Master's Degree Programme in Finance

The objective of the MSc in Finance programme is to provide a dynamic, demanding, but supportive learning-centered environment which:

• prepares students for jobs in the world’s most selective companies in the fields of international banking, management consultancy, and related areas;
• helps all students develop a solid scientific approach to financial problems—at the same time, preparing some of the students for the world’s best Finance Ph. programmes:
• encourages the development of the broader communication, teamwork, ethical, quantitative, and intercultural skills that students will need both in general management positions and as active citizens able to discuss the issues of the day

The students have the further opportunity to tailor their degree by specializing in one of two areas of concentration: (1) corporate finance, or (2) financial markets.

In the corporate finance area, students focus on such questions as analyzing and choosing investment projects, mergers and acquisitions, agency theory, investment banking and obtaining funds from the primary markets, project and trade finance, and capital structure and dividend decisions. The corporate finance area prepares students for entry-level positions in e.g. investment or commercial banking, management consulting, or the finance and corporate planning functions of industrial firms.

In the financial markets area, students focus on issues such as the behavior and determinants of security prices, their implications on portfolio management, behavioral finance and investor psychology, venture capital, risk management, as well as pricing options, futures, and other derivatives. The financial markets area prepares students for entry-level positions in e.g. investment management and strategy, venture capital and private equity, and risk management.

Learning outcomes

After completing the Master’s Programme in Finance a student will have:

• a thorough understanding of the models and theories of corporate financing and investment decisions
• skills necessary to apply these ideas independently and analytically in working life
• knowledge of the features of the capital markets

The graduates are able to

• analyze corporate risk factors quantitatively
• evaluate the value of e.g. derivative instruments using sophisticated evaluation tools
• apply financial tools to a number of situations both in strategic decision making of the firm (e.g. mergers and acquisitions) and in day-to-day management (e.g. portfolio and risk management)
• work in a world where financial services are global, significant to the economy, and in constant change
• adapt to a financial environment which is increasingly aware of system-wide risks, conflicts of interest, and regulatory challenges

The general management skills the programme aims to foster include

• analytical skills, teamwork skills, and problem solving skills
• opportunity to consider challenging issues in business ethics and to develop international business communications skills at an advanced level