MSc Investment Analysis

Duration of programme: Full-time - 12 months
Start date: September

Fees:
UK/EU:          £11,000 (2013 fee)
International:  £16,000 (2013 fee)  

Scholarships:
If you are among ‘the brightest and the best’, we have a range of generous scholarships which can open the way for you to study with us. Find out  more >>

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Apply for this course online

Contact details:
Miss Kirsty Howard
Aston Business School Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0) 121 204 4227
Email: k.v.howard@aston.ac.uk

Entry requirements

Candidates must have quantitative and analytical skills.  Applicants will have studied some finance, economics or other quantitative modules at undergraduate level.

Plus one of the following:

• A good UK honours degree (minimum lower second class)

• Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University.

As well as:

• Two professional references – at least one must be from an academic referee

• An official academic transcript of your university grades to date

• A completed application form.

For International Students:

• An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades to date

• Students whose native language is not English will also need to satisfy our English language requirements Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.

This culminates students undertaking a financial analyst evaluation of a live company for their dissertation.  The facilities and equipment used on the programme are of the highest standard, giving MSc finance students access to the most innovative tools available.  This includes a dedicated Reuters dealing room facility, asset market trading simulations and a range of databases.

Students will study equity, debt and derivative markets in domestic and international sectors.  They will discover how to undertake security valuation and portfolio management as well as learning about the key techniques used by financial traders.  The knowledge and skills from the taught modules will be blended together for the f investment analysis projects.

 Modules

• Valuation of Investments (Double Module)
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Trading Techniques
• Security Analysis
• Investment Management
• Business Finance
• International Finance.

In addition to your Aston degree, you will have the opportunity to participate in our international study exchange programme. Studying with one of our partner institutions, the programme will enhance your international experience and communication skills, preparing you for a career in the international business environment.

The seven taught modules are assessed through a mixture of examinations and coursework.  The taught element of the programme is complemented by a substantial piece of research leading to the completion of a dissertation.

This programme provides you with the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to careers in the financial, insurance and corporate sector, such as financial and investment analysis, stockbroking, market trading, investment and commercial banking and corporate finance.

For information on sector opportunities see the Banking, Investment and Insurance overview on the Prospects website.

Students will acquire skills in the following areas: giving presentations; team working; report writing; negotiation and IT skills.

On successful completion of the programme students are expected to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of valuation techniques used in financial markets
• Understand how to trade financial securities
• Understand strategic decision-making within a financial context
• Be able to employ risk management techniques
• Use financial statements to analyse financial performance
• Understand the international influences of finance.

Aston Business School's outstanding student facilities include:

• A purpose-built suite which is accessible exclusively to Masters students 

• 24 hours access

• Free Wi-Fi connection

• Modern lecture/tutorial rooms

• Computer labs

• Lounge area

• IT equipment and packages and use of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

• In 2010 an investment of £150,000 was made to provide an interactive "Reuters" dealing room

• Training in the use of leading financial databases such as Datastream, Reuters, Fame, Trade and Quotes, Compustat and CRSP

• Participation in bespoke asset market trading simulations.

Course director

Mr Zhiyong Wu

Zhiyong Wu joined Aston Business School in September 2010, having spent the previous five years as a Course Director for professional certificates such as ACCA, CFA at the London School of Business and Finance. He also teaches in the fields of Accounting and Finance worldwide in countries such as France, Spain and China.  Meanwhile, he is actively involved consulting on works in Financial Accounting, Taxation Planning and Financial Management.

Teaching staff

Many of the academics teaching on the programme have previously worked in the finance industry such as in hedge funds, in portfolio management, at The Bank of England or undertaking financial consultancy.

Dr Alfonsina Iona
Laurea in Economics, MSc, PhD
Alfonsina's research in Finance is carried out both at the theoretical and empirical levels.  In particular, she studies and develops models of investment where the effects of capital market imperfections contribute to shape the firm’s investment; where corporate investment is affected by the public investment and where capital market imperfections effects may be relaxed by some macroeconomic variables.  In this research area she also analyses how corporate governance characteristics affect the firm's financing policies and how these affect the firm's value.

Her research on innovation, instead, focuses on the main determinants of the adoption of innovations by firms and the impact of product, process, technological and managerial innovations on firm performance.

Dr Neophytos Lambertides
BSc, MSc, PhD
My research interests are mainly on the area of asset pricing, credit risk and bankruptcy prediction, option pricing theory, real options and payout policy.  My research articles appeared in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (forthcoming), Journal of Accounting Auditing and Finance (forthcoming), Abacus, The British Account Review, Managerial Finance.  I am on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Accounting.

Professor Nathan L Joseph
MBA, DIC, PhD
I am an Associate of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA) and a Member of the EURO Working Group on Financial Model.  I am also Associate Editor for the International Journal of Applied Decision Sciences, and on the Editorial board for International Quarterly Journal in Finance, Finance Letter, and Journal of International Business and Finance.

My current research interests include: Modelling asset pricing; Risk management and asset pricing; Market efficiency and stock price overreaction; Corporate governance and share price impacts.

Professor Jim Steeley
BA, PhD
My research is in the area of investments.  I have worked mainly on the estimation and dynamic modelling of the UK term structure of interest rates, but I have also published papers on portfolio theory, stock market volatility, equity market integration, stock market seasonality, futures pricing and implied density functions from options.  I am on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Bond Trading and Management, and Studies in Economics and Finance.