Banking & Finance

The key to this Master of Science (MSc) in Banking & Finance is to understand the many complex and challenging aspects of banking and financial markets. The programme offers a high-level learning on traditional trades and current financial instruments:

• Fixed income : a class of assets and securities that pay out a set level of cash flows to investors, typically in the form of fixed interest or dividends.
• Asset management : the pratice of increasing wealth over time by acquiring, maintaining, and trading investments that can grow in value.
• Equity research : the analysis of stock to help portfolio managers make better-informed investment decisions.
• Mergers & acquisitions : the consolidation of companies or their major assets through financial transactions between companies.
• Commodities & Energy: market equilibrium conditions, geopolitical determinants.
• Derivatives : futures and options instrument to manage financial risk exposure.

This MSc in Banking & Finance incorporates the latest developments in finance and relies on a balanced programme that includes:

• Fintech advancements such as machine learning, AI, blockchain, robo advisor, crowdfunding, etc. as well as digital finance.
• Understanding of programming languages such as Python and Visual Basic.
• Access to professional databases such as Reuters, Bloomberg and Quantalys.
• Mastery of the regulatory environment and financial risk management

This programme prepares students for both French and international professional certifications / qualifications, including:

• CFA level 1, the first level of the Chartered Financial Analyst programme.  It is an examination that covers a broad range of financial topics. It focuses on the knowledge and comprehension of investment tools and asset classes, portfolio management, financial analysis, ethical and professional standards. 
• AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) : This certification issued by the French financial regulatory authority has become a legal requirement for certain roles within the financial industry in France. It assesses the candidate's understanding of the rules, regulations and professional practices in the financial sector. Since 2011, KEDGE and DALLOZ are in a partnership giving all KEDGE french-speaking students the opportunity to prepare the “Autorité des Marchés Financiers” certification under preferential conditions and to take the test in the Bordeaux campus twice a year. More information.
• AMF "Finance Durable" is an entity within the AMF that specifically focuses on sustainable finance. It develops guidelines, regulations, and incentives to encourage financial institutions to integrate sustainability principles into their operations and investment decisions.

All students have their own personal full-time access to Reuters terminal which provides real-time market data, news, and analytics that are crucial for making informed trading decisions in various financial markets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities.

In the first semester, you will have access to a professional seminar with Reuters staff. Later on, students will receive full support to prepare for the Reuters Certification.

The CFA institute is a global association of investment professionals. Pursuing certification through the CFA Institute can lead to enhanced career prospects, global recognition, and a deeper understanding of investment principles and ethical standards in the financial industry.

For relevant modules, the intermediate grade aligns with and follows the CFA Level 1 programme, preparing students for any of the 18 study sessions. In 2024, for the MSc in Banking & Finance, KEDGE intends to pursue affiliation with the CFA Institute as part of their University Affiliation Programme

Using both Reuters real quotes and Quantalys databases, MSc students can take part in Trading challenges as well as Natixis challenges.

Using the Reuters database can provide investors with reliable, comprehensive, and timely financial data, helping them make more informed decisions and navigate the complexities of the financial markets.

Overall, using the Quantalys database offers comprehensive fund analysis, objective ratings, portfolio construction tools, market insights, and customisable features that can benefit investors in their decision-making process and portfolio management activities.

One module is dedicated to Python learning and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) whereby students will gain a solid foundation in programming concepts, understand the specific use cases for each language, and develop practical skills that are highly applicable in various industries and roles.

• Python is a high-level programming language known for its versatility and ease of use. It's widely used in various fields such as web development, data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and automation.
• VBA is a programming language that is integrated with Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word, Access, and Outlook. It allows users to automate tasks, create custom functions, and develop applications within these Office programmes.

Overall, including these topics in a finance course ensures that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the modern financial landscape, innovate within the industry, and drive future growth and development.

• Digital finance refers to the use of digital technologies to deliver financial services, conduct transactions, and manage financial processes.
• Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that enables the secure and transparent recording of transactions.
• Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that involves the development of algorithms and models that enable computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed.