In this module, you will understand the scope of possible policy choices across the broad range of central bank activities. You will learn to draw comparisons between the US, Europe, Japan and EMEs - including fixed exchange rate regimes. You will also explore case studies on how central bank operations have evolved to meet the needs of economic crises such as the Great Financial Crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The module will touch on all of a central bank’s typical roles, including monetary policy; financial stability; balance sheet and reserves management; market operations; banknotes; lender of last resort; supervision and regulation; and other regulatory issues such as market conduct, payments, resolution and digital currencies.
Built with industry professionals in mind and delivered by academics from Warwick Business School alongside policy experts from the Bank of England, and beyond. Our faculty are constantly striving for excellence in everything they do, from the latest ground-breaking research impacting society, to inspiring our participants.
"No two central banks are the same. This module explores why they differ, in mandates, objectives and operating environments and why different choices are made. It also explores how their roles are evolving amid a changing financial landscape, equipping professionals with the strategic insight to navigate today's policy challenges."
“Central banks the world over have different mandates and do things differently. Why? The analysis learned in Comparative Central Banking will help anyone working in a central bank, or elsewhere in financial markets or with any interest in financial policy, to understand the arcane world of central banking in all its different aspects.
This module is led by Paul Fisher (Former Executive Director, Bank of England) and Diarmuid Murphy (Former Central Bank of Ireland, IMF, ECB and European Commission, currently Director, IOB) and features insights from a range of speakers including:
Plus a wide range of other senior central bankers, regulators, academics and market participants.
No deposit is due, and payment will be due on invoice. The invoice will be issued a week before the start of your module.
WBS scholarships are designed to promote excellence as well as support diversity and inclusion. This helps to create a rich learning environment within each of our cohorts to ensure your learning experience at WBS is maximised.
We have merit-based scholarship funding available to strong candidates for up to 25% of the tuition fees. Scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis, so applying early may give you a stronger chance of being successful.
If you're self-funding or partially employer-funded, and are interested in applying for a scholarship, you will need to submit a written statement (up to 500 words) with your application outlining why you believe you should be awarded a scholarship, taking the elements listed below into consideration.
As part of the collaboration between WBS and the Bank of England to support technical co-operation and to create a constituency for good financial regulation, we are pleased to offer a number of 66% tuition‑fee bursaries for our Postgraduate Awards. These bursaries are available to eligible candidates working in central banks or regulatory bodies.
The bursaries are available for all upcoming intakes, and applicants may choose any module leading to a Postgraduate Award qualification.
For more information on our bursaries and how to apply, please reach out to us at onlinemasters-info@wbs.ac.uk.
Download our bursary brochure.
Deadlines for September 2027 bursary application: 26 July 2027.
We are delighted that you are interested in studying with us. We recommend you apply early as demand for this programme is high and if you wish to be considered for a scholarship an early application is advisable.
If you want to understand whether you will meet our entry requirements then you can submit your CV to onlinemasters-info@wbs.ac.uk for a pre-check.
Please note: If you have previously studied for a Postgraduate Award on the Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation programme, and would like to undertake a further module, or build up to a higher qualification level, then you do not need to submit a new application. Simply email us at onlinemasters-info@wbs.ac.uk and let us know which module you would like to study next and we will begin the process.
Application deadlines for Comparative Central Banking
(September 2027 intake)
Round 1 – Monday 28 June 2027
Final – Monday 30 August 2027
Meet us either online or in-person to discuss whether a Postgraduate Award is right for you. If you want to understand whether you will meet our entry requirements then you can submit your CV to onlinemasters-info@wbs.ac.uk for a pre-check.
Follow our top tips for writing your application and include references, CV, transcripts, and statement of purpose.
Submit your application through Warwick Business School’s application portal.
Once you’ve submitted your application with all supporting documents the processing time is usually between 4-8 weeks, however please be aware that processing times do vary and may take longer during busier periods.
If your application is approved, the University will make an official offer of a place on the course. There will normally be a time limit to accept this.
Offers may be conditional on you meeting academic, language, or other requirements. Don't worry about this - many students have conditional offers. Once you have met your conditions, the offer will automatically be made unconditional.
To accept your place on the programme, you must respond by returning the Offer Response form by the deadline stipulated in your Offer Letter.
You will receive an email from the enrolment team 4-6 weeks before your course start date or within a week of accepting your unconditional offer, detailing the tasks you need to complete as part of your enrolment.
Applications are handled via our online application system. You will need to fill out the application form and provide evidence of the prerequisite requirements that are relevant to you.
Your file will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and depending on which qualification level you apply for, you may be invited to a video interview. The interview is used to inform the Selection Committee and enables us to better understand what you want to achieve and to make sure we can offer what you are looking for. If you have been successful you will receive an offer letter and be required to complete the offer response form within the deadline stated on your letter.
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