Master of Science in Financial Technology – FinTech (MSFT)

College of Business & Finance

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Ahlia University has offered its FinTech programme and has developed it to match curricula offered by leading business schools with a view to future enhance the attractiveness of its sought-after graduates for executive and leadership positions in financial technology, blockchain and cryptocurrencies technologies, big data analytics, cybersecurity & RegTech.

Programme Aims

To provide learners with competence in applying a range of values, skills, approaches techniques related to financial technology.
To equip learners with critical skills and promote the development of financial technology and risk measurement.
To equip learners with digital competence and lifelong learning skills, including research and sensitivity to ethical issues and social responsibility to transform banking and finance sector.
To equip learners with theoretical and technical knowledge in mathematical and computational finance.

Career and Employability

Potential career pathways for graduates from Postgraduate Degree in FinTech will include:

Innovation and FinTech experts
Crypto portfolio manager.
Joining a FinTech start-up or developing a new technology or idea,
Big Data analyst.
Working as a banking and regulatory bodies professional,
FinTech consultant in banks, FinTech firms, regulatory bodies, governmental entities, etc.
Financial manager.
Data scientists,
Entrepreneurs (creating own or returning to a family business), and
Academia, including further PhD study.

Programme Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding:

A1. Concepts and Theories

Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of concepts and specialist theories related to Financial Technology.

A2. Contemporary Trends, problems and Research

Demonstrate an extensive detailed knowledge and awareness of financial related issues and latest trends and research findings.

A3. Professional Responsibility

Demonstrate extensive detailed knowledge and understanding of the social responsibility to transform financial sector.

B. Subject-Specific Skills

B1. Problem Solving

Use professional and specialized range of quantitative and qualitative methods and tools to analyze and solve FinTech related issues at crisis and situations.

B2. Modeling and Design

Apply a range of standard and specialized research models and methods (e.g.sensitivity analysis, simulation) to capture real-world complexities towards FinTech

B3. Application of Methods and Tool

Use a range of specialized software to analyze quantitative problems in financial sector to probe into a FinTech problems using specialized methods/ techniques and interpret the obtained results

C. Critical-Thinking Skills

C1. Analytic skills

Critically analyze and evaluate extended knowledge and data related to real-world economy issues to inform decisions in towards FinTech.

C2. Synthetic Skills

Utilize data and information from a variety of sources (e.g. critical analysis) to conceptualize, define and formulate FinTech solutions and strategies.

C3. Creative Skills

Demonstrate creativity and originality both in the application of knowledge and in development of FinTech solutions serving real-world issues.

D. General and Transferable Skills (other skills relevant to employability and personal development)

D1. Communication Skills

Communicate effectively at professional level complex ideas and information in the functional areas of financial technology and investment to well-informed audiences and specialists using oral and written formats.

D2. Teamwork and Leadership

Demonstrate effective teamwork and leadership skills within the framework of class-group projects and presentations.

D3. Organizational and Developmental skills

Operate at a professional level in variable and complex business contexts and employ reflective practice skills for self-development as part of a wider programme for continuing professional development.

D4. Ethics and Social Responsibility

Demonstrate ability to respond to social ethical challenges and conduct sustainable FinTech transactions according to ethical and social norms.

Programme Structure

The FinTech program comprises of 36 credit hours distributed as follows: 18 hours core courses, (6) hours electives, in addition to 12 credit hours for thesis as illustrated in the following plan:

Course title	Credit hours
Core Courses
Global Development in Fintech	3
Corporate Finance	3
Banking Regulatory Policy and Ethics	3
Portfolio Theory & Investment Analysis	3
Research Methodology and Ethics	3
Business Data Analytics and Sustainability	3
Elective Courses (2 courses out of 4)
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies Technologies	3
Entrepreneurship in FinTech	3
Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence in Business	3
Risk Management	3
Strategic and Innovation Management	3
MCs Thesis
Dissertation in FinTech	12
Total credit hours	36

Entry Requirements

Admission to Ahlia University (AU) is selective based on academic achievements. Applications are welcomed from all students regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, physical or learning disability. Admission is purely based on merit.

General Requirements

Admission to Ahlia University (AU) is selective and based on academic achievement. Applications are welcome from all students regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, physical or learning disability. Admission is purely based on merit. General Requirements To be eligible for consideration for admission into postgraduate programmes, applicants must meet the stipulated entry requirements as set by the university and in-line with the regulations of the Higher Education Council of Bahrain. All applicants must hold a recognised and endorsed secondary school certificate (Tawjihiya) or its equivalent, in addition to a recognised and endorsed bachelor degree. All postgraduate applicants will be interviewed by a specialised committee. Admission to the academic programme is contingent on passing the interview and demonstrating potential for academic success.

Programme Specific Requirements

In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements, applicants are expected to meet the following programme-specific admission requirements for admission into the Master of Science in Financial Technology (FinTech):

GPA	Recognised and endorsed bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any business studies or related disciplines. Applicants who hold a recognised and endorsed bachelor’s degree in any other discipline, may be accepted in the programme subject to passing the interview at the programme level and successful completion of the foundation course(s).
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) requirement	Minimum CGPA normally required at the Bachelor’s Degree ≥ 2.5 out of 4.00 or its equivalent. Applicants with CGPA lower than 2.5 or its equivalent at the undergraduate level may be considered for admission, subject to passing the interview at the programme level, and successful completion of the foundation course(s).
Interview	All applicants must pass an interview. The interview will be assessed through detailed rubrics. Applicants must score 60% and above. The interview outcome will determine whether the applicant must take the foundation courses. Credits accrued from the foundation course will be considered extra credits and will not be counted towards the Master programme credits requirement for the completion of the degree.
Foundation Courses	Applicants who hold a recognised and endorsed bachelor’s degree in any other discipline, may be accepted in the programme subject to passing the interview at the programme level and successful completion of the foundation course(s). Applicants with CGPA lower than 2.5 or its equivalent at the undergraduate level may be considered for admission, subject to passing the interview at the programme level, and successful completion of the foundation course(s).
Work Experience and Professional Courses/ Certificates	Work experience and professional courses with NQF level 9 certificates in any related disciplines will be an added advantage and considered during the interview.
Transferred Students	Applicants transferring from other postgraduate programmes will be subject to the above admission criteria and may receive exemption from equivalent courses completed in their former programme in line with Ahlia University External Transfer Policy
Language Requirements	Applicants must demonstrate a level of English proficiency consistent with the demands of an English-medium of instruction academic programme that is taught and assessed exclusively in the English language. This can be done in one of the following ways: Having completed an undergraduate degree from an English-medium institution. Having attained an acceptable score on an internationally recognised examination of English language proficiency, typically either IELTS or TOEFL. Achieving 70% or above score on the University English language placement test. IELTS ≥ 6.0 or its equivalent – TOFEL ≥ 550 or its equivalent

Postgraduate Tuition & Fees

The estimated duration for completion of the MSc in FinTech programme at Ahlia University is 2 years. This is structured around 36 credit-hours covering 8 courses along with a dissertation. The duration of the study for each course is fifteen weeks, covering approximately 45 studying hours.

Application Fee	BD 40
Registration Fee	BD 300
HEC ID Fee	BD 30
Foundation Courses (if applicable)	BD 960
Course Fees	BD 5,280
Dissertation Fees	BD 2,640