MSc

International Financial Management

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Enthusiastic lecturers and a supportive learning environment in small classes make International Financial Management at Winchester a stimulating and enjoyable experience. The course is designed to launch your career in the sector, and for those with existing professional experience and qualifications it provides opportunities to enhance and update your knowledge and skills. 

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Course overview

Enthusiastic lecturers and a supportive learning environment in small classes make International Financial Management at Winchester a stimulating and enjoyable experience. The course is designed to launch your career in the sector and is suitable for students with a wide range of undergraduate degrees, including Accounting & Finance, Business Management, Economics, Marketing and PPE. If you have existing professional experience and qualifications, it provides opportunities to enhance and update your knowledge and skills. 

Core modules include International Financial Management, Global Investments and Portfolio Management, Principles of Accounting, and Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance, with additional options such as Financial Technology (FINTEC), Data Analytics and Modelling, Business Consulting, Leadership in Organizations, Strategic Management, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, and Marketing Communications. A Research Methods in Business module prepares students for the Dissertation or a Consultancy Project. For professionally qualified accountants a fast-track route is available.

Throughout the course, you discuss both case studies and your own business experiences, learning from your peers and evaluating ideas about best practice and new financial management techniques. Investment simulations using an interactive platform and real-world case studies provide a balance of theoretical understanding and practical experience which are immediately applicable to your own work. You will also engage with responsible financial management strategies based on the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

What you need to know

Course start date

September

Location

On campus, Winchester

Course length

  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time

Apply

Apply online

Typical offer

A first or second-class honours degree

Fees

From £9,550 pa

Course features

  • Gain skills and insights in aspects of international financial management including corporate finance, FINTEC and global investments and portfolio management
  • Integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills
  • Fast-track route available for professionally qualified accountants

Course details

Suitable for applicants from:

UK, EU, World

Learning and teaching

Start date: September

All modules develop an independent learning culture and provide a challenging learning experience for students. They are characterised by innovative, student-centred teaching and learning which develops students' intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis and critical evaluation. The programme is delivered in a small class size setting allowing students to capitalise on their current and/or prior experience on an individual basis. The integration of theory and practice is important and this is achieved through an innovative blend of simulations and case studies.

Location

Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.

Assessment

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

Feedback

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Further information 

For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Policies and Regulations

Modules

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

Modules

International Financial Management 20 Credits

This module aims to explore the fundamental principles and practices of international financial management. Students will comprehend the international financial environment and exchange rates, including the financing of international trade and investment. The module will guide students through a process of applying the various techniques and approaches to solving practical problems in the context of financial management. In this module, students will be exposed to the real financial data, and this allows the financial theories to be seen in a “real world” context.

Principles of Accounting 20 Credits

Students will gain an understanding of how accounting information is used in financial management. In general, there are different accounting frameworks (US GAAP, IFRS), which are leveraged towards informing current and potential investors about the financial health and well-being of companies. Despite the growing transparency and synchronisation of the accounting principles around the world, there is still a limited amount of information available to external stakeholders of a company. It is therefore vital for the user to extract as much information as possible from a set of financial statements. Students on this module will learn the techniques used in financial statement analysis and will apply those techniques to evaluate real-world company performance and to assess their value. The limitations of the techniques will also be identified.

Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance 20 Credits

This module aims to provide students with a critical perspective and appreciation of contemporary theories and developments in accounting thought and practice. It seeks to highlight the substantive issues currently being addressed by accounting academics, thus enabling students to evaluate critically a variety of contributions to the development of the discipline. In addition to exploring theories and practice, the module seeks to assess the diversity of methodologies used by contemporary researchers working at the boundaries of the subject.

Global Investments and Portfolio Management 20 Credits

This module introduces the fundamental concepts and key principles of investments. Students will develop a critical awareness of the traditional theories and models that inform and guide investors in their decision-making. This module also allows students to learn the techniques and perspectives of global investments. The main emphasis is on the application of knowledge and skills within different investment and stock trading environments. The integration between theory and practice will be enhanced by the use of innovative simulation technology within the cutting-edge facility of the in house stock trading room.

Dissertation* 40 Credits

*Students will have a choice between the Dissertation module OR the Consultancy Project module.

The dissertation enables students to specialise in an area of interest by conducting an independent, in-depth research project, guided by research-active tutors. Students will evaluate and synthesise research philosophies, develop research strategies, conduct research using secondary and/or primary sources and analyse their findings in relation to existing business theories.

The dissertation is of interest to potential future employers, demonstrating critical abilities, research expertise and business knowledge. It can also prompt student interest in conducting further research, whether in a consultancy role or in continued academic research at PhD level.

Consultancy Project* 40 Credits

*Students will have a choice between the Consultancy Project module OR the Dissertation module.

In this module students undertake a consultancy project, relevant to their specific Master’s programme, for a client organisation. Students are expected to undertake research into an issue relevant to the programme’s learning outcomes and to the business case, and to develop conclusions and recommendations that are intended to benefit the client. The project focuses on the rapid collection and assimilation of data as to gain a detailed understanding of the client’s needs and their issues. This is essential in any work-based assignment regardless of the nature of the work or the functional area of expertise being applied. Students will be expected to interact with the organisation as if it were a real commercial relationship which will include recording activities and reporting to the client. By the end of the project, students should have developed a set of skills that they can apply in a consistent, professional and confident manner. 

Optional modules Credits
  • Financial Technology (FINTEC) – 20 Credits
  • Data Analytics and Modelling - 20 Credits
  • Business Consulting - 20 Credits
  • Strategic Management - 20 Credits
  • Marketing Communications - 20 Credits
  • Strategy & Entrepreneurship - 20 Credits
  • Sustainable Innovation and Change - 20 Credits
  • Leadership in Organizations - 20 Credits
Research Methods in Business 20 Credits

This module is designed to provide students with the knowledge and tools required to develop and undertake research in any area of business. Students will evaluate and synthesise research philosophies, develop research strategies, and select research methods using secondary and/or primary sources appropriate to particular research questions, relating these to existing business theories.

The module provides the foundation for further development of research skills through a dissertation by independent study.

Optional

International Financial Management 20 Credits

This module aims to explore the fundamental principles and practices of international financial management. Students will comprehend the international financial environment and exchange rates, including the financing of international trade and investment. The module will guide students through a process of applying the various techniques and approaches to solving practical problems in the context of financial management. In this module, students will be exposed to the real financial data, and this allows the financial theories to be seen in a “real world” context.

Principles of Accounting 20 Credits

Students will gain an understanding of how accounting information is used in financial management. In general, there are different accounting frameworks (US GAAP, IFRS), which are leveraged towards informing current and potential investors about the financial health and well-being of companies. Despite the growing transparency and synchronisation of the accounting principles around the world, there is still a limited amount of information available to external stakeholders of a company. It is therefore vital for the user to extract as much information as possible from a set of financial statements. Students on this module will learn the techniques used in financial statement analysis and will apply those techniques to evaluate real-world company performance and to assess their value. The limitations of the techniques will also be identified.

Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Finance 20 Credits

This module aims to provide students with a critical perspective and appreciation of contemporary theories and developments in accounting thought and practice. It seeks to highlight the substantive issues currently being addressed by accounting academics, thus enabling students to evaluate critically a variety of contributions to the development of the discipline. In addition to exploring theories and practice, the module seeks to assess the diversity of methodologies used by contemporary researchers working at the boundaries of the subject.

Global Investments and Portfolio Management 20 Credits

This module introduces the fundamental concepts and key principles of investments. Students will develop a critical awareness of the traditional theories and models that inform and guide investors in their decision-making. This module also allows students to learn the techniques and perspectives of global investments. The main emphasis is on the application of knowledge and skills within different investment and stock trading environments. The integration between theory and practice will be enhanced by the use of innovative simulation technology within the cutting-edge facility of the in house stock trading room.

Dissertation* 40 Credits

*Students will have a choice between the Dissertation module OR the Consultancy Project module.

The dissertation enables students to specialise in an area of interest by conducting an independent, in-depth research project, guided by research-active tutors. Students will evaluate and synthesise research philosophies, develop research strategies, conduct research using secondary and/or primary sources and analyse their findings in relation to existing business theories.

The dissertation is of interest to potential future employers, demonstrating critical abilities, research expertise and business knowledge. It can also prompt student interest in conducting further research, whether in a consultancy role or in continued academic research at PhD level.

Consultancy Project* 40 Credits

*Students will have a choice between the Consultancy Project module OR the Dissertation module.

In this module students undertake a consultancy project, relevant to their specific Master’s programme, for a client organisation. Students are expected to undertake research into an issue relevant to the programme’s learning outcomes and to the business case, and to develop conclusions and recommendations that are intended to benefit the client. The project focuses on the rapid collection and assimilation of data as to gain a detailed understanding of the client’s needs and their issues. This is essential in any work-based assignment regardless of the nature of the work or the functional area of expertise being applied. Students will be expected to interact with the organisation as if it were a real commercial relationship which will include recording activities and reporting to the client. By the end of the project, students should have developed a set of skills that they can apply in a consistent, professional and confident manner. 

Optional modules Credits
  • Financial Technology (FINTEC) – 20 Credits
  • Data Analytics and Modelling - 20 Credits
  • Business Consulting - 20 Credits
  • Strategic Management - 20 Credits
  • Marketing Communications - 20 Credits
  • Strategy & Entrepreneurship - 20 Credits
  • Sustainable Innovation and Change - 20 Credits
  • Leadership in Organizations - 20 Credits
Research Methods in Business 20 Credits

This module is designed to provide students with the knowledge and tools required to develop and undertake research in any area of business. Students will evaluate and synthesise research philosophies, develop research strategies, and select research methods using secondary and/or primary sources appropriate to particular research questions, relating these to existing business theories.

The module provides the foundation for further development of research skills through a dissertation by independent study.

Entry requirements

A first or second-class honours degree

This course is open to people interested in pursuing a career in finance and accounting. Normally a first or second-class Honours degree is required(or international equivalent)

Course enquiries and applications

 

International points required

If English is not your first language: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in writing or equivalent. 

Applications need to be submitted before the published deadline on our website. Late applications can be accepted throughout the remainder of the application year, for more information see our How to Apply section.

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk.

2025/2026 Course Tuition Fees 

  UK / Channel Islands /
Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland

International

Full-time £9,550 £17,450
Part-time £4,775 £8,725
Total £9,550 £17,450

Additional tuition fee information

If you are a UK student starting your degree in January / September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,550**.

If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.

**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:

Optional

Core texts

It is recommended that students purchase the latest editions of all of the core textbooks. Many of these texts relate to extensive online material for which you require an access code supplied with the textbook. Cost approximately £350.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.  

CAREER PROSPECTS

The programme prepares students for a wide range of careers in accountancy and finance within the private and public sectors. Job opportunities include accounting and finance executives, financial advisers and planners, fund managers, investment analysts and stock brokers.

OUR CAREERS SERVICE
Student with careers staff member
"The most important thing was the kindness of the lecturers. As an international student, when you are away from your family, you need this friendly environment. The other thing was the help from lecturers during the course in using various software packages and supporting me with writing my dissertation in my third language." - Hosna, MSc International Financial Management student

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18 January 2025