Finance - Asset Management

Course details

Do you want to prepare for a career in international financial services while completing finance professional exams?

The MSc Asset Management is designed to prepare students for careers in the international asset management and finance industry.  As a participant on the course, you will focus on developing your analytical and professional skills, culminating in an applied quantitative research project.  Uniquely this finance MSc programme provides the opportunity for candidates to study for the CFA® level I and/or CAIA® level I exams at the same time as the MSc Asset Management. 

This finance course has been designed in conjunction with industry to ensure it meets the skills needs of employers. Upon completion of the MSc in Asset Management, you can expect to have excellent career prospects with investment management, insurance, proprietary trading, pension funds, and finance firms.

Course Details

Run by the Department of Accounting Finance and Information Systems the MSc Asset Management is a 12 month Finance programme designed for those wishing to work in the international financial services industry, either in Ireland or abroad. 

Students on the programme have access to a dedicated lab with Datastream and other financial and hedge fund databases. 

The programme is structured as follows

• Induction Week  The course begins with an induction week providing you with the necessary preparation for the Core Modules in Semester 1. Here, the focus is on: team-building skills; IT skillscommunication and presentation skills.
• Core Modules  The core modules take place mainly in Semester 1 (September to December) and two running in Semester 2.  These modules provide you with the in-depth knowledge to analyse and apply solutions to topics such as Valuation, Project Finance and Analysis of Debt Instruments. These modules:focus on analysis and application;have a quantitative element; include regular student presentations.

Core Modules

Title

• Project Finance
• Valuation
• Analysis of Debt   Instruments
• Asset Allocation
• Quantitative   Analysis
• Financial Analysis   and Forecasting
• Research Methods

Specialised Modules

The specialised modules begin in Semester 2 (January to March) and here you will learn and apply this knowledge to areas of real relevance to your future career such as aircraft leasing, risk management and funds. The modules here: focus on understanding and application; are case study and lecture driven; employ analysis using business IT systems.

Specialised Modules

Title

• Risk Management
• Venture Capital and   Private Equity
• Aircraft Leasing
• Funds Industry   Services and Regulation

Business Leader Series

In this innovative module beginning midway through Semester 1 and finishing in Semester 2, you will get the opportunity to interact with senior executives and industry leaders from both the financial services sector. This module provides the perfect opportunity to hone your networking, communication and presentation skills.

• a weekly session will be chaired by industry experts.
• each week a different student group hosts the sessions.
• members of the student groups present the case study solution.
• the expert then gives feedback and advice to the class.

Professional Exams 

In this element of the programme you pursue a course of independent learning, under the supervision of an academic mentor, towards the CFA® level I and/or CAIA® level I exams. Guidance will be provided by our CFA® and CAIA® faculty representatives on the best approach for you to prepare for these examinations.

 Research Project 

The final element in the course takes place over the summer. You will get the opportunity to work, under the supervision of an academic mentor on an asset management research project. Each student will initiate, research and write a report on the asset management issue. The output from this project will include a detailed report and final presentation. This form of project will give you an opportunity to develop both analytical and professional skills. 

Detailed Entry Requirements

Applicants must normally have

• a 2H1 degree or equivalent in a business programme or
• Expectation of graduating with a 2H1 degree or equivalent in a business programme in the year of entry or
• A 2H1 degree or equivalent in a cognate discipline with a quantitative element.

Applicants who achieve a 2H2 degree, in either a business degree or a degree in a cognate discipline with a quantitative element, will be assessed on a case by case basis.

It is important to apply early as we anticipate the course will be over-subscribed. 

• If your application is successful at this stage you will receive an offer or (if you have not yet received your final exam results) a conditional offer.
• If you meet the application requirements but the course is full, you will be placed on the waiting list. Students on this waiting list get priority over later applicants. 
• If the course has not been filled in the first round, or by the first round waiting list, and your application is successful, you will receive an offer or a conditional offer.
• If you meet the application requirements but the course is full, you will be placed on the waiting list.

Assessment

To meet the development objectives of the programme the MSc Asset Management is assessed by a blend of formal examination and continuous assessment. Each module contains a minimum of 30% continuous assessment. 

Continuous assessment is in the form of class contribution, inpidual assignments, group case study analysis and presentations.  

It is important that you learn to communicate effectively and contribute in class so your lecturers will keep a record of who asks (and answers) questions in class, and allocate marks accordingly.  You and your classmates will also be pided into different groups for each semester.  This allows you an opportunity to get to know, and work with, all of your colleagues.  While we understand some students may have concerns about being assessed in groups, the ability to work with, and lead others, is a skill which has been highlighted as being essential for a successful career in industry.  Finally, presenting is one of most important professional skills and so we also incorporate this into the assessment. 

The final element of the MSc Asset Management is a quantitative research project. This represents one eighth of the marks for the masters programme.