MSc — 2025 entry FinTech and Policy

 Digital technology influences every aspect of daily life, shaping the way that individuals live, work and socialise (and therefore also inevitably matters of civil law, such as contract and tort) but it has a less positive aspect as it has also transformed criminal behaviour. This module considers the legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to the internet and digitisation as well as the dark side of technology that has led to the growth of online crime. It reflects on the ensuing impact on the digital economy, platforms and the wider business community plus the legal regulation thereof taking account of the unprecedented transformation in the digitisation of the law and the way business is conducted in the 21st century. The module encourages critical engagement with the way in which the law operates in an effort to both facilitate digitisation as well as combat cybercrime. It brings together theoretical ideas about the function of law with the practical considerations of the impact of criminal behaviour on society. It also engages with the challenges of preventing online crime and policing the internet. 

The module provides the theoretical underpinnings of our MSc Accounting and Finance programme. It introduces the pivotal concepts which form the basis of theoretical finance under three broad headings; Portfolio Theory and Practice, Equilibrium in Capital Markets and Introductory Analysis of Asset Classes. Core concepts include the relationship between risk and return, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) but the module also extends this analysis into new theoretical areas such as Behavioural Finance.

The module has the aim of introducing students to core concepts in the blockchain technology. Students will become familiar with applications of cryptography to financial transactions and the technicalities behind cryptocurrencies and their workings. Using case studies and simulations, students will be exposed to the use of software wallets and engage in blockchain and cryptocurrency related transactions.

Data mining is the process of finding anomalies, patterns and correlations within large data sets to predict outcomes. It involves searching through databases for potentially useful information such as knowledge rules, patterns, regularities, and other trends hidden in the data. Using a broad range of techniques, this information is leveraged to increase revenues, cut costs, improve customer relationships, reduce risks and more. Applications of data mining and business analytics are highly useful in today's competitive market. In this module several case studies of well- known data mining techniques are used; e.g. shopping basket analysis such as Tesco club card, credit card fraud detection, predicting stock market returns, risk analysis in banking, web analytics and social network analysis including Facebook and Twitter.

The primary purpose of this module is to teach students how to structure a business data analysis from end to end, from business question to communication of options and insights. Such a skill is fundamental to all Business Analytics, and will help students structure their analyses throughout the rest of the programme. Students will learn how to apply data analysis within a general decision-making framework by practical first-hand experience, taking a business problem (and associated dataset) from start to finish, with each week teaching them how to progress through one step of the analytical process. Along the way they will learn key concepts that determine the quality of a data analysis, including how to generate a specific business question, how to generate reliable, clean data, how to differentiate signal from noise, such that they may identify useful business insights. At the end of the module, they will take their analyses and learn how to communicate data insights through visualisation and dashboarding.

In this module, students develop a holistic understanding of the theory and tools for Entrepreneurship which has a particular relevance in the context of the Digital Economy.  This begins with a discussion of key concepts around the Entrepreneur, Opportunity Recognition and the Entrepreneurial Process.  In turn, students review key elements for a start-up including resources, the founding team and business modelling.  Finally, we look at scaling strategies in the Digital Economy including a range of different business models where start-ups create, deliver and capture value.  The Digital Economy enables these innovative business models.    For assessment, students research and apply Key Entrepreneurship Topics to case studies and then critically evaluate the scaling strategy for a designated emerging-growth companies in the Digital Economy using Entrepreneurship theory, Digital Economy theory and a business model framework.

Risk management focuses on the following types of financial risk that arise for a business: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. A brief introduction to non-financial risks is also given, but is not the main focus. This module considers financial risk management strategies; how risk is evaluated; the methods that are available to hedge against risk and the strategies that are employed to mitigate risk. This is complemented by consideration of key risk management issues for financial institutions including bank capital adequacy. The lessons to be learned from the Financial Crisis of 2007-08 are also investigated. Understanding risk and how to identify and deal with it provides a key input for students of finance, accounting or banking.

This module examines international currency markets and currency transactions, exchange rate systems and the implications of exchange rate volatility. It also explores various currency risks that arise from international operations and examines issues that arise when firms seek financing outside their home markets.

This Innovation Management module is a cornerstone in your business education. This module examines the strategic and tactical dimensions of innovation that a future leader considers when managing an organization or team. It combines established and contemporary conceptual frameworks with practical guidance for analyzing the challenges of leading an innovative organization. In this module, students will discuss the strategy, sources, processes, and implementation of innovation. This module particularly provides students with 1) a holistic understanding of the concept of innovation and its relevance to today’s firm competitiveness; 2) the capability to identify the links between the structures and processes which support specific models of innovation; 3) the capability to recognize the opportunities for, and constraints to innovation in specific business contexts and organizational settings; and 4) the capability to develop practical –oriented skills that are crucial to the management of innovation. In brief, students should come away with models and insights to succeed in each innovation management phase. Finally, the module is designed to provide deep theoretical and practical knowledge by applying theory in case studies and other assignments. The course consists of lectures, seminars, group assignments and an individual assignment.

 Students put theory into practice for digital skills by working in a group project with designated companies around a business challenge.  The business challenge relates to key skills in the Digital Economy such as digital marketing. In the module, students develop an understanding of key topics related to the theory before applying the key skills.  We bring in outside speakers from industry to create an authentic learning experience.  For the project, students  have two points of assessment to support the learning. Students develop other business skills such as problem-solving, project management, collaboration and resilience which they participate in the project.  This supports programme objectives to develop an understanding of theory and practice related to Digital Economy as well as to develop skills relevant for Entrepreneurship.