Master of Science in International Finance and Banking

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

Environmental change affects everyone on the planet and sustainably managing a changing natural environment is one of the 21st century’s most pressing challenges. This course develops your theoretical knowledge and practical skills, enabling you to begin to meet these challenges in your chosen career.

Through study of environmental sustainability and management, as well as global environmental change, you develop a comprehensive understanding of what is happening in the environment at a range of scales. You then go on to examine how the integration of environmental science, biotechnology and management methods can help environmental, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The course has a focus on how biotechnology can provide practical solutions to environmental problems, and your studies support you to develop valuable practical skills in identifying and evaluating useful technologies.

Why choose this course?

• Access the latest scientific thinking and teaching from a leading, research-active academic team with expertise in ecology, biotechnology, management and environmental microbiology
• Gain the knowledge and skills to move into a career in the environmental sector or – if you are a more experienced professional - develop your range of competencies and widen your opportunities in the field
• Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the biological, ecological and socio-economic drivers of global environmental change
• Be able to evaluate methods of managing environmental change at local and global levels, including legislative, voluntary and economic management
• Hone your practical skills in our modern, well-equipped laboratories
• There is the option of a part-time pathway to better fit study around your work and family commitments
• Choose from a wide range of career paths including environmental consultancies; biotechnological research organisations; national and international government agencies and non-governmental bodies; and related business and industry. You also have the option of further study leading to PhD

In today’s visual world, it’s not just actors who perform on screen. Many other professionals are called on to present themselves in front of a camera. This course will build your screen performance skills to make sure you stand out from the competition.

Through a mixture of work-based learning and theory, this postgraduate course develops your communication, presentation and acting skills so you can perform confidently and to a professional standard before the camera.

It is intended for people who may need to perform or present in sectors such as performance, journalism, politics or business, and who might have some previous experience in acting, presenting and public speaking.

Why choose this course?

• Develop your individual performance skills based on up-to-date practices and techniques of working before the camera.
• Gain the confidence to communicate your ideas with clarity and promote your screen performance skills within the media industry enabling you to stand out from the competition
• Build professional contacts from participating in a range of different masterclasses run by experts working within the media industry making you well-placed to take up work placements or employment within established casting/production companies, or to audition for screen-based productions.
• Learn how to operate recording and editing facilities to support the final presentation of your showreel
• Benefit from a course where you graduate with a showreel of a professional standard which showcases your skills and personal approach to screen performance and is tailored to cover a gap in the screen-based media market.

If you’re interested in a career in forensic science, we have a crime scene for you! A unique mix of biosciences and criminal psychology, our degree course offers you the opportunity for practical forensic processing in our crime scene facility.

Technological advances have made the role of the forensic scientist – the expert who collects, preserves and analyses evidence - increasingly important in crime investigation, and also in other fields such as archaeology.

The course starts with an introduction to psychology and the sciences relevant to forensics, followed by more detailed applied forensics including the preparation of evidence for court, pathology, medical physiology and haematology. You’ll also study the most recent advances in DNA analysis, toxicology, criminal psychology, and fire and explosive analysis.

Why choose this course?

• The Forensic Science team includes international experts in the psychology of criminal behaviour and forensics experts from a variety of operational backgrounds
• Our teaching is rated as ‘Excellent’ by the QAA and the team is part of a highly experienced department that has run biological science courses for over 30 years
• You’ll study in a specialist forensic laboratory, with key laboratory skills incorporated into most of the taught units, especially your final-year research project
• You’ll learn the skills and techniques needed to evaluate a real-life crime scene in our scene-of-crime lab, designed to resemble an 'normal' flat
• There’s the option to take the course over four years and include a year’s work placement (see below) to gain experience and industry contacts
• If you’d like to step-up into higher education, you can take an introductory Foundation Year (see below), which guarantees entry to the Undergraduate course

    "Studying forensic science with Bedfordshire has been an awesome, inspiring experience, with lecturers who are specialists with industry experience in the areas they teach. I highly recommend anyone wishing to study this subject with Beds to 'Go 4 it'."

This innovative course gives you hands-on experience across a wide range of journalistic and creative fields. You learn from an inspirational academic team of professional writers, using the latest technology to produce your work.

This degree leaves nothing to chance, covering reporting, news and features, fiction, creative non-fiction and new-media writing. You study cross-industry writing, editorial and production skills, with options in radio journalism, innovative writing and specialist fiction. You work with the latest technology in our TV and radio studios, fully equipped edit suites and Press Association news feeds.

Tutors are all professional creative writers with publishing and broadcast expertise who support you as you develop your own unique voice and channel it through your writing. They can also give you practical guidance when it comes to getting recognised and published.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the essential tools you need for writing across genres and media from experienced writers, journalists, academics, research students and alumni
• Develop practical skills in production for television, print and online journalism
• Gain links with the publishing industry and other writing-related industries through the professional practice element of the course (see below)
• Explore outlets for your own work including the Creative Writing Guild which runs workshops and open mic nights as well as publishing anthologies of student work
• If you need a step-up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees entry to the degree course

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

If you have a passion for photography, this course gives you the knowledge, skills and techniques you need for a successful career in the field, whether your dream lies in fashion, advertising, animation, scientific and medical, or local studio photography.

Gain the practical skills and theoretical knowledge of both traditional and digital photographic formats on a course that includes darkroom techniques; medium- and large-format photography; studio photography; stop-motion techniques; and event and location photography.

See your images come to life collaborating on projects with students from other degrees such as fashion, animation, art and graphic design. Every day is different, whether working on location or in our airy, open-plan studios at Alexon House, formerly home to a leading UK fashion house.

Why choose this course?

• Explore the ways a professional photographer works alongside other professions in the creative industries such as fashion designers, art directors, graphic designers and animators
• Learn from leading professionals in photography and design who exhibit internationally and work with clients including The Sunday Times, Mack Books and international design magazines such as Eye Magazine
• Amass a professional-standard body of work and a network of contacts through events, exhibitions and industry-based opportunities
• Learn how to use social media and other digital platforms to promote your work
• Develop your personal communication and entrepreneurial skills so you enter the world of work with confidence
• Take the course over four years and include a year’s placement in industry, building your experience and creating contacts for the future
• If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees entry to the undergraduate course

This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course is your first exciting step towards becoming a counselling psychologist, helping people deal with issues like bereavement, domestic violence, sexual abuse, traumas and relationship difficulties.

Psychology, Counselling & Therapies offers a unique approach, blending knowledge and practice from counselling and coaching psychology. You study classic and contemporary theories of counselling and psychotherapy - including psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches - to gain a thorough understanding of the core areas. Alongside this, you learn how to apply your knowledge to everyday, real-life situations, taking different perspectives on psychological issues and problems.

The course gives you the skills you need to move on to professional postgraduate training in a wide range of inspiring and rewarding careers across the different fields of counselling and psychology.

Why choose this course?

• Benefit from a BPS-accredited degree taught by registered clinical psychologists, practitioners and researchers
• Learn from an academic team who are members of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology
• Develop the skills needed to be an effective counsellor or therapist, from role play and peer coaching practice up to pre-practitioner level
• Explore issues, research methods and ethical considerations in counselling and coaching psychology as well as general psychology
• Gain insight into psychological practice in the NHS as well as awareness of the career paths the NHS offers
• Opt to take the course over four years and include a year’s placement in professional practice (see below), gaining experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need a step-up into higher education, you can take the degree with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees you entry to the Undergraduate course

From global extravaganzas like the Olympics to regional music and food festivals, the events-related industry is growing at an incredible rate so needs specialist managers who can apply their skills to this field.

On this course you will study the project management and strategy needed for successful events and tourism management while examining the cultural impact of tourism and strategies to ensure the long-term success of an events and tourism commercial enterprise.

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

Why choose this course?

• Learn a range of management practices that are integral to the management of events whilst at the same time recognising the importance of the inter-relationships of a range of business functions and the impact they have on the management approach to ensure commercial success in the longer term
• Gain the knowledge and expertise required by event management companies, special production organisers, festival managers and corporate leisure services and exhibition venues
• Study industry-related scenarios and realistic simulations to understand the practice of managing events, and develop the problem-solving and decision-making skills you will need to succeed in your career.
• Explore academic theory relating to tourism, leisure and events, with a particular focus on problem-solving and decision-making which will enable you to sharpen your critical thinking and creativity in analysis, synthesis and appraisal.
• Develop and apply the skills of critical evaluation as you become a self-directed, independent, reflexive learner
• Benefit from studying with a Business School that has partners across the world enabling you to examine the cross culture perspectives essential to organisations in the global markets

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.

This course is for you if you have a committed interest in studying finance as a major part of your degree experience and see yourself developing a finance-oriented career.

It has the potential to equip you for a career in finance management where financial knowledge combined with general business and soft skills in management are seen as a great advantage, and where your capability will see you comfortable in operating in many different task environments

Why choose this course?
The course offers you the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of finance within the business environment. Combining this with an understanding of the key dimensions of management and leadership will enable you as a manager to be able to interpret data and financial information in a range of business contexts and projects.

In order to remain competitive businesses are looking for graduates who are able to work in a flexible, collaborative way in order to help provide innovative financial solutions to often complex and open-ended problems.

This course is specifically designed to enable you to develop these skills through an exciting programme that links academic theory and real world business projects in realistic business and marketing settings.

Studying this course will help you to gain an insight into the reality of finance and business operations that goes beyond what is discussed in the text books and will help you to engage with potential employers in a much more meaningful way.