Fast-moving trends in technology and banking have altered the landscape for those seeking to make an impact in the world of finance. The MSc Financial Technology provides an advanced education in the multiple converging skills and knowledge bases that are required by the organisations of the future.
Why this programme?
- Glasgow is emerging as one of the UK’s leading FinTech hubs; it is well positioned to offer a unique business network and industry connections.
- Students will benefit from a multi-disciplinary learning experience – this programme is delivered collaboratively by the internationally renowned Schools of Business, Law and Computing Science.
- The core of the programme emphasises the development of critical and systems thinking regarding the extraction of meaning from information in a business and legal setting.
- It aims to highlight recent technological developments in financial markets and identify the wide array of their new applications, e.g. big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, and robo-advising, inter alia.
- Graduates will become enlightened, enterprising and engaged with new processes around the management of risk, uncertainty and human performance in a rapidly changing global business and finance marketplace.
- The Adam Smith Business School’s mission is to sustain and foster a place of outstanding quality, research-led and professionally-focused, bringing together inspiring people for the purposes of research, learning and teaching, and engaging with corporate and policy connections, with impact locally and globally.
- Students can choose their own learning journey as they progress through the programme. The final Fintech Pathways Project provides the option to select either Research, Industry or a Start-up stream. This enables students to prepare effectively for their future fintech career.
Programme structure
Each module will use a mix of synchronous and asynchronous blended learning methods to deliver an interactive learning experience. Group work will be facilitated by Zoom and Microsoft Teams. There will be regular ‘round table’ online sessions with leading industry figures in addition to traditional lecture sessions. The teaching team will work within the evolving social distancing regulations to enable in-person learning as soon as possible.
In addition to advanced quantitative topics such as machine learning and big data, students will encounter a strong focus on soft-skill development, including management and entrepreneurship, woven throughout the various programme modules. The MSc Financial Technology’s unique combination of hard financial skills and soft interpersonal capabilities will provide graduates with a rounded skillset valued by industry.
Core courses
- A Systems Approach to Technology Management: Knowledge, Expertise and Understanding
- Business Models for Innovation in Finance
- Digital Entrepreneurship
- Foundations of Financial Technology
- Human Error and Systems Security
- Financial Technology (Fintech) Regulation
- Technology and the Management of Information
Fintech Pathways Project
You will complete a dissertation style project, choosing from an Industry, Start-up or Research Pathway.
- Fintech Pathways Project: Industry Pathway
- Fintech Pathways Project: Research Pathway
- Fintech Pathways Project: Start-up Pathway
Optional courses
- Advances in Machine Learning in Finance
- Artificial Intelligence in Finance
- Big Data Analytics
- Forensics (M)
- Financial Information Retreval
- Fintech Risk Management
- Professional Skills and Issues (H)
The MSc Financial Technology shares resources with the Glasgow MBA and students may have the opportunity to take some elective programmes from this programme.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme.
Career prospects
The MSc Financial Technology positions graduates for a variety of exciting fintech career pathways. All graduates will gain an advanced understanding of finance, regulation, innovation risk and strategy, benefitting from close interaction with global industry figures and a dynamic fintech ecosystem.
Through the capstone MSc project, graduates will tailor their learning experience to suit individual career aspirations. Options include: completing an industry placement where they will work on an applied fintech challenge; pursuing a research project that may lead to an analyst or academic career; or pursuing a start-up opportunity by developing a market-ready investment pitch through a rapid incubation process. This flexibility ensures graduates can position themselves effectively as they learn more about financial technology and the opportunities for employment with both large corporations and fast-growing scale-ups.
Fees & Funding
Tuition fees for 2023-24:
MSc
- UK - Full-time fee: £13,650
- International & EU - Full-time fee: £32,850
Entry requirements
2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent in business, management or another subject with a quantitative focus.
Only applications that meet or exceed our stated entry requirements will go forward for consideration. Any application that does not will be automatically rejected. Applicants will be made offers based on their relative performance compared to other applicants, taking into account both current GPA, or degree classification, and the relevance of an applicant’s academic background.
Please note, applications that meet our minimum entry requirements may still be rejected, based on its score in comparison to other applications received during the same round. Please review our stated entry requirements to ensure you meet or exceed them before submitting your application.