Master in Finance

Finance professionals with strong analytical and practical decision-making skills are increasingly in demand at a
wide range of multinational corporations and financial institutions such as banks, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies and investment agencies.

The Master in Finance is a master’s program that prepares young graduates for a future in the financial sector by developing their business attitude and providing them with the necessary analytical and practical decision-making and management skills. You acquire these essential skills during a 10-month program at Antwerp Management school, potentially followed by 3 additional finance courses at Fordham Gabelli School of Business, New York, during summer, which results in a double master’s degree.

Real Estate Finance

In the first part of the course we discuss the most important facts about the real estate market and their implications for real estate professionals and policy. In the second part we study the valuation of real estate. We introduce sales comparison methods, income multipliers and discounted cashflows. Finally, we discuss current topics in the broad area of real estate economics and finance.

Empirical Research in Finance

In this course, we introduce some popular empirical research methods and how they can be used to solve both academic and practical questions. It is divided into two big parts. The first part introduces theory and learns how to use software to apply these theoretical concepts. The second part exposes the students to the academic and practitioner's literature, in which these techniques are used to solve a variety of financial issues.

Global Financial Markets

This course is intended as a broad introduction to global financial markets. We discuss the instruments traded in the money and capital markets, the institutions that support and frame the markets, the trading mechanisms and the regulator structure. This course provides an overview of key global financial management topics and offers a comprehensive understanding of the main financial products internationally traded and how financial market infrastructures work. In addition, we dive into the main European financial market regulations, into asset pricing modeling for equities as well as bond pricing, and we look into the asset management industry. Finally, a deep dive is done on crypto assets.

Investment Analysis

In this course we review the main investment ideas in an analytical way. More specifically, we will discuss optimal portfolio selection techniques, the main empirical results in asset pricing, valuation of bonds and stocks and performance evaluation. We will not only discuss the theoretical underpinnings of investment analysis, but also use real-world data to implement some popular techniques. As the main tool of analysis we will use the R programming environment, which is frequently used in practice.

Financial Risk Management

This course starts with pricing and hedging by using forward and futures. The next topic discussed is option pricing, both in discrete and in continuous time. Special attention will be given to risk-neutral valuation, the treatment of dividends, and the Greeks. Numerical techniques such as binomial tree and Monte Carlo simulation will be explored and implemented. Exotic options are covered together with financial engineering using numerical procedures.

Emerging Trends in Global Finance

Though the class is titled ‘Emerging Trends in Global Finance’, history often repeats itself. The details might be different, but common themes are repeated. We will use a combination of lectures, guest speakers, video documentaries, case studies, group discussions, class discussions, alumni career events, and group presentations in order to work through a variety of contemporary financial and economic issues.

Raising Capital and Investing in Global Financial Markets

This course will train you to become an innovation leader in a corporate or an innovation consultant. It will focus on the specific context of corporates and their challenges to innovate.

Computer Applications in Finance

This course aims at acquiring proficiency in Excel and VBA to implement the financial models that will be studied throughout the year. For this course, the participants work together with a company or an NGO to solve a real-life financial problem with the Excel skills they acquire during the course.

Master Project

For your master project, you are asked to write a research oriented paper in a finance domain of your choice, usually in groups of 3 students. This master project will demonstrate your critical thinking ability and analytical skills to solve a practical relevant yet academically challenging research question.

Electives
Besides your regular curriculum, you will also have the opportunity to enhance your studies with electives. You can either opt to dive into investment analysis, risk management or Corporate Finance. This way, you can tailor your program towards your own expertise and future career path.

To give you an idea, the Finance electives are:
→ Advanced Investment Analysis
→ Financial Risk Management - Derivatives Pricing
→ Advanced Corporate Finance

Note: This curriculum is subject to change.

Through the EQUIS accreditation of the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Antwerp, AMS has joined a select group (1%) of business schools worldwide with three international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS), or a so-called "Triple Crown”.
AMS is also listed in the Financial Times Rankings.
Our master’s programs are highly ranked in Eduniversal Rankings en QS World
University Rankings.

Our Master in Finance is a top-ranked program:

Eduniversal Master Ranking 2024:
N°12 in Financial Markets worldwide and N°1 in Benelux