Financial Technology and Innovation (Taught)

Are you keen to learn about the challenges associated with the future of finance and banking, and interested in seeking technology-intensive solutions to the problems that characterise the traditional financial infrastructure?

At present, many Fintech initiatives compete and co-exist with financial institutions. Digitised routines drive the diffusion of advanced analytics in banking and finance. Blockchain technology offers the opportunity to rethink the way we design, use, and embrace financial services.

We offer an inter-disciplinary learning environment with core modules in finance, technology, law, coding and data science to deliver state-of the art knowledge and skills.

Why choose this course?

• Work directly with industry partners on projects as part of your rounded learning experience

• Connect directly with the financial industry and fintech scene in and surrounding the City of London

• Join us at Bayes, situated right by the square mile and London's financial district

• Design and develop solutions while collaborating with peers from different areas of knowledge and expertise across programmes

• Prepare for a wide range of careers for Finance – equipped with cutting-edge knowledge on digital finance, regulation and more.

Prior to beginning of this degree, you will be offered access to pre-study modules that focus building on mathematical and statistical skills, and which introduce you to coding in Python.

You'll develop a clear understanding of how modern financial markets function and how to apply quantitative and algorithmic tools to attack systemic problems (for example by using machine learning to aid portfolio construction or by building blockchain-based savings protocols). You also receive skills required by an entrepreneur looking to innovate in finance or banking, including knowledge of the relevant regulatory environment.

The programme is practical and hands-on, but you'll also obtain a thorough, research-led, high-level, topical postgraduate training. The fundamental aim of the MSc course is to deliver graduates with both a solid theoretical underpinning and the ability to apply knowledge to practical problems immediately.

Eight compulsory, core modules are given in terms 1 and 2. Term 3 is dedicated to a compulsory and supervised industry-led project, as well as to three elective modules of your choice.

Term 1
Financial markets and financial intermediation
Foundations of Fintech
Foundations of Data Science

Term 2
Regulatory Compliance, Ethics, Social Values
Digital money and banking
Data Analytics for Fintech
Decentralised finance and blockchain applications

Term 3
In your third term you'll work on a compulsory and supervised industry-led project alongside a choice of three elective modules.

Industry project
The industry project aims to train you to undertake individual research within the context of an industry-related problem or issue and to provide you with an opportunity to specialise in a contemporary business or finance topic related to your future career aspirations.

Elective modules
Sustainable Finance with ESG
Data Management Systems
Financial Crime
Ethics Society and the Financial Sector
Field trip and study – international exposure
Mergers and Acquisitions
Trading and Hedging in the FOREX Market
Investment Strategy
Hedge Funds
Foreign Exchange.
Throughout the programme you also acquire direct knowledge of current issues in the Fintech industry through events and guest lectures from professionals / alumni, working in relevant fields.

Where applicable, lecturers address any ethical issues that might arise in the practice of finance and banking. In so doing you are always encouraged to share your views with your lecturers and with your classmates, where a diversity of opinion is to be expected and appreciated.

• The list of electives offered in a given year will be confirmed by February.

• Course Work
• Tests
• Individual Presentations
• Group Projects