Highlight of the Programme
The cross-border study Programme requires students to study across two Campuses: one year at the Peking University HSBC Business School - UK Campus (henceforth “UK Campus”), and another year at Peking University HSBC Business School – Shenzhen, China Campus (henceforth “the School"). The Programme provides students with an opportunity to gain more international learning experiences during their two-year full-time study at Peking University (PKU) in study of management and finance at the postgraduate level (Level 7). Students who have successfully completed the two-year study Programme will be awarded the Masters of Arts degree from Peking University.
 
Objective
The Programme aims to equip students with the necessary expertise to pursue careers in banking, investment and fund management, consulting, and public administration in finance. It will also provide the foundational and advance knowledge in financial and economic theories required by students to embark on further advanced research in academia. The Programme also prepares students for the examination towards the professional qualification of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) as the courses are recognised by the CFA for study of finance to the examination for the professional qualification. The Programme also aims to help students in building analytical abilities and the practical application of economic and financial theories in investigating issues relating to banking and financial markets. Students in this Programme will also have opportunities to gain cross-cultural experiences that will greatly enhance their international knowledge, skills, and capabilities which would enable them to pursue their career development globally.
 
Mode of Study
Time of Study
Two Years of Full Time: One year in the UK; One year in China
Maximal Period of Registration: 5 Years
 
Study Credits
Compulsory Courses:    42    
Optional Courses:          12
Total:                              54
 
Credits are transferable between the UK and China Campus
 
Learning Outcomes
• Acquire skills, theories and knowledge required in the preparation of the professional qualification examination of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
• Acquire quantitative and econometric techniques for data processing and modelling.
• Build and develop analytical abilities in applying economic and financial theories, as well as econometrics and fintech to critically analyse the phenomenon and issues presented by financial markets and businesses
• Be skilled in problem-solving and critical thinking as a result of a good understanding of financial markets and institutions
• Understand ethical theories and issues presented in the banking industry as well as in business and management
• Be able to carry out effective communication through the professional presentation of their views and by logically explaining and defending arguments related to finance studies.
• Develop a global perspective through a cross-cultural learning experience
• Understand China’s economic reforms and challenges for its further development
•  Develop time management skills through the completion of works under specific timeframes.
 
Mode of Teaching
Lectures and Seminars/workshops
Teamwork
Independent Study
 
Learning and Teaching Strategies
To achieve the learning outcomes as specified in the curriculum, students will need to actively engage in learning through attending lectures, seminars, study workshops, participating and utilising team work in group discussions and presentations, as well as in research.
 
Learning from lectures will be supported through the provision of textbooks, academic papers, handouts, and other documents recommended by course lecturers.
 
Students will also be required to pursue independent study for research projects and their dissertation.  
 
Assessments
The primary assessment includes:
· Examinations: demonstration of knowledge, understanding and ability to apply knowledge that has been taught.
· Reports and Projects: demonstration of independent research skills, evaluation skills, project management and written communication skills.
· Essays: demonstration of analytical abilities and written communication skills
· Seminar based assessment: demonstration of knowledge, analytical abilities, and verbal communication skills.
· Presentations: demonstration of knowledge, understanding and verbal communication skills
· Assessments used for evaluating the learning outcomes above will be planned by the course lecturer in the course’s syllabus.
o If assessment is a written examination, then it follow these general guidelines: a 3-hour examination for 3 credit course, a 2-hour examination for 1.5 or 2 credit course, unless otherwise specified by the course lecturer.
o The assessment shall be graded according to the Assessment Policy, Moderation Policy, and Academic Regulations of the UK Campus.
o The assessment grade will be approved by the examination board of the UK Campus for all courses undertaken at the UK Campus.
 
Courses
All courses taught or lectured at the UK Campus for credit towards the international MBA degree of PKU will be approved by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) – Shenzhen Campus.    
 
Students can take courses provided by PHBS at the Shenzhen Campus either via online lectures or via face-to-face teaching when the students go to Shenzhen, China for their 2nd year of study.
 
The syllabus of each course will be prepared by individual lecturers in line with the academic standards and required formats prescribed by Peking University (PKU), including assessment methods.
 
For a PKU credit course, each taught course will either have 24-36 of direct contact teaching hours for 3 credits, or 18 direct contact teaching hours for 1.5-2 credits.
 
Teaching can be delivered offline or online, depending on the circumstances.
 
A course will normally be taught in 8-9 consecutive weeks over a term with 4-4.5 hrs each week.
 
See List of Courses for MA in Finance that will be lectured in the UK Campus for the Cross-Border MA Study Programme.
 
See full list of courses that have been approved by PHBS for MA in Finance.
 
Criteria of admission for the Programme
(a)Satisfy the postgraduate admission criteria of Peking University
(b)IELTS 6.5 or equivalent for international students from outside China and non-English speaking countries or regions.
(c)First University degree at a grade of upper merit (2.1 from UK universities) or an overall GPA at or above 3.5 or equivalent
(d)  Satisfy Admission Interview if required
 
Dissertation
(1) Dissertation project shall normally be conducted at the School in China in the 2nd year study of the Programme, unless there is a special circumstance for students to pursue dissertation research at the UK Campus.
(2) Dissertation standard and supervision shall follow the Thesis Guidance of PKU;
(3) The supervisor shall normally be appointed by the School and a list of supervisors with their expertise will be provided by the School to students to consider their choice.
(4) The supervisor is expected to provide guidance when necessary, such as to suggest an initial reading list, and to advise on possible routes around research problems
(5) For supervision of individual projects, both student and supervisor are expected to establish a sensible working routine. The supervisor is expected to have one hour of contact time with the supervisee per week, on average, for the entire duration of the project. Email or Skype/Zoom communication may count as contact time.
(6) Dissertations will be structured as follows: title page, abstract, table of contents, main text including introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis/discussion, and concluding marks, plus the list of references and appendix if applicable.
(7) Dissertations shall be original, critical, structured, and formatted clearly in terms of its presentation and arguments
(8) Dissertations need to show clear evidence of understanding the difference between existing or previous studies on the topic and the contribution of the dissertation.   
(9) The dissertation can be written in either English or in Chinese with an abstract written in both English and Chinese.
(10) The length of the dissertation is usually around 8,000 - 12,000 words.
(11) The dissertation will normally take 5 months for research and writing.
(12) Assessment of dissertation is through a Viva Voce Examination attended by 3 independent examiners who are not engaged in supervision.   
(13) The deadline for handing in the dissertation will be set on the last week of April of the 2nd year of study, or in December if a delay in submission is permitted.
(14) The dissertation will be checked against plagiarism software (such as Turnitin) to prevent cases of plagiarism. The failing grade F will be given if instances of plagiarism is found.  
(15) The credit of dissertation is: pass or failure
(16) If the students failed the dissertation, then they will be required to resubmit their dissertation with time period specified by the School.
(17) Any complaints about supervision and appeals towards the outcome of dissertation shall follow the Student Complaints and Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures as of the UK Campus or the School.
 
Learning Support
• Student Induction week
• Student Handbook
• Course Handouts and Syllabus
• Electronic library facilities including access to journal papers and datasets
• Bloomberg data
• Textbooks for students to borrow
• Weekly Office Hours or direct email liaison with lecturers
• A computer room
• Statistical software, such as Stata, installed in computer room
• Senior Tutor advisory support
• After-class activities
• Welfare service support
• Dissertation supervisor for advice and guidance
• Staff-student liaison meeting
 
List of Courses for MA in Finance Taught in the UK Campus for cross-Border MA Study Programme

MA Finance
Financial Accounting 04712550	C
Business Mathematics 04716532	C
Academic Writing 04716760	C
Chinese 1 & 2 04719220	S
Business Chinese 04719230	C
Research Methodology 04716272	C
Business Ethics 04716272	C
Managerial Economics /Microeconomics 04716851	C
Macroeconomics 04716940	C
Applied Econometrics 04716540	C
Corporate Finance 04716580	C
International Finance 04716110	S
Investment 04716052	C
Financial Markets 04716172	C
Artificial Intelligence Analytics 1  04716980	S
Introduction to Chinese Economy 04716722	C
Fixed Income Securities 04712040	S
Financial Risk Management 04716770	S
Blockchain and Digital Currency	S
Merger and Acquisition 04716290	S
Independent Study of China 04716003	C

Note:  C – Compulsory Course;  S – Selective Courses
 
Full List of Courses Approved by PHBS for MA in Finance

Serial No.	The Title of Courses	The Type of courses*	Credit
04716272	Business Ethics & Research Methodology	R	3
04716532	Business Mathematics	R	3
04716760	Academic Writing	R	3
04716851	Microeconomics	R	3
04716940	Macroeconomics	R	3
04719220	Business Chinese I	R	3
04719230	Business Chinese II	R	3
04716003	Independent Study of China	R	3
04716722	Introduction to Chinese Economy	R	3
04716172	Financial Market	R	3
04716540	Applied Econometrics	R	3
04712550	Financial Accounting	R	3
04716580	Corporate Finance	R	3
04716052	Investment	R	3
04716992	Stochastic Finance	S	3
04716250	Assets Valuation Theory	S	3
04716382	Advanced Econometrics I	S	3
04716392	Advanced Econometrics II	S	3
04716912	Topics in Quantitative Finance	S	3
04716552	Applied Stochastic Processes	S	3
04716332	Hedge Funds	S	3
04716952	Empirical Asset Pricing	S	3
04712070	Financial Econometrics	S	3
04716252	Advanced Financial Economics	S	3
04712060	Financial Modeling	S	3
04716372	Market Microstructure	S	3
04712040	Fixed Income Securities	S	3
04716762	Corporate Governance	S	3
04712550	Financial Accounting	S	3
04716012	Entrepreneurial Finance	S	3
04716052	Investment	S	3
04716110	International Finance	S	3
04716770	Principles of Risk Management and Insurance	S	3
04706870	Public Finance	S	3
04716050	Game Theory	S	3
04716290	Mergers and Acquisitions	S	3
04716470	Advanced Macroeconomics Ⅰ	S	3
04716480	Advanced Macroeconomics Ⅱ	S	3
04716580	Corporate Finance	S	3
04716592	Economics of Public Issues	S	3
04716712	Theoretical Foundations of Corporate Finance	S	3
04716120	Money and Banking	S	3
04716822	Bayesian Statistics	S	3
04716840	Finance in Practice	S	3
04716860	Financial Modeling II	S	3
04716041	Empirical Industrial Organization	S	3
04716990	Communication for Business	S	3
04716031	Cutting-Edge Comparative Study of International Financial Service Laws	S	3
04716980	IT Economics	S	3
04716762	Corporate Governance	S	3
04716462	Alternative Investments	S	3
04712600	Managerial Accounting	S	3
04716482	Derivative Pricing	S	3
04716502	Research Topics in Corporate Finance	S	3
04716742	Social Insurance	S	3
04716022	Taxation and Business Strategy	S	3
04712090	Financial Statement Analysis	S	3
04712170	Theory and Practice of Socialism Ecnomics	S	3
04716420	Independent Study	S	3
04716001	Communication in a Global World	S	3
04716790	Applied Research Seminars	S	3
04716442	The Art of Leadership	S	0
04716062	Economics of Poverty	S	3
04716780	Economics of Transition	S	3
04716080	Institutional Economics	S	3
04719222	Spoken Chinese	S	4

Note:  R – Required Course;  S – Selective Courses
 
How to apply
1. Send your CV and official transcripts in English to int.admission@phbs.pku.edu.cn  and copy phbsuk@pku.org.uk 
2. Start online application through www.studyatpku.com  after receiving instructions from us
3. Post all your documents and application forms to our admission office in Shenzhen, China ：Admissions Office for International Students，Room 115 ，Peking University HSBC Business School University Town，Nanshan District Shenzhen China. Post code: 518055,
 
Documents that need to be included:
1. A copy of your degree certificate and transcript
2. Evidence of your English language qualifications
3. An up-to-date CV
4. Two academic references