching Institutions University of South Wales
Modes of Study Full Time, Part Time

Document Version

Version 5
Valid From 01 Sep 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

QAA Benchmarks

Drafted in accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the Quality Code, and with reference to the Finance Subject Benchmark (set to Level 6 and adjusted accordingly).

Educational Aim

The course aims to provide students with relevant theory and techniques along with an understanding of the behavioural, regulatory and ethical issues to enable them to make a significant contribution to finance and investment decisions in a variety of employment or self-employment contexts.

Learning Outcomes

A1 An understanding of the theoretical and conceptual bases of finance and investment, along with emerging issues which are impacting them.
A2 Knowledge and understanding of quantitative techniques and behavioural issues relevant to financial markets, investment and corporate finance.  
A3 Knowledge and understanding of the regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines applicable to financial services and financial markets.
B1 An ability to apply research methods and methodology issues to produce a substantial piece of research output on a finance or investment topic.
B2 An ability to analyse and evaluate critically issues around finance andinvestment.
B3 An ability to critique techniques relevant to financialmarkets, investment and corporatefinance.
C1 An ability to recommend and implement decisions regarding complex finance and investment problems by establishing decision criteria and options and by applying appropriate quantitative and qualitative techniques.
C2 An ability to apply appropriate strategies and behavioural finance issues to financialtrading.
C3 An ability to apply relevant regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines to finance and investment scenarios.

Course Structure

Level 7 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
AF4S124 MOD005218 Corporate Finance Running 20 specified
AF4S136 MOD004673 Investment and portfolio analysis Running 20 specified
AF4S997 MOD011312 Quantitative Methods for Finance and Risk Management Running 20 specified
AF4S998 MOD011307 Global Financial Services Regulation and Compliance Running 20 specified
AF4S999 MOD011316 Contemporary Issues in Finance Running 20 specified
AF4T130 MOD005212 Dissertation – Accounting and Finance Running 60 specified
AF4S52 MOD013655 Financial Markets and Digital Assets Running 20 specified

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Active/simulation based

Simulated trading in the Trading Room using Finance Lab Professional for equities and commodities trading and Volcube for options trading.

Lectures

Formal delivery of a lecture introducing a topic.

Seminars

Timetabled classes in teaching rooms where the emphasis is on student participation in discussion having completed pre-set reading or research. (AF4S998 Global Financial Services Regulation and Compliance

Tutorials

Individual advice session on a drop-in basis, timetabled.

Groupwork

Group-based research activities and working as a team (Investment Analyst/Media Analyst roles) during simulated trading.

Work-based

None

Project Supervision

One-to-one supervision by allocated supervisor.

Demonstration

Demonstration of quantitative techniques timetabled in teaching rooms.

Employer Engagement

Throughout the six years of the course, staff and students have engaged with OSTC (Wales) Ltd. This was particularly true for staff while the MSc Trading and Risk course was delivered in collaboration with OSTC. Their training manager delivers a guest lecture to students and most cohorts have participated in an evening visit to see their trading floor and take part in a trading game. The Managing Director of Market Squared (an OSTC subsidiary) also visits to deliver a Volcube session to students as part of the Investment and Portfolio analysis module..

Means of Assessment

Learning Support

The learning support available through the course

Induction

Induction activities at the start of the course will include: a welcome from the Academic Manager and Course Leader; an icebreaker activity for the cohort to get to know each other; a detailed description of the course by the Course Leader; sessions on Academic Writing, Virtual Learning Environment, Library Induction.

Personal tutor

Each student will be allocated to a personal tutor who will meet with them formally twice (progress meetings) during the taught element of the course and will be available to meet with them on any further occasion they wish, utilising office hours (see below). The Dissertation supervisor will assume the personal tutor role when the student begins work on the dissertation.

Office hours

All members of the teaching team will specify and advertise two office hours per week when they will be available in their office to meet with students as required.

Tutorials

Tutorial sessions will be used in the module AF4S522 Research Methods in Accounting and Finance to give individual advice on students’ research proposal.

Seminars

None

Formative Assessment

None.

Progress meetings

Progress meetings will take place twice with the personal tutor during the taught element of the course.

Research Supervision

Research, i.e. Dissertation, supervision will in accordance with University Policy: “A framework of minimum expectations for the supervision of taught dissertations”.

Online Resources

A variety of online resources will be made available for each module through the virtual learning environment, Unilearn.

Advice Centres

The services available from the Treforest Advice Centre will be explained to students during Induction and will be detailed, with relevant online links, in the Course Handbook.

DDS Service

The services available from the DDS Service will be explained to students during Induction and will be detailed, with relevant online links, in the Module Handbook.

IT/Library

IT and Library facilities and services will be explained during Induction.

Course Exit Points

Award Criteria Final
Master of Science 180 credits of which at least 150 must be at Level 7 and no more than 30 at Level 6 Final
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education 60 credits with at least 40 at Level 7 and no more than 20 at Level 6 Exit
Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education 120 credits of which at least 90 must be at Level 7 and no more than 30 at Level 6 Exit

Progression Route

Progression to MPhil or PhD study.If the award is a progression route for other courses, please specify which and where they are delivered: BA Accounting and Finance, Treforest BSc Banking, Finance and Investment, Treforest

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Minimum 2.2 class of honours degree or overseas equivalent. Or relevant professional qualification. Relevant work experience may be taken into account to supplement an applicant’s formal qualification if it falls short of either of the above. Applicants whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of having achieved a score of 6.5 in IELTS or will be required to study and pass the University’s pre-sessional English course.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A

Methods Of Quality Standards

Course Management

\\r

The Course Leader works with the course team to develop a course to its full potential so that it provides a professional, employment-focused learning experience for students. The Course Leader oversees academic standards, quality assurance and enhancement.

\\r

Transitional Arrangements for Current Students (if applicable)

\\r

February cohort students will study AF4S999 Contemporary Issues in Finance instead of AF4S114 Corporate Governance during the first 8-week block of the Autumn Term 2019. There are no other implications for transitional arrangements.

\\r

Arrangements for Feedback to Students

\\r

The arrangements for providing feedback to students on their assessed work within 20 working days are:

\\r

All coursework is submitted electronically via Turnitin. Written feedback is also given electronically within 20 working days of submission.

\\r

Student Representation

\\r

Students on this course will be represented at meeting with teaching staff and other members of the University by Course Representative and Student Voice Representatives.

\\r

The role of the Course Representatives is to elicit the views and issues of the students they represent, and reflect these views/issues at Student/Staff Course Liaison Groups (SSCLGs) and feedback to the students the outcomes/actions from the SSCLGs.

\\r

Student Voice Representatives are responsible for representing their group of Course Representatives at Course Boards and Faculty Quality Assurance Committee and Faculty Learning and Teaching Enhancement Committees.

\\r

Course Monitoring

\\r

The University is responsible for both the standards of its awards and for the quality of its students’ learning experience. In order to ensure that standards are maintained and there is continuous enhancement a process of regular review, known as annual monitoring take places. This purpose of the process is to evaluate and improve course quality, ensure the best possible student experience within the resource available and to identify and disseminate good practice. It also ensures that appropriate action is taken to remedy any identified shortcomings and enhance provision.

\\r

External Examiner

\\r

External examining provides one of the principal means for maintaining UK academic standards within autonomous higher education providers. The majority are drawn from other higher education institutions in the UK. In some cases there will be external examiners drawn from industry or practice.

\\r

They provide carefully considered advice on the academic standards of the courses and/or modules to which they have been assigned, and can offer advice on good practice and opportunities to enhance

\\r

the quality of those courses/modules. They are also able to offer an informed view of how standards

\\r

compare with the same or similar awards at other higher education providers (primarily in the UK, and sometimes overseas as well) of which they have experience.

\\r

External examiners provide of annual written reports to the University based on what he/she has observed of the University’s assessment processes and student assessed work.

\\r

The external examiner(s) associated with this course are recorded in the Course Handbook.

\\r

Engagement with Subject Benchmark Statements, QAA Quality Code, CQFW and FHEQ

\\r

The QAA Benchmark for Finance was revised and published in 2016. Course and learning outcomes have been re-written, taking this into account.

Quality Of Standards Indicators

N/A