MSc Trading and Financial Markets

Swansea Business School uwtsd.ac.uk/postgraduate

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SwanseaBusiness SchoolAt the University of Wales Trinity Saint David tradition meets new thinking to offer you a firm footing for a successful career. UWTSD, founded in 1822 as Saint David’s College, is the oldest degree-awarding institution in England and Wales, after Oxford and Cambridge, and Swansea Business School has been at the heart of Swansea for more than half a century.

Swansea Business School, in UWTSD’s Faculty of Business and Management, is committed to developing creative, skilled and employable graduates. The Faculty’s postgraduate portfolio concentrates on higher level skills developed as part of continuing professional development and career progression.

Providing new opportunities for our students in a fast-changing world is important. Swansea Business School is pleased to have formed a partnership with On Screen Trading Connections (OSTC) that will offer graduates the opportunity to integrate academic study with intensive, industry-specific training. The new programme has been developed to meet the demands of the financial trading sector and can lead to a Master’s degree in Trading and Financial Markets.

Studying this new MSc Trading and Financial Markets programme will give you access to the largest trading floor in the UK, outside of London, at OSTC’s centre in the University’s Technium 2. Studying at UWTSD Swansea also gives you easy access to Swansea’s vibrant city centre and the sea, so you can easily hit the beach or a coffee bar when it’s time to relax.

Regardless of your undergraduate programme, this is an excellent career opportunity for those interested in financial markets and trading.

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OSTCOSTC is a major global financial market player, with a strong team of professional Traders. We currently have 16 offices in some of the world´s key cities. Each trading room is supported with industry-leading hardware and software, providing our traders with constant connectivity to the largest global derivatives exchanges, including NYSE Euronext, LIFFE, CME, EUREX and ICE.

By investing in the training and development of our graduates as well as accessing new markets and innovating new techniques, we have developed a unique, risk averse approach to trading which provides consistent, sustainable results while making us a partner to the exchanges as one of their key liquidity providers.

Our success has changed the traditional concept of locating proprietary traders in London and Chicago. OSTC delivers a professional environment for talented traders, providing an opportunity to actively participate in global financial markets. OSTC Wales opened in 2009 and are winners of the prestigious Investors in People GOLD Award.

OSTC is not only the place to start, but also to develop your passion for trading into a successful career.

“Since our formation in 1999, we are extremely proud of the year-on-year growth we have achieved. From a single office in the UK, trading on one market, we now operate out of 16 locations in nine countries across North America, Europe and the Far East trading over 120 million lots on every major global exchange. We expect this growth to continue as we proceed with our investments into new asset classes and geographies by leveraging our existing exchange relationships and partnering with key strategic partners.”

Mark SladeCEO

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MSc Trading and Financial Markets This innovative new programme, offered in conjunction with OSTC, a leading global trading company that specialises in exchange traded products, will prepare you for a career in financial trading and is open to undergraduates of all disciplines.

September - February

Qualification: PG Cert

Delivery: Swansea Business

School

February - June

Qualification: PG Dip

Delivery: OSTC and Swansea

Business School

July - June

Qualification: MSc

Delivery: Independent research and Swansea Business School

The first phase of study is the Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), which is campus-based and will prepare you for work in trading and financial markets. It is designed to enable you to gain a thorough understanding of the sector in preparation for work experience. You will be introduced to the Financial Derivatives industry, the mechanics of the Global Financial Markets and the Psychology of Trading.

Upon successful completion of the PG Cert, you will have an opportunity, if you wish, to apply to study the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip). The PGDip primarily consists of a work placement with OSTC. Applicants will be required to undertake an interview with representatives of the University and OSTC. If successful, you will have the opportunity to undertake in-depth training on industry-specific simulators which will prepare you for work as a financial derivatives trader.

Throughout this phase you will be required to keep a learning log of your training activities reflecting on your practice at the end of the placement. You will also undertake in-house assessments, managed by OSTC and UWTSD. The PGDip phase of the programme will be delivered on-site at OSTC’s offices in the Technium 2 building in SA1. The in-house training is intensive and delivered over a two-month period, where you will be expected to attend from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma you may have the opportunity to go directly into employment as a trader with OSTC (subject to their selection procedures).

Should you choose to, you can continue on to achieve the award of MSc by completing a 60-credit dissertation. This can be completed either full-time or part-time, depending on your needs. Throughout the dissertation phase you will be supported by your dissertation tutor.

Modules

Postgraduate Certificate:

• Global Financial Markets (20 credits)• Financial Derivatives (20 credits)• Psychology of Trading (20 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma:

• Placement with OSTC using innovative market simulation/live trading software and associated assessments (60 credits)

MSc Award:

• Dissertation (60 credits).

The dissertation phase is completed in up to 12 months but can be completed sooner to meet the needs of each individual student.

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What makes a great trader?

If you have strong numerical and analytical skills, the ability to make informed decisions quickly, have a keen eye for patterns and details and are self-motivated, then you may have what it takes to succeed as a trader. Successful traders come from all walks of life, but all are disciplined, flexible and have the confidence to take managed risks.

“The best candidates are the ones with great determination and persistence. In order to succeed in trading, there’s no substitute for hard work.”

Marek Senior Operations Manager, OSTC.

What are the key responsibilities of a trader?

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a disciplined trading plan, evaluating economic and market trends using statistical tools, in-depth market analysis and risk management. These activities combine to ensure that you are able to trade financial instruments profitably, on major international exchanges.

What are the promotion opportunities?

You will start out as a Graduate Trader. You will be supported by experienced traders on the live trading floor and will have the opportunity to share ideas and put theory into practice.

Over time you will have the opportunity to expand your product portfolio. OSTC encourages diversification as this enables each trader to spread both their risk and their income streams. Guided by the management team initially, showing consistent performance will afford each trader autonomy within their product portfolio.

With hard work, consistent results and a driven and disciplined attitude you may progress to Senior Trader. This will afford you more autonomy within your role and the ability to be involved in office development from both a trading and strategic viewpoint.

I have a great new business idea, can I develop it?

The entrepreneurial culture at OSTC encourages traders and staff to develop new ideas. With a focus on growth and developing new business opportunities jointly with the company, not necessarily limited to our core business, all potential ventures are assessed and evaluated on their individual merit, providing opportunities for individuals to form a business partnership with the company.

I’ve completed the MSc Trading and Financial Markets. What next?

As a graduate of the MSc Trading and Financial Markets programme, you will have benefited from the in-house training provided by OSTC. With this knowledge you may choose to pursue a career with OSTC as a trader or move elsewhere within the industry. The knowledge and skills that you have gained will also prepare you for a range of other roles within the financial trading sector from Risk Management to Operations Manager.

“My progress over the years has been rewarded financially and has allowed me to grow thanks to the confidence and trust from my managers. I’m encouraged to be my own boss”

Gareth Senior Trader, OSTC UK

“I cannot imagine a better place to start a career as a trader, we have access to major world markets and products. Our main goal is to educate our traders for a long career in the financial markets.”

Diego Senior Operations Manager, OSTC Spain

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How to Apply Applications may be made directly to the University at any time from October in the year prior to commencement of study. Application Forms can be obtained from the Registry department (contact details below) or online at

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/postgraduate

and should be returned to:

Registry,University of Wales Trinity Saint DavidSwansea Campus,Mount Pleasant, Swansea SA1 6EDTel: 01792 481010admissions@uwtsd.ac.uk

You may apply for admission at any time before the commencement of the course, but please be aware that places are limited and early application is recommended.

Entry Requirements

We encourage applications from individuals of all disciplines who currently hold degree and/or professional qualifications. We also encourage applications from individuals with professional, leadership and managerial experience who may be admitted onto a Master’s programme at the discretion of the Programme Director.

Applicants must be over 21 years of age and possess one or more of the following:

1. A recognised Honours degree or equivalent.2. A professional qualification.3. Applicants who are over 25 years of age and do not meet the above criteria may be admitted to the course provided their professional or managerial experience is deemed to be appropriate.4. Applicants should have the right to work full time in the UK to be eligible to progress onto the Postgraduate Diploma and to work with OSTC.

English language requirements

You will need to demonstrate your competence in English if it is not your first language. Applicants must have one of the following, and documentary evidence of English Language must accompany applications:

• Confirmation that you have achieved CEFR Level B2 in an English language test. • Confirmation that you have successfully completed a course in the medium of English within two years of the start of your course at UWTSD.• Confirmation that you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree which was taught in English in a majority English speaking country (including the UK).

Fees and Finance

The latest fee information and details of financial support is available via the UWTSD website

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/postgraduate

Questions?

If you have any questions about the programme or how to apply please contact the admissions tutor Ian Jackson at

ian.jackson@uwtsd.ac.uk

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