Martin Wheatley, Chief Executive of the FCA announced the programme in a speech at Mansion House on 16/10/2014.

Whilst there are many modules on governance and regulation in Masters programmes in Finance, this is the first MSc of its kind in the UK or internationally focusing entirely on financial regulation. Initially it will be offered exclusively to FCA staff and other regulatory organisations, with plans once established to offer it more widely.

Henley Business School

Henley Business School is a leading international business school and is one of the world’s few business schools to hold triple-accredited status from the major UK, European and US awarding bodies.

As part of the University of Reading, Henley operates within an academic institution that is placed within the top 200 universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2018). Most recently, Henley’s undergraduate programmes in Accounting and Finance were ranked first in the UK in the Guardian’s University league tables.

CISI

Complementing this prestigious programme, course participants will have access to supporting CISI materials and an extensive network of experienced practitioners and speakers which will provide a practitioner perspective. Upon successful completion of the Masters, full membership and the MCSI designation is available.

Evolved from the London Stock Exchange, the CISI is one of the largest and most widely respected professional bodies for those who work in the industry.

Martin Wheatley, chief executive of the FCA, said: “This programme will help to set a global regulatory standard and foster a stronger set of regulators in financial services. The work we are doing with Henley and CISI will ensure that future leaders have the interests of consumers and the markets they operate in at the forefront of their minds.”

Professor John Board, Dean of the Henley Business School, commented "I am delighted to be working so closely with the FCA and drawing on the breadth of our skills, not just in financial markets but also in organisational psychology and consumer behaviour. The goal of the programme is to develop FCA staff to better supervise the financial sector, whether investment banking, financial markets, pay day loans, retail banking or PPI."

Ruth Martin, CISI Managing Director said: "The CISI is delighted to be working with both Henley Business School and the FCA, so the investment is not only in such a prestigious postgraduate award, but also in the ongoing professionalism requirements of CISI membership. This combination will enable regulators to be at the leading edge both during, and after, their studies."