MSc Finance and Development
Duration: One calendar year (full-time) Two (part-time, daytime only). We recommend that part-time students have between two and a half and three days free in the week to pursue their course of study.
Overview
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Minimum Entry Requirements: At least upper second class or equivalent in Economics OR a joint degree containing Economics PLUS work experience in financial markets and development.
Start of programme: September intake only
Who is this programme for?: This programme is designed for economists and financiers who are interested in exploring the relationship between national and international financial policies and practices and their impact on economic development. Anyone working, or wishing to work, for international organisations and/or in fi nancial institutions with an interest in economic development would gain much from this programme.
Course Profile
This programme is designed for economists and financiers who are interested in exploring the relationship between national and international financial policies and practices and their impact on economic development.
Anyone working, or wishing to work, in financial institutions with an interest in economic development issues would gain much from this programme.
The programme includes 8 modules in macroeconomics, microeconomics, quantitative methods, international finance, corporate finance, derivatives and capital markets and financial systems in the context of economic development. Students will also complete a 10,000-word dissertation.
All students must complete the Basic Mathematics and Statistics course which is taught over three weeks in August/September before the start of the MSc.
Structure
FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
All courses are compulsory:
TERM 1
- Microeconomics
- Quantitative Methods 1
- Capital Markets, Derivatives and Corporate Finance
- Financial Systems and Economic Development
TERM 2
- Macroeconomics
- International Economics
- Quantitative Methods 2
- Theory of Financial Institutions and Policy
- 8,000-word dissertation on an approved topic
Programme Specification
Teaching & Learning
Teaching & Learning
The MSc includes eight taught modules plus a pre-sessional course in Mathematics and Statistics and an 8,000-word dissertation.The courses are taught in seminar groups and lectures. The degrees are awarded on the basis of assessed coursework, examinations and the dissertation.
The MSc degrees are taught over a period of twelve months of full-time study within a structured programme. In the case of part-time study, the degrees will be taught over two years. Four modules are studied each year, with the dissertation normally being completed in the second year.
Lectures
Most courses involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.
Seminars
At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students make full-scale presentations and are expected to write papers that often require significant independent work.
Dissertation
Students are required to complete an 8,000-word dissertation in applied economics.
Learning Resources
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Pre Entry Reading
Pre-Sessional Mathematics and Statistics Course
Our MSc programmes attract students with a wide range of backgrounds including many who have worked for a few years before coming to SOAS. Our popular quantitative courses are designed to be accessible to all of our students including those with a relatively small quantitative component in their first degree. Our well-received quantitative courses focus on applying basic methods used in empirical research. They equip students to carry out their own high quality empirical work and critically evaluate research, with relatively little emphasis on advanced econometric theory and mathematical proofs.
Our quantitative methods teaching begins with a three-week pre-sessional course in mathematics, statistics and computing.
The objective of the course is to review the basic quantitative skills assumed once formal teaching commences. This course is compulsory. Click here for further details.
