What drives investment decisions of companies and investors and how should they finance their operations? Finance specialists know the answers.
**Joint 2nd place in best MSc Finance in the Netherlands - Higher Education Guide Masters 2018 **
By choosing this Master, you acquire knowledge, understanding and skills required to analyse and evaluate real and complex financial problems of companies and institutions and to design solutions for these problems. This programme focuses on a critical analysis and assessment of key issues in corporate finance and portfolio management, combining an academic perspective with a practical orientation.
The programme allows you to specialise in a broad range of areas such as corporate valuation, derivatives, institutional investing, banking and insurance, corporate governance, responsible financing, and development finance.
You are also trained to develop the academic skills to analyse important questions in each of these areas. By analysing (applied) research questions in the field of finance you learn to analyse and solve complex financial problems encountered by companies, investors, governments and international organisations.
In addition you will develop professional skills such as giving public presentations, working in teams and building computer models for business decisions.
Finance offers both an academic and a hands-on approach. There is a broad range of courses in corporate finance and asset management and there is great flexibility to choose your own content of the programme that fits your interests and to specialise in issues related to corporate valuation, and banking and risk management. Besides, it is an international accredited programme, ensuring a high quality education that according to the AACSB standard only 1% of universities worldwide meet.
All students of the MSc Finance take the Research Methods in Finance Course, a course in quantitative research in finance that focuses on the knowledge and techniques that are necessary to conduct a research project in finance. As such, it provides a good background for the final research project, i.e. writing a master's thesis of 20 ECs. Students also take the courses Corporate Finance and Portfolio Theory as mandatory courses.
Next to these three mandatory courses, the MSc Finance offers eight elective courses from which you choose four. Finally you may choose one course outside the Finance domain.
You will have advanced knowledge in a selected number of specific sub-fields in finance, such as derivative instruments, corporate finance, corporate valuation, responsible finance and investment, banking and insurance, portfolio theory, institutional investment management, corporate governance, behavioral finance, and finance and development.
| Courses |
|---|
| Corporate Finance (5 EC) |
| Five electives MSc Finance (25 EC) |
| Master's Thesis Finance (20 EC) |
| Portfolio Theory (5 EC) |
| Research Methods in Finance (5 EC) |
During the programme, you will develop both academic and professional skills. With respect to academic skills, the programme focuses on collecting and analysing data, planning and designing a research project and academic writing. Examples of professional skills are computer model building for business decisions, presenting in public, identifying and analysing problems and working in teams.
Check for in-depth info on all courses: https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showpos?opleiding=5250
| Programme options |
|---|
| Double Degree Master China and the World Economy (specialization) 2 year Double Degree programme in Groningen and Fudan University Shanghai |
| Double Degree Master Finance (specialization) What drives investment decisions of companies and investors and how should they finance their operations?
|
| Sustainable Society Focus Area (specialization) Focus your MSc on Sustainable Society and gain specialised knowledge in the field. There are two steps to the Sustainable Society Focus Area- 1) complete two electives from a predetermined list 2) write and round off an MSc thesis on a sustainable society topic |
| Finance & Development Focus Area (specialization) Focus your MSc on Finance and Development and gain specialised knowledge in the field. There are two steps to the Finance and Development Focus Area- 1) complete two electives from a predetermined list 2) write and round off an MSc thesis on a finance and development topic |
| Energy Focus Area (specialization) Focus your MSc on Energy and open up extra career opportunities. There are two steps to the Energy Focus Area- 1) complete two of four chosen electives 2) write and round off an MSc thesis on an energy topic |
| Master Internship (specialization) Opportunity for an internship between February and June. You will be rewarded 15 ECTS on top of your programme. Your thesis will be postponed to the first semester of your next study year. |
| Specific requirements | More 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. 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/education/admission-application/apply-msc/ If you have any questions concerning admission, please contact our Admissions Office: http://www.rug.nl/education/international-students/application-procedure/support/admissions-office or consult the guide for Teaching and Examination Regulations for more information about admission and application requirements: http://www.rug.nl/feb/education/student-handbook/?lang=en |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Economics and Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with completed Intermediate Asset Pricing (EBB084A05) and Corporate Finance for E&BE (EBB079A05) |
| Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with completed Intermediate Asset Pricing (EBB084A05), Corporate Finance for E&BE (EBB079A05) and Econometrics for BE (EBB061A05) |
| Econometrics and Operations Research | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with completed Intermediate Asset Pricing (EBB084A05) and Corporate Finance for E&BE (EBB079A05) |
| Business Administration | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Profile B&M and TM with completed minor Finance |
| Fiscale Economie | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with completed Intermediate Asset Pricing (EBB084A05), Corporate Finance for E&BE (EBB079A05) and Econometrics for BE (EBB061A05) |
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with completed minor Finance |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| certified competences |
GMAT/GRE; for specific scores (and exemptions), see https://www.rug.nl/feb/gmat-gre |
| grade list |
A certified grade list(s) is considered in the evaluation |
| language test |
TOEFL internet based (IBT): 90, IELTS Academic: 6.5; for specific scores, see: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc |
| 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: http://www.rug.nl/feb/education/student-handbook/?lang=en |
| Exam | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) | C1 |
| C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) | C2 |
| IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
| IELTS writing | 6.5 |
| IELTS speaking | 6 |
| TOEFL paper based | 580 |
| TOEFL computer based | 237 |
| TOEFL internet based | 90 |
Students have to apply via Studielink and the Online Application System (OAS) of the University of Groningen. You need to apply for the programme of your choice in order to for the Admissions Office to evaluate your educational background and assess your eligibility. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 October 2019 | 01 February 2020 |
| 01 June 2020 | 01 September 2020 | |
| 15 October 2020 | 01 February 2021 | |
| EU/EEA students | 15 October 2019 | 01 February 2020 |
| 01 May 2020 | 01 September 2020 | |
| 15 October 2020 | 01 February 2021 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 15 October 2019 | 01 February 2020 |
| 01 May 2020 | 01 September 2020 | |
| 15 October 2020 | 01 February 2021 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2019-2020 | € 2083 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2019-2020 | € 14650 | full-time |
Practical information for:
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 selecting specific sets of courses. You may focus on a career in corporate finance, investing, banking, or finance and development. Because all our programmes are EQUIS and AACSB accredited, a standard which only 1% of universities reach worldwide, your degree will be highly valued on the labour market.
FEB Career Services
To support you in developing your career and strengthen your
employability skills, our FEB Career Services empowers you to
achieve lifelong success through various career services during
your studies. Check: FEB Career
Services.
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 pre-professional development. Since an analytical and critical mind and problem-solving capabilities are important qualities in any career our students aspire.
Research institutes related to the MSc programme:
Economics, Econometrics & Finance
Global
Economics and Management
If you want to know more about the programme Finance, please contact:
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.
