ICMA Centre at University of Reading

Part of the triple-accredited Henley Business School, the ICMA Centre is the product of the first active collaboration between the securities industry and a university finance department. The ICMA Centre was founded in 1991 through a unique alliance between the University of Reading and the International Capital Market Association. The Centre has a global reputation for its excellence in undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education, as well as professional and policy development research and consultancy.

The practical application of finance theory is one of the ICMA Centre’s key advantages and is why students and financial institutions alike choose the Centre for their education and training needs. This integration of theory with practice is achieved through the use of the Centre’s three state-of-the-art dealing rooms. All equipped by Thomson Reuters, the terminals run the latest industry simulation software as well as the Centre’s own simulation software platform, ICTrader.

There are a number of reasons we continue to go from strength to strength:

• The integration of applied finance theory and industry specific education;
• Innovative teaching by world renowned academics and industry practitioners;
• Strong links with banks, trade bodies and other financial institutions;
• The largest and best equipped dealing rooms in any European business school;
• Excellent employment rate facilitated by our dedicated Career Development service.

The ICMA Centre is in partnership with a variety of organisations to ensure all programmes are up-to-date and organisations are in line to offer students great opportunities.

Henley Business School – Triple Accredited Business School

Henley Business School AccreditationHenley is one of only 57 global business schools to hold triple-accredited status from the UK, European and US awarding bodies: Association of MBAs, European Foundation for Management Development, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Henley is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide.

CFA Institute

The ICMA Centre became a CFA Program Partner in September 2006. The ICMA Centre is one of twelve Universities that have recognition, and in turn this partnership signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the university curriculum is closely linked with professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the three levels of CFA exams.

Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)

The ICMA Centre is an accredited Centre of Excellence of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), and only one of seven Universities in the UK to hold this status. Centres of Excellence are a select group of UK universities, recognised by the CISI as offering leadership in academic education on financial markets.

Thomson Reuters

The ICMA Centre and Thomson Reuters have established a strong relationship and have worked together for many years, including the provision of hardware and software. In addition, Thomson Reuters equipped our flagship 40 seat dealing room.

INCEIF (International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance)

The ICMA Centre and INCEIF (International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance) in Kuala Lumpur joined forces to create the UK’s first collaborative MSc in Investment Banking and Islamic Finance. The degree is in response to the growing interest in Islamic finance, and the increase in Islamic banking services, investment and other financial services based on Islamic principles.

7City

The ICMA Centre work closely with 7city Learning in the provision of the CFA Level 1, which is studied alongside the MSc Investment Management degree.

Numerical Algorithms Group

The Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) is dedicated to applying its expertise in numerical engineering to delivering high-quality computational software and high performance computing services.

MTS Time Series

The MTS Time Series provides a new high frequency data source for practitioners and academics conducting in-depth research in time series and market microstructure of fixed income markets and instruments. This new data source is offered in collaboration with MTS – the largest electronic bond trading operation in Europe – and the ICMA Centre.

Professional Risk Managers Association

The MSc Financial Risk Management is accredited by PRMIA (Professional Risk Managers Association). Students of this course will be exempt from PRM Exams I and II, which form the majority of the PRM Certification Programme; the most broadly recognised designation for risk managers and is the only one to have received public endorsements from several leading firms.