Program Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Technology (PGDipFT) is a graduate program designed to prepare future finance professionals, innovators, and business leaders to operate at the intersection of finance, technology, and innovation. The program equips students with the expertise, strategic insight, and applied knowledge needed to connect emerging financial technologies with traditional financial systems, data-driven decision-making, and real-world business applications.
The curriculum combines strong academic rigor with practical relevance, covering key areas such as blockchain, digital payments, data analytics, innovation, and regulatory compliance. In response to the growing global demand for FinTech professionals, the program emphasizes not only technological capability, but also ethical responsibility, critical thinking, and strategic leadership required to navigate an increasingly dynamic financial landscape.
The program also offers a flexible hybrid delivery model, with four courses delivered in hybrid mode and the remaining courses offered on campus, providing students with greater accessibility and study flexibility.
Benefits
- Interdisciplinary and future-focused curriculum: The program is designed at the intersection of finance, technology, and innovation, giving students a well-rounded understanding of how emerging technologies are transforming financial services. It combines financial knowledge with digital capabilities, analytical thinking, and business insight to prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving market.
- Strong industry relevance and market alignment: The curriculum is developed in close collaboration with industry experts and is aligned with the evolving needs of today's financial sector, including digital banking, blockchain, digital payments, data analytics, and cybersecurity in finance. This ensures that students develop knowledge and skills that are relevant to current industry expectations and future market demand in Dubai and beyond. Also, a partnership with FINTECH.TV, New York, gives students direct access to industry experts in finance, blockchain, and digital innovation through professional studio broadcasts and discussions.
- Balance of academic rigor and practical application: The program combines rigorous graduate-level study with applied business and financial relevance. Students are not only introduced to key concepts and theories but are also prepared to apply them in real-world contexts through practical learning, analytical problem-solving, and an applied research or consulting project.
- Flexible study pathway with hybrid delivery: The program is delivered primarily on campus, with four courses offered in hybrid mode to provide added flexibility and accessibility while maintaining meaningful face-to-face engagement. The remaining courses are delivered on campus, ensuring a strong in-person learning experience.
Career Opportunities
- Prepares graduates for career opportunities across FinTech, digital banking, payments, and the wider financial services sector.
- Graduates may work as Financial Analyst, FinTech Analyst, Payments Analyst, Business Analyst, Compliance Analyst, Risk Analyst, or Research Associate.
- For experienced professionals, the program can support career growth into digital transformation, product, innovation, or FinTech-related management roles.
- Relevant for professionals working in banks, consulting firms, and technology companies who aim to transition into digital finance and financial innovation.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) of the UAE awarded the program accreditation in March 2026.
The program aims to develop advanced knowledge and practical capabilities in financial strategy, investment decision-making, data analytics, and digital financial systems. It also emphasizes responsible innovation by equipping graduates with the skills to manage FinTech infrastructure, support sustainable growth and entrepreneurship, and operate within strong ethical, regulatory, and governance frameworks in financial markets.
The program goals are:
Goal 1: Develop graduates with advanced capabilities in financial strategy and investment decision-making within technology-enabled and digitally-transformed financial environments.
Goal 2: Cultivate strong data-driven, quantitative, and analytical competencies to support financial innovation, risk assessment, and performance optimization in FinTech applications that support sustainable growth and entrepreneurial innovation.
Goal 3: Foster the ability to drive FinTech innovation and manage digital financial infrastructures responsibly.
Goal 4: Promote ethical practices, regulatory compliance, and governance frameworks guiding the development and deployment of financial technologies within global markets.
Upon successful completion of the PGDipFT program, the graduate will be able to:
PLO 1: Apply advanced financial knowledge to evaluate alternatives and optimize decision-making within dynamic and digitally enabled markets.
PLO 2: Apply advanced data analytics to analyze financial data, model risks, and develop innovative financial solutions.
PLO 3: Critically evaluate, select, and apply FinTech innovations to drive sustainable financial transformation.
PLO 4: Evaluate and apply ethical, regulatory, governance, and cybersecurity frameworks to ensure responsible FinTech solutions.
PLO 5: Design, execute, and communicate applied research or professional projects fostering entrepreneurship and addressing real-world financial technology challenges.
Students who choose to exit the MScFT program before completing the full degree may be eligible for the PGDipFT, subject to the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 24 credit hours from the MScFT program curriculum, excluding the Applied FinTech Research Project or Applied FinTech Consulting Project.
- Achievement of a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of at least 75% of the credit hours at CUD.
Declaration and Approval of Exit Award
Students may formally request the PGDipFT exit award if they choose to exit from the MScFT program after successfully completing the 24 credit hours.
- The exit award is granted solely based on the student's choice and shall not be automatically recommended or initiated by the academic program.
- A formal request must be submitted to the Dean's Office, indicating the student's intent to exit the program and be considered for the PGDipFT award.
- The request will be reviewed for eligibility based on the student's academic record and completion status.
Continuation towards MScFT Degree
Students who receive the PGDipFT will be permitted to rejoin the MScFT program within two years of the award date to complete the remaining program requirements, including the Applied FinTech Research Project or Applied FinTech Consulting Project, and earn the MScFT degree.
Reinstatement will be subject to approval by the Dean's Office and verification of the student's academic standing at the time of return.
Program Structure
| Requirements | Compulsory
Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | 21 |
| Electives | 03 |
| Total | 24 |
| Course Code | Course Title | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Core Courses |
21 |
||||||
| MBA | 642 | Managerial Finance | None | 3 | |||
| MIT | 604 | Blockchain Technology | None | 3 | |||
| MFT | 632 | FinTech Innovations and Venture Creation (Hybrid) | None | 3 | |||
| MFT | 625 | Data Analytics in Finance (Hybrid) | None | 3 | |||
| MFT | 626 | Digital Banking, Payments and Financial Services (Hybrid) | MIT 604 | 3 | |||
| MFT | 627 | Digital Risk Management | MFT 626 | 3 | |||
| MBA | 643 | Business Research Methods | None | 3 | |||
| Course Code | Course Title | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elective Course: Select One courses from the following elective courses. |
3 |
||||||
| MIT | 623 | Business Intelligence | None | 3 | |||
| MFT | 642 | Decentralized Finance | MFT 627 | 3 | |||
| MFT | 643 | Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience in Finance (Hybrid) | MFT 627 | 3 | |||
| MFT | 644 | Green FinTech | None | 3 | |||