Master in Finance

Kick-start your career as a financial analyst

The Master in Finance fast-tracks you to a successful career as a financial analyst in Sweden or abroad. We cooperate with accreditation organisations such as SwedSec and the CFA Society Sweden and cover the knowledge necessary to work as a financial analyst.

Learn from uniquely diverse and qualified team

Over the course of one year you’ll have the opportunity to engage with and learn from accomplished professionals from business, as well as an experienced team of researchers, lecturers and professors. Not only are these experts highly qualified, they place importance on passing their knowledge on to you. Each expert is well prepared and eager to engage with our Master in Finance students.

Work integrated learning

University West is Sweden’s leading university when it comes to Work Integrated Learning (WIL). The university was tasked with the development of WIL by the Swedish government 15+ years ago and continues to lead the field today. WIL provides you with opportunities to put knowledge and skills into practice through projects, case studies and analyses conducted in collaboration with companies and organisations. One specific example of WIL is our annual participation in the global contest "CFA Institute Research Challenge". During this competition you’ll receive mentoring and advice from industry professionals in financial analysis and professional ethics. You’ll then compete with students from other universities based on your analytical, valuation, report writing and presentation skills. This allows you to gain real-world experience as you undertake the role of a research analyst.

International yet intimate

University West offers an intimate campus environment without the usual barriers between academic staff and students. Here, your professors are easily accessible to answer questions, hold discussions and provide individual feedback. The teacher-to-student ratio is higher than at most comparable programmes at other universities, and your proactive participation is a part of the programme. Additionally, all of your courses have an international focus. This is enriched by students and staff coming from all over the world with diverse cultural backgrounds. Completely taught in English, your programme gives you an enriching linguistic and cultural experience and prepares you for a challenging and stimulating career in an increasingly globalised world.

Content

The one-year Master in Finance prepares you for a career as a financial analyst in corporations and financial institutions. Fully taught in English, it consists of advanced courses (45 credits) and a master’s thesis project (15 credits). The programme has a strong analytical focus and emphasizes the knowledge and skills needed in today’s global financial environment.

Practice and theory

Interaction with experts from business are a built-in part of your programme. Additionally, staff from Sweden and abroad are actively involved in research. This gives the programme a solid academic foundation that maintains clear connections between business, financial markets, institutions and the public sector.

Advanced learning techniques

• Financial modelling
• Forecasting
• Computer applications

CFA accreditation

The structure and content of the courses are based on the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) which is used by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFAI) in the accreditation process for financial analysts. This means that the programme forms a good preparation for CFA exams and international accreditation.

Course overview

The total programme is 60 credits:

• Financial Reporting and Analysis (including ethical considerations for financial profession), 7.5 credits
• Corporate Finance and Equity Valuation, 7.5 credits
• Advanced Research Methods in Finance, 7.5 credits
• Portfolio Management and Alternative Investment, 7.5 credits
• International Finance, 7.5 credits
• Fixed Income Fundamentals and Derivatives, 7.5 credits
• Degree Project in Finance, Master (60 credits), 15 credits

Educational methods

Here is an estimated average breakdown of how you’ll spend your time each week:

• Lectures (25%)
• Seminars (5%)
• Practical/group work (5%)
• Thesis work (25%)
• Independent or self-study (40%)

Degree

Upon completion of this master’s programme you will receive a Master of Science (MSc, 60 credits) with a major in Economics.

Programme syllabus

Programme syllabus

Career

The programme provides a scientific foundation that you can directly apply in professional roles such as insurance broker, realtor and financial advisor. After completing the Master in Finance (MSc) you’ll be qualified to work in a variety of sectors and branches:

Private sector

• Industrial and financial firms
• Banks
• Wealth and asset managing companies such as mutual/pension/hedge funds
• National and international companies

Government agencies

• Ministry of Finance
• The Central Bank
• Tax Authority
• Social Insurance Agency
• Central Bureau of Statistics

International bodies

• EU
• UN
• IMF
• OECD
• World Bank

Other

• Local government, trade and workers' organisations and the media.
• Running your own analytical firm or being an economic journalist

Further educationHaving completed the Master in Finance at University West, students are qualified for admission to doctoral studies in Sweden or PhD programmes abroad.

You will be considered for admission to the Master in Finance if you fulfil the following entry requirements.

See also programme syllabus.

Previous education

Bachelor’s degree worth 180 credits with 90 credits in the major subject field of economics with at least 7.5 credits in finance at the intermediate level and 7.5 credits in econometrics, statistics, or the equivalent.

Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree worth 180 credits with 90 credits in the major subject field of business administration, with at least 7.5 credits in micro- economics and 7.5 credits in macro-economics and at least 7.5 credits in finance at the intermediate level and 7.5 credits in econometrics, statistics, or the equivalent.

English language requirement

The English language requirement is the equivalent of English studies at the upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden. Learn about proof of English proficiency.

If you have any questions, please send us an email at study@universitywest.se

Application procedure

University West uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application period, which starts from mid-October. The application procedure basically consists of three steps:

• Apply online on www.universityadmissions.se
• Submit your documents on www.universityadmissions.se . (Deadline will be confirmed in your application confirmation, generally around two weeks after the application deadline.)
• Pay the application fee (if applicable) on www.universityadmissions.se . (Deadline will be confirmed in your application confirmation, generally around two weeks after the application deadline.)

More detailed information about the application procedure.

Application fee

Students with citizenship in countries not within the EU/EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee in order to get their application processed. The application fee is SEK 900 (Swedish kronor).

Not sure if you need to pay the application fee? This list of questions will help you.

Tuition fee

For the academic year 2023/2024 the tuition fee for this programme will be SEK 115,000. You will pay the tuition fee per semester (two instalments).

Students with citizenship in countries not within the EU/EEA or Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees for university studies in Sweden. For more information about tuition fees and exceptions you can check Universityadmissions.se.

University West Scholarship Programme

The University West scholarship programme is open for fee-paying students admitted to specified master's programmes. The scholarship will fully or partly cover the tuition fee for the programme (so not costs for travel or living expenses).

Swedish Institute Scholarships

Students admitted to master's programmes in Sweden can apply for a scholarship to cover their tuition fee. There is a national scholarship programme administrated by the Swedish Institute towards specific countries.

For more information about these scholarships, visit www.studyinsweden.se

Name of the programme

Master in Finance

Degree

Master of Science (MSc) with a major in Economics

Duration

1 year, 60 credits

Pace of instruction

Full-time

Type of instruction

On campus

Teaching hours

Daytime

Tuition fee*

115,000 SEK per year

Scholarship available

Yes

* EU/EEA citizens are generally exempted from paying tuition fee