Module Descriptors

Financial Markets and Institutions

The module aims to provide a clear understanding of the operations of major financial markets such as bond, stock and foreign exchange markets. It also provides a clear understanding of bank management, risk management in financial institutions and their role in sustainable development. Moreover, it digs deeply into the behaviour of interest rates and risk and term structures of interest rates. Further, it gives a clear understanding of the characteristics of mutual and hedge funds.

Research Methods in Finance

This module introduces students to quantitative techniques commonly used in analysing financial market data whether it is primary or secondary data. Student will learn how to conduct a quantitative research using surveys or secondary financial data. Upon completion of the module, student will learn solid econometric techniques such linear regression, logistic regression, forecasting and non-parametric techniques such as bootstrapping. Moreover, student will be able to individually conduct a complete and an independent research whether it is based on primary or secondary data.

Corporate Finance

The purpose of this module is to develop a clear understanding of the fundamentals of corporate finance and their relationship with the theory and practice of corporate investments through the examination of real-life case studies and contemporary examples. Course discusses and compares investment appraisal techniques of corporations and entrepreneurial firms. It also, examines the relation of finance theory to corporate policy issues such as capital structure, debt policy, capital budgeting, dividend policy and mergers and acquisitions.

Financial Risk and Regulation

This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the various types of financial risks faced by banks and financial institutions. It explores bank regulations as well as theoretical and practical techniques to measure and manage market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk operational risk, foreign exchange risk and sovereign risk. It also discusses the relationship between financial risk management and sustainability.

Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

This module focuses on imparting the much-needed skills and strategies needed to make the best investment decisions. Students will learn the various investment opportunities, techniques and methods to identify the right investment avenues for investments. It equips students with the various methods that are used in evaluating investment and portfolio performance. This module treats students as investors, equipping them to make informed decisions on financial instruments such as equities and bonds, while evaluating market risks and returns.

Derivatives and Risk Management

 The purpose of this module is to provide a solid understanding of financial derivatives and hedging strategies. It focuses mainly on the pricing and use of financial derivatives in risk management such as the use of forward, futures, options, swaps and credit derivatives. It also aims at introducing students to principles and techniques commonly used in the management of financial risk.

Dissertation

The aim of dissertations is to give students an opportunity to focus on one or more aspects of the taught subjects and to investigate it in more detail independently. This will help them consolidate their capacity as independent learners. Students will learn more techniques needed to conduct proper research and develop knowledge in the subject area of the programme of study.

This is a research-based task. There are thus two aspects to consider: the research efforts and the writing up format. Both are governed by implicit rules common to the discipline of formal research. Students are trained to become familiar with these rules. Typically, the dissertation word count will range between 12000-15000 words, excluding references and appendices.