Why study Banking and Finance at Stockholm Business School?
Banks are central to the financial architecture of all societies. The changing global financial landscape offers opportunities for innovative thinking to respond to unique demands for financial services by businesses and society at large. This programme, by design, assists students develop global skills and proficiencies to work anywhere in the banking and finance world through a distinctive blend of robust course content and a strong and international student and faculty body. If you are motivated and driven to be part of the decision making process in the global financial architecture, the master programme in Banking and Finance will match your ambition with its scope of content, context, and relevance.
- This programme combines economics with business - giving you important insight into their correlation.
- You will be provided with knowledge and skills in high demand among employers.
- The programme prepares you for further academic research.
Programme information
What you will learn
Academic abilities are important in financial decision-making as they help cultivate professional judgment of new developments in finance. As such the programme emphasizes both theoretical as well as practical applications of finance in a global context. A graduate in our Master of Banking and Finance programme possesses a high degree of financial knowledge and skill. You will learn financial theories (including portfolio theory, corporate finance theories, and financial derivatives) and their applications, econometrics and financial modelling and their applications, financial institutions in a global context, and using financial information in the decision making process. Students are taught by committed full-time and part-time faculty members, all of whom are engaged in innovative international financial research. Whilst the programme provides students with a robust grounding in finance, the curriculum also encourages critical thinking and ethical behaviour.
Your future career
The programme provides a solid background for students pursuing a professional career in the financial industry as financial analysts, chief financial officers and portfolio managers. Prospective employers include commercial banks, central banks, investment banking firms and other international financial institutions. The programme also provides a solid background for students pursuing a career in academic research and teaching in the area of financial economics.
Eligibility requirements and selection of applicants
Successful applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree with either 60 ECTS in Business Administration and 30 ECTS in Economics, or 60 ECTS in Economics and 30 ECTS in Business Administration. In addition, students are required to have mathematics and statistics, each equivalent to at least 7.5 ECTS. You must must have a knowledge of English corresponding to English B/6 and Swedish upper secondary school. The ranking and selection of master students is based on GMAT and/or GRE.The lenght of this education is 2 years and you will obtain 120 ECTS credits. The language of instruction is in English, and you will receive a degree in Master of Science. Latest day for application is January 15th.
Programme overview from 2016
Semester 1
During the first half of the first semester students with a background in business take two courses in Economics at intermediary level and students with a background in economics take courses in Business at intermediary level. The second part of the first semester the programme offers courses in Financial Institutions Management and Econometrics.
Background in Business Administration take:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Intermediate Microeconomics | Economics | 7,5 | 100% |
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | Economics | 7,5 | 100% |
Background in Economics take:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Financial Reporting | Business | 7,5 | 100% |
| Corporate Finance | Business | 7,5 | 100% |
Mutual courses:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Financial Institutions Management | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Econometrics | Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
Semester 2
The second semester develops the disciplinary core and consists of four courses dealing with various financial instruments and techniques: Derivatives, Fixed Income Securities, Portfolio Theory and Econometrics.
To continue onto year 2, students must have accomplished a minimum of 52.5 ECTS during year 1.
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Fixed Income Securities | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Portfolio Theory | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Financial Derivatives and Risk Management | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Econometrics 3B: Time Series Data | Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
Semester 3
The third semester is integrative and combines, in addition to one elective course, knowledge from the two contributing disciplines. The courses give an intergrative specialisation within the area of financial economics and are preparatory for further research within the field.
To enter the fourth semester and the degree project the student should have completed a minimum of 75 ECTS within the programme.
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Elective course | 7,5 | 50% | |
| Financial Development and Crises | Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
| Advanced Financial Theory | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Advanced Financial Empirical Research | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
Semester 4
The fourth semester consists of writing a master’s thesis with relevance to the programme. The dissertation enables you to further advance skills and knowledge you have developed during the taught courses by applying relevant theories and methods to an empirical problem. The thesis is expected to give a substantial contribution to research. Students are expected to write in pairs.
| Course | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Master's Dissertation in Finance | 30 | 100% |
Programme overview from 2020
Semester 1
During the first half of the first semester students with a background in business take two courses in Economics at intermediary level and students with a background in economics take courses in Business at intermediary level.
Background in Business Administration take:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Intermediate Microeconomics | Economics | 7,5 | 100% |
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | Economics | 7,5 | 100% |
Background in Economics take:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Financial Reporting | Business | 7,5 | 100% |
| Corporate Finance | Business | 7,5 | 100% |
Mutual courses:
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Financial Institutions Management | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Econometrics | Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
Semester 2
To continue onto year 2, students must have accomplished a minimum of 52.5 ECTS during year 1.
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Fixed Income Securities | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Portfolio Theory | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Financial Derivatives and Risk Management | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Econometrics 3B: Time Series Data | Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
Semester 3
| Course | Department | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Elective course | 7,5 | 50% | |
| Financial Market Structure | Business/Economics | 7,5 | 50% |
| Advanced Financial Theory | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
| Advanced Financial Empirical Research | Business | 7,5 | 50% |
To enter the fourth semester and the degree project the student should have completed a minimum of 75 ECTS within the programme.
Semester 4
The fourth semester consists of writing a master’s thesis with relevance to the programme. The dissertation enables you to further advance skills and knowledge you have developed during the taught courses by applying relevant theories and methods to an empirical problem. The thesis is expected to give a substantial contribution to research. Students are expected to write in pairs.
| Course | ECTS | Rate of studies |
| Master's Dissertation in Financial economics | 30 |
100% |
How to apply
Read more about our application process and how to apply.
Contact
For more information about this programme, please contact our Academic Advisors.
