MSc International Banking and Finance

Welcome to the MSc International Banking and Finance!

The Association for Research on Banking and the Economy (ARBE) is delighted to offer a new 1-year MSc degree in International Banking and Finance, designed and led by the legenary expert in monetary economics and finance, Prof. Dr. Richard Werner, the inventor of Quantitative Easing (“QE”).

In collaboration with our European partners, the University of Insurance and Finance (a top 2 private university in Sofia, Bulgaria), you will be able to obtain a cutting-edge knowledge in the field of money, banking and credit and develop intricate knowledge about the feedback loop between the financial services sector and the real economy.

The provisional programme for the MSc degree for the upcoming academic year 2026 / 2027 is as follows:

Semester 1 (provisional)

Module	Instructor	Delivery Dates*	Examination
International Banking 1	Prof. Richard Werner	30^thand 31^st Oct ’26; & 4^th Nov and 5^th Dec ’26.	Mid-term Essay and Exam
Introduction to Banking Regulation	Dr Plamen Ivanov	6^th and 7^th Nov ’26; & 11^th and 12^th Dec ’26.	Mid-term Essay and Exam
Research Methods	Dr Achraf Mkhaiber	13^th and 14^th Nov ’26; & 18^th and 19^th Dec ’26.	Abstract, Report & Presentation
Optional Module	Depending on choice	20^th and 21^th Nov ’26; & 8^th and 9^th Dec ’26.	Depending on choice

Semester 2 (provisional)

Module	Instructor	Delivery Dates*	Examination
International Banking 2	Prof. Richard Werner	20^th and 21^st Feb ’27; & 3^rd and 4^th Apr ’27.	Mid-term Essay and Exam
The World Financial System	Dr Plamen Ivanov	27^th and 28^th Feb ’27; & 10^th and 11^th Apr ’27.	Report & Presentation
Quantitative Research Methods	Dr Achraf Mkhaiber	6^th and 7^th Mar ’27; & 17^th and 18^th Apr’27.	Report & Presentation
Financial Risk Management	Dr Tony Abdoush	13^th and 14^th Mar ’27; & 8^th and 9^th May ’27.	Final Exam

*Provisional dates for Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Semester 3

15,000-word Master’s Dissertation with an allocated supervisory team.

Module Descriptions

By following the links in the table above for each module, you can obtain a better understanding what material, skills and knowledge you will obtain as part of your training by Prof. Werner and his faculty team.

Enrolling Requirements

For students with a Bachelors degree in economics or a related field, they will need to complete the following application form on the University’s website: https://uzf.bg/en/programs/master/international-banking-and-finance

For students with a Bachelors degree in another field: due to Bulgarian legislation, you will be required to complete one or two preparatory semesters before enrolling to the MSc International Banking degree. This leg of the educational offering can be completed off-site and entirely online as all of the learning and teaching material will be made available to them through Moodle, an online learning environment available to all HSIF students. Once completed, the students will be allowed to on-board and start the MSc International Banking and Finance programme with Prof. Werner and his team. To apply, please follow and complete your application here: https://uzf.bg/en/programs/master/international-banking-and-finance/curriculum

Semester Fees for the MSc degree

The semester fee is just €3,425, or a grand total of €6,850 for the duration of the MSc degree. There is also an option to pay semester fees in four equal instalments (circa €800 per calendar month), which can ease the financial burden on your finances, whilst working full-time!

In addition, MSc students are allowed to be in employment whilst completing their studies (which are also delivered on weekends only). This allows for a great flexibilty as well as for students to balance effectively the trinity of work-study-life.

Preparatory Semester Fee: In case a student needs to complete a preparatory semester, this will incur a one-off surcharge of €750.

We understand that reallocating abroad in these uncertain times can be a daunting prospect, so you can find additional information below about your reallocation to Bulgaria.

1. Getting a VISA for Bulgaria.

2. Cost of Living.

3. Setting up your life in Bulgaria during your Master’s studies.

4. Student Accommodation Options.

5. Orientation programme.

If you are interested in applying for a MSc degree, please do not hesitate to contact us through email: ivanov@arbe.org.uk or p.ivanov@uzf.bg.