Accounting and Finance

Knowledge taught in this programme is of great importance in several fields of business that rely on risk management and an understanding of how incentives determine behaviour of managers within both financial and non-financial firms. In addition, profound knowledge in both accounting and finance is necessary in a more general economic context, for instance when coping with the difficult task of regulating financial markets.

The scope of our MSc in Accounting and Finance thus reaches far beyond the limits of these two fields of business. Reflecting the integrated approach of the programme, the curriculum requires students to take a minimum of one course from each of the two pillars of finance and accounting. This paves the ground for specialisation through advanced field courses in either accounting or finance. Alternatively, students may choose a more balanced portfolio of advanced courses in both fields. The courses offered cover analytically challenging fields, such as options and futures, advanced corporate finance or managerial accounting. Other courses focus on institutional aspects pertaining to corporate governance and auditing, or managing corporate taxation. Importantly, the programme includes theory and application of empirical methods, such as advanced time series analysis, as employed in the practice of empirical banking or in institutions aiming at international financial stability.

Educational organisation

The MSc in Accounting and Finance is designed as a three-semester programme, taught according to the European Credit Transfer System. Successful completion requires students to achieve a total of 90 ECTS credits.
The curriculum includes both courses in accounting and finance. Compulsory courses are designed to teach important foundations, while field courses allow students to specialise according to their individual interests and abilities. Some of the courses are taught in English. Successful completion of the programme also requires a Master's thesis (24 ECTS credits), written in the third and final term.

Internships

Although there is no compulsory internship, a specialised office will assist students in finding an internship upon request.

Forms of assessment

Written and oral examinations
Assignments

Course objectives

Graduates have excellent career prospects across a wide range of fields in financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies, in auditing firms, management consulting, industrial firms and the public sector. They will be attractive candidates for all positions that require institutional knowledge, analytical skills and/or expertise in empirical research.

Graduates of this programme will also find themselves well-positioned for an academic career. If you are interested in continuing your education with a PhD, you may complete your MSc in Accounting and Finance on a PhD track.

Language requirements

1) English
Foreign applicants: Certificate equivalent to the German Abitur certificate (i.e A-level certificate), or an official test (TOEFL, IELTS), or Bachelor's degree in an English-speaking country.
German applicants: Abiturzeugnis

2) German
Foreign applicants: DSH-2, TestDaF 4x4x4x4, or equivalent (such as Bachelor's degree in Germany)

Required DSH / TestDaF

Yes

Academic requirements

Admission to the MSc in Accounting & Finance requires a Bachelor of Science/Arts or a comparable degree (with excellent grades) in business and/or economics, preferably a degree that amounts to 210 ECTS credits with solid intermediate knowledge in accounting, finance and quantitative methods (mathematics, statistics, econometrics).
Students entering with a three-year Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS credits) are required to earn 30 additional ECTS credits in order to obtain a Master's degree.

Enrolment fees

142.10 EUR per semester

Costs of living

The average necessary allowance for a university student at the University of Tübingen is 700 EUR per month.

Arrival support

Several student advisers are available who will be glad to help participants in all questions regarding their Master's programme and their stay in Tübingen. The student body (Fachschaft) offers numerous welcoming events especially for Master's students.

Services and support for international students

During orientation weeks, students will be escorted to public authorities for registration purposes and helped with opening bank accounts, registering with the university and setting up their health insurance. Students are offered a basic German course and various activities which introduce them to the university and the city.

Accommodation

Tübingen offers student accommodation for about 4,400 students. The Student Services Organisation ("Studentenwerk") has an Accommodation Office that helps international students with finding rooms.