MSc Global Financial Management

University of Roehampton

This module will equip you with the knowledge and critical techniques in order to conduct research in business and management. We will address the different kinds of research, especially scholarly, academic output and applied consultancy output, whilst the module's practical emphasis is upon facilitating research methods for empirical research in the programme's capstone project.

This module provides you with a critical understanding of the sources and uses of finance for organisations operating in a domestic or international context and focuses on the management of financial and other resources to optimise organisational performance. You will explore the use of accounting, budgetary and other information systems in managerial planning, decision-making and control. You will learn to apply appropriate analytical tools and techniques, such as the balanced scorecard, key performance indicators, cost-volume-profit analysis and budget variance analysis.

This module provides you with a critical and clear understanding of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility in international business context. You will learn how to apply the essential concepts and tools of strategy that are used by managers in multinational firms and global organisations. In a global, fast pace world that is rapidly changing, systematic strategic contexts analysis, data-driven decision-making and systematic business development are crucial for companies and professionals to succeed. The module will demonstrate how sustainability practices and concepts influence international business policy, stakeholder relationships and strategy design & process. It will provide you with a number of essential frameworks all suited to guide you as a future manager when analysing the main factors relevant to the strategy-making process, and with reference to real world case studies and leading corporations' insight. You will also learn about the importance of non-market aspects in strategic management that impinge on organisational success.

This module introduces the structure and components of an organisation's financial capital. You will explore the theory and practice of corporate decisions about the levels of equity and debt (the long-term sources of finance) and the role and management of trade credit and overdraft facilities (the short-term sources of finance). You will apply appropriate tools and techniques to financial data, such as gearing and liquidity ratio analysis and interpret financial statements and stock market indices to evaluate capital structure, working capital and the cost of capital. Through the lectures, relevant reading and seminar activities you will be introduced to international financial capital in the context of macroeconomic policy, investment portfolio theory, investor behaviour and financial risk management in evaluating global financial transactions. Through the learning and assessment strategy, you will develop your understanding of the role played by international capital markets in the sourcing of finance by multinational companies.

In order to thrive in an increasing competitive and global environment an organization must pay attention to its continual effectiveness and development. An underlying feature of the successful organization is its ability to adapt to change. Change can be driven by a number of different forces, including customers, markets and technology. Yet research shows that most change initiatives fail to accomplish their intended outcomes and may even limit the potential of an organization and its people. The consequences of not managing change effectively can be devastating and long lasting, so it's important that managers ensure they have the skills, knowledge and credibility within their organization to be champions of change. Managers have a clear role and responsibility to ensure that issues like employee voice, individual and cultural differences as well as skills development are appropriately and effectively addressed as part of change management.

This module focuses on how financial and other resources are effectively allocated to business units, projects and key activities in international and domestic organisations. This covers the second of three main elements of the global financial management programme, namely the sources, uses and management of finance to optimise organisational performance. You will apply international capital investment and risk appraisal techniques to strategic options and scenarios and develop your knowledge of the theory and practice of strategic investment decision-making in a global context.

This module provides you with an in-depth, critical understanding of how international companies design and implement marketing strategies to create customer value and competitive advantage in the context of increasingly sophisticated and demanding consumers, the digital revolution and globalisation. There will be a particular focus on product innovation and services marketing. This is an enabling module that through a combination of lectures, seminar activities, group work and group discussions will encourage you to apply key marketing concepts and techniques including market orientation, segmentation, targeting and positioning and the marketing mix to real-life situations of international companies operating in the global arena and to put forward and test your own individual, innovative, strategic marketing solutions.

The Consultancy Project module gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge, analytical, and conceptual tools, as well as the personal skills gained from the taught courses to an in-depth study of a specific organizational issue or problem in the fields of global financial management, marketing management, business management, and human resource management. It consolidates the learning that has already taken place, and develops your capability to undertake and complete an individual project and address a given problem. This module may be taken with or without a business internship, so long as there is an identified business client.

The dissertation module gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge, analytical, and conceptual tools, as well as the personal skills gained from the taught courses to an in-depth study of a specific issue or problem in the fields of global financial management, marketing management, business management, and human resource management. It consolidates the learning that has already taken place and develops your capability to undertake and complete a research project. It can thus be seen as the culmination of the entire postgraduate programme.

This programme is for students who hold an Honours degree in a non- business and management discipline and wish to gain some business knowledge and skills before they join their chosen postgraduate programme. The Pre-Induction programme is not compulsory and not assessed. If you hold an offer for a place on one of the Roehampton Business Schools Postgraduate programmes but do not have a business and management background knowledge, you are strongly encouraged to follow the Pre-Induction programme.

The Professional Development Programme is an additional co-curricular non-credit bearing module. It is designed specifically to enhance your professional skills and build your confidence using advanced presentation skills, critical writing and research skills. During the course of the module, you will get the opportunity to practice your negotiation skills, enhance the credibility of your arguments and ensure academic integrity.