Finance and Banking

The Master of Science in Finance and Banking at UPF Barcelona School of Management is a one-year, full time program entirely taught in English targeted at participants who wish to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful career in the fields of corporate finance, banking or financial regulation. The program includes a curricular internship and it allows you to choose your preferred elective courses according to your career plans.

Practically focused and internationally oriented, the Master of Science in Finance and Banking provides students with the ability to apply complex financial, economic and investment theories to both corporations and the financial services industry. The course will provide you with a wide-ranging theoretical background and equip the practical skills for active interaction in investment banks and securities firms, in finance departments of industrial and service companies and in central banks.

The Master of Science in Finance and Banking benefits from the outstanding, hand-picked faculty of the UPF's world ranked Department of Economics and Business, known for its scientific approach, its constant contribution to creating knowledge and its high-level ability to stimulate and convey knowledge.

Why this program?

1. You will end up with a deep understanding of how financial markets and financial institutions work as well as of the impact financial regulation has on both areas
2. You will master, and put to work, the most recent tools and techniques used by financial analysts in the increasingly complex and challenging world of finance.
3. You will be taught by some of the world's top ranked faculty, from UPF and other prestigious international universities, and a unique selection of experienced business professionals.
4. You will have special sessions in current topics delivered by our guest professors.
5. You will benefit from an internship organized by the Career Development Program, specifically targeted at the finance and banking industry and coordinated by an experienced finance professional.
6. You will be equipped with the tools and skills needed for a successful career in investment and commercial banking, consultancy or in the accounting and finance department of any company.

Essentials

• Financial Econometrics - José Olmo (University of Southampton)
• Financial Accounting and Analysis - Javier Gomez-Bizcarri (UPF)
• Macroeconomics and International Finance - Oriol Aspachs (La Caixa) and Sofia Rodriguez (Banc de Sabadell).

Finance

• Investments - José Suárez-Lledó (Caixabank)
• Financial Management - Filippo Ippolito (UPF)
• Derivatives and Risk Management - Manuel Moreno (University of Castilla-La Mancha)

Banking

• Financial Markets and Institutions - Enrique Benito (Deloitte)
• Financial Institutions Management - Silvia Holgado (BBVA) and José Luis Peydró (UPF)

Elective courses

There will be a presentation of electives at the end of the first term so that students can get a better understanding of their choices. Students may choose 4 out of the following 6 electives:

• Corporate Valuation
  • Corporate Valuation - Albert Banal-Estanol (UPF) and Jacobo Cuadrado
• Mergers, Acquisitions and Reorganizations
  • Mergers & Acquisitions - Michael Counihan (UPF)
  • Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization - Victor Garrabou von Trotha (Seaport Group)
• Regulation and Governance
  • Banking Regulation and Supervision - Sergio Vicente (Carlos III)
  • Corporate Governance - Andrea Polo (UPF)
• Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance - Filippo Ippolito (UPF)
• Benchmarking and Management Control
  • Benchmarking and Management Control - Mircea Epure (UPF)
• Pricing and Revenue Optimization
  • Pricing and Revenue Optimization - Mihalis Markakis (UPF)

MSc Thesis

• MSc Thesis Advising: Guidelines and Accompanying Course - Luz Parrondo (UPF)

Requirements

• To have finished or be in the last year of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university. Ideally, students should come from any of the following academic fields of study:Economics,Business Administration,Engineering,Mathematics,Physics
• Applicants with a different academic background will be asked to provide proof of sufficient quantitative and analytical training by presenting a 600 or higher GMAT score.
• Applicants who are currently studying the last year of their Bachelor's Degrees will need to have finished their university studies and obtained their final diploma before the beginning of the program.
• Applicants who finished their Bachelor's Degrees some time ago should preferably not exceed 3 years of working experience in a position relevant to the program's field.
• Pay the admission fee by credit card or bank transfer (120 €)
• Have an admission interview (Skype)
• Scanned copy of the student's Bachelor's Degree
• Scanned copy of the Transcript of Records. Make sure that it includes your GPA (Grade Point Average).
• Scanned copy of the student's Passport/ID
• Official proof of English: TOEFL CBT: > 235, TOEFL PBT: > 575, TOEFL IBT: > 100, IELTS: > 6.5, CAE: C1
• Presentation letter or video
• Photo (.JPG)
• CV (written in English)
• 2 letters of recommendation (1 academic letter mandatory)
• GMAT:
  • Required for students from non-analytical Bachelor's Degrees (Humanities, Communication, Tourism, Law, Politics etc.)
  • Strongly recommended for science students (Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, etc.) and students whose analytical background is not duly justified (on the Transcript of Records or by work experience).
  • Not required for students from analytical related Bachelor's Degrees (Economy, Business and Administrations, International Business, Statistics, Engineering, Maths, Physics, etc.)
  • For the MSCIB - Although GMAT is not strictly required, analytical skills and business experience will be positively evaluated.

Scholarships

• Global Education
• UPF Partner Universities.Check if the university where you took your undergraduate studies is a UPF partner university and obtain a 10% discount on your master's tuition fees. Ask your Program Advisor for more information.
• Talent Scholarships. Apply for one of our Talent Scholarships, specifically awarded to master students who can demonstrate an exceptional academic, professional or personal trajectory.
• External Financial Aid. Consult the list of external entities and institutions that offer financial aid to students who want to enrol on a master program or a postgraduate course.
• Discounts. Benefit from our student discounts if you are an alumnus, belong to the UPF community or work for one of our collaborating institutions.
• Bank Loans. Inform yourself about the bank loans with advantageous conditions that UPF Barcelona School of Management has set up with the main Spanish financial institutions.