Overview

MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs)

• 2 years part-time
• Next intake September 2012

The ifs School of Finance part-time MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs) is aimed at professionals currently in or aspiring to, senior management positions within the financial services industry.

Global events of the last few years demand that today’s banking professionals are able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the issues facing both the financial sector itself and the worldwide economy.  Banks increasingly expect their employees and, more specifically, senior managers to have the requisite skills to operate to the highest professional standards. 

The financial services arena is highly competitive and the MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs) will help you to differentiate yourself from your peers.  Enhancing employability is a key objective of the programme.  The course addresses topics of most importance in today’s changing banking environment and will support you to develop the necessary broad base of underpinning specialist knowledge in all the areas that are most critical to the successful management of a financial services organisation.

The MSc programme is split into three levels, each of which leads to the award of a recognised postgraduate qualification in its own right.  This flexible approach provides a number of “stopping-off” points on the way to achieving the full MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs).  The Postgraduate Certificate can be achieved in an 8 month study period, whilst the Postgraduate Diploma will take a further 8 months to complete.

Hear more from Neil and other current MSc students to find out why they decided to study with the ifs.

Chartered Fellowship

Direct entry to Chartered Fellowship (CFifs) is available when you successfully complete the MSc in Banking Practice and Management.  A recognised mark of senior status within the industry, the CFifs is only available to those individuals who complete a Masters qualification with the ifs and Chartered Fellows are, therefore, a select group of individuals representing the pinnacle of academic and professional achievement in the field of financial services.

In order to be awarded Chartered Fellowship (CFifs) status, it is necessary to hold a minimum of three years relevant experience, in addition to the Masters qualification.

View the new Part-time Postgraduate Programme Prospectus.

Study path

The ifs School of Finance postgraduate study path has been designed with today’s busy banking professional in mind.  Provided you meet the entry requirements , you can apply to enter at any one of the following three points:

• The PGCert in Banking Practice and Management will support you to gain an in-depth understanding of, arguably, the most critical areas in the current retail and commercial banking environment: The functions of banks, Accounting and Finance, Regulation and Risk Management. 
  
  Upon successful completion of the PGCert, you would be able to exit with this award or register for either the PGDip or the MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs).*
• The PGDip in Banking Practice and Management  will enable you to study all of the eight taught elements which comprise the ifs’ Masters programme and provide you with the opportunity to select option modules in order to specialise in topics of relevance to your own role or organisation. 
  
  Upon successful completion of the PGDip, you would be able to exit with this award or register for the MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs).*
• The MSc in Banking Practice and Management programme will help you to develop a broad and more reflective understanding of the most important issues related to the practice of banking.  The final element, the dissertation, brings together the knowledge developed throughout the course and will give you the opportunity to build on a topic of particular interest to you within the financial services sector.  Completion of the full Masters programme also provides you with direct access to the ifs School of Finance Chartered Fellowship, the pinnacle of academic and professional achievement within the industry.

*Students would be asked to rescind their original award upon completion of the higher award.

Learning and teaching

The MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs) is a two-year programme, studied on a part-time basis, starting in September.

Programme Structure

View the part-time programme schedule, which also includes details of the PGCert and PGDip.

View the programme content.

Details of Term One are available here.

Level 7 module specifictions are available here.

View the MSc in Banking Practice and Management programme specification.

Studying

The part-time MSc in Banking Practice and Management programme is, above all, designed so that you can fit your study around your work and other commitments.  As you would expect at postgraduate level, this is a challenging course and we estimate that each module will require approximately 150 hours of study over the whole programme, including time for assessment preparation and background reading.  However, as the programme is principally delivered through our bespoke course website, you can study at your own pace and where and when suits you best, with the support of the ifs programme team.

• Online Distance Learning
  
  Most of your learning will be through the course website:
  
  The week-by-week online study guides will give you through the module, giving you an overview of each topic, providing contextual background, directing you to both required and optional readings, and suggesting a number of activities to support and deepen your understanding.  A sample study guide is available here.
  
  You will have full access to the ifs online library, ifs KnowledgeBank which combines information from a wide range of news articles, academic and industry journals, reference books and websites to offer you an insight into the financial services industry.
  
  The course website will also provide you with the opportunity to experience learning technologies such as forums, blogs and wikis

Click here to view a demonstration of the course website.

• Workshops
  
  To provide you with the chance to directly engage with your fellow students and the programme team, the course is supplemented by a number of one-day face-to-face workshops held at the ifs campus in London.  The workshops, often directly linked to the assessment components, offer the opportunity to participate in group activities and extra-curricular events, as well as to gain valuable insights theough key industry lectures, debates and discussions.  Examples of guest lecturers to date have included a Senior Manager from the Sterling Markets Division, Bank of England; a Financial Times journalist; an author on Operational Risk; and the Compliance and Conduct Risk Director from one of the UK's leading banks. 
  
  There are normally four workshops per term.  The workshops should be considered as compulsory and you must be able to commit to attend upon application.  Workshop dates for the September 2012 intake are available here.  

Assessment

A range of assessment tools is used across the programme, including closed-book examinations, reports, projects, case studies, essays and research proposals.  The assessments are designed to be as authentic as possible to the kind of tasks that you may be expected to undertake in your workplace.  All 15-credit taught modules are assessed via two separate components, with the 30-credit module comprising three assessment elements.  Six of the ten taught modules (including option subjects) include an examination component.

Zarko Hasardzhiev is a current MSc in Banking Practice and Management student.  Watch this short video and hear about Zarko’s experience of the programme.

Entry criteria

The entry requirements for the PGCert, PGDip and MSc in Banking Practice and Management are as follows:

• Normally a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a banking, economics or finance-related discipline from a recognised institution. 
  
  If you hold the ifs School of Finance Associateship (or ACIB) / BSc, or a comparably challenging relevant undergraduate qualification, you are encouraged to apply even if you do not meet this criterion.
  
  We would also consider candidates with extensive relevant financial sector experience.
• If English is not your first language, you will need to satisfy one of the following requirements:
  • An IELTS score of 7.0 or above with no element below 6.5 (or equivalent), or
  • Evidence that your first degree studies (excluding science, technology, engineering or mathematics subjects) were conducted and examined in English.

In some cases, applicants may be interviewed and/or asked to submit a piece of written work, in addition to their application, in order to assess their suitability for the programme.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for entry to the programme, please contact the Admissions, Academic Management and Student Services Office on +44 (0)1227 829499 or email enquiries@ifslearning.ac.uk.

Fees

September 2012 entry fees

Part-time MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs)

All prices are in GBP.

Part-time PGCert and PGDip in Banking Practice and Management

• Progession from the PGCert to the PGDip would require completion of an additional 60 credits over 8 months at a fee of £3,900 (UK) / £4,900 (International).
• Progression from the PGDip to the MSc and CFifs would require completion of an additional 60 credits over 8 months at a fee of £3,900 (UK) / £4,900 (International).

Entry Scholarships

Three entry scholarships are available each year covering one third of the MSc in Banking Practice and Management programme fee.  One scholarship has been reserved exclusively for ifs alumni. 

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the minimum entry criteria and be able to confirm that you are solely self-funded.

Student membership

All postgraduate students automatically become student members of the ifs School of Finance.  Membership of the ifs makes you part of a global community of financial professionals and gives you access to a range of services that support both your personal and professional development.  As a student member, you are able to attend regular Professional Networking events with ifs alumni where you have the opportunity to hear from industry leaders.    

Apply

We are now accepting applications for entry in September 2012.

Before you apply

Before you apply, you should make sure that you meet the programme entry requirements. If you are unsure whether you qualify for entry and wish to discuss your qualifications or experience with us, please contact the Admissions, Academic Management and Student Services Office on +44 (0)1227 829499 or email enquiries@ifslearning.ac.uk.

The ifs has created a guide for prospective students who wish to approach their employer for organisational sponsorship. It is designed to assist you in building a successful business case to present to your employer and can be downloaded here.

How to apply

All applications must be made online via UKPASS.

You will initially be asked to register as a new user with UKPASS and will be provided with a user name and password, enabling you to track your application through its various stages.

What you need to apply

1. You will need to upload certified copies of your qualification certificates and academic transcripts as part of your application.  (Please note that you are not required to include these for any qualifications awarded by or in partnership with the ifs School of Finance.)
2. If English is not your first language, you must also include the appropriate evidence that you meet the programme entry criteria.
3. You will be asked to write a personal statement.  This is a very important part of the application and is your opportunity to tell us what you hope to gain from the programme and how you hope to contribute to the learning group.  Please ensure that you include all the information which you feel is relevant to assess your suitability for the programme.
4. You are also responsible for providing two references in support of your application.  Your referees must have knowledge of your ability to undertake the proposed course of study.  If you are currently in employment, one reference must be supplied by your employer.
5. Your application should also be accompanied by proof of identity eg a copy of your passport or photo card driving licence.
   Kindly note that we will not assess incomplete applications.

When to apply

There are a limited number of places available on this programme and, therefore, we would recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.  We aim to advise you of the outcome of your application no later than four weeks following receipt.

All applications must be received no later than Monday 30 July 2012.  We regret that we shall be unable to consider any applications received after this date.

Interview

In some cases, applicants are invited to an interview to assess their suitability for the programme.  Interviews are not usually expected to last more than 45 minutes and will either be held at our London City Campus (8th Floor, Peninsular House, 36 Monument Street, London EC3R 8LJ) or by telephone, depending on your location and availability. 

Contact us

For any students considering whether to study the MSc in Banking Practice and Management and Chartered Fellowship (CFifs), we can arrange informal one-to-one sessions (either face-to-face at our London campus or by telephone) with the Postgraduate Programme Manager. 

If you have any questions regarding the programme or for any further information, please contact the Admissions, Academic Management and Student Services Office:

Email: enquiries@ifslearning.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1227 829499