Program structure
Year 1
Semester 1
- Immersion Week
Semester 2
- Electives
- MFIN Business Project / internship (semester 2,3 or 4)*
In the first semester, students build the foundation for their subsequent specialization. All courses during this period are mandatory and shared across both tracks — Corporate Finance (CF) and Investment Management (IM).
The first semester also includes a one-week immersion trip that combines academic and non-academic activities, including various employer meetings. This trip is a mandatory, program-funded component and features the course Sustainability & Responsibility.
After completing the first-semester courses, students choose their specialization in either Investment Management or Corporate Finance. Within their chosen track, they must take at least three courses from the list of core electives. An overview of these core electives can be found here.
Beyond these core electives, you may select the remaining five courses according to your individual interests. Some students choose to deepen their expertise by taking additional electives within their specialization, while others may prefer to broaden their perspectives by enrolling in courses outside of finance.
*MFIN Business Project / internship component
The MFIN Business Project / internship component offers you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in a real-world setting while gaining valuable professional experience. This unique, double-component course combines a 15 ECTS internship and project with a 15 ECTS Master’s thesis, allowing you to bridge academic theory with hands-on practice.
You can take the course in semester 2, 3, or 4, once you have successfully completed at least 30 ECTS from your studies.
You would be responsible for securing your own internship placement, which must have a minimum duration of eight weeks. The internship provides the foundation for both your project work and your Master’s thesis, giving you a chance to explore topics that align with your career ambitions.
Please note that students who choose the MFIN Business Project / internship component are not eligible to apply for the Executive Trainee Module.
Year 2
Semester 3 - 4
Thesis in finance (30 ECTS or 15 ECTS) and choose between:
- MFIN Business Project / internship (semester 2,3 or 4)*
- Sustainability Track
- Data Analytics Track
- XTM: Executive Trainee Module
- Electives at SSE (including courses from other SSE Master programs)
- Electives within the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM)
- Electives and seminars within CIVICA
- CEMS Master in International Management (MIM)
- Exchange Program
- Wallenberg International Fellows Program (WIFP)
- MSc - PhD Parallel Enrollment
In the second year of the Master program in Finance, students focus on writing their Master’s thesis (30 or 15 ECTS), which can be combined with either elective courses (30 ECTS) or a student exchange at one of our partner universities.
Only students who have successfully completed and passed the MFIN Business Project / internship component are eligible to write a condensed Master’s thesis of 15 ECTS.
The Master’s thesis offers you the opportunity to explore a topic of particular interest, often involving significant analytical challenges, while developing independent research, project management, and other career-relevant skills. It may take the form of a research paper or a case study/report addressing a real-world financial problem faced by a firm or financial institution. Thesis work is conducted under the guidance of a faculty advisor and is typically undertaken in pairs.
An overview of all MSc program components of the second year are listed here.
Please note that this landing page lists all program components available at the MSc level. Take a look at the list above to see which options you can choose once you are enrolled in this MSc program.
Double degree programs
The Master program in Finance also offers exciting double degree programs with the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Bocconi University in Milan (Italy), Sciences Po in Paris (France) and CEMS. Read more here!
Sample of elective courses in semester 2 - 4
Check this page to find out in which semester these courses are offered.