Want to be at the forefront of the technologies that will shape the financial sector? This brand new and innovative Financial Technology course equips students with insight and understanding of Fintech methods trending in the world of finance.
In this digital world we do not simply use technology, we live it.
As a Financial Technology student studying at Kent Business School, get ahead of the competition by learning and developing a robust knowledge of fintech theories and methods and apply them practically to real world data. You learn not only the latest technological advancements in the field of finance, but those digital trends set to shape the future of business.
From Cryptocurrency, coding and artificial intelligence to smartphone use in banking and investments, this course gives graduates the edge to secure senior roles in rewarding fields including financial institutions, hedge funds, technology companies and start-ups.
Studying Financial Technology, learn to critically evaluate and apply important topics in fintech including an overview of financial technology, financial risk management, digital derivatives, the foundations of finance, quantitative methods and programming for finance in Python.
On our flexible course, taught by international experts, you study a broad range of compulsory modules and choose optional modules which suit your aspirations. Optional modules cover areas such as financial econometrics, machine learning and forecasting, corporate governance and ethics, finance with Excel as well as big data analytics and visualisation.
There are excellent opportunities to experience financial technology in action through hands-on experience via in-class live case studies in our exciting Bloomberg lab. There are also networking opportunities from our visiting industry experts, technological competitions and challenges and company visits.
You will also have access to our ASPIRE centre, a purpose built entrepreneurial lab where you can develop, plan and launch your own start up business.
Industrial placements are the perfect way for you to enhance your career prospects and deepen your opportunity to put taught skills into practise and develop a network of industry professionals.
With the option to undertake the programme with an industrial placement this course offers you the opportunity to gain work experience in the UK or overseas. Placements are self-sought and can range from an additional 12 to 50 weeks. This would extend the normal 12 month Master's programme to a maximum of 24 months.
The School offers support to those students seeking an industrial placement, through extra-curricular engagement with our dedicated placements team. Our dedicated placement team can help you gain a suitable paid position and provide support throughout your placement.
Students considering this option should be aware that they will be required to successfully complete all stage 1 and 2 modules and that there may be additional costs for students in terms of visa extensions, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and accommodation, for example.
If you want to learn more visit the Kent website where you can register for open events, take a virtual tour and explore our world.
If you have any further questions regarding the course or the application process please contact kbsadmissions@kent.ac.uk
You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply please check our information on how to apply and the documentation required to process your application.
Our School is proud to be in the top 1% of business schools globally to hold accreditations from three large business organisations:
Our programmes offer world-class business education enabling transformative learning experiences built around the School’s fundamental values of sustainable innovation and responsible management practice. Our students are at the heart of all considerations and through engaging teaching, world-class research, professional partnerships and an international community, we create an exciting atmosphere in which to learn and thrive.
All of our programmes at Kent Business School address the challenges of modern global business and we aim to meet industry demands of producing quality graduates by ensuring we unlock our students’ potential, expand their thinking and nurture their talent.
A minimum of a second-class UK degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in areas such as the sciences, engineering, computing, maths, finance and/or business. Quants/programming based background is required.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and those without an honours degree may also be considered on the basis of work experience, professional qualifications and the relevance of the programme to their current professional role.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes.
The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree.
For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.
Applicants who are required to meet an English language condition may be able to study a pre-sessional course in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
This module covers key concepts related to financial risk management, especially market risk in financial institutions. It broadly addresses the rationale for practising risk management, followed by approaches to measuring and managing risk.
The course will cover the following indicative topics: taxonomy of Risks, Essential Financial Products, Introduction to Regulation, Modelling Portfolio Risk, Market Risk and VAR, Credit Risk, Risk-Adjusted Performance Measures.
This module will provide students with a core understanding of Financial Technology applications, and specifically how a wide range of disruptive innovations are reshaping the financial system. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how banks and other financial institutions can benefit from using these technologies.
The module will cover the following indicative topics: Introduction to FinTech, Payments, cryptocurrencies and blockchain, Digital finance, New forms of lending and crowdfunding, Data and technology in financial services, The role of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
This module will cover the following topics: Investment appraisal techniques and decisions, Stock market efficiency – capital market behaviour, Portfolio theory, The Capital Asset Pricing Model, Sources of finance, Capital Structure.
This module provides a general introduction to the quantitative methods used in financial applications and topics may include: Statistical concepts, Probability distributions, Statistical inference, estimation and hypothesis testing, Correlation, spurious correlation and general dependence measures, Linear regression, Multiple linear regression, Logistic regression, Monte Carlo simulation, Modelling in Excel.
This module will introduce students to Python, a programming language that has become the industry standard. Students will learn how to use Python in order to conduct financial and econometric analysis. Particular emphasis will be placed on programming for specific financial applications such as portfolio optimization, asset valuation, and derivatives pricing.
This module will provide students with a core understanding of algorithmic trading, and specifically how to develop and implement quantitative trading strategies. The module will cover the following indicative topics: High-frequency trading and tick data, Backtesting and automated execution, Mean reversion strategies, Momentum strategies, Arbitrage strategies, Risk management, Performance evaluation.
This module develops the necessary knowledge and skills for students to be able to successfully complete a business report/dissertation proposal. Topics are:
In this module, students will learn about the fundamentals of machine learning and forecasting techniques and gain hands-on experience with analysing and solving a variety of problems encountered in business and management.
Three indicative areas of the module could include:
The data analysis packages such as R, SPSS, and Weka may be used in this module.
This module aims to introduce students to the power of big data analytics and data visualisation techniques in contributing to business value creation. The module will also enable students to solve a variety of complex data centred business problems using computer software tools like Apache Spark and Python.
The module covers two main themes as follows.
This module will allow students to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course in order to produce an extended independent piece of work. Every student will be allocated a personal supervisor who will guide them through the process. As part of their project, students will generate an interesting and relevant research question in finance, analyse the related financial literature, and conduct their own independent research into their topic. More specifically, students will research topics in the fields of finance (MSc Finance); finance, investment and risk (MSc Finance, Investment and Risk); finance and financial management (MSc Finance and Management); banking and finance (MSc Banking and Finance); financial technology (MSc Financial Technology).
Duration: 1 year full-time
This programme is studied over one year full-time and consists of seven compulsory modules and a choice of optional modules in Stage 1 and a research-led project in Stage 2.
Stage 1 aims to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of fintech in contemporary organisations and businesses, including an overview of technologies used in financial services delivery, programming for Python, algorithmic trading, risk management and quantitative methods and optional modules covering areas such as machine learning, forecasting and big data.
Stage 2 consists of a fintech related research project. This allows you to further develop your research skills by carrying out a substantial research project and present the work in the form of a comprehensive written report. whilst practically applying the knowledge and skills developed throughout Stage 1.
The MSc Finance Technology programme is available with an optional industrial placement, which will require you to complete the Industrial placement Report.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
Your progress on this course is assessed through a variety of means, including:
Students wishing to undertake the optional industrial placement will be required to successfully complete all stage 1 modules and the stage 2 Research project. The Industrial Placement is assessed by the completion of the Industrial Placement Report.
Kent Business School has a lively and active postgraduate community, bought about in part by our strong research culture and by the close interaction between our staff and students. Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books and embed their research in their teaching.
Taught students have regular contact with their course and module conveners with staff on hand to answer any questions and to provide helpful and constructive feedback on submitted work.
The Business School has an active and inclusive extra-curricular academic and social scene with guest lectures, talks and workshops organised by our academic staff, research centres and the ASPIRE team. You can catch up with our most recent Open for Business Seminar Series.
The multi-award-winning Sibson Building is Kent Business School's home on our Canterbury campus. This vibrant, state-of-the-art structure includes lecture theatres, seminar rooms, dedicated MBA, PhD and IT suites as well as social and breakout areas to fully enhance your learning experience.
Kent’s libraries offer over a million books, periodicals and journals, and we have subject-specific librarians to help you secure access to the information you need.
Kent Business School has close links with: ifs (Institute of Financial Services); dunnhumby, who partners the Consumer Insight Service in the Centre for Value Chain Research; Hong Kong Baptist University, with whom we offer a joint Master’s programme in Operational Research and Finance Business Statistics; University of Castellanza (Italy); Audencia Nantes Business School (France); Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences (Denmark); Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; University of Ingolstadt, Bayern (Germany); City University of Hong Kong; Renmin University of China, School of Business.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Kent Business School is a research-led business school. Our research strategy is developed around the core theme of sustainable innovation which cuts across the entire School. This theme can be seen as being divided into two sub-strands of research aimed at answering these main questions:
Kent Business School advances knowledge through constant promotion and support of innovative research. We have an impact on wider society through extensive collaborations with external partners which range from other academic institutions to a variety of local, national and international businesses as well as the NHS. Within this wider context, our main strategic aim has been geared towards establishing ourselves as a leading institution for research in sustainable innovation.
Kent Business School is a global leader in research and develops a wide portfolio of research related activities including workshops, conferences and research seminar series. This has led to a large number of international collaborations and to over 200 co-authored papers with international partners.
Specialising in public-sector critical accounting and accounting history.
Looking into a wide array of financial issues from derivatives pricing to real-estate modelling.
Innovating in wide-ranging topics such as operational research and systems thinking.
Studying issues surrounding consumer behaviours, product development and maintaining value supply chains among others.
People, Management and Organisation
Specialising in improving human resource management, organisational behaviour and leadership.
Strategy and International Business
Helping in the development of innovative business strategies for business all over the world.
Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation
Helping companies to solve complex strategic, tactical and operational problems.
Centre of Productivity and Workplace Performance
Contribute to the productivity debate and drive improvements at all levels; from the national economic output, to changes in the ways SME’s operate.
Centre for Quantitative Finance
Providing quantitative analysis of issues in the financial markets for businesses and policy makers.
Helping both academics and practitioners tackle the challenges emerging from the rapid development of new digital technologies
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Book chapters on FinTech, Critical Perspectives on Accounting; Quantitative Finance; Human Resource Management Journal; Journal of Product Innovation Management; European Journal of Operational Research; and Psychology & Marketing.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Of Kent postgraduate students who responded to the most recent national survey of graduate destinations, over 97% were in work or further study within six months. (DLHE 2017)
This specialist programme prepares students for a variety of competitive and exciting roles within financial institutions, hedge funds, technology companies and start-ups.
Students who studied similar courses at Kent Business School have gone on to work in a variety of companies including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set-up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
You gain much more than an academic qualification when you graduate from Kent Business School – we enhance your student experience and accelerate your career prospects.
In today’s business climate employers are increasingly demanding more from new employees, we are therefore proud that they continually target our graduates for their organisations across the globe. Employers respect our robust teaching and reputation for delivering international business expertise, leading global research and an outstanding international learning experience.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace.
Kent Business School has an excellent international reputation and good links with businesses locally and globally. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support to all business postgraduate students for up to three years after graduation.
In addition, Careers and Employability Service at the University provide a comprehensive package of skills development training programmes, careers advice, volunteering and paid work opportunities to enhance your career prospects.
The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
This programme attracts many applications from Chevening scholars. Chevening is the UK Government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders, and Kent is a Chevening partner.
For details of the funding available, see our Chevening Scholarships page.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of postgraduate courses we offer.
Supporting your success
Kent ranked top 50 in The Complete University Guide 2024.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
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