What drives investment decisions of companies and investors and how should they finance their operations? Finance specialists know the answers.
By choosing the MSc Finance, 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 critical analysis and assessment of key issues in corporate finance and portfolio management, combining an academic perspective with a practical orientation.
You will 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.
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. You 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.
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.
| Periods | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1 | 2 | ||
| Corporate Finance (5 EC) | ||||
| Portfolio Theory (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Methods in Finance (5 EC) | ||||
| Five electives MSc Finance (25 EC) You have to choose 25 five electives. Some examples: Corporate Governance, Corporate Valuation, Institutional Investment, Energy Finance, Banking Insurance & Risk. For the full list, please the course catalog. | ||||
| Master's Thesis Finance (20 EC) | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Double Degree Master Chinese Economy and Finance (Shanghai) (specialization) Are you interested in an international career in or involving China? Study in Shanghai after your FEB Master's programme in Groningen and gain first-hand knowledge and experience of China and the economy, finance and culture. |
| Double Degree Master Finance (Lund) (specialization) What drives investment decisions of companies and investors and how should they finance their operations? In this double degree programme, you obtain two masters at two renowned universities: MSc Finance from the University of Groningen (UG) and MSc Finance from Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM). Both programmes are research-driven. 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. |
| 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 to gain work experience by doing an internship in the second semester of your study. You will be rewarded 15 ECTS on top of your programme. Your thesis will be postponed to the third semester. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| All Universities of applied sciences |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of You can follow the standard Pre-Master's programme. Read more: https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Economics and Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:For students with completed courses: Intermediate Asset Pricing and Intermediate Corporate Finance for E&BE. For the course Intermediate Corporate Finance, the course Corporate Finance for E&BE can serve as a replacement. |
| Econometrics and Operations Research | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:For students with completed courses: Finance Theory and Modelling and Corporate Finance for E&BE. |
| Business Administration | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:For students who have completed successfully the minor Finance. |
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:For students who have completed successfully the minor Finance. |
| 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. For more information, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc. If you have any questions concerning admission to this programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions. |
| other admission requirements |
Not meeting the pre-education requirements for direct entry? Please read more about our pre-Master programmes . |
Students with a Dutch diploma can apply directly to Studielink. More information on the steps to apply .
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| certified competences |
A GMAT/GRE test is required from all candidates who obtained their bachelor's degree from a university in a non-EU/EEA country. For specific scores and exemptions, please see https://www.rug.nl/feb/gmat-gre.
|
| language test |
IELTS Academic overall score 6.5 (Speaking 6, Writing 6.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 24); Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 176, Speaking 169, Writing 176).
|
| 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. For more information, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc. If you have any questions concerning admission to this programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions. |
| other admission requirements |
Not meeting the pre-education requirements for direct entry? Please read more about our pre-Master programmes . |
Students have to apply via Studielink and the Online Application System (OAS) of the University of Groningen. After you apply for the programme of your choice, the Admissions Office will evaluate your educational background and assess your eligibility. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis. More information on how to apply.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
| 15 October 2022 | 01 February 2023 | |
| 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | |
| 15 October 2023 | 01 February 2024 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 1084 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 14816 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 2209 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 16201 | 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.
As a graduate, your degree will be highly valued in the labour market. The Faculty of Economics and Business is internationally accredited and belongs to the 1% of business schools around the world accredited by both EQUIS and AACSB.
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Everything you need to enter the labour market.
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:
The programme allows students to tailor their degree and the theoretical framework as they desire. I could select the courses that match my field of interest and that I believe prepare me best for my future career. The study gives me a well-defined picture of possibilities that I can pursue when searching for a suitable career. I joined the RISK investment team which helped me to gain more knowledge in investing and to meet new people. It is a great way to employ my theory in practice.
(Pavel Borschjov | MSc Finance)
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.
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