Management and Finance Postgraduate Taught - January 2024/25* & September 2024/25* Entry

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Students of this programme will graduate with the dual award of a Bangor University Masters and a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership.

This degree programme provides the opportunity to follow the prestigious CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) specialist pathway and acquire the skills to complete the CFA Level 1 examination (for both September-intake and January-intake students). 

Successful completion of all examinations on this course will see you receive 11 exemptions from the CIMA. For further information on the CIMA exemptions visit our Professional Recognition and Accreditations page.

The ever-changing nature of business firms and the markets in which they operate, has made it increasingly important for corporate managers to have a clear understanding of the theory and practice relating to strategic management and the interrelationships between the firm, its employees and its markets, and the implications for corporate financial strategy. Familiarity with the most recent developments in risk appraisal, valuation, marketing, human resource management (HRM), organisational behaviour and strategic management are essential requirements for all those involved directly in business, or in financing business activities, or those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of these important areas.

• Issues you will study as part of your MSc Management and Finance degree programme include:
• How can organisations ensure their own survival in a rapidly changing competitive
• What are the key strategic management problems facing organisations?
• Are organisations as complex as they seem?
• How can you analyse the strategy process, evaluate the strategic choices that may be made and place a value on the strategic options that are available?
• How would you recognise effective approaches to HRM?
• What are the costs and benefits of the alternatives?
• Do contemporary employment practices lessen conflicts and tensions in the employment relationship?
• Which factors are most likely to influence the evaluation and implementation of investment projects?
• How can we calculate a suitable cost of capital to appraise the capital investment decision?
• What are the relationships between risk and return governing investment? Can market risk be priced accurately?
• Can credit risk be priced accurately?
• What are the key principles of international portfolio management in a world of fast and unpredictable movements in exchange rates?
• Can futures, options, derivatives and swaps be used to manage the risks involved?
• How can financial forecasts be used in business valuation, and what techniques should be used to improve trend analysis and interfirm comparison?

With these needs in mind, the MSc Management and Finance programme at Bangor are designed to develop participants’ existing skills through a scheme of specialist advanced study. An important objective is to provide participants not only with an insight into organisational behaviour and strategic choices in HRM and marketing, but also with an understanding of theoretical developments relating to corporate finance and the capital markets, and competence in the techniques required to assess the consequences for business management. These programmes provide a coherent theoretical framework for the various subject areas, but the emphasis throughout is on advanced practical application of business management and financial techniques in a real-world setting.

Course Structure

January intake: Taught modules are undertaken in the period of January to June and September to January and will involve the study of 120 credits. The dissertation (or equivalent) is valued at 60 credits and is undertaken during the period of June to September.

September intake: Taught modules are undertaken in the period of September to June and will involve the study of 120 credits. The dissertation (or equivalent) is valued at 60 credits and is undertaken during the period of June to September.

What will you study on this course?

Compulsory modules:             

Research Methods: This module develops knowledge of intermediate and advanced research methods, and provides a basis in research methodology for those who may eventually wish to pursue research degrees.

Organisations and People: This module examines key issues arising from contemporary research in organisational behaviour (OB) and human resource management (HRM). It provides an integrated analysis of management, organisations and people, developing the conceptual, strategic and practical skills necessary for managers in complex, global organisational contexts.

Strategic Management: This module analyses strategic decision-making within business. You will develop a critical understanding of the strategic processes of business management, the interconnections with the functional domains of marketing, human resource management and corporate finance, and the management of knowledge systems.

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. 

International Financial Management: In this module the financial management of multinational companies and the influence of macroeconomic, fiscal, currency and political environments on business and financial decision-making are examined in an international and global context.

New Venture Creation: This module examines the advantages and disadvantages of the various routes to business start-up, including new venture creation, or establishing a business based on your own expertise, experience and ideas; buying an established business; purchasing a franchise; and succession through a family firm, an increasingly common way of becoming involved in entrepreneurial activity.

Financial Econometrics: This module provides advanced coverage of econometric methods and practices that are used to model financial and business data. You will develop the independent capability to design, estimate and evaluate appropriate econometric models using econometric software.

Optional module (choose 1): 

Islamic Finance: This module provides an insight into topical issues relating to Islamic financial instruments and related risk management issues. The first part of the module examines issues relating to financial contracting, instruments and various intermediation issues. The second part focuses on the role of the capital market in providing Islamic financing, and highlights financial engineering and risk management features of this type of business.

Knowledge Management: This module examines the processes whereby organisations and individuals develop and utilise their knowledge bases. Successful knowledge management hinges on people, culture and technology. As such it has professional and academic links with organisational behaviour and organisational learning. 

Contemporary Issues in Management: This module develops several theories and concepts in contemporary management theory and practice. It provides a detailed and critical analysis of management, further developing the conceptual, strategic and practical skills necessary for managers in complex, global organisational contexts. 

International Business: This module establishes the relevance of globalisation to all organisations; to recognise the differing objectives of governments and commercial organisations; to identify the opportunities and challenges of integration between nations; and to formulate and implement international business strategies.

Financial Analysis: This module analyses the techniques that are used to evaluate a company’s financial position and performance. You will examine the principles underlying inter-firm comparison (comparing the performance of one firm with another) and trend analysis (comparing the performance of the same firm over different periods). 

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management: This module evaluates the development of investment strategies for bonds, equities and derivatives that are designed to achieve optimal risk-return outcomes, and examines the measurement and evaluation of the performance of a portfolio of investments.       

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Management and Finance Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Entry to the programme requires a 2(ii) undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, e.g. economics, finance, accounting or management from a university, or a similar qualification from any other institution. Alternatively, possession of a suitable professional qualification and relevant practical experience may also be accepted. In general, however, applicants are judged on their individual merits and age, work experience and other factors are also considered. Bangor University also offers International Incorporated Masters Degrees for International students whose academic credentials are different from those outlined above. The first year is studied at the Bangor International College , an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

We welcome applications from good graduates in relevant disciplines and from those with equivalent professional qualification and work experience.

If your native language is not English, you must provide satisfactory evidence that you have an adequate knowledge and understanding of written and spoken English:

• IELTS: 6.0 (with no element below 5.5)
• Pearson PTE: a score of 56 (with no element lower than 51)
• Cambridge English Test – Advanced: 169 (with no element lower than 162)

It may be necessary for applicants falling short of this minimum standard to attend an intensive English Language course before registering for the academic programme. Such a course is available at Bangor, and full details and an application form may be obtained from:

ELCOS
Tel: +44 (0)1248 382 252

E-mail: elcos@bangor.ac.uk

Website: www.bangor.ac.uk/international/english