The University of Ulster has teamed up with the UK’s Securities & Investment Institute (SII)  to enhance its offering in the field of financial services education.

Ruth Martin, Managing Director of the SII visited the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus this week to announce that Ulster’s innovative PgD/MSc in Financial Services had received accreditation from the SII, the pre-eminent professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK.

Ulster is the only university in Ireland to hold this accreditation, and one of only four in the UK, joining Edinburgh, Reading and Exeter.

Professor Philip Hamill of the Ulster Business School, University of Ulster, said “The course started this academic year in full-time mode at the University’s Coleraine campus and attracted a cohort of sixteen graduate students.

"We are looking forward to offering the programme at the Belfast campus next academic year on a part-time basis. Both students and employers can immediately see the tangible benefits of the work placement element of this postgraduate degree in conjunction with professional recognition.

"We are delighted to have struck this deal with the SII, the industry’s leading professional body, and look forward to working with them in this area. This partnership makes the PgD/MSc Financial Services a professional qualification for professional life.”

Ruth Martin, Managing Director of SII said, “We are very pleased to work with the University of Ulster on this important project. Students undertaking the postgraduate degree can be assured that the structure of the course is sensibly directed towards the large and important part of the financial services industry that deals with operations and related non sales roles, which to date we believe has been underrepresented in the provision of high level academic courses and awards. We are delighted that leading firms are supporting the programme in such a practical way with work placement.”

The PgD/MSc in Financial Services  programme is aimed at enhancing students’ attractiveness to firms as potential employees.

To provide a practical focus, students who enrol on the University’s new PgD/MSc Financial Services will have the option of a six month work placement with a firm as an alternative to the traditional dissertation.

Attached to the placement will be a work-based project which students must successfully complete if the placement is to count towards the course, which has been enthusiastically received by leading financial services firms such as Citi.

To support this placement the University is now including material from the Securities & Investment Institute’s Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) and a number of its Diploma modules.  These have been constructed with significant industry practitioner involvement and are reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain up to date.

Successful graduation will enable students to apply for exemption from a number of SII examination units and membership of the SII.

Jared Harris, Head of Citi’s Securities and Banking Operations in Belfast said, “We have found the local universities and FE colleges to be very responsive to the needs of new inwards investors in Northern Ireland particularly in the delivery of professional courses such as the IAQ.

"The University of Ulster’s MSc/PgD in Financial Services will train high calibre graduates capable of filling middle and senior managerial roles in Northern Ireland’s growing financial services industry.”

Derek Mander, Director and Head of Finance and Operations at Bank of Ireland Securities Services said, “We supported the development of the MSc Financial Services at the University of Ulster and believe that it will be an excellent foundation for a career in financial services.”
 
ENDS
 
Further information:

David Young, University of Ulster Press Office 028 90 366178
Securities & Investment Institute contact Lora Benson, Press Officer Tel: +44 020 7645 0662/+44 07801 521034 or lora.benson@sii.org.uk

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young