What is the MSc Financial Technology (Finance) degree?
The MSc Financial Technology (Finance) can be studied over 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time and explores how emerging technologies are changing the financial services sector.
Financial technology, or FinTech, brings together finance and technology to develop new ways of delivering and managing financial services. You'll explore technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and digital payments, and consider how they are being applied across finance.
The Finance variant focuses particularly on the application of financial technology within the financial services sector and is suited to those with a basic understanding of coding, economics or finance.
Why this course
Develop your understanding of the technologies shaping financial services and how they can be applied to contemporary financial challenges.
You'll explore established and emerging financial technologies alongside their application within areas such as banking, investment, lending and payments.
The course combines your understanding of finance with technological developments, preparing you to consider how financial services can respond to continued innovation.
Who should apply
Those with a basic understanding of coding, economics or finance
Those interested in the relationship between finance and technology
Those looking to work within financial services and financial technology
Those interested in how emerging technologies are changing financial products and services
What you'll learn
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies: Explore blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies and their applications within financial services
Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Understand how these technologies can be applied within finance
Digital banking and payments: Explore mobile banking, electronic payments and developments in digital financial services
Financial platforms: Examine areas including peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding and automated financial advice
Big data: Consider how large datasets can be used and analysed within finance
Financial technology infrastructure: Explore the role of application programming interfaces and other technologies in connecting financial services
Your learning experience
Finance and technology: Develop your understanding of how technological innovation is changing financial services
Contemporary issues: Explore current developments and challenges within financial technology
Practical application: Consider how technologies can be applied to financial products, services and processes
Analytical thinking: Develop your ability to assess technological developments within a financial context
Industry focus: Build knowledge relevant to the changing financial services and FinTech sectors
Explore other Financial Technology pathways
The MSc Financial Technology suite offers three variants, allowing you to choose the area that best matches your interests and career goals.
They can help you find work experience, internships, placements and voluntary opportunities, as well as providing access to employer talks on campus.
We also work closely with the Essex Startups team to support students looking to develop their own business ideas.
Why we're great.
Benefit from round-the-clock access to our Bloomberg Financial Data Trading Floor and use XTrader and MATLAB software to put your ideas into practice.
Become an expert in a fast-moving field that is of crucial importance to the financial sector of today.
Our teaching combines academic and industry expertise with lectures from City experts.
Course content
Course structure
We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists. Please be aware that we are planning changes to our first year to make it more relevant to your chosen course.
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
Your dissertation is the culmination of your Masters programme, where you apply the knowledge gained on your course to produce a 10,000 word independent piece of work. You generate an original idea, analyse literature and current knowledge and produce a coherent argument that shows your ability to relate theory to practice. Your dissertation will help you develop vital skills for the workplace, as well as the ability to analyse real problems through an academic lens. You're assigned a supervisor for the duration of your project.
Computational Market Microstructure for FinTech and the Digital Economy
(20 CREDITS)
Equip yourself with principles of allocation and mechanism design from an operational perspective. Auction design and market microstructure of the stock market, liquidity provision in electronic financial markets such as dark pools, and capital adequacy of centralized clearing platforms are some of the specific applications that will be studied in the first part of this module. During the second part, you will be introduced to complexity economics of self-organisation, network modules, and strategic proteanism. Finally, you'll use network models to study economic interactions.
Big data - where datasets are so large they cannot be processed using traditional techniques – is useful to financial organisations. This module explores how to analyse big data and covers areas such as predictive analytics, risk modelling and corporate finance. You also learn about the application of data analytics in high frequency finance, fraud and personal finance.
Financial technology (FinTech) is rapidly changing the financial services industries. The module provides an introduction to FinTech by analysing its impact on major banking and financial activities. Specifically, the module illustrates the effect of FinTech on lending activities (P2P lending, crowdfunding) and credit evaluation tools (big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence tools), investment activities (trading and robo-advising), payments (crypto currencies and new payment tools), insurance (InsureTech). In final, the module analyses the topic of ethics and regulation of FinTech.
Data Analysis: Cross Sectional, Panel and Qualitative Data Methods
(20 CREDITS)
This module provides you with an understanding of non-time-series data analytic approaches in finance. It covers methods for cross-sectional, panel and qualitative analysis and their applications whereby all topics are illustrated with relevant examples.
Cross-sectional data are organised over individual groups (eg households, firms or countries) and have no time dimension. They may include discontinuous data (eg binary), qualitative or categorical data and are essentially non-numerical. Examples include: survey responses, textual analysis of social media or interviews. Panel data or longitudinal data are multi-dimensional data streams involving measurements over time. As such, panel data consists of researcher's observations of numerous phenomena that were collected over several time periods for the same group of units or entities. For example, a panel data set may be one that follows a given sample of individuals over time and records observations or information on each individual in the sample. The nature and advantages of panel data has led to numerous applications in finance and economics research.
This module covers topics in mathematics that are required in Masters-level finance courses at the University of Essex. You focus on the basics of linear algebra, differential calculus including optimisation and dynamics.
Build the academic, research and professional skills needed to succeed at postgraduate level and beyond. This module supports your transition to master’s study by developing independent learning, research and critical thinking skills, alongside ethical and effective use of AI as a learning tool. You’ll also enhance your employability and professional practice, gaining the confidence and capabilities required for graduate-level roles and advanced academic work.
Tailor the content of your course to more closely fit your interests and aspirations.
Optional modules will enable you to gain in-depth specialisation and understanding across several banking and finance topics.
Courses focus on practical applications and links with industry.
Our postgraduate students can attend conferences and seminars on campus and beyond.
Assessment
Regular assessment is by coursework, presentations, case studies, group work, tests, and examinations.
Dissertation
Undertake an individually supervised research project that involves in-depth study of a specific finance problem or issue.
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 degree, or international equivalent, in one of the following subjects (with no module requirements):
Accounting
Actuarial Science
Business
Commerce
Computer Science
Data Analysis
Economics
Engineering
Mathematics
Natural Science
Statistics
We will also consider applicants who hold a CFA Institute Programme Level One, Two or Three (pass or above).
Applicants from any other background will be considered on a case by case basis, where they have at least one year relevant work experience in the field of economics, finance, banking, investment, financial engineering, risk management, entrepreneurship, accounting or quantitative analysis (please include your CV with your application).
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.
We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.
For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
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