51Âþ»­

Course modules

At 51Âþ»­, students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning, known as Block Teaching. This allows you to focus on one subject at a time instead of several at once and a better study-life balance.

Block 1: Finance and Fintech Innovations

This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the essential theories and principles of corporate finance, contextualised through real-world scenarios. You will critically analyse the transformative impact of financial technology on traditional corporate finance functions. The course also covers the evaluation of emerging fintech innovations and their implications for strategic decision-making. Furthermore, you will develop the ability to integrate fintech solutions to enhance financial performance and optimise capital allocation, equipping them with the skills needed for modern financial management.

Block 2: Risk, Ethics and RegTech

This module provides a thorough exploration of risk, ethics, and regulations in the fintech sector. Students gain a critical understanding of operational, financial, cyber, and compliance risks, learning to apply risk management frameworks effectively. They develop skills to communicate risk strategies and regulatory compliance to various stakeholders. Ethical implications of fintech, including privacy and fairness, are analysed alongside global regulatory frameworks. Real-world case studies help students formulate strategies to address regulatory challenges and design ethical fintech solutions.

Block 3: Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity

This module explores cutting-edge finance technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), offering theoretical insights and practical skills for their implementation in financial services. It also includes a comprehensive examination of cybersecurity measures essential for safeguarding financial systems against evolving threats in the digital age.

Block 4: Big Data Analytics

This module provides an in-depth exploration of big data analytics and machine learning within the context of financial technology (FinTech). It offers you the opportunity to understand the fundamental principles, tools, and techniques used in analysing large volumes of financial data to derive meaningful insights and support decision-making processes in the FinTech industry. The module covers various aspects of big data analytics and machine learning, including data collection, storage, processing, analysis, visualization, and interpretation, with a focus on their applications and implications in FinTech innovation and development.

Block 5: FinTech Research Project

The FinTech Research Project module provides you with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and analytical skills to a rigorous investigation of a real-world problem or issue within the financial technology sector. This module emphasises practical application and critical thinking, allowing you to engage deeply with current challenges and issues in fintech.

Teaching and assessment

Through a variety of student-led and real-world activities and assessments, we ensure you actively engage in shaping your own education. Our extensive learning support system is designed to assist you in advancing your academic studies, personal development, and progression towards professional-level employment or further study.

You will enjoy a series of lectures followed by seminars, PC Labs and Trading Room Labs in small groups, allowing  you to get to know and build relationships with the teaching staff and academics. In the seminars and practical lab sessions, you will learn by putting the knowledge and skills developed in the classroom into practice. This will be accomplished both individually and collaboratively through various instructor and student-led activities, debates, and discussions. You will also engage in hands-on activities and utilize modern technology with specialised software (e.g., R, python, MATLAB, Ethereum, Apache, Tableau, etc), applying your knowledge to solve problems. You will also benefit from guest lectures to broaden knowledge and to give you the experience you require about contemporary topics that are in use in industry practices.

Assessment is conducted through a combination of group work projects, case study analysis, individual examinations, report writing, practical project simulation, lab work and a final research project (with oral viva).

These tasks make up a range of assessments, with a deadline at the end of the block to allow you to receive formative feedback during subsequent meetings (e.g., seminars) towards informing your assessment as you progress through each block.