Banking and Finance

In the fields of financial markets, financial institutions, corporate finance and quantitative finance, the English-language Master's in Banking and Finance (MBF) offers high-quality education in both theory and application.

With challenging curriculum in the fields of

• financial markets,
• corporate finance,
• institutions and
• methods,

the Master's Programme in Banking and Finance (MBF) is the ideal preparation for beginning your career in the world of banking, insurance, asset management, financial consulting, or other finance-related fields. At the same time, the rigorous and research-oriented approach ensures a thorough preparation for further academic studies, particularly for a Ph.D degree.

International with broad curriculum

With more than 400 students from all over the world, the MBF is an international Master's programme that has been offered exclusively in English since the fall of 2008. The broad curriculum and selection of electives offers you a great deal of flexibility in designing your Master's studies. Furthermore, the MBF Programme is an official Programme Partner of the CFA Institute. This acknowledges that the MBF Programme covers more than 70% of the Candidate Body of Knowledge for all three levels of the CFA Programme.

Leading finance programme - 10th place in the FT Ranking 2013

In the 2013 Financial Times Finance Ranking the MBF was awarded 10th place worldwide confirming its postion as one of the leading finance programmes. You will find all necessary information about the MBF on the programme's website.However, if you have any specific questions for which you can not find an answer, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Why MBF?

The MBF is the ideal Master's programme for successfully starting your career in both the financial industry and in academia.

The Master's Programme in Banking and Finance (MBF) is intended to provide students with the right qualifications for a successful career start in banking, insurance, asset management, financial consulting , auditing and other financial institutions.

Research-oriented programme

The programme is research-oriented and is therefore also suitable as a preparation for higher-level academic programmes, particularly doctoral studies. In this field, the University of St.Gallen offers the Ph.D. Programme in Economics and Finance (PEF) or the Ph.D. programme in Management (PMA) with a specialisation in finance.

The programme's education goals encompass three aspects:

Theory and leadership skills

The overarching aim is the simultaneous and equivalent teaching of theory and leadership skills in the various fields, including a well-founded methodological competence and the ability to subject the various approaches to critical reflection.

MBF Curriculum

The Master's Programme in Banking and Finance offers a high-quality graduate education in Finanical Markets, Institutions, Corporate Finance, and Quantitative Methods.

Language/length/credits

The core studies comprise the compulsory courses and the core electives, including a research seminar and the Master's thesis. The MBF programme has been structured in such a way as to ensure that students are able to acquire their basic knowledge in the compulsory courses of the first semester. In the second and third semesters, students select core electives according to their individual preferences and thus determine the orientation of their studies themselves.

The MBF programme requires a total of 90 ECTS and takes three semesters, i.e. it is a full-time study program.

Core studies

MBF students may earn 12 credits in independent elective courses which offer additional choices. Students may either attend other core electives of the MBF or courses from other Master's programmes (provided that the course is open to students of other programmes). A third option is to attend specific independent elective courses of the Department of Management.

Contextual studies

We strongly encourage you to gain practical experience during your Master's studies and to contact potential employers. Practice credits are awarded for practical activities which are closely related to the MBF.
As first priority, practice credits are credited for leadership skills; second priority is given to independent electives. A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 practice credits can be awarded. Practice credits will not be graded.
Practice credits may also be awarded for practical work you have completed no more than a year before you begin to study at the University of St.Gallen. In this case they can be awarded for activities only if you have a recognized Bachelor's or equivalent degree when you began the activity or, if you are an HSG Bachelor's candidate, when you have fulfilled all requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Master's thesis

Your Master's thesis in the MBF programme is graded and weighted with 18 ECTS. You may take your topic from the Master's major or from a contextual field. However, it must be related to banking, finance or insurance. Since the MBF is a programme entirely taught in English, the Master's thesis must be written in English.

Compulsory subjects

The three demanding compulsory courses, financial markets, financial institutions, and quantitative methods emphasise the holistic concept of the program.

The three compulsory courses should be attended in the first semester of the MBF as they are a prerequisite for most core electives offered in the second and third semester.

The Advice Center for Study Funding offers information on options for financing your studies: www.studyfunding.unig.ch

Accreditation

The HSG has earned the EQUIS (2001) and AACSB (2003) accreditations and consequently has obtained the two most demanding international seals of approval for business schools.

In the 2013 Financial Times Global Masters in Management Ranking we are in 1st place with the Master in Strategy and International Management and in 7th place with the CEMS Master in International Management. Our Master in Banking and Finance is ranked 10th in theFinancial Times Masters in Finance Ranking.