Study banking abroad

Banking is a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy. Factors like globalization, deregulation and advances in technology have revolutionized the banking and financial sectors around the world.

A degree in banking gives you the chance to study the theory and practice of financial services and financial markets. You’ll get to analyze the role of the financial sector in national and international economies, and develop an understanding of today's global economic system.

By studying banking abroad, you’ll be able to see financial issues from an international perspective. Banking is a truly global subject, and degrees are available at a range of universities and business schools all over the world.

You can study banking at a range of degree levels including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. At undergraduate level, banking is primarily offered as a BSc and can take three or four years to complete, depending on where you study. In the US you can study banking as your major concentration, or as a minor subject.

It is quite common to study banking alongside another related subject like accounting, finance, or international business. Some universities do offer single-honors banking undergraduate programs, but these are quite rare.

Master’s degrees are also available, and will usually last between one and two years. Some universities offer banking as an MSc, or you can study for an MBA. PhD programs in banking are quite rare, and they’re usually in a specialized area of finance.

The content, curriculum and structure of each banking program will differ depending on the university you’re attending. Most courses are made up of core modules you must study, and a range of electives you can choose to tailor your programs. Some core topics and modules you can expect to study include:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Principles and practices of banking
• Banking governance and ethics
• Banking systems
• Commercial banking
• International banking and finance
• Financial mathematics

Gaining a banking degree from a university abroad will put you in a great position to pursue a number of careers in financial services. Some of the most popular roles for banking graduates to go into include:

• Securities analyst
• Financial analyst
• Financial manager
• Investment manager
• Investment banker
• Auditor
• Broker
• Loan officer

There are a huge number of other roles you could be ideal for, so don’t limit yourself to this list. There are other careers like accountancy or law you could also pursue, but these would require further postgraduate studies.