Economics and Finance Stream

Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 3
Innovation Management & Design	International Study Trip	Dissertation
Business Simulation 1	Business Simulation 2	or
Contemporary Issues in Business	Applied Consultancy	Applied Business Project
Research Methods	Financial Risk and Compliance Management	or
Trading the Financial Markets	Corporate Financial Analysis	Research Paper Series 1: Applied Research Methods Paper
Statistics for Data Analytics	Monetary Economics	Research Paper Series 2: International Business and Politics Paper
		Research Paper Series 3: Governance and Ethics Paper

Please note: In semester 3 students will complete a dissertation or applied business project or the 3 research papers.

Year 1

Module Name	Semester

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 2

Module Name	Semester

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 3

Module Name	Semester

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 4

Module Name	Semester

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

A H1 or 2.1 overall award in a strong specialist business/economics and finance undergraduate degree or a general business undergraduate degree with an economics and/or finance major/specialism.

Students from a non-business degree (example – BA or a BSc) but with relevant economics/finance related modules may also be eligible. 

Graduates who have achieved a 2nd class honours grade 2 in the degrees listed above and who can demonstrate a high level of performance in the economics/finance related subjects may be considered.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English.

If you wish to pursue this programme in a part time capacity please contact the programme director Dr. Cormac O'Keeffe [email protected] who will discuss this in more detail with you.

Fees

Programme fee details are available on the Postgraduate Fee Schedule.

How to Apply

Applications for this programme are made online by going to PAC website.

Career Opportunities

The course addresses a clear need for graduates skilled in the application of specialist financial techniques including econometrics and data analysis techniques. The programme provides graduates with practical and quantitative skills in financial analysis, corporate financial interpretation, financial derivatives and risk management. The learning and assessment approach is heavily informed by industry with participation from leading financial service companies in the delivery of the programme. The MBS (Economics and Finance Stream) is closely aligned with the AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research. The Centre provides updates to students on current ideas, thinking and employment opportunities in the financial services industry. SETU Waterford also has a well established Careers Centre and website providing support and advice to students.

Graduates are now in employment in positions such as investment banking, corporate banking, trading/dealing, portfolio management, asset pricing, treasury, capital markets (equity, money, bond, FX and derivatives markets), risk management and financial analysis. There is a growing demand from a cluster of financial service companies in the south east for finance and economics graduates and the relevance and transferability of the skills developed on the programme ensures that graduates are in demand from  companies outside of Ireland such as Barclays Capital (London), Accenture (London), UBS (London). 

A graduate may also apply for further postgraduate Level 10 studies, such as a PhD by Research in SETU Waterford or to other third level institutions, either nationally or internationally. 

Student Testimonials

“The Masters in Business (Economics and Finance Stream) is a programme that is well received by finance and banking companies in Ireland and overseas. The content is relevant and the applied learning allows graduates to easily transition into the industry.”

-Denise Molloy, Investment Banker, Barclays Capital.

“This is a flexible and very relevant programme that meets the needs of the banking industry. The content and the delivery approach is very suited to current requirements within the financial services industry.”

-Colin Brett, Senior Manager, Allied Irish Banking.

“The Masters programme provides an invaluable experience to participants in preparing them for working life. It broadens your understanding of your own specialist area and gives you an insight into the different elements/departments which are at the core of every organisation.  I think that employers are now looking for individuals who have gone that extra step and are continuing in education to develop their knowledge base and improve their job prospects.”

-Marion Hickey, Allied Irish Banking

"The MBS program at SETU Waterford can be summed up in one word, intense. It was only after graduating that I had the opportunity to consider the sheer scale of what I had achieved by doing this course. One of the most attractive elements for me was the variety of delivery and the practicality of the modules. Employers know that with an MBS from SETU Waterford that you’re not only superbly educated, but that you’re practically orientated, hardworking and possess a gritty determination that means you will succeed in any environment. As a graduate, you know that you can walk into any interview, for any job with the utmost confidence that the experience has given you the tools stand out from the competition."

-Sam Deegan (Graduated in 2015) and is currently working  as a Junior Economist with the Irish Economic and Evaluation Service in Dublin.

The Master of Business degree was the best thing I have done for my career thus far. Having done an undergrad and not feeling quite ready to start my career I applied for the Economics and Finance stream. I found that the course has prepared me for a career in finance through the specialized modules and mirroring real life situations. I found that the modules were thought engaging and very applicable to real life, not only that but I found that the back-and-forth discussions with lecturers was particularly engaging.

The seminar series I found especially interesting. Getting to engage and communicate with successful businesspeople from Ireland and former students was an eye-opening experience and one that was interesting. Of course, the study trip to Belgium was a great week, it was such a lovely place to go and the trip itself was very educational and super fun. I learned lots about the EU and I have been really interested in politics ever since Throughout my time in this course, I learned the importance of building relationships, how to network and work as part of a team. I never realized how important these aspects were until I got my first job after college and I really felt that I was prepared and comfortable in these situations once I was in an actual workplace.

Doing my thesis was probably the most rewarding aspect of the year. It provided me with the opportunity to develop research, organizational and time management skills that a thesis requires which is much more in depth than a standard assignment. There are many great aspects of doing this course and if you have just graduated and you're unsure of what you would like to do or even if you are just considering going back to college, I couldn’t recommend doing the Master of Business in SETU Waterford enough.

-Callum McElligott, Compliance Administrator, Haywood Securities, Vancouver

 

Unique Programme Features:

As part of the programme, students will:

Engage in a business simulation management exercise where they have the opportunity to work in teams and make strategic decisions about their business.

Participate in a Dragons Den event and compete with your colleagues to attract funding for your new business idea.

Travel on an International study tour programme to Brussels where you will have the opportunity to take lectures at the Irish Institute in Leuven and participate in a case exercise with other postgraduate students.

Analyse a real-life company as part of your Entrepreneurship and innovation ‘live’ company case study exercise. Every year, students engage in a case exercise involving real-life companies which are drawn from the ArcLabs Innovation Centre as well as other start-up companies from across the south east of Ireland.

Career Opportunities

The course addresses a clear need for graduates skilled in the application of specialist financial techniques including econometrics and data analysis techniques. The programme provides graduates with practical and quantitative skills in financial analysis, corporate financial interpretation, financial derivatives and risk management. The learning and assessment approach is heavily informed by industry with participation from leading financial service companies in the delivery of the programme. The MBS (Economics and Finance Stream) is closely aligned with the AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research. The Centre provides updates to students on current ideas, thinking and employment opportunities in the financial services industry. SETU Waterford also has a well established Careers Centre and website providing support and advice to students.

Graduates are now in employment in positions such as investment banking, corporate banking, trading/dealing, portfolio management, asset pricing, treasury, capital markets (equity, money, bond, FX and derivatives markets), risk management and financial analysis. There is a growing demand from a cluster of financial service companies in the south east for finance and economics graduates and the relevance and transferability of the skills developed on the programme ensures that graduates are in demand from  companies outside of Ireland such as Barclays Capital (London), Accenture (London), UBS (London). 

A graduate may also apply for further postgraduate Level 10 studies, such as a PhD by Research in SETU Waterford or to other third level institutions, either nationally or internationally. 

Student Testimonials

“The Masters in Business (Economics and Finance Stream) is a programme that is well received by finance and banking companies in Ireland and overseas. The content is relevant and the applied learning allows graduates to easily transition into the industry.”

-Denise Molloy, Investment Banker, Barclays Capital.

“This is a flexible and very relevant programme that meets the needs of the banking industry. The content and the delivery approach is very suited to current requirements within the financial services industry.”

-Colin Brett, Senior Manager, Allied Irish Banking.

“The Masters programme provides an invaluable experience to participants in preparing them for working life. It broadens your understanding of your own specialist area and gives you an insight into the different elements/departments which are at the core of every organisation.  I think that employers are now looking for individuals who have gone that extra step and are continuing in education to develop their knowledge base and improve their job prospects.”

-Marion Hickey, Allied Irish Banking

"The MBS program at SETU Waterford can be summed up in one word, intense. It was only after graduating that I had the opportunity to consider the sheer scale of what I had achieved by doing this course. One of the most attractive elements for me was the variety of delivery and the practicality of the modules. Employers know that with an MBS from SETU Waterford that you’re not only superbly educated, but that you’re practically orientated, hardworking and possess a gritty determination that means you will succeed in any environment. As a graduate, you know that you can walk into any interview, for any job with the utmost confidence that the experience has given you the tools stand out from the competition."

-Sam Deegan (Graduated in 2015) and is currently working  as a Junior Economist with the Irish Economic and Evaluation Service in Dublin.

The Master of Business degree was the best thing I have done for my career thus far. Having done an undergrad and not feeling quite ready to start my career I applied for the Economics and Finance stream. I found that the course has prepared me for a career in finance through the specialized modules and mirroring real life situations. I found that the modules were thought engaging and very applicable to real life, not only that but I found that the back-and-forth discussions with lecturers was particularly engaging.

The seminar series I found especially interesting. Getting to engage and communicate with successful businesspeople from Ireland and former students was an eye-opening experience and one that was interesting. Of course, the study trip to Belgium was a great week, it was such a lovely place to go and the trip itself was very educational and super fun. I learned lots about the EU and I have been really interested in politics ever since Throughout my time in this course, I learned the importance of building relationships, how to network and work as part of a team. I never realized how important these aspects were until I got my first job after college and I really felt that I was prepared and comfortable in these situations once I was in an actual workplace.

Doing my thesis was probably the most rewarding aspect of the year. It provided me with the opportunity to develop research, organizational and time management skills that a thesis requires which is much more in depth than a standard assignment. There are many great aspects of doing this course and if you have just graduated and you're unsure of what you would like to do or even if you are just considering going back to college, I couldn’t recommend doing the Master of Business in SETU Waterford enough.

-Callum McElligott, Compliance Administrator, Haywood Securities, Vancouver

 

Unique Programme Features:

As part of the programme, students will:

Engage in a business simulation management exercise where they have the opportunity to work in teams and make strategic decisions about their business.

Participate in a Dragons Den event and compete with your colleagues to attract funding for your new business idea.

Travel on an International study tour programme to Brussels where you will have the opportunity to take lectures at the Irish Institute in Leuven and participate in a case exercise with other postgraduate students.

Analyse a real-life company as part of your Entrepreneurship and innovation ‘live’ company case study exercise. Every year, students engage in a case exercise involving real-life companies which are drawn from the ArcLabs Innovation Centre as well as other start-up companies from across the south east of Ireland.