Masters Degrees in Finance, Italy

Program Structure

Its curriculum is designed in order to provide an optimal balance between theory and its practical application in the industry. In the first year, the Master of Science in Finance offers key skills in all the major areas of finance, from accounting, corporate finance and investment banking to investments, quantitative finance, risk management and derivatives.
This exposure to all key areas of finance, rather than just a subset of them, is crucial to enable students to become competent and flexible professionals, able to interact with colleagues from different divisions and backgrounds in their future careers.

The second year offers the choice of a wide number of specialized elective courses that can be chosen in accordance with desired career paths and personal interests, going further in depth in fields such as investment banking, quantitative finance, asset management and insurance, management and consulting for financial institutions.
The majors offered in the Master of Science in Finance are:
- Financial Institution Management;
- Investment banking;
- Quantitative finance;
- Insurance.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Master of Science in Finance has the following educational objectives:

- provide advanced preparation in the main business areas: corporate finance, quantitative finance, management of financial institutions and investment banking necessary to work in the international context of corporate finance and financial markets and institutions;
- develop the skills to combine company assessment and fundamental analysis with quantitative competences, and to operate both as an expert, as well as in the areas of investment banking and capital markets of the major financial intermediaries;
- complete the business studies providing competences in economics and law, so as to develop problem analysis skills in interdisciplinary areas;
- develop competences via educational activities inside and outside the classroom which promote student-teacher interaction and interaction between the students themselves as well as complex problem analysis, problem solving skills, ability to present and discuss the results of one’s work;
- promote competence (in the business area) in the use of English and of a second EU language to work effectively and efficiently in one’s profession.

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The Banking and Finance program is a specialized degree designed for students who wish to concentrate their career in financial markets and institutions. The program provides advanced training in the key areas of trading and risk management. A significant feature of this program is the combination of strong analytical foundations and applications that deal with real world issues.

Learning objectives

Students will learn to integrate financial models, firm-specific as well as industry and economic factors in their decision making process. In this program, students will have access to meetings with highly qualified speakers from areas such as the financial industry, internship programs in major Italian and international financial institutions, and exchange programs in European and US universities.

Career opportunities & professional recognition

Graduates from the Banking and Finance program will gain both the technical knowledge and the methodological tools suited to pursue professional and managerial careers in banks, asset management companies, security firms, large corporations (particularly in the Treasury and Finance departments), and regulators. Professional consulting positions in all areas of Banking and Finance represent another option for graduates.

Curriculum

First year credits
● Advanced financial accounting (5 ECTS/CFU)
● Advanced microeconomics (5 ECTS/CFU)
● Applied econometrics (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Applied statistics for finance (6 ECTS/CFU)
● Corporate finance (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Derivative securities pricing (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Monetary economics (6 ECTS/CFU)
● Principles of financial regulation (10 ECTS/CFU)
● Quantitative methods for finance (8 ECTS/CFU)

Second year credits
● Investment risk management (4 ECTS/CFU)
● Foreign language (French, German, or Spanish)* (4 ECTS/CFU)
● Market microstructure (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Risk management (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Electives (12 ECTS/CFU)
● Thesis (20 ECTS/CFU)

* The foreign language course can be anticipated to the first year. The language of instruction of the French and Spanish foreign language course is taught in English. German is taught in Italian.

Elective courses list Business area
● Corporate governance and social responsibility - I part (4 ECTS/CFU)
● International corporate finance (8 ECTS/CFU)
● International financial markets (4 ECTS/CFU)
● Project management (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Real estate finance (4 ECTS/CFU)
● Stage/Internship (8 ECTS/CFU)

NB: Upon submitting the study program for the first Master’s degree year, students may insert up to 12 ECTS relative to the teachings of the second year.

Location

The financial district, including the Italian Stock Exchange, is located only ten minutes from our campus, a prime vicinity for those students who plan on studying in the field of Banking and Finance.

Our experts

Cattolica takes great pride in its program contributors. Both academics and professionals from the field teach at our University. Special guests and renowned experts will enhance your learning experience at Cattolica.

Career service

Cattolica’s Career Service will help orientate you along the paths of research, internships and employment, providing you with highly valuable information and support.

International Student Services

At Cattolica, international students should never fear being alone. We have invested in a range of services which ensure that our international visitors are fully supported. Our objective is to guarantee that the unique Cattolica welcome is there for all.

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The Master in Economics and Finance is a graduate program, that allows students to complete their training in economics providing them with a thorough understanding of the role and working of the state in modern economies.

The Master is a full-time, intensive course, with a maximum enrollment of 20 students. The Master offers courses taught in English and it is accessible to students of all countries. The diploma, issued by Università Cattolica, is recognized as a second level Master’s degree by the Italian Government.

Learning objectives

The Master will allow students to acquire the needed knowledge and research experience in order to pursue further studies with a Ph.D. in Economics; allow them to integrate their academic experience with professional skills of theoretical and practical relevance.

Graduate students are invited to take part in the Seminar series, which is organized by the Department of Economics and Finance on a weekly basis. During the last two years, it has featured scholars from top European and U.S. Institutions, such as Northwestern University, University of Southern California, University of Maryland, European Central Bank, CEMFI-Madrid, Université de Toulouse, Tel Aviv University, Queen Mary College of London, and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Our research environment also benefits from many initiatives, such as the “Annual Lecture” in Political Economy, which, in recent years, has been delivered by prominent academics such as James Robinson (Harvard University), Peter Howitt (Brown University), Howard Rosenthal (Princeton University), and Daron Acemoglu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT).

Career opportunities & professional recognition

Students will be able to integrate their academic experience with professional skills of theoretical practical relevance for building a professional career in the research departments of banks, governments, and international organizations such as IMF, World Bank, OECD and ILO.

Curriculum

1st term (October 2016 - December 2016)
● Mathematics (8 ECTS/CFU)

2nd term (January 2017 - March 2017)
● Econometrics (10 ECTS/CFU)
● Microeconomics - Advanced Course (10 ECTS/CFU)


3rd term (April 2017 - July 2017)
● Macroeconomics - Advanced Course (10 ECTS/CFU)
● Research methods (6 ECTS/CFU)
● Public economics (6 ECTS/CFU) or Finance (6 ECTS/CFU)

4th term (August 2017 - September 2017)
● Project work (8 ECTS/CFU)
● Final examination (2 ECTS/CFU)

Project work and final exam

The Master is granted upon the completion of all the course- work and of a research project by which the candidate shows her/his ability to dominate the topics covered in the coursework undertaken in the first three terms. Typically the research project takes the form of a research paper written under the supervision of a member of the Master faculty or of a researcher approved by the Director of the Master. Under certain circumstances, a student may have the opportunity to undertake an internship on a project that is evaluated by the Director of the Master being consistent with the Master goals. In these cases, the research paper can be substituted by an essay detailing the results achieved during the internship, to be written under the supervision of a member of the faculty and/or of the external tutor supervising the internship activity. Both in the case of a research paper and of an internship essay, the candidate will have to defend the results of her/his research during an oral final exam, in which the overall performance of the candidate in the Master will also be assessed.

Innovative method

The Master is taught entirely in English to a fairly small but varied class of students from all over the world, by a faculty that is very active in research and well integrated in international professional networks. Occasional mini-courses and lectures by leading international scholars, as well as a year-long seminar series complete our offer.

Focus on policy and finance

Besides all fundamental coursework for todays economists, our students will be able to take classes in both public/political economics and/or finance, gaining the expertise to professionally evaluate the current policy debate or to enter the world of finance.

Your passport to...

The emphasis on political/public economics provides an ideal starting point for careers in central banks, governments and international organization such as ILO, IMF, or the World Bank. At the same time, the emphasis on finance paves the way for a career in the private sector in fields such as corporate finance, as well as asset and wealth management.

Our companies

The Master provides students with all the essential tools and concepts to become accomplished economists. All courses are taught at an advanced level and are designed to build the key competences for successfully dealing with the demands of the best Ph.D. programs in Economics, or for starting a career in leading research institutions.

Scholarships

All scholarships are assigned on a merit basis and will be mostly given to students who apply by the priority deadline. Some scholarships may also target specific geographic regions.

Scholarship value: Up to €2000

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MISSION
The Master in Finance, Insurance and Risk Management aims at preparing students for high level careers in investment, private and commercial banking, securities design and trading, risk and asset management, risk management, asset allocation and actuarial sciences with the strong quantitative background in view of the challenges posed by solvency II.
Students are most welcome to join research departments of government agencies and central banks too, in insurance and consulting companies as well as in regulatory agencies. It is a truly international program entirely taught in English. Students receive a II level Master from the University of Torino as well as a Collegio diploma.

PLACEMENT
The placement record for previous graduates is excellent and includes a large variety of firms, banks, and organizations in the financial industry such as:
ADB SpA - AIB Bank - Allianz Bank - Banca IMI - Banca d’Italia - Bancoposta Fondi sgr - BIM - BIP - BNP
Paribas - Banca Aletti - Banco Ambrosiano Veneto - Banca Antonveneta - Banca Centrale Europea -
Banca Leonardo - Banca Profilo - Banca di Roma - Banca Sella - Banca 121 - Capitalia - Citigroup - Cofiri
Commerzbank AG - Compagnia di San Paolo - Crédit Agricole - Deutsche Bank - Enel - ERSEL - Eurizon
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Ferrero Spa Finance - Fiat Finance - Fideuram -
Finanziaria Internazionale Securitization Group - Fitch Ratings - Fondiaria SAI - Intesa Sanpaolo - JP Morgan
Luxembourg - KPMG - Mediolanum - Macedonia Ministry of Finance - Money Farm - Monte dei Paschi di Siena
Nextra Sgr - Pioneer Investments PricewaterhouseCoopers - Prometeia - Royal Bank of Scotland - State Street
Bank - Symphonia sgr - TLX SpA - UBI - UBM - UniCredit - VesselsValue.com

FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Annual tuition fees for the Master program are € 15,000. They are comprehensive of course materials, use of the Collegio and University facilities, access to on-campus seminars, access to the Library and online databases of the Collegio and University. Tuition waivers are awarded to applicants according to the admission ranking.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
First deadline: March 15, 2016
Regular applications: June 30, 2016

COURSE PROGRAM
http://www.carloalberto.org/education/master-in-finance-insurance-and-risk-management/courses/

STRENGTHS OF THE PROGRAM
1. A truly international Master’s program taught entirely in English, in a premier research institution.
2. The award of a second level Master degree from the University of Torino.
3. A highly experienced faculty from Italian and foreign universities, alongside the experience of leading finance and banking professionals.
4. Daily contact with the scholars and researchers of the Collegio Carlo Alberto and access to the many scientific activities and events hosted at the Collegio.
5. The availability of a fully equipped computer lab. In addition to the electronic resources offered by the University of Torino and the Collegio Carlo Alberto, students have access to primary proprietary softwares in Finance.
6. On-campus career days, interviews and presentations, internships in major financial companies at the end of the program.
7. The reputation and the extensive network of our Alumni.

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To be admitted to the Second Cycle Degree (MSc) Programme in Economics and Finance students must possess an appropriate academic preparation and meet specific curricular requirements, represented by a First Cycle Degree (or other qualification awarded abroad and determining eligibility) and 60 university credits (CFUs) related to specific Educational Sector Codes (in Italian Settori Scientifico Disciplinari, abbreviated as “SSD”) in the following disciplines: management, economics, mathematics, statistics, law.

Unlimited entry, with assessment of minimum curricular requirements.

Quotas (i.e. reserved places) for non-EU students residing abroad: 66 places, 50 of which reserved for Chinese students residing in China as part of the Marco Polo Programme.

Course description

Ca’ Foscari University is now offering a curriculum completely taught in English (LM-77 - Scienze economico-aziendali - Management) in the MSc (Master of Science/Laurea Magistrale) degree in "Economia e Finanza – Economics and Finance".

This Master's Degree Programme specialising in finance involves two years of full-time study. It aims to prepare experts with proficiency in dealing with the main issues related to financial markets, brokerage management, financial investment management and financial risk measurement and management, financial consultancy and insurance, supplementary allowance and retirement funds management, internal organisation processes and administrative management of banks and financial institutions in general.

The Master's Degree Programme also offers the opportunity of participating in adouble degree programme in cooperation with the University Aix Marseille (France) and of obtaining a Double Master’s Degree in Economics, Econometrics and Finance (MEEF), for which scholarships are available. The programme draws upon a balanced blend of economic and mathematical methods to form specialists capable of contributing to the sustainable development of society and of providing prompt responses to economic crises. The Double Master’s Degree Programme has obtained official MOY (Mediterranean Office for Youth) recognition.

The two universities aim to provide a thorough preparation for students wishing to work in financial institutions where they will be required to solve quantitative problems in economic and financial fields.

Curricula available

1. Curriculum Economia e Finanza (taught in Italian)
Contact Professor: Prof. Monica Billio (e-mail: [email protected])
This curriculum trains second cycle graduates, equipping them for the main areas of financial intermediary management and to thoroughly and skillfully tackle specific issues such as the measurement and management of financial risks.

2. Curriculum Economics and Finance (taught completely in English)
Contact Professor: Prof. Antonella Basso (e-mail: [email protected])
This curriculum uses a blend of theoretical and practice-oriented training to provide international students with the knowledge and skills required by financial institutions and markets. The programme covers a wide range of contents, with particular emphasis on: risk measurement, financial markets, financial investment management, financial consultancy and insurance.

Learning outcomes

This Master Degree Programme aims to train experts with proficiency in dealing with the main financial issues related to financial markets, brokerage management, financial investment management and financial risk measurement and management, financial consultancy and insurance, supplementary allowance and retirement funds management, internal organisation processes and administrative management of banks and financial institutions in general.

Employment profiles

Second cycle graduates will acquire the necessary knowledge to access financial institutions (trade banks, savings management companies, insurance companies) and to operate professionally as risk managers and controllers, analysts and consultants in financial fields, as well as insurance and reinsurance brokers.

Attendance: Open attendance

Examination assessment and graduation

The educational activities include lectures, workshops and internships (also abroad) to allow students to acquire wide-ranging skills that are readily transferable into the world of work. The skills and knowledge acquired by students will be assessed throughout the programme by means of written and oral examinations.

The final master's thesis

The programme is completed with a final master's thesis requiring students to work intensively on a topic of their choice with the support of regular meetings with their supervisor. Students will defend their master's thesis, which must be original and backed by exhaustive documentation and scientific investigation, before a committee of professors and experts.

Admission to further studies: Specialist Master’s Programmes (1st and 2nd level) and Research Doctorates

Applying to the programme

To enter the programme applicants need to have the equivalent to an Italian three-year undergraduate degree (Laurea) such as a BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree as well as the necessary academic preparation.

When and how to apply

Classes start in September. You are advised to apply as early as possible. Applications are to be made directly to Ca’ Foscari University. For full details go to How to apply, or contact Prof. Antonella Basso ([email protected]).

Subject area:

This curriculum provides international students with the knowklege and the skills required by financial institutions and markets, through a blend of theoretical and practice-oriented training. The programme covers a wide range of contents, with particular emphasys on: risk measurement, financial markets, financial investments management, financial consultancy and insurance.

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Courses serve two functions. One important objective is to consolidate and develop the basic knowledge needed for operating in the field of accounting, corporate finance, planning and management control and auditing at a high professional level. The other key purpose is to provide competencies essential for scanning and interpreting the social and economic environment. The 24 credits of elective courses are aimed to specialize and are selected by the student either freely or within the following areas of major:
- Accounting and Financial Reporting;
- Corporate Finance and Financial Management;
- Planning and Control;
- Auditing

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Master of Science in Accounting, financial management and control has the following educational objectives:

- provide advanced studies to allow a complete understanding of accounting and financial statements, corporate finance , planning and managerial accounting;
- develop the skills and competence in management in order to discuss and interact with managers in different business sectors, with financial markets and with company and tax law professionals;
- complete the preparation in the business field providing competences in economics, quantitative and juridical, so as to develop problem analysis skills in interdisciplinary areas;
- develop competences via educational activities inside and outside the classroom which promote student-teacher interaction and interaction between the students themselves as well as developing problem analysis skills, problem solving skills, ability to present and discuss the results of one’s work;
- promote competence (in the business area) in the use of English and of a second EU language to work effectively and efficiently in one’s profession.

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Companies tend to employ graduates who have developed awareness to issues of internationalization, who are competent to work in multinational working groups, who can analyze international markets, and those who can develop major projects. The International Management, Legislation and Society program aims to give students an education that enables them to adapt quickly to an international environment, whilst understanding the dynamics, and knowing how to effectively identify solutions to managerial problems.

Learning objectives

The curriculum presents two types of courses: subjects relating to the basic disciplines (business, economic, and law), and subjects relating to business issues and problems typically associated with the processes of internationalization of firms. This is done to balance traditional knowledge of management with the specialization and the development of specific internationalization-oriented skills. In addition to traditional business disciplines, there are courses that intend to develop the capability to work in different social and cultural contexts, and to review, develop and implement internationalization of firms.

Career opportunities & professional recognition

Graduates from the International Management, Legislation & Society program are exposed to a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates will have both the technical knowledge and the methodological tools suited to pursue professional and managerial careers in large corporations and international institutions (WTO, IMF, WB) dealing with international and multicultural issues, as well as smaller and national companies, implementing and managing international processes and strategies.

Curriculum

First year credits
● Corporate strategy & strategic control:
○ Module 1 - Corporate strategy (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Module 2 - Strategic control (5 ECTS/CFU)

● ELECTIVE (one of the following two)
○ Cross cultural management (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Management of Information Systems and Society (5 ECTS/CFU)

● Doing business in emerging markets (5 ECTS/CFU)

● Entrepreneurship and small business management:
○ Module 1 - International corporate taxation and tax planning (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Module 2 - Small business management (5 ECTS/CFU)

● European Economic Law (5 ECTS/CFU)

● International competitiveness (7 ECTS/CFU)

● English for international management (5 ECTS/CFU)

● Seminar on Theological Issues

Second year credits
● Business finance:
○ Module 1 - Financial analysis (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Module 2 - Corporate finance (5 ECTS/CFU)

● International finance (5 ECTS/CFU)

● International strategies:
○ Module 1 - International business strategy (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Module 2 - Business Government relations (4 ECTS/ CFU)

● Business Analytics (6 ECTS/CFU)

● Direct Investment and Trade Law (6 ECTS/CFU)

● Public Law (6 ECTS/CFU)

● International Management (10 CFU):
○ Module 1 - International human resource management (5 ECTS/CFU)
○ Module 2 - International institutions and society (5 ECTS/CFU)

● Compulsory internship (7 ECTS/CFU)

● Thesis (20 ECTS/CFU)

We care

The relationship between the students and the professors is an added value at Cattolica’s Piacenza campus. Students are stimulated and encouraged to achieve their goals by showing competitiveness and ambition, preparing them for an ideal array of future job opportunities.

Industry related

The economy of the province of Piacenza is based on, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), active mainly in manufacturing, services and construction industries, sectors on which the events held at Piacenza Exhibition Center are focused.

Career support

The Career Service at Cattolica’s Piacenza campus provides support to students by helping them find relevant internships and placements related to their studies.

International network

During the International Management, Legislation & Society program, options to study abroad will be offered. A Study abroad can come in different forms, from Erasmus programs to visiting semesters at the International Partnership of Business schools (IPBS) partner institutions.

Candidates need to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement in order to submit their application.

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