The world of business is getting smaller. With advances in technology making international transactions a lot easier, more and more companies are looking for people with knowledge of the global financial market. In this article, we'll explore further why now is a great time to consider studying international finance.
See the world
Studying international finance is an excellent opportunity to launch your international career. It will give you global skills, allowing you to move across the world and be employable in hundreds of major economic centres. You will develop a broad vision and understanding of the changing role and nature of finance within the context of a global marketplace. You will also become competent in dealing with international investment and financing transactions, international payments and exchange rates.
Help at home
Likewise, you don't have to go far to put your international finance degree to use - the area is important for UK businesses when dealing with overseas companies and international markets (exchange rates, foreign economies, foreign capital markets, foreign loans, etc.). Studying international finance will provide you with the knowledge and professional skills to develop a career in banking, financial institutions or any other business dealing with international operations, and may include such positions as international credit and loan officer, financial advisor, global risk manager, treasury specialist, underwriter, international payment consultant, and many more.
New developments
Studying international finance is a good opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the finance industry as a whole, because many of them impact directly on international transactions and markets. This includes such areas as international payments, digital banking, cryptocurrencies, and so on.
For example, the UN suggests that the area of international payments has become critical for many businesses, but the average cost (about 7% per transaction) and slow average processing time are holding back global economic growth. The aim is to make the average cost closer to 3% in the near future.
Senior Lecturer in Finance and Course Leader for the MSc International Finance Dr. Anton Miglo said:
Universal skills
Through studying international finance, you will also learn a wide variety of advanced financial techniques that are applicable in a range of jobs and companies, both international and domestic.
You will learn how to raise funds for your company using international markets, including international IPOs, Eurobonds, syndicating loans, currency SWAPs and Islamic bonds. You will learn how to deal with international venture capital and private equity firms, as well as with international crowdfunding platforms to help small and innovative firms raise funds for their businesses. You will also learn how to make international investment decisions, including M&A and divestitures, and how to measure and manage a company's exposure to exchange rate and international interest rate risks.
While these skills will be taught with an international perspective, the skills you learn can just as easily be applied to domestic finance roles as well, meaning you will graduate with a knowledge base that can get you jobs in a huge range of industries.
