IB3M1-15 Fintech
Introductory description
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Module aims
The course covers the intersection of finance and technology. Its main aim is to provide a sound foundation across the spectrum of financial concepts driving innovations of the principal intermediation functions (money, payments, capital raising, market aggregation, price discovery, mass distribution) with examples of business models and products (neobanks, robo-advisors, crypto exchanges etc). It will facilitate better understanding of the value propositions, best practices, regulation and technology encountered in fintech start-ups and help structure thinking about new business and partnership opportunities from traditional financial institutional and venture funding perspective.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- Introduction to FinTech
- Blockchain and basics of cryptography
- Bitcoin and other digital currencies
- Crypto assets and blockchain applications
- Central bank digital currencies
- Fundamentals of artificial intelligence
- Market place lending
- Quantitative trading, machine learning in trading
- Regulatory landscape of FinTech
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand how Fintech can transform financial services
- Differentiate traditional assets and crypto-assets
- Manage innovation in retail and B2B markets
- Understand the role of Fintech in retail and B2B market
- Apply the Fintech concepts introduced in this module in new start-ups
- Integrate traditional financial services with Fintech
Indicative reading list
There are very few textbooks written specifically about FinTech due to being a relatively new topic.
- Chishti, S., & Barberis, J. (2016). The FinTech book: the financial technology handbook for investors, entrepreneurs and visionaries. John Wiley & Sons.
- Ferguson, Niall. The ascent of money: A financial history of the world. Penguin, 2008.
- Popper, Nathaniel. Digital gold: The untold story of Bitcoin. Penguin UK, 2015.
- Gerard, David. Attack of the 50 foot blockchain: Bitcoin, blockchain, Ethereum & smart contracts. David Gerard, 2017.
- Sironi, Paolo. FinTech innovation: from robo-advisors to goal based investing and gamification. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
Subject specific skills
Work with Fintech data and algorithms.
Understand the technology (e.g., Blockchain) within Fintech start-ups.
See the link between the value chains and wider financial networks.
Transferable skills
Develop written and verbal communication and numeracy skills in the formal assessment for the module.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Online learning (independent) | 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%) |
| Private study | 48 hours (32%) |
| Assessment | 73 hours (49%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Private study.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group D3
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | 10% | 8 hours | No |
| Online Examination | 90% | 65 hours | No |
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Exam
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Assessment group R3
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Examination | 100% | No | |
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Exam ~Platforms - AEP
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback provided via my.wbs.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Courses
This module is Optional for:
-
UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
- Year 3 of L100 Economics
- Year 3 of L116 Economics and Industrial Organization
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UECA-4 Undergraduate Economics 4 Year Variants
- Year 4 of L103 Economics with Study Abroad
- Year 4 of LM1H Economics, Politics & International Studies with Study Abroad
- Year 3 of UECA-LM1D Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies
- Year 3 of UMAA-GL11 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics
This module is Unusual option for:
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UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 2 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 3 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy