Master of Science in International Finance and Banking

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

The world needs accountants and finance professionals who can make informed, strategic choices for businesses that enable them to grow and survive in a competitive market. This course provides you with the skills to make these investment decisions across a range of business environments.

This degree gives you the understanding and skills to record, classify, summarise, interpret and communicate financial information while you help a business to follow correct accounting standards and comply with the law.

Studying in a simulated business environment, you explore business practice from regulatory and risk management issues to how financial markets operate and what makes them crash. Units include corporate governance; data analysis; auditing; and taxation.

The course is accredited by the Association of International Accountants of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Association of International Accountants.

Why choose this course?

• Learn about both the power and limitations of accountancy and its financial techniques, and how these impact on areas under the wider business umbrella
• Explore contemporary issues in accounting or finance through your supervised research dissertation
• ACCA awards exemptions from its F1 to F9 papers if you successfully complete relevant course units – the maximum ACCA exemptions available at undergraduate level
• Successfully completing relevant course units also makes you eligible for exemptions from the AIA’s Foundation level and Professional level 1 papers
• Acquire transferable, professional skills in communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership
• Develop your interest in specialist areas, with the opportunity to progress to Masters’ level
• If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the degree course

This course offers you the opportunity to combine hands-on experience of  film making to a professional standard with sound theoretical underpinnings.

You will study with world-class practitioners and academic experts and your final project will challenge you to make a film, which can be a fiction, a documentary piece of work, or a hybrid – or research and produce a dissertation.

During your studies you will meet leading filmmakers, film editors and industry executives and you should acquire all the transferable skills and specialist knowledge to do well in your chosen career.

Why choose this course?

• Study with a dynamic and experienced team of acclaimed film-makers and published scholars on a course blending practice and theory
• Explore a range of areas including: cross-media approaches to story-telling, scriptwriting, production planning and development, digital film production, editing and post-production techniques, film history and theory
• Develop your industry network and future employment potential through meeting leading filmmakers, industry executives and academic experts
• Gain experience of making film to a professional standard, from scripting through to post-production and develop specialist knowledge of specific areas of the media - of particular value if you want to develop a career as an independent film maker or work in the television and film industries
• Benefit from a degree equipping you with a range of important transferable skills relevant to work in broadcasting, journalism, arts or media administration, governmental regulation of the media, research, marketing, sales and advertising or enable you to continue to MPhil and PhD research degrees.

In following this Master’s course, you develop the essential knowledge, attributes and professional skills you need to pursue or further your career in operational forensic casework.

The forensic industry is highly competitive, requiring skilled professionals across diverse fields including pathology, toxicology, drug analysis, fire-debris analysis, wildlife crime, microbial forensics, forensic genetics and document analysis. This course prepares you to meet the needs of the industry and enter a career in areas related to civil and criminal investigation as well as wider science- or research-based positions.

On the course, you develop your theoretical understanding and practical experience alongside your skills in analysing and evaluating your findings. You also learn how to communicate these findings to a variety of audiences, including other scientists, the court and the media. Units may include forensic chromatography; evaluation and presentation of evidence; forensic spectroscopy; and biological advances.

Why choose this course?

•  Learn from staff with experience in operational forensic casework. Develop your practical skills through hands-on experience in our exceptional laboratory facilities, including a Scenes of Crime Laboratory.
• Study a course informed by the latest research, ensuring you are aware of current and emerging developments in this specialist field.
• Gain a qualification, the skills and the knowledge to meet the wide-ranging needs of the forensic and other science-based industries, making you well-placed to enter a career in a number of specialised fields.
• Develop strong research skills for form the basis of those required for study at PhD level. Benefit from the University’s strong links to external stakeholders in the forensic industry and related organisations and practice sectors.
• Take up career opportunities that could include forensic consultancies; government agencies; related industries; and research and development

Increasing expectations of ‘anytime, anywhere’ access to network facilities (whether from desktop, laptop, smart phone or tablet) means a constant demand for new networking protocols and technologies to keep up with the needs of a technologically reliant society.

This course is designed to give you knowledge of both wired and wireless technology to enable you to enter a career in this fast-paced industry.

Why choose this course?

• Study with staff active in networking and security research on a course with a balance of focus on wired and wireless technologies, working with a 64-node cluster, and other state-of-the-art equipment including virtualised environments as you advance your knowledge of both theoretical and practical challenges related to grid-computing
• Explore areas including network systems, computer security, networking administration and management, wireless networking, distributed parallel architectures, advanced security countermeasures, professional project management and emerging technologies
• Develop skills related to distributed networks (such as distributed and parallel architectures), ideal if you aim to pursue a career in networking, either in management or network set-up
• Gain in-depth skills in network management and administration (allowing you to work as a Network Manager) including essential security aspects, grid-computing and fault tolerance
• Benefit from developing expertise including components of professional qualifications such as CompTIA Linux+ and EC-Council CEH - equipping you for a career as a Network Engineer/Architect, in IT Support, as a Systems Analyst or Systems/Network Designer or in further study on an MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD.

The international tourism industry continues to grow and flourish increasing the need for senior planners and managers with the skills to tackle a broad range of global management issues.

From heritage, cultural, social, environmental and political matters, to questions concerning strategic management and sustainable development, this course will provide you with a critical overview of the subject.

You will gain the knowledge and skills to understand the role of critical evaluation techniques and decision-making strategies necessary to establish yourself and thrive in a senior management role.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Why choose this course?

• Study major aspects and developments in international tourism and how these may be positively reflected in management practice
• Explore the interconnectedness of international tourism within its economic, technological, socio-cultural, psychological and political contexts, and deepen your knowledge of the effects of tourism on the environment
• Develop your knowledge of academic frameworks, theories and understandings within the policy and professional practice environment of tourist enterprises and business
• Gain access to high-quality research through our Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR) and draw on numerous practical projects and case studies from a range of national and international organisations in the commercial, public and third sectors
• Benefit from our extensive links with industry, many of which provide opportunities for internships and possible employment.
• The University of Bedfordshire is a member of The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE). ATHE is the subject association for tourism in higher education in the UK. It represents universities that are leading providers of tourism programs.

Pursue your dream of performing in TV, film, radio, on stage or online with this degree covering the creative and technical aspects of radio programme making, directing, script development, performance management, and lighting for the stage and for the camera.

On this wide-ranging course, you gain the skills to work within the professional media industries as an actor or presenter before the camera. Optional units also widen your skill base to include production/technical roles like scriptwriter, director, production manager, stage manager or radio presenter.

Graduates of this course are now working in front of the camera, presenting on CBBC, CBeebies, community channel local news, internet sports radio and news programmes. Other Media Performance graduates are working behind the camera as directors, in production roles or working within radio, at Radio 1, Radio 1 Xtra, Kiss and BBC local radio.

Why choose this course?

• Develop the necessary skills, knowledge, self-motivation and professional approach to follow a satisfying and stimulating career path
• Study a variety of approaches and techniques, with your practical work underpinned by media and cultural theory, along with the historical, cultural and social dimensions of performance
• Enjoy masterclasses and workshops from leading figures with opportunities to learn insights, make industry connections and take up placements
• Gain opportunities for work experience via the course unit in Performance Management - Work Based Learning.
• Take the course over four years and include a year’s placement in industry (see below), gaining experience and adding to your contacts
• In your third year, you are eligible to join Spotlight as a TV presenter
• As a postgraduate, you can progress to the Screen Performance and Communications Techniques MA

Following a career in the field of psychology, you can make a real difference to people’s lives. The skills and knowledge you’ll gain on this course – accredited to the British Psychological Society – will put you on the path to making that difference as a chartered psychologist.

Psychology can explain so much about our lives, from why we fall in love and need sleep to how others influence us. This course - taught by an academic team actively involved in leading-edge research - covers all the major areas of psychology, including cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology, as well as individual differences and how psychology applies to everyday life. It also offers you the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest such as counselling, criminal behaviour, mental health and occupational psychology.

Your studies also develop your own abilities and understanding as you learn to consider and evaluate different perspectives; increase your self-awareness through enquiry, analysis, evaluation and reflection; build your independence and confidence through team activities and your own final-year research project.

Why choose this course?

• It is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist
• Our academic team are members of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology, applying psychology to a range of ‘real world’ situations and problems
• You benefit from a wide variety of teaching methods including workshops, problem solving, simulations, computer-based activities and guided learning
• You take part in research studies and run your own studies as part of your learning and assessment
• The findings of your final-year research project are made available to your peers as part of the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference
• You can take the course over four years (see below) and include a fee-free year’s placement in industry where you gain practical experience, build your CV and make contacts for the future
• If you would like a step-up into higher education, you can take a Foundation Year which guarantees you entry to the Undergraduate course (see below)

Economics lies at the heart of the modern world and understanding its influence is critical to both business success and effective policy-making. This course gives you the analytical skills you need to stand out as a business economist in a demanding career field.

Our Business Economics BSc (Hons) allows you to explore the global economic system – including the factors that influence income, wealth and wellbeing - and to apply your knowledge and insight to the contemporary business world. You will engage with the theory behind key economic decisions and develop your understanding of how societies, governments, businesses, households, and individuals allocate their resources.

Your studies cover the foundations of business economics including business practice, financial markets, accounting and finance, data analytics, and applied economics before moving into specific areas such as labour economics, globalisation and econometrics.

Why choose this course?

• Apply economic theory to real-world business problems, with the analytical skills and subject knowledge to discuss your ideas and conclusions confidently
• Develop your skills and experience in critical thinking, problem solving, presentation and team-working as well as in using information technology
• Put theoretical knowledge into practice in your final-year specialist project
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), building experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up to higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate degree

The MSc Automotive Engineering for Electric Vehicles is about educating and training senior vehicle developers and offering them in-depth technical training for R&D of next generation low carbon or non-carbon vehicles.

The course focuses on new and emerging sustainable automotive technologies, such as hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art design and advanced development and simulation tools, to vehicle development, design, calibration and optimisation.

By closely collaborating with local automotive and motorsport companies, you will contribute to real world solutions to vehicle R&D.

The Automotive Engineering Lab suite includes a range of experimental facilities, such as an engine test bed with full instrumentation, two advanced automotive engine demonstrators, various test rigs for vehicle aerodynamics, materials and engineering structure, machining workshop, etc. 3D printers and a CAE lab.

These form an important part of the course, allowing the exploration of many practical aspects of automotive engineering, and to further development of hands-on skills.

Why choose this course?

• State-of-the-art equipment for electric vehicles
• Access to a wide range of engineering facilities within the University’s STEM building
• Interdisciplinary consideration of alternative energy systems

Criminal offending and the state’s response to it are constantly evolving, and this course explores the latest ideas, thinking and research into the subject. Benefiting from the practice and practical knowledge of highly experienced tutors and lecturers, you will reflect critically on the latest theories and the many explanations used to explain why crime occurs.

The department’s expertise is deep and wide ranging, and covers youth crime and justice, substance abuse, gang related crime, corporate crime and forensic mental health.

You will be taught by leading researchers from the Institute of Applied Social Research, whose studies on sexual exploitation, trafficking, and disability is internationally renowned and at the interface between research, knowledge, policy and practice.

Why choose this course?

• Study the social, political and cultural contexts that inform criminology, and develop a critical in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subject
•  Explore and research a particular topic of interest, and as you do this sharpen your independent study skills and become highly specialised in a particular area
•  Develop the ability to apply originality in the application of knowledge that addresses problems relating to criminal justice, crime and offending
•  Gain a wide range of new skills and qualities that are relevant to the workplace and will give you the opportunity to seek employment at a senior level
•  Benefit from the ability to take part in critical discussions, systematic reviews and the analysis of complex, unfamiliar or unpredictable criminological problems, and work to produce an understanding that is informed by current scholarship.

Criminology at the University of Bedfordshire is taught by subject experts who are all members of the Vauxhall Centre for the Study of Crime under the direction of Professor John Pitts - a key member of the Home Office gang strategy’s expert advisory group. This dynamic programme considers developments in the academic study and research evidence of criminology in the context of an increasingly globalised world.

You will have the opportunity to critically reflect on theory while drawing on a depth of practical knowledge, theory and professional expertise from the teaching team. In addition, the team have an interest in the personal development of Masters students through a system of seminars and personal tutorials. This allows both staff and students to get to know each other well and fosters a shared commitment to the subject.