Economics, Banking and Finance MSc
About this course
Economics studies the behaviour of individuals, businesses, and governments in the face of various constraints. Our MSc Economics, Banking and Finance degree is designed to combine the analytical rigour of an Economics course with an in-depth coverage of major areas of Banking and Finance. You will systematically analyse and understand decision making in the context of economies and financial systems in a globalised world.
You will learn to critically evaluate the behaviour of key players in economies and financial systems and to assess the consequences for individuals, society or the sustainability of economic and financial development. The course is distinctive for applying a strong policy focus, particularly emphasising aspects of financial development, stability and crises as well as sustainability.
You will have the opportunity to work hands-on with economic tools and techniques, including the use of our state-of the-art Business Lab. This is a real-time trading environment which provides access to sophisticated analysis tools and data on worldwide financial markets and gives you a simulated experience of working in the dynamic world of shares and trading.
In your third semester, you’ll take part in a large scale Applied Research Project. This will give you the opportunity to use your skills in a real-life setting, tailored to your individual needs and aspirations. You can choose between pursuing academic research or undertaking a consultancy-style project.
What will you gain from this degree?
- apply advanced economic knowledge, tools and techniques to resolve issues in diverse situations within economies and financial systems.
- synthesise and critically evaluate the conduct of key players in economies and financial systems.
- demonstrate the ability to make recommendations for organisational practice based on theoretical insights.
- synthesise and critically evaluate a range of advanced concepts and techniques to analyse problems in banking and finance.
- develop a critical understanding of the role of the economics, banking and finance disciplines in the global context.
- understand the environmental, social, governance and ethical problems that may occur in economies and financial systems and apply appropriate frameworks or professional codes to resolve such problems.
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Gain hands-on with economic tools and techniques, including the use of our state-of-the-art Business Lab, a real-time trading environment. -
You will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NBS. -
Nottingham Trent University is 1st in the UK for Employability (Uni Compare 2025). -
At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want.
What you’ll study
At NBS you can create a personalised learning experience, giving you a unique Masters degree that equips you with the skills you'll need, for the career you want. Each of the modules will be delivered over a four week period, with teaching delivered in three weeks and the fourth week left clear for assessment work. This enables you to focus on one subject at a time, whilst allowing time for preparation and assessment work.
- Programme overview
- Semester one
- Semester two
- Semester three
- Ongoing learning/memberships/professional development
Semester one modules
- Principles of Economics
- Using Quantitative Data in Economic Analysis
- Economics of Banking and Finance
Semester two modules
- Financial Systems in the Global Economy
- Financial Regulation, Supervision and Monetary Policy
- Your choice of optional module:
- Risk Management; or
- Derivatives Markets
Semester three module
- Applied Research Project
Semester one
Principles of Economics (20 credits)
This module serves as a foundation for studying economics-, banking and finance-related issues. It covers key areas of micro- and macroeconomic analysis and their applications. The microeconomic part develops your understanding of how information affects the behaviour of individual players, the way they interact with each other as well as implications of policy measures for behaviour. The macroeconomic part is mainly concerned with modern approaches to business cycles and growth, including the role of monetary and fiscal policy.
Using Quantitative Data in Economic Analysis (20 credits)
You will learn about fundamental theoretical statistics and core econometrics used in economic theory and research and use econometric models to analyse economic data. You learn to critically evaluate and synthesise relevant specialist literature with the aim of generating testable hypotheses. You will also learn to test your hypotheses and develop effective methods of communicating and presenting your findings to an audience.
Economics of Banking and Finance (20 credits)
This module helps you to understand financial decision making in a dynamic world, why banks and other financial institutions exist and how they operate. You will explore theoretical and real-world related questions about the link between individual behaviour and policy actions.
Semester two
Financial Systems in the Global Economy (20 credits)
This module analyses the functioning and interplay of financial systems in a globalised environment. You will explore reasons for market failure and crises and their short and medium term implications for economic and financial activity. You will also learn to what extent policy interventions can mitigate negative consequences of market failure and financial crises.
Financial Regulation, Supervision and Monetary Policy (20 credits)
This module is specifically devoted to policy making in the context of Banking and Finance. You will explore the implications of different regulatory frameworks for the behaviour of key players on financial markets and the functioning of these markets. You will also learn in detail about regulatory frameworks currently in place around the globe as well as their potential to prevent market failure and financial crises.
Optional Modules:
Risk Management (20 credits)
This module is designed to enable you to explore and develop an understanding of the theoretical techniques, concepts and methods employed in various types of specific financial risk and more general holistic enterprise wide risks. You'll develop analytical abilities to select and apply theory to practice through the application of relevant techniques in the context of varied situations. You will also learn to evaluate and develop a critical and reflective awareness of the importance of the application of relevant, available techniques to enhance financial risk management.
Derivatives Markets (20 credits)
Explore and develop your understanding of financial risk and derivative markets in terms of theory, concepts and hedging techniques. You will learn to evaluate the types of financial risks that can be hedged with derivative instruments and discuss why derivative markets provide an efficient hedging tool. You will apply hedging techniques to asset classes such as bonds and fixed income, exchange rates and equity using published market data.
Semester three
In your final semester you will take on a major project, giving you a fantastic opportunity to use the theories and knowledge you've gained to produce a challenging, meaningful piece of work.
Applied Research Project (40 credits)
As part of this module you can choose between pursuing academic research or undertaking a consultancy-style project. Integrate your academic knowledge of economics with analytical skills to rigorously investigate a real-world problem or issue in banking and finance. The project can focus on an institutional problem or a broader policy issue. The project will include employment related tasks that are relevant to the industry. The module encourages independent learning, develops your experience using industry standard software and encourages collaborative learning through peer review.
Ongoing learning
Throughout the year you will also study the following modules which will help you understand how to manage your own continuous personal and professional development (PPD).
Professional Practice in Economics (10 credits)
The purpose of the module is to increase your understanding of your own personal and professional development needs to enhance your business acumen and improve your employability. The module utilises a series of taught sessions to help you explore the human side of enterprise and deploys a series of diagnostics tests to help you evaluate yourself and develop an individual action plan. It will combine teaching with individual and group mentoring to help you execute your plan. The module also promotes engagement with internal and external workshops, lectures, experiential learning opportunities and extra-curricular events to help you expand your knowledge and skills, whilst challenging your attitudes and behaviours. You will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of continuous professional development from the perspective of professional bodies, such as the CMI, CIM, APM and SPE.
Research Methods for Economists (10 credits)
The aim of this module is to develop students as effective researchers in different contexts within the subject area of economics, with a particular focus on your independent learning skills. In addition, the module enables you to develop a suitable research project, complete the research and communicate findings.
Memberships
As an MSc Economics. Banking and Finance student, you will benefit from a membership with the Society of Professional Economists. The Society of Professional Economists (SPE) is the leading organisation serving professional economists in the UK. The SPE has more than 1300 members, drawn from all areas of the profession including finance and commerce, industry, government departments, private sector consultants, business schools and universities.
By becoming a member you will gain access to a wide network of professional economists, providing an excellent means of establishing contact with other leading economists in your own field and in other areas. This network is not confined to the UK; the Society has overseas members and links with similar associations in other countries in Western Europe and in North America.
Professional development
Beyond your core curriculum and comprehensive career support, you'll have access to a vibrant CPD programme. This includes your Personal Development Week, Global Responsibility Week, and events and workshops including our Business Leaders’ Lecture Series. You'll also have the chance to participate in national and international business challenges, industry talks, field trips, and company visits. We encourage you to get involved in sports, clubs, societies, volunteering, and apply for roles like course rep or student ambassador. These opportunities are designed to enhance your experience, help you thrive in the job market, and support your personal growth.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you're taught
Teaching and Learning
Nottingham Business School adopts a distinctive approach to the design of student learning opportunities. Your learning is structured around theory, practice, experience and observation, and reflection and improvement. At each level (course, module and session), you will study different theories, concepts and approaches and be given opportunities to apply these in a range of practical settings. The aim is to enhance your understanding through the direct experience of business, where you will have opportunities to observe business practices and behaviours (including your own) and analyse these using theoretical knowledge. It is our intention that by reflecting on these experiences, you will be able to use these theories to guide your actions and decisions in a business context or even consider how a theory itself might be improved. In this way, we aim to enhance the quality of your learning.
Academic Mentors
Every postgraduate student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NTU. They will support you in developing and enhancing the qualities and transferrable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development.
Assessments
A range of assessment methods are used across the course, the choice of which reflects the needs and demands of the different types of module. Some modules will assess the ability to work collaboratively in a team and others will assess individual capability. Types of assessment will range from examinations to group presentations including essays, reports, financial analyses, literature reviews and research based projects.
The interactive nature of the taught sessions offers opportunities to gain feedback on your performance before being formally assessed and increasing use is made of eLearning to further support the feedback process.
In-sessional English language support
In-sessional English language classes are offered to international students at no extra cost. The classes aim to provide focused support in the skills you need in order to develop your English in your subject area.
Further information please contact the Nottingham Language Centre based in the Djanogly building on City Campus:
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 6156 | Email: englishsupport@ntu.ac.uk | Website: www.ntu.ac.uk/nlc
Personalisation
We know our postgraduate students are a diverse group, with different levels of academic knowledge in their chosen area of study, different cultural and educational backgrounds, and varying levels of personal and professional skills and competencies.
At NBS we strive to ensure that these two motivating factors are nurtured and therefore supported. Our students are encouraged to practice and develop the skills and competencies required to critically reflect on their learning, and on their ability to apply this learning to their studies and to real world complex issues within the workplace. Through a series of curricula and extra-curricular initiatives, strengthened by tailored academic mentor support, NBS provides all our postgraduate students with the ability to participate in a range of challenging and unique activities, projects, events and experiences to enable our students to succeed in a competitive and dynamic global environment.
Careers and employability
At Nottingham Business School, we’re focused on your employability from the start of your postgraduate degree. We provide you with a learning experience that integrates theory and practice.
With its distinctive features, this course will be particularly attractive if you seek a career in Banking and Finance in the private or public sector. The wide range of analytical and personal skills acquired throughout the course will qualify you for a variety of other graduate roles in and outside academia such as management, consultancy or teaching.
Employability Team
We have a dedicated Employability Team who not only help you during your time with us but also following graduation, they’ll continue to support you by providing a number of services that will help kick-start your career.
Our Employability Team offer a wide range of support from one-to-one appointments with our specially trained consultants, to arranging recruitment fairs and skill building workshops.
Services they provide include:
- Finding placements, internships and part-time work
- Helping you to pursue self-employment
- Advice on taking gap years and time out
- Information and help on getting into volunteering
- Providing advice on further study.
As a student you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you will be able to get in touch with our Employability team for CV support, application, interview and job hunting advice, career ideas and employer videos.
You can visit the Employability Team on your local campus every day during term time. They are also open outside of term time too, except on University closure days. So drop in, say hello, and get help with quick enquiries or book an appointment with a careers consultant from your school.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship to behavioural science, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.
Find out more: ntu.ac.uk/research
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in our brand-new Postgraduate Centre, at the heart of our vibrant City Campus. Designed to support collaborative study, there’s a range of accessible teaching spaces, state-of-the-art technology, breakout areas, quiet work booths and a communal café. You can access dedicated market research reporting platforms and digital resources (e.g. Mintel, Passport, SPSS, and Adobe Creative Cloud) and a room equipped with Bloomberg terminals, which enables you to delve into industry-leading data, news and analytics.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our superb Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets catering to every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and so much more!
If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham — one of the UK’s top 10 student cities, and one of the top 25 in all of Europe. It’s a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night. For more details, why not take a Virtual Tour?
Entry requirements
UK students
- You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above) in one of the following fields: economics, business, management, finance or another social science-related subject (containing quantitative methods at level 1 as a minimum), or a quantitatively-based subject such as science, engineering or maths.
Additional requirements for UK students
- All applicants will be required to demonstrate a commitment to the subject they wish to study and should demonstrate how their chosen programme of study will benefit them in their future career.
- One academic reference is required.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
- You will need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK undergraduate honours degree (2.2 or above) in one of the following fields: economics, business, management, finance or another social science-related subject (containing quantitative methods at level 1 as a minimum), or a quantitatively-based subject such as science, engineering or maths.
We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.
Additional requirements for international students
- All applicants will be required to demonstrate a commitment to the subject they wish to study and should demonstrate how their chosen programme of study will benefit them in their future career.
- One academic reference.
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Pre-Masters course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
