Study international finance online with a university ranked 2nd in the UK for Accountancy and Finance.
As major players in the financial world, banks are involved in a substantial and diverse range of financial activity – loans, stocks, investments, portfolios, and many more products and instruments.
Join this Masters-level online short course and learn how the global banking sector operates.
You’ll develop a thorough understanding of banking institutions and learn how they impact:
- financial markets
- loan creation, and
- general economic conditions.
Access this focused part of our MSc Finance flexibly, in an online course that fits around full-time work.
Who can join this online international finance course?
You do not need a background in finance or business-related subjects to join this course. It’s open to graduates and professionals interested in developing their skills and career in the world of finance.

Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of online:
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards this MSc qualification, which relaunches in September 2024.
What you’ll study
In this online short course, you’ll:
- gain an understanding of the theory and practice of international banking
- examine the main activities of commercial banks
- explore the role of the central bank, looking at both the conduct of monetary policy and the regulation of commercial banks
- learn how we measure bank performance and the nature of risks faced by banks
- investigate how the structure of the banking market affects bank performance and risks
- discover how risks can be managed, and
- evaluate the role of governance in minimising risk.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to...
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Critically analyse the role of banks within the economy.
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Examine the activities of banks and break down the performance measures.
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Assess the risks faced by banks and determine how to mitigate those risks.
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Elaborate on the nature of competition and its implications for bank behaviour.
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Understand the nature of bank financial statements.
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Discuss corporate governance issues in banking.
Why study international finance online with the University of Aberdeen?

7th in the UK
We ranked 7th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

Flexible
Flexible hours and 24/7 access, so you can study when it suits you.

20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off this online course.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning International Banking course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere, with no need for a study visa, and manage your hours to suit you.
Your teaching
Part of our MSc Finance, this course is taught at Masters level.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
Course materials are carefully planned and structured. You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos
- 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 experienced academics and researchers from the University of Aberdeen’s Business School.
This course is assessed entirely online via:
- two short essays (each worth 25% of your final grade)
- a written research report (50%).
The course totals approximately 150 hours of teaching, private 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. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
You may have some activities at fixed times, such as assessments with deadlines. But otherwise, you can access and work through your courses at your convenience.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
Your course coordinator

Dr Abraham Adu
Abraham Adu is the Head of Finance in our Business School. He lectures in finance at postgraduate and undergraduate level. Abraham’s research has been presented at international conferences, and his research interests include gender pay gaps, banking, and financial sector reforms.
View Abraham’s profileWhere this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

Online MSc Finance
Earn your Masters flexibly, online.
Gain a deeper knowledge of core financial theory.
Develop your skills in corporate finance, portfolio analysis, asset valuation, derivatives and risk management.
View MSc FinanceBuild your learning
Use our flexible online business and leadership short courses to build your skills, earn university credits, and gain postgraduate qualifications.
Careers
Whatever your industry, you’ll gain career-enhancing skills and expertise on this course.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. 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
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
This course uses our Postgraduate Higher 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 for 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