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MSc|Postgraduate Taught

Financial Risk Management

Entry year
2024/25
Entry requirements
2.2 (minimum 55%)
Duration
1 year (Full-time)
Places available
Open (Full Time)

Do you have an interest in risk management and financial regulation? Do you want a career in areas such as corporate risk, compliance, consultancy, or academia? Do you want exemptions from the Professional Risk Manager (PRM) exams?

Studying Financial Risk Management looks at how organisations and investors should understand, evaluate and address relevant risks to maximise the chances of their objectives being achieved.

The programme equips students with the cutting-edge risk management tools and strategies used by leading financial firms and regulatory bodies. Academics who teach on this programme are at the cutting edge of their fields, many also have relevant industry experience.

Queen’s University is ranked third in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Accounting and Finance (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).

Financial Risk Management highlights

Student Experience

Students will use and have access to software such as R, Excel, Matlab, and databases such as Thomson one banker and Bloomberg.

World Class Facilities

Queen’s Business School (QBS) has recently undergone an innovative expansion that establishes a benchmark of global excellence for one of the top business schools in the UK and Ireland. A stunning new 6,000 square metre building, adjacent to the listed red-brick Riddel Hall has been designed with the latest digital infrastructure for media lecture capture, TED Talk provision and collaborative breakout sessions.

Professional Accreditations

This course has an academic partnership with GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals), helping prepare students for the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) examinations. This course is part of the PRMIA (The Professional Risk Managers' International Association) Risk Accreditation Programme, giving students exemptions from Professional Risk Manager (PRM) exams.

World Class Facilities

Fostering an enhanced social and educational experience the new state-of-the-art QBS venue boasts a 250-seat tiered educational space; 120-seat Harvard style lecture theatre; 150-seat computer laboratory; breakout study spaces; FinTrU Trading Room; a café, and a Business Engagement and Employability Hub.

Industry Links

Students have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals and academics who regularly deliver guest lectures/talks in the Business School.

World Class Facilities

Students may wish to join the Student Managed Fund, which seeks to achieve positive returns through superior stock selection using quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis. This is a real money student managed investment fund. The goal is to achieve consistent long term positive returns by optimally managing downside risk. The Fund seeks to mitigate risk through sufficient diversification and through a series of strict rules and procedures.

Certain classes are held in the FinTrU Trading Room. Students have access to Bloomberg software, a market leader in financial news, data and analytics, which is used by many financial institutions. The Trading Room allows for an interactive and exciting learning environment which brings textbook theory to life.

Professional Accreditations

MSc Financial Risk Management at Queen’s is 1 of only 5 UK MSc degrees which are part of PRMIA Risk Accreditation Programme. There are only 17 such programmes in the world.
https://prmia.org/Public/Learning/University-Alliances/exemptions-university.aspx

Queen’s is 1 of only 14 UK universities who are academic partners of GARP through the MSc Financial Risk Management programme.
https://www.garp.org/academic-partners/list

Student Testimonials

Course Structure

MSc Financial Risk Management is a year-long full-time programme delivered in-person. Students start with an intensive induction week before undertaking eight modules across the first and second semesters. In the final semester, students either study an Applied Research Project or Dissertation.

You’ll look at how organisations and investors evaluate and address risks to maximise the chances of achieving their objectives.

You’ll use the cutting-edge risk management tools and strategies used by leading financial firms and regulatory bodies. You have an interest in risk management and financial regulation and want a career in areas such as corporate risk, compliance, consultancy, or academia. You’ll gain exemptions from the Professional Risk Manager (PRM) exams.

Semester 1

Asset Pricing
Corporate Finance
Financial Regulation and Risk Management
Financial Data Analytics

Semester 2

Credit Risk Management
Derivatives
Enterprise Risk Management and Risk Analytics
Advanced Financial Data Analytics

Semester 3

Dissertation
Or
Applied Research Project

People teaching you

Programme Director

Corporate Finance
Email: y.tokbolat@qub.ac.uk

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:

Teaching Times

Morning / Afternoon
Full-time option: modules are taught morning/afternoon/evening.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • Assessment is by a variety of methods, including individual coursework, group work, oral presentations, simulations, case studies, class tests, examinations and dissertation or work-based research project.

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Asset Pricing (15 credits)
    Derivatives (15 credits)
    Corporate Finance (15 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree (with minimum of 55%) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in Mathematics, Accountancy, Finance, Economics or other relevant quantitative subject. Science and Engineering disciplines will be considered where there is a significant mathematical component. Performance in relevant modules must be at UK 2:2 Honours standard (minimum 55% or acceptable equivalent).

We welcome applications from a diverse range of applicants so will also consider previous work experience alongside academic qualifications. Prior experiential learning in quantitative analysis, Mathematics or Finance based subjects in lieu of academic qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 16th August 2024 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Please note:  international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

As many financial firms are substantially expanding their risk management functions, this programme is likely to open a wide range of new and exciting career opportunities including utilising cutting-edge quantitative modelling techniques and working in collaboration with traders to develop bespoke financial products, as well as portfolio and product risk management and monitoring.

For further opportunities to enhance your studies and career prospects please see the school website.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/queens-business-school/student-opportunities/

Employment after the Course

Graduate prospects from the MSc Financial Risk Management are excellent; culminating in Queen’s being ranked third in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Accounting and Finance (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024). Graduates from this programme have secured roles with employers such as Royal Bank of Scotland, BNY Mellon, Citi, PwC, EY, Intel, and many others. Typical roles include financial and data analysts, risk managers, management consultants, and project managers.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £8,800
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £8,800
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250
EU Other 3 £25,800 (£6,000 discount, see T&Cs link below)
International £25,800 (£6,000 discount, see T&Cs link below)

£6,000 Scholarship available for 2024 entry. Click this link to view the Terms and Conditions.

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Terms and Conditions for Postgraduate applications:

1.1  Due to high demand, there is a deadline for applications. 
1.2  You will be required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the course.
1.3  This condition of offer is in addition to any academic or English language requirements.

Read the full terms and conditions at the link below:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Leadership-and-structure/Faculties-and-Schools/Arts-Humanities-and-Social-Sciences/WelcometotheFaculty/AHSSPostgraduateTaughtProgrammes/

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus