MEconSc (International Finance)

Course details

This programme is specifically designed with dedicated courses to deepen students’ understanding of the forces driving the global economy and the operations of the international financial markets. The programme provides both a rigorous foundation in the theory of international finance and necessary technical skills used in applied financial market analysis.

It provides an emphasis on current issues in international economic policy and on recent developments in the areas of multinational investment flows, dynamics of exchange rates, risk management and asset pricing. Students gain a deeper understanding of both the microstructure and macroeconomic implications of these issues, and necessary technical skills for analysing financial data using computer simulation based models.

The Financial Services industry, which is a part of Internationally Traded Services has been identified by the Irish Government as one of the key sectors for the delivery of high value-added jobs in Ireland and a crucial sector in the further development of Ireland’s knowledge-based economy.

Key facts

Entry requirements

Students admitted to the programme will normally hold a primary degree with Second Class Honours, Grade 1 or equivalent international qualification*, which will have included the study and understanding of economics to intermediate level.** Students who hold a Higher Diploma in Economics with Second Class Honours, Grade 1, or equivalent international qualification may also apply. IELTS scores of 6.5 or equivalent if applicable.

* In exceptional cases a person without a 2.1 primary degree may be admitted if economics is a major part of their undergraduate degree and if they have achieved a 2.1 average in the economics courses they have taken.

** By intermediate level economics we mean courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics at a level typically done in second or third year of an undergraduate programme. Accordingly people who have only studied one year of economics are not eligible for admission.

Course outline

The programme provides a special emphasis on current issues in international economic policy and on recent developments in the areas of multinational investment flows, dynamics of exchange rates, risk management and asset pricing.

Students gain a deeper understanding of both the microstructure and macroeconomic implications of these issues, and necessary technical skills for analysing financial data using computer simulation based models.

Graduates with these skills are highly valued by commercial banks, investment banks and other financial institutions, by public institutions such as Central Banks and by multinational corporations.The Financial Services industry, which is a part of Internationally Traded Services, has been identified by the Irish Government as one of the key sectors for the delivery of high value-added jobs in Ireland and a crucial sector in the further development of Ireland's knowledge-based economy.

The programme includes such modules as:

• Macroeconomic Theory
• International Finance
• Financial Econometrics 1 (Time Series Analysis)
• Seminar in Financial Economics 1 (Portfolio Theory)
• Quantitative Methods in Finance
• International Monetary Economics
• Financial Econometrics 2 (Applied Portfolio Modelling)
• Seminar in Financial Economics 2 (Derivatives and Risk Management)

Students also complete a minor dissertation.

Requirements and assessment

Semester One exams: December. Semester Two exams: April/May. A range of assessment methods are integrated and assessed throughout the programme. These include essays, projects, reports, presentations, and computer simulation based assignments. Students also submit a minor dissertation.