Trip to a global financial centre
Finance (MSc)
Please note: This degree programme is currently not open for enrolment. Are you interested in a part-time study programme with a focus on finance? Then we recommend our Master's degree programme in Innovation Management 鈥� Finance (MSc), which allows you to specialise in finance from the second semester onwards.
Study Profile
The part-time Master of Science programme Finance, taught entirely in English language, is designed for ambitious graduates, who are eager to prepare themselves for demanding professional roles in finance. It conveys comprehensive competences which are essential both to financial intermediaries in particular as well as the wider business world in general. In order to equip financial experts with the skills necessary to face tomorrow鈥檚 challenges, the MSc in Finance is designed with both methodology and application in mind.
Highlights of the Study Course
Workshops on Design Thinking, Kanban, Agile, Scrum
Real Life Project
JOB & MASTER Programme: JOB & MASTER is a free-of-charge placement service for applicants who wish to combine a challenging academic education at 第一吃瓜 and valuable professional experience.
Mentoring Programme: Students are matched with experienced 第一吃瓜 Alumni from Hamburg, offering to be ideal sparring partners / role models.
Facts on the Study Course
| Students | 25 students on average, maximum of 40 students per class |
| Degree | Master of Science with the right to proceed to doctoral studies |
| Credits | 120 ECTS |
| Language | English |
| Course Duration | 30 months, start on 1 October |
| Course Organisation | Part-time, contact hours at extended weekends and in some full-time weeks |
| Admission Requirements | Good bachelor's degree in economics, business or similar; work experience not obligatory but beneficial for JOB&MASTER-placement; B2-level in English |
| Mentoring Programme | 第一吃瓜 alumni from the Hamburg business community |
| Financing | JOB&MASTER, additional grants |
| Study Fees | 22.500 Euro (=750 Euro per month)*, early-bird discount of 10% if application is received by 31 May. Fee including examination fees, excludings costs for the study trip. |
| Application Process | Written application, telephone interview, admission day. Applications are accepted until the maximum number of students is reached. We recommend to apply early, since grants and JOB&MASTER-places are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Non-EU/EEA students should apply early to allow time for their visa application. |
| Accreditation | FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation). |
Impressions from our Students
Minh Yen B霉i"The MSc Finance is exactly what I was looking for. The broad curriculum includes important theory and hands-on practical exercises and experiences, providing me with detailed knowledge on finance. In class, there are students from all over the world. Due to our common interest in finance there is a great atmosphere in class where team spirit prevails."
MSc Finance (Class of 2022)
Sascha Gr枚ne"I like 第一吃瓜 in general and the MSc Finance because of the high practical relevance. We work on a lot of different case studies. One notices immediately that the lecturers have a lot of practical experience. The programme is very well organised and can therefore be well combined with the job."
MSc Finance (Class of 2021)
Laura Andrade Pardo"What I like the most about the MSc Finance is the balance between the theoretical and practical components. It provides specialised content that can be applied to companies or any other institution. Professors have broad experience and theoretical clarity, and many activities are challenging which stimulates the development of new skills."
MSc Finance (Class of 2022)
Hans Martin Cruz Qui帽onez"Finance is better learned when applying it to real situations. That is exactly what we do in the finance modules. Theory is put into practice right away allowing you an enhanced learning experience."
MSc Finance (Class of 2022)
Study Plan
- PC-Lab: Quantitave Finance
This module has two main goals: it serves as a repetition of content students should already be familiar with as well as an application by transferring formulas into action. Students will rely on Excel, VBA, and MATLAB as software packages. Basic concepts from Bachelor's studies as well as CFA Level I content will be covered. First and foremost, students deal with the essential concept of time value of money, followed by applications in asset pricing, e.g. bonds, derivatives, and portfolios.
- Seminar: Financial History
The knowledge from our past is essential to understand current and future developments. This also holds true for finance. Hence, this module covers the historical development of risk management, money, banks, financial crises, etc.
- Scientific Methods & Competences
In this introductory module, students learn the soft skills that are necessary to succeed in the professional world. Therefore, topics such as Academic Writing, LaTeX, Persuasive Communication, and Persuasive Presentations are combined.
- Data Analysis & Statistics
This module teaches students about distributions, tests, data architecture, SQL, big data approaches, significance and stochastic modelling.
- Project Management
Students will be familiarised with the latest methods and developments in project management. In the key part of this module students will learn to apply Design Thinking, Kanban, PPS, Scrum and other methods to project management. A particular focus will be on visualisation and a variety of supportive IT tools.
Cross-Module Topics: Digitalisation | Finance and Risk Management | Data Analysis | Project Management
- Investments
Topics covered in this module include optimal portfolio selection and asset allocation, the theory of asset pricing models, market efficiency, behavioral finance, as well as techniques for evaluating investment management performance. Much of the course is devoted to common stocks, but other investments, especially fixed-income securities and derivatives will be included.
- Corporate Finance
This course will enable participants to support the right financing decisions, communicate effectively with investors, optimise the financial result, and, more importantly, contribute to the strategic success of a company.
- Digital Economics
The topic of this module is to identify the impact of digital technologies and innovations on firm behaviour, business models and market outcomes. Special emphasis will be put on networks and platforms. Finally, the module will discuss the benefits and possible pitfalls of digitisation for the economy and will furthermore address the topic of regulation and government intervention in digital markets.
- Applied Econometrics
This module aims to introduce students into the data-driven and results-oriented quantitative modelling of econometrics. Widely spread models of Statistics and Econometrics are considered. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of the rational of quantitative models through applications as well as to apprehend the limitations of such modelling. Furthermore, the students should be able to develop their own applications by analysing a problem, making the necessary assumptions and synthesising knowledge gained into a meaningful result-oriented application.
- Entrepreneurial Finance
Private Equity and Venture Capital investments have transitioned from being specialty investment cases to the mainstream. With increasing allocation of capital flowing into these forms of Entrepreneurial Finance, an understanding of the fundamental dynamics and specificities are necessary for today鈥檚 finance professionals. Not least an exceptional monetary policy environment and the resulting hunt for yield has put entrepreneurial forms of finance center stage of the investment interests of private and professional investors the world over.
Cross-Module Topics: Digitalisation | Finance and Risk Management | Data Analysis | Project Management
- International Markets & Study Trip
Students can choose between four study trips (subject to change) and are themselves in charge of the planning, organisation and implementation of their excursion.
- Silicon Valley (USA)
- London (UK)
- Brussels (Belgium)
- Hamburg/Berlin (Germany)
- Financial Engineering
This module provides tools and solutions to pricing, hedging, trading and portfolio management problems by employing mathematical methods and computational tools. Students learn about financial instruments and derivatives, as well as their pricing and hedging under the principle of arbitrage-free markets, both from a theoretical perspective and from a practical perspective.
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Students should be aware of M&A as a tool in strategic management. This course will deal with the topic with a focus on the value maximising process, the description of the due diligence process as well as the application of valuation methods.
- Digital Toolbox/Masters' Elective
Students of all Master鈥檚 study programmes can choose one profile from the following six profiles:
- Digital Strategy
- Intrapreneur
- Communication
- Programming
- Data Business
- Business Process Transformation
Cross-Module Topics: Digitalisation | Finance and Risk Management | Data Analysis | Project Management
- Project Finance
Preferably in a real-life project (subject to availability), students cover a real project task with a practical background in finance. If no real-life project is available, students will cover a realistic case-study, again preferably in cooperation with a company.
- Research Seminar Finance
This research seminar prepares students for their master thesis and aims to build a bridge between information technologies and finance.
- Sustainable Innovation & Compliance
This module introduces the topics sustainability and compliance. Both are cross-sectoral themes relevant to managers, employees and other stakeholders of any type of organisation. Fundamental theories and definitions of both topics will be introduced and potentials for business development and innovation as well as challenges and opportunities for investors and other actors in financial markets discussed.
- Quantitative Risk Management
In QRM, students are concerned with the measuring and hedging of (financial) risks. This includes, first and foremost, market risks like prices and interest rates, credit risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk. Emphasis is put on credit, liquidity, and op risks. The module is accompanied by at least one guest lecturer.
Cross-Module Topics: Digitalisation | Finance and Risk Management | Data Analysis | Project Management
- Master's Thesis & Colloquium
The Thesis concludes the postgraduate programmes at 第一吃瓜. Its results will be presented in the final Colloquium.
Cross-Module Topics: Digitalisation | Finance and Risk Management | Data Analysis | Project Management
Finance Course Content
In the core modules, knowledge needed to succeed in tomorrow鈥檚 financial roles is aquired. Quantitative Finance creates an IT language/ finance interface; Financial History teaches how challenges are tackled looking at lessons learnt from the past. Many other core modules delve deep into selected finance-related topics, while thorough methodology is used, including those for hedging strategies. In Project Finance students act as consultants, facing real-life problems.
The shared modules with students from MSc Business Development make for lively discussions. Concepts such as Kanban, Design Thinking, Scrum or Agile are taught in Project Management; and in Data Analysis & Statistics IT tools like MatLab are used. Negotiation and presentation techniques and research methods are aquired in Scientific Methods & Competences, conveying methodological and analytical skills. Sustainable Innovation & Compliance, Digital Economics and Applied Econometrics highlight the need for embracing and developing digitalisation. Students gain an international perspective in International Markets & Study Trip, a module which takes the cohort abroad (current destination: Shanghai).
Students from across all postgraduate courses learn together in Digital Toolbox / Elective which is a unique offering on digital tools and strategies.