Top

University College Cork

Finance - Asset Management

Do you want to prepare for a career in international financial services while completing finance professional exams?

The MSc Asset Management is designed to prepare students for careers in the international asset management and finance industry. As a participant on the course, you will focus on developing your analytical and professional skills, culminating in an applied quantitative research project. Uniquely this finance MSc programme provides the opportunity for candidates to study for the CFA® level I and/or CAIA® level I exams at the same time as the MSc Asset Management.

This finance course has been designed in conjunction with industry to ensure it meets the skills needs of employers. Upon completion of the MSc in Asset Management, you can expect to have excellent career prospects with investment management, insurance, proprietary trading, pension funds, and finance firms.

The MSc Finance (Asset Management) is a member of the CFA® Institute University Affiliated programme and is a CAIA® Association Academic Partner.

Why Choose This Course

The objective of the MSc Finance (Asset Management) is to produce graduates who can contribute immediately in the international financial services industry. There are many reasons to choose this unique course, including the following:
-It is a one-year course with small class sizes.
-You will gain excellent employment prospects on completion of the course.
-The course is developed and delivered in conjunction with industry.
-You will benefit from a deep asset management syllabus aligned with the CFA and CAIA body of knowledge.
-The first programme in the world to award academic credit for studying toward and sitting relevant career enhancing professional examinations, i.e. CFA , CAIA, QFA or equivalent.
-Scholarships available for students for CFA and CAIA examinations.
-It includes an induction week focused on providing introductory information and developing business skills.
-A Mentor week lead by senior executives from the international financial services industry will take place during the course.
-You will have the opportunity to secure a relevant industry internship to apply your knowledge.
-You will produce an applied research project.

Entry requirements

Applicants must normally have (or expect to have) a 2H1 degree (GPA 3.25 out of 4.0) in a degree (NFQ Level 8) or equivalent in:

A business related programme (e.g. Commerce, Law, Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Information Systems etc.)

A programme with a significant quantitative element (e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Science, Computing etc.)

Applicants who achieve a 2H2 degree but meet all other requirements and applicants from other degree disciplines with at least a 2H1 degree may be considered on a case by case basis.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please view the grades comparison site.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website.

Duration

1 Year - Full-Time

2 years - Part-time

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

Upon completion of the MSc Finance (Asset Management), you can expect to have excellent career prospects with fund services, investment management, insurance, proprietary trading, pension funds, and brokerage firms.

To date, the following companies have recruited students from the course:
Abbey Capital
Advantage Futures (Chicago)
Bank of Ireland Treasury
Colonial First State (Sydney)
Core Financial Partners (Los Angeles)
Davy Stockbrokers
Deutsche Bank
Emerge Capital
Fidelity Investments
HSBC (Shanghai)
JDX Consulting (London)
Mitsubishi UFG Fund Services
Northern Trust (Chicago)
PwC Wealth Management
Rubrics Asset Management
SMBC Aviation Capital
TOBAM Asset Management
Willis Towers Watson

Further enquiries

Mark Mulcahy
Tel: + 353 21 490 3212
email: mam@ucc.ie

John O'Brien
email: mam@ucc.ie
Tel: + 353 21 490 2506

Subjects taught

The programme is structured as follows:

Induction Week The course begins with an induction week [which commences 3rd September, 2018] providing you with the necessary preparation for the Core Modules in Semester 1. Here, the focus is on:
-providing an introduction to finance for students from a non-finance background
-team-building skills
-communication and presentation skills

Core Modules These modules provide you with the in-depth knowledge to analyse and apply solutions to topics such as Valuation, Project Finance and Analysis of Debt Instruments. These modules focus on:
-analysis and application
-have a quantitative element
-include regular student presentations

Specialised Modules These modules focus on areas of real relevance to your future career such as aircraft leasing, risk management and funds. The modules here:
-focus on understanding and application
-are case study and lecture driven
-employ analysis using business IT systems

Professional Development In this innovative module operating across the year, students work on developing their communication, presentation and IT skills. In addition, you will get the opportunity to interact with senior executives and industry leaders from financial services sector during Mentor Week where students work with mentors of group case studies. This module provides the perfect opportunity to hone your networking, communication and presentation skills.

Professional Examinations In this element of the programme you pursue a course of independent learning, under the supervision of an academic mentor, towards the CFA®, CAIA®, QFA or equivalent relevant professional examinations. Guidance will be provided by our CFA® and CAIA® faculty representatives on the best approach for you to select and prepare for these examinations. As a CFA® Institute University Affiliated programme and a CAIA® Association Academic Partner, faculty can offer a number of scholarships to sit these exams.

Research Project/Internship The final element in the course takes place over the summer. You will get the opportunity to work, under the supervision of an academic mentor on a relevant research project. Each student will initiate, research and write a detailed report on a topical issue in asset management issue. Alternatively, students undertake a relevant internship and complete a detailed report about an asset management issue affecting their internship role and/or their employer.

Comment

Course Practicalities
For the MSc Finance (Asset Management) degree, you will complete an induction week [which commences 3rd September, 2018], 12 modules made up of 5 core courses, 5 specialised modules, a professional examination module and a quantitative research project or internship. Typically, each module contains a minimum of 30% continuous assessment.

While on the program you will have the opportunity to complete the CFA®, CAIA®, QFA or equivalent professional exams. You can do the course full-time over 12 months, or part-time over 24 months.

Assessment method

To meet the development objectives of the programme the MSc Asset Management is assessed by a blend of formal examination and continuous assessment. Each module contains a minimum of 30% continuous assessment.

Continuous assessment is in the form of class contribution, individual assignments, group case study analysis and presentations.

It is important that you learn to communicate effectively and contribute in class so your lecturers will keep a record of who asks (and answers) questions in class, and allocate marks accordingly. You and your classmates will also be divided into different groups for each semester. This allows you an opportunity to get to know, and work with, all of your colleagues. While we understand some students may have concerns about being assessed in groups, the ability to work with, and lead others, is a skill which has been highlighted as being essential for a successful career in industry. Finally, presenting is one of most important professional skills and so we also incorporate this into the assessment.

The final element of the MSc Asset Management is a quantitative research project. This represents one eighth of the marks for the masters programme.

Application date

Closing dates

Closing Dates for Application

Applications for 2018 start dates will open on November 1st 2017.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught programmes (detailed below).

Some programmes have a specific closing date. Applicants are advised to consult with the postgraduate prospectus for programmes with a specific closing date.

The UCC rounds EU application system closing dates for Postgraduate Taught courses are detailed below. However, we would advise applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 15th 2018 Offers will be made by January 29th 2018

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2018 Offers will be made by March 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2018
Offers will be made by May 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by July 2nd 2018
Offers will be made by July 16th 2018

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.

While there is no official closing date for Research courses applicants are advised to submit their application at least two months ahead of their proposed start date. There are four official Research start dates September/October, January, April and July.

Non-EU Applicants:

Please visit the following page for further information for Non EU applicants http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/postgraduateprogrammes/tau...