Master Of Science And Professional Diploma In Banking And Finance

Course details

The graduate degrees in banking and finance (Master of Science and Professional Diploma) are academic and professional programs, respectively, intended for academicians and practitioners in the fields of banking, investment, finance and Islamic finance. Curriculum is both theoretical and practical in nature and many of the teaching in courses depend on the case study methodology. Students have the option of pursuing their studies leading to one of the following degrees:

• A Professional Diploma in Banking and Finance.
• A Master of Science in Banking and Finance.

Program Description

The Masters and Diploma in Banking and Finance are designed for students with a Bachelor degree in business, finance, economics or related disciplines. The degrees offer a strong finance-focused curriculum in contrast to an MBA or an EMBA which tend to be general in nature.

While the curriculum emphasizes financial theory and modeling in many of its courses, students are introduced to contemporary topics in finance including the international and regulatory dimensions. Students are also engaged in applied research and simulation exercises using case studies and professional software packages.

Admission Requirements

Generally, students admitted to the graduate programs in banking and finance are required to have an adequate academic background in economics or finance, in addition to a strong applied experience in areas related to the field. Students who lack any of these requirements must complete remedial courses as needed, details of which are shown in section (6) curriculum below.

Decisions on admission to the university are made by the admissions committee based on the student's academic records, business experience, proof of English proficiency, recommendation letters, the student's statement of purpose and the student’s performance in the admission interview.

The general admission guidelines are:

• A minimum grade of “Good” or equivalent from recognized universities in Egypt or abroad.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in banking and finance or related fields.
• A minimum score of 61 in internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or equivalent.

Acceptance in the program is based on the applicant’s record in the above areas and on his/her performance in the interview.

Graduate Requirements

To receive their Master of Science degree in Banking and Finance, Students have to:

1. Complete a minimum of 30 crhrs of course work, plus possibly none credit courses depending on their academic background and practical experience, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. Submit and successfully defend a thesis, equivalent to 12 crhrs in their area of specialization.
3. Complete the requirements of the degree in a period from two to three years. Extension may be granted in special cases subject to approval from the school council.

Students opting for the Diploma in Banking and Finance must complete 18 crhrs of required course work with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in a period from one to two years. Extension may be granted in special cases subject to approval from the school council.

Curriculum

1. Remedial Courses

• Probabilities and Statistics for Business.
• Financial Accounting.
• Business Economics.
• Financial Management.

2. Business Required Core Courses

• Financial Statement Analysis
• Quantitative Methods for Finance
• Management and Leadership
• Corporate Strategy and International Competitiveness

3. Finance Required Core Courses

• Corporate Finance
• International Finance
• Investment Management
• Fixed Income Securities
• Financial Markets

4. Masters Required Courses

• Corporate Governance
• Research Methods in Business

5. Masters Electives

• Banking Specialization
• Financial Reporting for Banks
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Financial Regulations and Ethics in Banking
• Risk Management in Banking
• Mortgage Financing
• Management of Financial Institutions
• Selected Topics in Banking and Finance
• Independent Studies in Banking and Finance
• Investment and Finance Specialization (8 Cr Hrs):
• Financial Reporting for Investment Companies
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Equity and Small Business Finance
• Derivatives
• Financial Regulations and Ethics in Investments
• Real Estate Investments
• Selected Topics in Banking and Finance
• Independent Studies in Banking and Finance
• Islamic Finance Specialization (8 Cr Hrs):
• Accounting and Financial Reporting for Islamic Banks
• Introduction to Islamic Finance
• Insurance and Takaful
• Islamic Project Finance and Transactions
• Islamic Asset Management
• Selected Topics in Banking and Finance
• Independent Studies in Banking and Finance
• Banking and Finance Specialization