Financial Technology (FinTech) MSc/PGDip/PGCert/

Postgraduate

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Study an innovative and interdisciplinary course that aims to offer the most in-demand skills relevant in the Financial Technology (Fin Tech) industry to enable graduates to deliver meaningful social and economic impact.

Year of entry

2024-25

Location

Coventry University London (City of London)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time
18 months Extended Professional Practice

Course code

LONT069
LONT070 (with Professional Practice)

Start date

September 2024
January 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

FinTech is at the heart of the new digital ecosystem emerging across financial services. With the development of fast-growing financial technologies and the fact that businesses are becoming more consumer-oriented, there is a pressing need for experts who possess a wide range of FinTech skills.

Obtain the skills required in the intersection of financial services and technology in an ever-changing technology-driven and technology-enabled financial ecosystem.
Develop technical computing/software engineering skills by building end-to-end projects, alongside elements of entrepreneurship, innovation, regulation, critical thinking and decision making.
Study the 18-month Extended Professional Practice route, to gain more practical insights and in-depth experience. See the module section for more details.

Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities

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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field

Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

Industry-standard technology

Technical competence is an intrinsic requirement of a career in FinTech, which is why we've embedded technological elements into every module. You'll receive exposure to widely used financial analysis software⁴, including Bloomberg Terminals, S&P Capital IQ, STATA and Python, and will have access to economic and financial database services like Kaggle, Quantopian and Yahoo Finance.

London location

Study in the Square Mile, the heart of London’s financial district where you’ll be in close proximity to the Silicon Roundabout and some of the biggest FinTech companies in the UK. You’ll study on the doorstep of the industry, with potential opportunities for placements/employment², and the chance to continue your development with FinTech employers.

Industry insight

This is a professionally focused course which has been devised to provide a hands-on approach where students have the opportunity to develop end-to-end industry-like projects. You’ll be taught by experienced academics with sound FinTech knowledge, who are qualified academically and professionally (please note staff may be subject to change).

Real world experience

For more in-depth experience, you can also choose to study this course over 18 months which includes a period of Extended Professional Practice. You will explore what you’ve learnt in more detail through professional experiences with a host organisation or in a campus-based professional experience².

Prepare for your future

Potential opportunity for talks by experts which in the past have been from academia, the FinTech sector and the real world of entrepreneurship².

Immerse yourself in Coventry University London's global community and emerge as a talented, career-ready graduate with an international outlook.

Most of the financial courses teach you the same things over and over, whereas FinTech is different from other financial courses. My expectations were to grab the basics of technology and to know more about the sector as it successfully challenged the institutions which have been here for more than 100 years.
Chanda Zahid, January 2021 cohort MSc Financial Technology, quoted in September 2021

Building industry experience

Meney studied on our MSc Financial Technology with Extended Professional Practice, meaning that she had the opportunity to undertake an internship as part of her studies.

Read Meney’s story

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What you'll study

Your main study themes are:

Research inspired teaching

Opportunities to become involved in research (for example, a group projects linked to a current research question; research-led seminars; applied case studies). Research skills and understanding is a developmental activity that will both support you throughout the course and transform your approach to problem-solving. You are encouraged to access current research and move towards greater independent learning.

Embedded employability

You will extend your knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes through professional practice. The course is designed to improve your individual, collaborative, and professional skills and attributes. You will seek to improve your flexibility and expertise to succeed across a range of employment futures. You will aim to enhance your employability skills by applying conceptual knowledge to real organisations and contemporary issues, carrying out independent study and synthesising conceptual understanding within a range of complex situations. You will look to develop a sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex and unpredictable professional environments, and engage in networking and collaborating with industry and commercial sectors².

Creativity and enterprise

Creative learning activities will foster your creativity, critical enquiry, reflective practice and understanding of the tools to independently manage your own continuous learning. You will be expected to demonstrate originality and self-direction in your application of relevant knowledge to new and complex situations.

Intercultural and international engagement

You will find an emphasis on intercultural engagement and group working that will foster intercultural competency, strong sense of local, national and global community, and awareness and respect of intercultural values, languages and belief systems.

Community contribution and responsibility

You will exhibit an awareness of sustainability and well-being issues, and the need to adopt responsible and ethical practices.

Innovation and digital fluency

You will engage with new technologies, teaching aids and software innovations, increasing your innovative practices and exposure to the latest learning technologies available. You will rely on technologies to support innovation in learning, and to critically evaluate sources of information and apply these in complex and unpredictable situations. You will look to attain a significant level of digital fluency that you can apply in your professional practice.

Originality, independent learning and critical thinking

You will be expected to show originality in the application of knowledge. Critical thinking is a meta-skill – that is, a skill that subsumes and enhances many other skills that competent professionals possess. You will seek to develop positive and critical attitudes towards leadership, recognising when to challenge the status quo, developing a new form of ‘learning how to learn’, enabling you to take greater control of your own learning. You will be at the centre of your own learning and you should become confident in sourcing and filtering information, prioritising activities and demonstrating creative problem solving skills.

The course follows a sequential learning progression while providing a hands-on approach where you will have the opportunity to develop end-to-end industry-like projects. The first semester mandatory modules provide you with a systematic understanding of financial, technological, analytical and regulatory concepts. This is designed to give you an in-depth knowledge of financial services and problem-solving analytical methods used in the industry within the broader context of data science application in FinTech.

The second semester extends these core skills: you will continue progressing through “learning by doing” in a number of practice-enhanced modules that focus on FinTech strategy and entrepreneurship, current AI technologies and data science, and research.

Final semester project modules provide scope for a deeper level of knowledge and application of FinTech principles through the Dissertation, Internship² or FinTech Simulation Project modules.

Courses

Financial Technology MSc (LONT069)

Compulsory

Financial Technology PGDip (LONT069)

Compulsory

Financial Technology PGCert (LONT069)

Choose four of the modules below:

FinTech Landscape and Transformations in Financial Services - 15 credits
This module will expose you to this fast-growing intersection between technology and finance which is disrupting and evolving the functioning of financial services and financial intermediation.
Entrepreneurial Finance - 15 credits
You will display mastery level knowledge in areas of financial accounting, and corporate finance, gain the commercial skills required to monitor and evaluate company performance, and the negotiation skills required for successful external fundraising.
Business Analytics and Python Programming - 15 credits
In this module, you will aim to learn hands-on with today's most compelling, leading-edge computing technologies applied to data science and business analytic platforms. You will have the opportunity to learn programming skills using Python.
Risk and RegTech - 15 credits
This module provides an extensive and critical understanding of current issues and concerns regarding regulation and ethics in the financial services industry.
Artificial Intelligence in Finance - 15 credits
This module introduces you to Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Machine Learning (ML) technology, blockchain and big data, and its potential applications in banking and finance with the use of Python.
FinTech Innovation Strategy and Entrepreneurship - 15 credits
An action-based learning module that offers insights into how business strategy intersects with innovation in finance.
Machine Learning and Fintech Applications - 15 credits
The objective of this module is to prepare you to the transformations that Machine Learning is introducing in the financial industry. With a practical and hands-on approach you will learn how to build machine learning algorithms crucial to the FinTech industry.

Compulsory

Financial Technology MSc with Extended Professional Practice (LONT070)

Modules: All mandatory modules as listed for the MSc, plus:

MSc with Extended Professional Practice

This route integrates theory and practice by engaging in a substantive professional experience or a campus-based project related to your subject². The EPP extends the full-time MSc from 12 to 18 months. You will organise your own internship.

You will work within a host organisation² in the form of an internship or in a campus-based professional experience, addressing an issue or project brief in an area relevant to the subject you have studied. You will look to build on your prior course knowledge and skills to enhance your professional experience and expertise, with the aim of improving your employability.

You will study two compulsory non-credit bearing modules:

Postgraduate Professional Practice 1 (0 credits)
Postgraduate Professional Practice 2 (0 credits)

These provide on-campus activity time to enable you to get the most out of your Extended Professional Practice.

You must also complete:

Postgraduate Professional Practice Project (60 credits )

This module applies your learning in a real business setting to enable you to reflect on and consolidate your knowledge, skills and experience into a final project report.

Discover more about our Extended Professional Practice study option

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Placement experiences

Our strong global business connections provide students with access to real-life work experience, so you can put your skills into practice and make connections in the world of work.

How you'll learn

The teaching approach on this course is shaped and driven by Coventry University London’s objective of “delivering career-ready, global enterprising graduates through a real business and professional experience that is tailored to your talents and future career ambitions”. The ability to understand the current state of the global FinTech market and apply relevant technical skills to create innovative solutions to real problems is the most desirable skill required to enter a career in the transforming and differentiating FinTech market. The ability to conduct sound research, computer literacy, capacity to use relevant software, professionalism and presentation skills are some of the attributes that our graduates will look to possess at the end of the course.

The teaching and learning approach is based on the following points:

The course curriculum and its modules have been approved as career-relevant by external subject specialists.
Learning success is enhanced by the clear communication of course and module learning outcomes that underpin all learning and assessment activity.
Academic and business technology is employed where it assists in the achievement of the learning outcomes.
All modules feature problem-based learning where students develop their skills in collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing resources as well as in critical and creative thinking as they first define and then propose a solution to complex problems.
To ensure students gain the most from contact hours, active and flipped learning is utilised so that students have sufficient time to engage with the subject knowledge according to their own personal needs, and to prepare for seminars and team work.
The course and its modules are internationally orientated to develop participants’ intercultural fluency as a reflection of the growing importance of international business.
Assessment is also career-relevant in its style and format.

Assessment

Assessment methods may include:

Phase tests
Group work
Presentations
Reports
Projects
Coursework
Exams

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Teaching contact hours

You will typically receive around 12 hours of contact teaching per week. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and tutorials. In addition, you will be expected to undertake 62 hours of self guided activities per module.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

International experience opportunities

This course takes a globalised approach to the curriculum, placing your learning in the context of international challenges, opportunities and regulatory frameworks. It aims to prepare you for working globally, whether overseas, or for a multinational, or for a firm which trades internationally.

You may get the opportunity to work with international students, learning from the perspectives they bring while developing your own ability to work cross-culturally. You could also arrange to do either a consultancy project² or an internship² (as part of your final major project) overseas.

Coventry University Group aims to give you the global opportunities needed to become a truly global graduate, enhancing your employability on a global scale. Choose from language classes, studying or working abroad, international field trips, summer schools, leadership development or work experience.

Innovation has always been important in the financial sector but to be able to respond to the current pace and impact of change in FinTech, our students will obtain the skills required in the intersection of financial services and technology in a technology-driven and technology-enabled financial ecosystem. These are the skills most in-demand in the FinTech industry, and the course will be of interest to students looking for a Master’s level FinTech course that is structured around this broad market and highly in-demand skill-set.
Luis Goncalves de Faria, MSc Financial Technology Course Director, quoted in 2021

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Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

An honours undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) in Finance, Economics, Computer Science or any other area with a strong quantitative background or equivalent is required.

Other applications, where the entry requirements have not been met but professional qualifications (equivalent to level 6) can be evidenced, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Finance related work experience in private, public or third sectors (a minimum of two years would be desirable) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with the International Pathways Programme . Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Applications from candidates with relevant experience or professional qualifications are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Careful monitoring of applications to ensure that applicants are suited to the course takes place. Where necessary, applicants are interviewed, especially those that do not appear to meet standard admissions criteria. Where deemed appropriate, a written exercise may be administered to establish suitability.

English language requirements

IELTS: This course requires IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. Pre-sessional English is available if required.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£15,400 \| £21,250 (extended prof. practice)	Not available
EU	£15,400 \| £21,250 (extended prof. practice) per year with EU Support Bursary £20,050 \| £21,250 (extended prof. practice) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£20,050 \| £21,250 (extended prof. practice)	Not available

If you choose to do a work placement², you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee³ of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Fees and Finance page.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Additional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our students have access to a wide range of facilities⁴ to help you become proficient with some of the leading technology in the FinTech industry, and prepare for the world of work.

Take a virtual tour of our campus to explore all of the facilities available to you.

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Standard & Poor Market Intelligence Suite (S&P)

The S&P Suite contains some of the same software used by Wall Street. Its databases and tools can help you track performance, identify investment ideas, and keep up with industry news and insights.

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The Talent Team

Our dedicated Talent Team are on hand to help. They can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate level jobs and offer skills development workshops². They also organise networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

Compare the main pillars of FinTech relating to the structure, transformation, disruption, risk and regulations.
Evaluate current technological problems, developments and/or new insights within the financial industry.
Argue about the economic, political, regulatory and social environments in which FinTech operates and the ethical considerations embedded in these global and societal operations.
Evaluate various finance theories and techniques and practical skills of interpreting models to apply them to different asset classes in the context of FinTech.
Select sources and content of financial data and evidence and independently use appropriate programming, statistical and econometrics skills for sound decision-making.
Evaluate financial innovative ideas by blending the business knowledge and technical skills required in a range of areas in FinTech.
Select effective, rigorous and reflective skills of self-management and independence in terms of planning, behaviour, motivation, individual initiative and enterprise.
Evaluate a range of complex and pervasive issues with the use of quantitative and qualitative research and techniques in a systematic, creative and innovative manner.
Graduates will emerge with a set of highly employable behaviours, attitudes and competencies which are in high demand among employers and are indispensable qualities within the FinTech industry.

Typical career routes for graduates from this course will include:

Banking and regulatory bodies professionals
Innovation experts
Entrepreneurs
Consultants for challenger banks
Financial analysts
Data scientists
Corporate analysts
Working for international financial and government institutions
Academia, including further PhD study

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates of our MSc Financial Technology course have gone on to work at Barclays, Ribbon and CFTE to name a few.

Further study

As part of the journey of professional and role development, students are encouraged to continue on their academic journey through access to a range of higher degrees, including PhD and other taught doctorates.

The course has really been insightful, I remember going "oh wow I did not know that" on so many occasions during my studies. The basic idea I had about what FinTech is was replaced by an extensive overview in the first term and then an even more focused perspective into the technological aspects in the second. I have been able to think and be analytical in ways my technical colleagues are not able to and vice versa, and it has been a refreshing experience learning from these different viewpoints and working together to improve ourselves.
Sydney Budu-Manuel, January 2021 cohort MSc Financial Technology, quoted in September 2021

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Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University London, you can apply online.

How to apply

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 024 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form.

International students

Students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an postgraduate degree view our International hub.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

(+44) 024 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team.

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2023/2024 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2024/25 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.