New Fintech Master's to prepare students for sector's challenges
See all news![Close up of Bloomberg screen.](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/fintech-masters-760x300.jpg?la=en&h=300&w=760&mw=847&hash=F48BB4E07AC7AFDB8810846440D9C3A4)
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is to launch a Fintech Master's degree in September. The course is set to prepare students for the regulatory and ethical challenges likely to arise around new disruptive technologies, and will give them the chance to gain in-depth knowledge on subjects including cryptocurrencies, Blockchain technology, and financial crime.
Financial Technologies (Fintech) is a term describing new technologies that look to improve and automate financial services. The MSc will combine expertise from the University's Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, as well as the Department of Computer Science and Creative Technologies.
"By bringing the two sets of expertise together, the course will provide a very powerful combination that will lead to students understanding both data science and the world of finance - a rare blend of skills for graduates," said Debbie Sturge, who is Departmental Academic Director for Accounting, Economics and Finance.
Although the titles of the modules are yet to be finalised, the programme will include programming and data science skills, applied finance and exploration of the Fintech environment, with a focus on project based learning supported by industry partners.
A range of specialist options might include Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies, Big Data, Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics, Financial Engineering, Information Risk Management and Financial Crime.
Students will benefit from a range of additional resources at the University such as the Bloomberg Trading Room, and have opportunities to engage with the Big Data Lab and Future Space enterprise incubator.
Dr Jin Sa, who is Departmental Academic Director in the Department of Computer Science and Creative Technologies, said: "Overall, this programme will play an important part in ensuring that employers and individuals in the finance sector have ready access to the knowledge and skills they need to compete successfully in the global digital economy."
Bristol is a burgeoning Fintech hub with increasing numbers of new employers and entrepreneurs choosing to set up their operations in the city, building on the skilled talent pool and favourable business environment offered.
The programme has been developed with the collaboration of major employers and drivers of Bristol's Fintech development. It will provide students with well-developed business networks and integration of expert contribution from employers and entrepreneurs into course delivery.
Fintech West, an umbrella organisation that brings together Fintech businesses in the Bristol region, is to work with the University through the new MSc.
Its Director Stuart Harrison said: "I'm delighted that UWE Bristol is launching the MSc and working closely with local industry to do so. Across the technology and commercial curriculum, UWE Bristol has recognised the opportunity and threat that new technology such as robots and AI brings by preparing future entrepreneurs, technologists and captains of industry with the necessary skills to harness these new developments for good and the whole of society."
Related news
![A sign with branding of the Future Space lab at UWE's Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/future-space-expansion-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=EA4ACD0587C4C09E99C8DB97E1D4F4F4)
21 May 2024
Growth for tech innovation in Bristol as Future Space expands
UWE Bristol’s award-winning innovation centre, Future Space, has opened its doors to 10,000 square feet of brand-new office and laboratory facilities.
![The River Severn wends its way through open countryside Adobe Stock image under licence](/-/media/uwe/images/news/river-severn-adobe-stock-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=C0F216FCB39E902E7A60126D3A0D45AF)
13 March 2024
Funding awarded to UWE Bristol to monitor the health of UK rivers
UWE Bristol is to receive a share of an initial £7 million investment to improve capability for monitoring the natural environment.
![Shaila Afroj UWE Senior Research Fellow](/-/media/uwe/images/news/shaila-afroj-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=A0CF47D10F8EAA2FC54D8DD7E7845F03)
13 February 2024
Funding secured to develop sustainable health-monitoring e-textiles
A UWE Bristol academic has been given a New Investigator Award to further develop wearable sustainable e-textiles to monitor heart patients.
![Members of the judging panel for the UWE Bristol Entrepreneurial Futures Awards (from left to right, seated around a small table): Dr Paul Bennett, Peter Fane and Mark Mason.](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/peter-fane-entrepreneurs-donation-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=6C003659161233FA9BCF69C01D0D6E8B)
14 December 2023
'Wearable bodyguard' among ten new businesses by young entrepreneurs to receive funding boost
A business developing a ‘wearable bodyguard’ for safer solo journeys is among 10 growing businesses that have received a vital boost, thanks to funding donated by UWE Bristol alum Peter Fane.
![Professor Tom Mitchell](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/tom-mitchell-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=2CAF15A0FCE461801695DCECB402BC16)
04 December 2023
Prestigious fellowship awarded to UWE Bristol academic to fund development of music technology
A UWE Bristol professor has been awarded a fellowship which will fund the development of a radically new approach to digital musical instrument design.
![UWE Bristol becomes an Adobe Creative Campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/adobe-creative-campus-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=402B4C617D3176AF7ADB843F4732D890)
03 October 2023
UWE Bristol becomes an Adobe Creative Campus
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Adobe, becoming an Adobe Creative Campus.
![computer-generated image of cars on a motorway. each car is surrounded by a radius, meant to indicate sensors](/-/media/uwe/images/safer-auto-vehicles-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=1AB6F0E9E06C91DEDF2176611EB80A73)
01 October 2023
UWE Bristol wins funding to develop safer autonomous vehicles
UWE Bristol has secured government funding for research into autonomous vehicles.
![School of Engineering building at Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/tef-results-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=0D500090FD93374139975E182E0863E1)
28 September 2023
Teaching Excellence Framework: UWE Bristol provides an outstanding student experience
The student experience UWE Bristol provides has been judged to be outstanding in a new sector-wide assessment of teaching quality.
![UWE Bristol is partnering with Tendertec to encourage sustainable physical activity for under-represented groups currently not engaging with the digital fitness market.](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/fitbees-social-app-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=37ECDC6FA12E8AE068044DBFCFDFDC67)
15 August 2023
Innovative new social app to be created under £1.8m project to increase exercise among under-represented groups
A project to encourage people in under-represented groups to increase exercise will see the development of a new social app.
![Diabetes ROMI research](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/diabetes-romi-research-vs2-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=FADFB8E895CD1F0773268F423C74921F)
04 July 2023
AI to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their health
A Bristol-based team is developing a ground-breaking AI system to support people with type 2 diabetes in taking control of their health.
![Incubation space at UWE Bristol](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/incubator-enterprise-zone-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=CB83D5178CD72763DADFD106AA087600)
16 May 2023
UWE Bristol expands support for start-ups with new incubation facilities
UWE Bristol has transformed its incubation space on campus, bringing together two technology incubators into one area.
![Glow in the dark gemstone](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/glow-in-the-dark-gemstone-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=A202AD90B366F584556F5FA888698565)
15 May 2023
Glow in the dark gemstones show the jewellery industry that laboratory-grown crystals can shine bright
A UWE Bristol researcher hopes to revolutionise the jewellery industry and its supply chains with the creation of unique gemstone and jewellery designs with ground-breaking properties - including the world’s first single stone glow-in-the-dark manmade crystal.