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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Finance DDM Finance
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DDM Finance

Study finance in Groningen and Lund and learn about corporate and sustainable finance, and what factors drive the investment decisions of companies.

What role do financial institutions play in supporting sustainable development and responsible investing? What drives the investment decisions of companies and investors and how should they finance their operations? And how do you decide at what price can a company be acquired or sold? You address issues like these in this double degree programme by analyzing and assessing actual, complicated financial issues that businesses and institutions encounter.

In your first year, you will study the MSc Finance from the University of Groningen (UG) and in your second year the MSc Finance from Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM). Yet, whereas the programme in Groningen is more practically oriented with courses such as company valuation, institutional investment management and banking, insurance and risk management, the programme at LUSEM goes deeper into theoretical modelling and applying econometric techniques.

Once you have completed this double degree you will have academic knowledge and expertise in solving complex financial problems and understanding contemporary international literature in finance. You will learn how to apply this academic knowledge when you're analyzing new or unknown financial problems.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Finance
Course type
Double Degree master
Duration
18 months (90 ECTS)
Croho code
60046
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Economics and Business
AACSB accredited
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • The programme In Groningen is recognized as one of the top programmes in the Netherlands in Finance, both in the NSE and the Keuzegids rankings. The programme has a diverse set of students with about 25% international students and 50% of our staff is international.
  • With this double degree programme you are experienced in work and interact in two different academic contexts in a truly international environment. While the Groningen track leans more towards a link with practice, the Lund pr
  • You can earn two Master's degrees by studying in Groningen and at a top university abroad - Lund University in only 18 months.
  • The programme in Groningen has been internationally accredited by the AACSB and EQUIS, ensuring a high-quality education, which only 1% of universities reach worldwide.
Programme

You will study one year in Groningen where you will obtain 60 ECTS of the MSc Finance.

During this year, you can specialise in various fields, which gives you the opportunity to pick courses and electives according to your interests and job aspirations. In all profiles, you have a wide variety of electives and work on research thesis papers.

In Sustainable Finance, you learn about the drivers of responsible finance, banking, and investing. You will also carry out an input-output analysis of a real-world problem in the areas of trade, environment, and growth.

In Development Finance, you study current theories on the economics of microfinance, finance and development, inequality, and financial inclusion. You join debates on the importance of financial inclusion in the process of economic development.

In Corporate Finance, you learn about practices to value a company and how to analyse financial decisions and strategies of businesses. A few examples of topics discussed are value maximization for the shareholders, principal-agent problems, and behavioral finance.

In Investment and Asset Management, you can further develop your understanding of portfolio management and investment. You study valuation, pricing models, and applications of derivative instruments and get to put theory into practice in a real-life investment game.

General Finance is for students who wish to create their own selection of courses from the four profiles specified above.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
MSc Finance (60 EC)

The second year you take one semester in Lund where you will get 30 ECTS.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b
Study at Lund University (30 EC)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is required
  • Maximum of 30 EC
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Business AdministrationUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

You need to have completed the minor Finance successfully.

Econometrics and Operations ResearchUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

You need to have completed the courses: Intermediate Asset Pricing and Intermediate Corporate Finance.

Economics and Business EconomicsUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

You need to have completed the courses: Intermediate Asset Pricing and Intermediate Corporate Finance.

International BusinessUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

You need to have completed the minor Finance successfully.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies, and the grades that you have obtained.

Holders of a bachelor diploma of an accredited programme with a study load of 240 ECs of a Dutch Institution for Higher Education are eligible for admission after rounding off the pre-master programme for the MSc Finance.

Holders of a BSc diploma of an accredited programme with a study load of 180 Ecs of a Dutch University are directly admitted or eligible for admission after rounding off the pre-master programme for the MSc Finance, the foregoing to be assessed by the Admissions Board.

For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc

If you have any questions concerning admission, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions or consult the guide for Teaching and Examination Regulations for more information about admission and application requirements: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/handbooks/teaching-examination-regulations?lang=en

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following fields: Economics and Business Economics, Business Administration, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics of Taxation, International Business and Technology Management (with additional requirements).

To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies, and the grades that you have obtained.

For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc

If you have any questions concerning admission, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions or consult the guide for Teaching and Examination Regulations for more information about admission and application requirements: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/handbooks/teaching-examination-regulations?lang=en

certified competences

GMAT/GRE; for specific scores (and exemptions), https://www.rug.nl/feb/gmat-gre.

grade list

A certified grade list(s) is considered in the evaluation

language test

IELTS Academic overall score 6.5 (Speaking 6, Writing 6.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 24); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 176, Speaking 169, Writing 176).

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 20800full-time

The tuition fees above are for the one year studying in Groningen. For an estimation of the total tuition fees for the double degree, please see DD fees.

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

As a graduate of the MSc Finance you will be trained for positions in which you contribute as a specialist in finance to decision-making in private (multinational) companies and financial institutions, consultancy firms, (international) institutional organizations such as the IMF, World Bank, ECB, etc. and governmental institutions.

The curriculum of the programme offers you several options to develop a specific labour market orientation by selecting specific sets of courses. You may focus on a career in corporate finance, investing, banking, or finance and development.

Students who choose the Sustainable or Development Finance profiles can align financial decisions with corporate social responsibility goals. You can help investors make ethical and sustainable choices by assessing the impact of investments on issues like climate change, renewable energy, microfinance, and corporate governance.

Job examples

  • Microfinance consultant
  • Investment banking associate
  • Finance manager
  • Portfolio manager
  • (Sustainable) financial analyst
  • Asset management analyst
  • Impact investment analyst
  • Consultant in corporate governance
  • Banking
  • Stock trading
Research

Linking education to research and career preparation

Our education is strongly rooted in business practice and society. Also right from the start of your degree programme attention is paid to academic research and professional development since an analytical and critical mind and problem-solving capabilities are important qualities in any career our students aspire to.

Research institutes related to the MSc programme:

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Study associations

EBF

The Economics and Business Faculty association (EBF) is the faculty association for all students studying at the faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen.
The EBF is your partner during your time in Groningen by organising events that support you with your studies and help you prepare for your future career.
https://www.ebfgroningen.nl/

Financial Study Association Groningen

Financial Study Association Groningen, FSG, is the study association for the financially interested student at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen.
FSG is, with over 1800 members, one of the most active and professional study associations of the Netherlands. The goal of FSG is to close the gap between theory and practice that exists in the areas of:* Accountancy & Controlling (A&C)* Finance* International Financial Management (IFM)* Management Accounting & Control (MAC)
https://fsgroningen.nl/home
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Study support

Studying means working independently and planning your studies yourself. But successful studying depends on many different factors, so it is understandable that you may need to consult an impartial expert to discuss your study progress and personal circumstances that influence your studies. The faculty's study advisors are available to help you. Obviously, everything discussed with the study advisor remains confidential.