Financial Economics MSc

Course details

The course has an excellent employment track record. Since inception 100%of students on the course gained graduate employment. 

The MSc Financial Economics course in UCC involves advanced study of the practices of investment, banking and risk management. Course modules cover topics such as:

• asset pricing
• portfolio management
• international finance
• financial institutions
• capital markets
• treasury management
• derivative securities
• risk management.

The course also involves an applied research project, using cutting-edge techniques and software.

The MSc Financial Economics is at the top end of graduate study in business/finance in Ireland and is designed for high achievers who wish to pursue high-end careers in financial markets, such as:

• investment banking
• corporate banking
• trading/dealing
• portfolio management
• asset pricing
• treasury
• capital markets (equity, money, bond, FX and derivatives markets)
• risk management
• financial analysis
• research

Course Details

Candidates take taught modules with examinations over two semesters and then complete a minor dissertation. The taught modules are as follows:

Fund Management and Evaluation:

• studies portfolio management, return and risk evaluation in stock selection, market timing and persistence.

Fixed Income Securities:

• examines the term structure of interest rates and yield curve analysis, exotic bond valuation, duration, convexity, immunisation, asset backed securities and bond portfolio management.

Asset Pricing:

• examines models of asset returns, stock price predictability and market efficiency.

Securities Valuation and Selection:

•  examines risk tolerance, asset allocation, stock valuation models and a financial analysis of a firm.

International Finance:

• focuses on how economic policy and the behaviour of agents impact international capital flows, exchange rates and global investments. 

Treasury Risk Management:

• looks at the measurement and management of risks facing banks and corporations arising from volatility in currency and money markets.

Financial Institutions and Money Markets:

• looks at the role of money markets and banks in the economy, focuses on understanding the types of risk facing banks and the management of this risk.

Derivative Securities:

• introduces the concepts and mathematical techniques in pricing derivatives including options, swaps, forwards and futures on underlying assets.

Macroeconomics for Financial Markets:

• looks at macroeconomics theories, models and techniques relevant to financial markets. Topics include business cycles, economic growth, uncertainty, monetary policy, inflation and the labour market.

Regulation and Compliance in Capital Markets:

• covers the guiding principles behind financial regulation and the main differences between the roles and key legal aspects of different regulatory institutions.

Applied Econometrics:

• includes regression analysis, OLS, hypothesis testing and specification.

Applied Time Series Analysis:

• includes ARIMA models, Box-Jenkins methodology, ARCH-GARCH models, VAR models, unit-root testing and cointegration.

Research Methods: includes

• (i) a report writing/economic consulting element,
• (ii) visiting speaker seminar series,
• (iii) research methods training and
• (iv) workshops on recent developments in financial research.

Further details on the content and modules are available on the Postgraduate College Calendar

Detailed Entry Requirements

• The course is open to applicants with a 2.1 degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a business subject, or expectation of graduating with a 2.1 degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a business subject in the year of entry;
• Applicants with a 2.1 degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a related subject with a quantitative element such as mathematics, statistics, engineering, science, etc.