Finance, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)

Description

All global challenges, whether related to business or not, require an understanding of how financial markets work. The field must be increasingly aware of system-wide risks, conflicts of interest, and regulatory challenges. This requires wide theoretical knowledge and practical skills, both of which are provided by the Finance Master’s programme. Finance graduates have:

• Substantive knowledge. Graduates understand the features of capital markets as well as models and theories of corporate finance and investment decisions.
• Truth-seeking mindset. Graduates have developed a solid scientific approach to solve financial problems critically and to evaluate complex issues of business ethics.
• Analytical skill set. Graduates are able to analyse corporate risk factors and to evaluate the value of e.g. derivative instruments using sophisticated quantitative models.
• High-level management skills. Graduates can work not only independently but also in teams, thanks to their advanced business communication and leadership skills.
• Competitive attitude. Graduates are inspired when challenged and see competitive environments as motivational and developing – for the world and themselves.
• Excellent career opportunities. Graduates usually start working already during their studies and are highly sought-after employees locally and globally.

Upon graduating from the Finance Master’s programme, graduates can apply analytical thinking and 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).

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Aalto University’s tuition fee for master’s programmes taught in English is 15 000 euros per academic year. Tuition fees apply to citizens of countries other than those of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Aalto University has a scholarship programme to support non-EU/EEA citizens who study in a fee-charging degree programme. The scholarship may cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fee.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

Master’s Programme in Finance organized by the School of Business and comprises a total of 120 ECTS credits. The two-year programme consists of:

• Programme studies (84 ECTS), including Master’s Thesis and seminar (36 ECTS)
• Elective studies (36 ECTS)

Students have the opportunity to complete minor studies (24 ECTS) at an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business.

Students can also apply to a double degree programme and complete two degrees in parallel: the Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree at the Aalto University School of Business (one year) and a Master's degree at the partner university, University of Cologne (one year).

At the beginning of their studies, students define their Personal Study Plans (PSP) together with an academic advisor. The primary purpose of PSP is to ensure that the studies support the student’s interests and are completed in a logical order.

Specialisations

The learning environment is demanding, yet supportive. Most courses highlight the quantitative and analytical approach to solve business problems but are at times supported by more qualitative data. The Finance department and its professors welcome student feedback as a primary tool for developing the learning methods of each course. There are two areas of specialisation to help you select elective courses:

Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance 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.

Core topics you cover include:

• analysing and choosing investment projects
• mergers and acquisitions
• agency theory
• investment banking and obtaining funds from primary markets
• project and trade finance
• capital structure and dividend decisions

Financial Markets

Financial Markets prepare students for entry-level positions in e.g. investment management and strategy, venture capital and private equity, and risk management.

Core topics you cover include:

• behaviour and determinants of security prices
• their implications on portfolio management
• behavioural finance and investor psychology
• private equity and venture capital
• risk management
• pricing options, futures and other derivatives

Internationalisation

Financial markets are global and the industry is highly international by nature. Finance students receive world-class teaching from professors and doctoral students who have international experience from the world’s top universities like Wharton, Harvard and Berkeley. Further, most Finance students decide to complete an exchange at one of the top-tier partner universities of Aalto. They typically have excellent employment opportunities not only in Finland but also abroad, for example in nearby financial hubs such as London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Aalto University is international by nature, welcoming thousands of degree and exchange students from abroad each year. These students join the diverse Aalto community not only through studies, but also multiple free time events, activities and celebrations around the campus. Programme administrators, active student tutors and student support services work rigorously to help international students integrate into the Nordic culture and feel at home in Finland.

Further study opportunities

The degree grants eligibility for doctoral studies.

Career opportunities

The world’s most selective companies in the financial sector fiercely compete for the talent that Finance graduates possess. This is seen in multiple real-life cases and projects that companies introduce and host during Finance courses. Career-wise, the working environment in finance is very broad: potential employers vary from investment and commercial banks to management consultancies, and from brokerage and mutual fund companies to insurance and venture capital firms.

Over 80 percent of Finance students find their first established jobs already during their studies – usually through the highly active Finance student association Aalto Finance. Their mission is to provide opportunities for students interested in Finance to get acquainted, connect with the faculty, and develop networks with people working in related industries. This means active alumni relations, mentoring opportunities and many relaxed events like poker nights and after-exam celebrations.

Aalto University has well-established career services that help you get employed in Finland and abroad. Aalto students often find respected positions with ease upon graduation. An active entrepreneurship community is already present at Aalto, which can help as a springboard for founding your company. Finally, if an academic career is of interest, the Master’s programme in Finance is a great foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions.

Research focus

The research in this programme is linked to several focus areas in the School of Business. Additional information about research related to this programme can be found at the Department of Finance website: https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-finance

Co-operation with other parties

Aalto University and the departments involved in the programme collaborate with many high-quality universities worldwide.

The student can take advantage of the studies within other Aalto University Schools, studies under the flexible study right agreement (JOO) within other universities as well as the major's international connections and student exchange possibilities.

Multidisciplinary opportunities

Finance studies are flexible when it comes to choosing minor and elective courses from different majors and in different schools. For example, behavioural finance is similar to psychology, sociology and behavioural sciences, and entrepreneurial minds often find paths towards financial technology, corporate venturing, and startup investing.

Aalto University is well-known for bridging disciplines of business, arts, technology and science. The lively campus and freedom to choose elective courses across the university bring students from different fields under one roof. This spontaneous multidisciplinary environment sparks new ideas, gathers enthusiasts around them and gives birth to friendships, networks, and every so often, startups.

Contact information

School of Business

[email protected] / [email protected]