Join our online Fintech and Big Data course and gain a competitive career edge.

Financial technology (fintech) and big data are fast becoming household names in financial services.

Join our online fintech course and learn about the concepts of fintech and big data, their applications and challenges.

  • Develop your understanding of the modern banking industry.
  • Explore blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer lending, data analytics, data mining and machine learning.
  • Broaden your network of contacts as you build your skills and financial career.

Study flexibly online with the University of Aberdeen Business School, with part-time hours that fit around full-time work.

Build credits towards a Masters degree

This online course is part of:

Provided you meet the degree entry requirements, you may be able to use the credits you earn on this course towards this MSc.

What you’ll study

You’ll learn about the latest disruptive technologies that are reshaping financial services.

You’ll discover how fintech and big data can be applied in your own organisation.

You’ll cover:

  • domestic and cross-border payment innovations
  • fintech applications in wealth and investment management
  • the key technologies that drive fintech innovations
  • types of crowdfunding, their applications and reward systems
  • big data, its sources, pre-processing methods, integration and storage
  • methods of big data visualisation and advanced data analysis tools
  • fintech regulations, how they affect finance industry innovations, and their complexities.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to…

  • Explain the technologies driving the advancement of fintech and big data.
  • Describe big data, its characteristics, structures and sources.
  • Assess fintech payment solutions and their applications in addressing real-world problems.
  • Evaluate fintech wealth and investment management solutions.
  • Choose the right big data visualisation methods to inform and improve business decisions.
  • Apply big data to improve efficiency in financial services provision.
  • Communicate financial system regulations and how they apply to the fintech industry.
  • Assess data using online resources and assemble it to carry out research.

How you’ll study

Online learning

Our Fintech and Big Data course is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.

Part of our MSc Finance, this course is taught at Masters level.

Your teaching

Course materials are carefully planned and structured. You’ll have unlimited access to our custom-built study platform, designed for ease of use and communication. Also available as an app, you can study on computer, smartphone and tablet 24/7.

Guidance and support is one-to-one and unlimited. Your tutor will respond to any questions and provide feedback on your coursework within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.

You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:

  • videos
  • projects
  • online tutorials
  • reading materials
  • discussion boards with colleagues and tutors
  • the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.

Your tutors

You’ll learn from internationally experienced economists, academics and researchers.

Assessment

This course is assessed entirely online via:

  • your 300-word responses to a series of questions
  • a final 1,500-word essay.

Your work will be assessed based on your ability to:

  • source and use a variety of types of material
  • analyse key financial information in a concise and clear manner
  • compare and contrast, and reach objective and impartial conclusions.

The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 15 – 20 hours per week.

This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes.

You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. The course website is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.

There are no fixed-time activities on this course. You can access and work through it at your convenience.

Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies.

You can communicate with your tutor one-to-one within the tutorial area of the study website. This communication is unlimited. You can also chat with your online colleagues and tutors within the online forum.

You’ll have access to a dedicated course coordinator who is available to offer support and guidance. They’re on hand to help you stay on track with your studies. Technical support, if required, is just a click or a call away.

We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.

Your course coordinator

Dr Haofeng Xu

Haofeng is a Lecturer in Finance in our Business School. Haofeng’s research interests lie mainly in the area of fintech, with a focus on the topics of marketplace lending, machine learning in finance, and fintech disruption in the financial system.

View Haofeng’s profile

Where this will take you

Towards a Masters

You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. Provided you meet the degree entry requirements, you may be able to use these credits towards our:

MSc Finance

  • Study part-time, online.
  • Gain a deeper knowledge of core financial theory.
  • Develop key skills in corporate finance, portfolio analysis, asset valuation, derivatives and risk management.

Build your learning with more short courses

We have a range of online business and leadership courses you can use to build your skills, earn university credits, and gain postgraduate qualifications.

Careers

Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free career support

Access our free careers service while you study.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

See how our careers service can help you.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We welcome students from all over the world.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.

But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.

If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to study online with us.

English language requirements

Teaching is delivered in English.

You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.

Recommended level of English

For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.

These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements, and these are minimum scores.

IELTS Academic and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 21 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening and speaking
  • 169 for reading and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken)

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.

You will need access to:

A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:

  • Windows 10 or later
  • macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.

Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.

Reliable internet access

We recommend:

  • a wired connection
  • a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.

Speakers or headphones

  • We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
  • A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one from some interactive sessions.

Software

We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.

If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.

See our detailed IT requirements for more information.

When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.

But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.

Your most important commitment to your course will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.

Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your course each week:

  • Be realistic
  • Create a weekly schedule as a guide

If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.

Fee payment

Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.

We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.

Ways to save

You may be able to get help funding this course via:

  • discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
  • employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.

Find out more about funding options.

Student card

All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.

This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.

The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:

  • a 2:2 (second-class) undergraduate degree
  • or relevant experience that supports this level of study.

Apply for this course

Cost
£1,325
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