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Banking Innovation and Risk Analytics MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme description

The aim of the MSc in Banking Innovation and Risk Analytics is to give students the knowledge, understanding and key skills that will enable them to be effective managers in financial institutions, especially banks, in any country in the world.

Recent events demonstrate that the successful management of banks is of crucial importance to western economies. Banking is an industry rather than an academic discipline, and the study of the management of banks is multidisciplinary.

The approach of this programme is to consider the structural, financial and risk and asset management functions of banks.

Why Edinburgh

While there are many masters degrees involving banking offered in the UK, the vast majority provide descriptive material about what banks actually do.

The Edinburgh MSc differs from the majority in that it has a major emphasis on what decisions managers in banks should make and how to make them.

The course has been designed by asking the question ‘what skills do managers in risk functions need to have to be technically excellent at their job’. This unique approach has shaped the content of modules and the structure of the programme.

The MSc in Banking Innovation and Risk Analytics utilises knowledge and skills gained through the research carried out by members of the Credit Research Centre (CRC) in the Business School. This is a leading international research centre that specialises in research into credit risk modelling.

A strong academic base, passionate faculty and welcoming city will ensure a rewarding student experience in our city-centre campus. The school has widespread industry links and students will have exposure to a range of guest speakers.

Programme structure

Learning will primarily be through:

  • lectures
  • set reading
  • class discussions
  • exercises
  • group-work assignments
  • problem-solving in tutorials
  • case studies

Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.

Learning outcomes

You will gain knowledge and/or understanding of:

  • the economic roles and structure of banks in different economies
  • the different types of risks that banks face and how to measure them
  • company financial statements
  • statistical and econometric concepts
  • risk models
  • the economic and financial environments in which banks operate
  • credit scoring

Masters in Banking Innovation and Risk Analytics - prepare for your future career

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 13 July 2023.

Entrance to our MSc programmes is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.

Academic requirements

You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in one of the subjects below, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

  • An undergraduate degree in a quantitative subject, finance, economics, business or management is normally required. Acceptable quantitative subjects include mathematics, statistics, operational research, informatics, computer science, physics, and engineering.

  • Candidates with a very good Honours degree in other areas of study or relevant business experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Supporting your application

  • Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.

  • Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.

Students from China

This degree is Band A.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

  • £60

Deposit

You will need to pay this deposit within 28 days of receiving your offer of admission (either unconditional or conditional).

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Additional programme costs

See the programme website for more information on additional costs, as well as application fees and deposit payment.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScBanking Innovation and Risk Analytics1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status.

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

Further information

  • University of Edinburgh Business School
  • 29 Buccleuch Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JS

Application deadlines

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through the competitive process described on the School website.

Full details on the admissions process and the selection deadlines are available on the Business School website:

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2023/24:

Round Application deadline Decisions by
1 12 October 2022 1 December 2022
2 7 December 2022 23 February 2023
3 8 February 2023 20 April 2023
4 26 April 2023 1 June 2023
5 7 June 2023 20 July 2023

How to apply

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • University of Edinburgh Business School
  • 29 Buccleuch Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JS
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