International Finance (Online) - MSc
- Level: Postgraduate Taught
- Starting: October 2021
- Study mode: Distance Learning
- Location: Online Learning
This course aims to provide you with a comprehensive program of study of international finance, providing you with the knowledge and professional skills including digital skills to develop a career in banking or another financial institution dealing with international operations.
You will develop a broad vision and understanding of the changing role and nature of finance within the context of a global marketplace. You will become competent in dealing with international investment and financing transactions, international payments and exchange rates. In addition to traditional areas of international finance, the course will provide skills in areas including responses to international financial crises and cryptocurrencies. This course is offered for local as well as international students.
Birmingham City University is a modern practically-oriented and students-oriented university. You will be taught by highly-qualified academics with industrial and professional experience and actively involved in research.
*Trademark Disclaimer: CFA Institute does not endorse, promote or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by Birmingham City University. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
Why Choose Us?
- Our flexible online delivery means that you can study with us full-time or part-time, and at a time that suits you, from anywhere in the world. See ‘course in depth’ to find out more.
- We are one of the first universities in the West Midlands offering an online Master’s in international finance.
- We provide content relevant to the latest practice. The design of our programme reflects growing demand in new areas of international finance including cryptocurrency and their usage in international payments, Fintech and crowdfunding.
- Teaching staff have practical experience in international finance and are actively involved in research in these areas.
- You will gain a thorough understanding of international finance and investment practices, equipping you for a career as a fund manager, financial analyst, investment banker or financial manager in a bank or financial company dealing with international markets. You will develop a broad vision and understanding of the changing role and nature of finance within the context of a global marketplace. You will become competent in dealing with international investment and financing transactions, international payments and exchange rates. You can also learn about Islamic finance, which is becoming an important part of the financial landscape in many countries including the UK.
- Real case studies will be used in your studies enabling you to apply the skills and knowledge you learn within the classroom to the real world, as well as aiding your employability.
- Birmingham City Business School actively collaborates with many professional bodies including ACCA, CBI, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW, meaning that our courses are as professionally relevant as possible.
Open Days
Our Open Day for this course will take place in Spring 2021. Register now and we will contact you when the booking form goes live.
Register your interest
This course is open to International students
New £11,222 postgraduate loans
You may be able to take advantage of the government’s plans to make loans of up to £11,222 available for postgraduate study.
Entry Requirements
We require one of the following:
Essential Requirements
Essential |
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An honours degree of a British University or equivalent institution (minimum 2:2) |
An equivalent graduate level qualification from an overseas university or equivalent institution (minimum 2:2) |
A pre-masters programme approved by Birmingham City University |
A pre-masters programme with a minimum of 55% average |
*Other qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.
Additional information for EU/International students
Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page |
International Students
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
- UK students
- International students
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 Year
- £8,800 per year
- Distance Learning
- 2 Years
- £4,400 per year
Award: MSc
Starting: Oct 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Distance Learning
- 1 Year
- £8,800 per year
- Distance Learning
- 2 Years
- £4,400 per year
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Personal statement
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Your passion and motivations
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Why this course?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
What makes you a good postgraduate candidate?
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Relevant academic or work experience
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Additional costs
While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Find additional costs for your course
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £1,222 for some courses and options?
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following required/core modules (totalling 160 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
Delivery
This course is delivered fully online, enabling you to study at a time that suits you. Each 20-credit module is studied over ten weeks. You don’t have to attend any face-to-face sessions, and delivery of course materials is done through our e-learning platform, Moodle.
You can choose to study with us full-time over one year or part-time over two years. As a guide, you should be allowing around 16 hours a week for part-time study, on average, as a combination of directed study (engaging with the online materials) and personal study.
Please see our Online Learning FAQs for more information on what to expect when studying with us.
Assessment
You will be assessed throughout your course, with assignments set at the end of each module. Assessment will be primarily by coursework, e.g. essays, research papers, reports, presentations, reflective journals, portfolios or posters. However, some modules may also have online exams.
OpportUNIty

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.

BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Our MSc International Finance course is delivered through the Moodle online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.
Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. You also have access to all the facilities at our City Centre Campus.

Dr Anton Miglo
Senior Lecturer in Finance
Dr Anton Miglo is a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the Business School of Birmingham City University. He completed his PhD in 2005 researching financing strategies, capital structure theory and management. Prior to working in academia, Dr. Miglo worked at several European banks reaching the position of Head of the Department of Securities.