Programme Specification
MSc International Financial and Political Relations
Academic Year: 2014/15
This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.
This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.
This specification should be read in conjunction with:
- Reg. XXI (Postgraduate Awards) (see University Regulations)
- Module Specifications
- Summary
- Aims
- Learning outcomes
- Structure
- Progression & weighting
Programme summary
Awarding body/institution | Loughborough University |
Teaching institution (if different) | |
Owning school/department | Department of Geography - pre 2018 |
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body | |
Final award | |
Programme title | International Financial and Political Relations |
Programme code | GYPT39 |
Length of programme | 1 year full-time |
UCAS code | |
Admissions criteria | |
Date at which the programme specification was published | Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:12:33 BST |
1. Programme Aims
The programme aims to:
- develop an integrated advanced interdisciplinary knowledge of theories and issues in financial and political development, beyond bachelor degree level;
- introduce applications of theory, beyond bachelor degree level;
- give students general training that is vocationally relevant to employment in government, commerce and industry;
- equip students with appropriate tools of analysis that will allow them to undertake applied research for their employers in the areas of financial and political development.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
3.1 Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the functions and operations of institutions, financial markets and systems, with reference to central and commercial banks and other financial intermediaries, and the significance of financial institutions and markets in international financial and political development;
- the core principals of economic geography, with reference to financial globalization, the regional agglomeration of financial services and the significance of trends in globalization for international financial and political development;
- the core principals of politics and international relations, with reference to political communication, international institutions and the governance of the world economy, and the significance of trends in international relations for international financial and political development;
- independent applied research in the core disciplines of the degree, using basic research tools and quantitative methods appropriate to the conduct of independent research.
3.2 Skills and other attributes
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- analyse theoretical and practical problems in banking and the operation of financial markets, the development of financial markets in a global economy, international relations and the governance of the global economy, by using the appropriate theories and research methods;
- analyse the impact of developments in banking, financial globalization, international political relations on international financial and political development;
- synthesise important issues and themes from the professional and academic literature in the disciplines of the degree;
- use the professional and academic literature of the disciplines of the degree to formulate questions suitable for research;
- critically analyse professional and academic research papers in the disciplines of the degree.
b. Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- present word-processed written reports using structure, paragraphing and citation, appropriate to professional and academic standards in the disciplines of the degree;
- collect and analyse statistical and qualitative data, interpret such data, and carry out statistical hypothesis testing and other research analysis, appropriate to the professional and academic standards in the disciplines of the degree.
c. Key transferable skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- apply skills in analysis (including statistical analysis) and problem formulation to areas of general debate other than the disciplines of the degree;
- use skills in synthesis to formulate key issues in areas of general debate other than the disciplines of the degree.
More generally, students should have further developed skills in:
- numeracy;
- logical thinking and problem solving;
- use of information technology (retrieval of data, web-based information searching, handling of data in computer files, basic word-processing and spreadsheet methods);
- written and oral communication;
- time management and decision-making;
- independent study;
- group study.
4. Programme structure
4.1 Semester 1
(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
ECP201 |
The Financial System |
15 |
EUP600 |
International Relations Theory |
15 |
GYP005 |
Globalization: Key Debates and Issues |
30 |
4.2 Semester 2
(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
BSP497 |
Comparative Foreign Policy: Issues and Cases |
15 |
EUP606 |
International Politics: Issues and Policies |
15 |
GYP001 |
Doing Global Research |
30 |
(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES
Candidates must choose an optional modular weight of 15 from either ECP153 or ECP254.
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
ECP153 |
Regulation of International Banking |
15 |
ECP254 |
Banking & Financial Markets |
15 |
(iii) FURTHER COMPULSORY MODULE
Semester 2
for the award of MSc only (total modular weight 45)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
GYP600 |
Dissertation |
45 |
The subject of the dissertation will be come from one of the three disciplines of the degree.
5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award
In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.
Candidates are required to obtain the following in order to be eligible for the award of:
(i) PGCert – 60 credits from modules other than the dissertation.
(ii) PGDip – 105 credits from modules other than the dissertation and not less than 40% in the remaining modules.
(iii) MSc – 150 credits and not less than 40% in the remaining module(s).
With the exclusion of module GYP600 (Dissertation), provision will be made for candidates who have the right of re-assessment, and who have achieved at least 60 credits at first attempts, to undergo re-assessment in the University's Special Assessment Period (SAP).