Objectives
The Bangor Business School aims to build on our long-established expertise in the area of postgraduate training in banking and finance by offering a one-year modular MBA Banking and Finance, which aims to develop participants' academic and managerial skills in these areas. An important objective is to provide relevant analytical training to familiarise participants with the latest strategic, managerial and industrial developments in the financial services industry. The MBA Banking and Finance course provides a coherent analytical framework for the study of banking and financial developments from a management perspective. The emphasis throughout the programme is on the application of contemporary, financial, managerial and strategic developments that affect real-world decision-making in the global financial industry. We recognise that a thorough understanding of recent developments in banking and financial firm strategies, financial management, risk management, international financial markets, marketing strategies and performance evaluation are essential requirements for all those involved in financial sector activities (or those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of these important business and managerial areas).
Course description
Study for an MBA Banking and Finance Master's Degree at one of Europe's foremost Banking and Finance Schools. At Bangor, we offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in the areas of banking and finance. The MBA Banking and Finance is designed for candidates with degrees or relevant business backgrounds, who wish to develop their expertise and further their professional careers. The MBA programme provides a more practical postgraduate course to complement our long established MA course in Banking and Finance and our distance-learning MBA with Manchester Business School.
A primary objective of the MBA Banking and Finance is to develop knowledgeable and capable executives to move quickly to key positions in the financial services sector. The programme will provide executive training at an advanced level covering the latest developments in the management of banks and financial services firms.
We have long held a strong international reputation in the study of banking and finance. Our long established and highly successful MA programme has run since 1973 and over this period we have also had a strong PhD programme where research typically focuses on banking and financial sector issues. Postgraduates have enjoyed a mix of both theoretical and practical elements covering contemporary developments in the banking and financial field. The MBA aims to extend and develop advanced training relating to the practical managerial issues faced by modern financial service firms.
The main aim of our full-time MBA is to introduce a much stronger practical emphasis focussing on the strategies and financial management of financial firms. Your MBA will give you practical insight and skills in a range of strategic and management areas in financial services. We invite practitioners to share their views and experiences. Case studies and contemporary issues figure highly in the programme.
The School has a lively group of staff, who are always willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Your teaching staff at Bangor are active researchers, combining high levels of expertise with a desire to extend their subject area, and, most importantly from a postgraduate viewpoint, an enthusiasm to encourage others to develop their academic, financial and business skills.
We are pleased that you are considering joining the MBA Banking and Finance programme. If you decide to do so, we are confident that we can offer you the guidance, stimulation and support that will make the next year a happy and productive time for you. I wish you every success in your MBA career.
Professor Philip Molyneux
Postgraduate Director
Why study the MBA Banking and Finance?
Financial systems and financial services firms' strategies are now involved in a fundamental, far reaching process of realignment and change. The strategic priority of banks and other financial institutions has shifted away from growth and size alone towards a greater emphasis on profitability, performance and shareholder value creation. The growing economic importance of financial sectors has also re-emphasised that bankers, fund managers, multinational companies, securities firms, regulators and financial advisers must have a clear understanding of the theory and practice relating to banking and finance.
MBA Banking and Finance programme structure
Compulsory modules:
* Bank Financial Management
This module provides a grounding in the nature, strategic context and managerial functions of financial management in banks, and other financial services firms.
* International Financial Markets
This module provides an overview of financial instruments in a multi-currency world, taking account of insights from portfolio theory concerning the relationship between risk and return, the diversification of risk, and the pricing of assets.
* Marketing Strategy
This module critically evaluates the contributions of various schools of thought in marketing, and examines the relevant analytical models and management practices, with emphasis on the strategic importance of marketing to all organisations.
* Management and Organisational Behaviour
This module provides an integrated analysis of management as an academic discipline, drawing on the work of classical and contemporary writers in the field, and as a practical strategic activity in a dynamic environment of continual change.
* Corporate Strategy
This module analyses strategic decision-making within business.
* International Financial Management
In this module, the financial management of multinational companies, and the influence of the macroeconomic, fiscal, currency and political environments on business and financial decision-making are examined in an international and global context.
* International Banking
This module examines the origins of international banking, the activities of international banks, the markets in which they participate, and the sources of risk.
* Research Methods
This module equips students with knowledge of intermediate and advanced research methods, which they will encounter in other modules and in their dissertation.
Optional Modules:
* Human Resource Management
This module develops a critical awareness of the key human resource management issues that arise within organisations.
* Corporate Risk Management
This module provides an analysis of pure risk and its management.
* Financial Analysis
This module analyses the techniques that are used to evaluate a company’s financial position and performance.
* Banking and Development
This module critically evaluates the theory underlying the policy of financial liberalisation, and examines its implementation, primarily in developing countries.
* Financial Institutions Strategic Management
This module examines the main theoretical and practical issues concerning banking business.
* Investment and Private Banking
This module examines the major features of the investment and private banking sectors.
* Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis
This module analyses the philosophical basis for research in the management sciences, and examines a number of key methodological issues and approaches.
* International Business
This module analyses the conditions in the international environment that drive trade between nations.
* Knowledge Management
This module examines the processes whereby organisations and individuals develop and utilise their knowledge bases.
Dissertation (to be completed by no later than the end of the calendar year in which the taught programme is completed).
All participants take six modules in Semester 1 and six modules in Semester 2. The modules run for 12 weeks. The basic module delivery method will centre around a two hour lecture slot and one hour tutorial every fortnight. Total contact hours will be approximately 27 per module and together with private study and preparation for tutorials, seminars and assessment, each student is expected to dedicate approximately 100 hours to each module. Teaching methods will include lectures, seminars, tutorials involving the discussion of concepts or directed to problem solving, case study sessions and workshops (including computer based sessions).
A Personal Tutor will be allocated to each MBA Banking and Finance candidate in order to address any difficulties that might arise in relation to the course. The School follows an 'open door' policy whereby MBA students will be able to seek advice on academic as well as pastoral matters from any of the School's staff when required.
