Master in Finance

The Master in Finance gives you first-hand insight into the realities of modern financial markets. Our inclusive program has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. It covers the latest trends in corporate finance and private equity, global markets, asset management, and alternative investments, as well as a deep dive into finance analytics and digital finance, with a focus on artificial intelligence and the application of big data to finance.

The program was devised to equip leading practitioners like you with the cutting-edge knowledge necessary to conquer the ever-changing realm of finance. Our goal is to fill every classroom with the most talented men and women, offering you unending opportunities to network, collaborate, and hone your professional chops with the best of the best.

The Master in Finance is an immersive, well-rounded program, developing the next round of highly skilled, versatile leaders in finance and commerce. To accomplish this, we aim to expose our students to the full breadth of academic and professional experiences available. That’s why we have developed three exciting modules to propel you toward the next step of your career development:

• Academic partnerships with CFA Institute and CAIA Association
• Academic exchange programs with the London Business School and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
• Company project collaboration with top financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Equita, Jefferies, and Nomura

5 Reasons to study our Master in Finance

A program that adapts to you

Our program adapts to your needs with four specialization tracks: investment banking and private equity; global markets and asset management; real estate finance and alternative investments; and finance analytics and digital finance. Even your final exam is customizable: opt between CFA competition, corporate valuation, portfolio management, and more.

A successful multidisciplinary approach

Recognized as one of the best finance programs in the world, we provide high-quality training in the concepts, tools, and techniques that prepare you for a successful career in a competitive financial sector. Our syllabus will give you a strong, multidisciplinary foundation and hone your skills—and our diverse campus will enrich your academic experience and give you a solid global outlook.

A faculty of top industry leaders

Our faculty consists of experienced business leaders in top positions in the finance world. You will learn from experienced professionals with extensive real-world knowledge of the industry, focusing on the most recent technological trends and innovations in the sector to future-proof your skill set and help you become an expert in the forces driving change and disruption.

Collaborate with top institutions

Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, our program offers you invaluable hands-on experience. We collaborate with leading educational institutions and corporate partners, enabling our students to work on projects with real-world implications for the biggest institutions in the world while building a network of movers and shakers who can help advance your career.

Find the perfect professional fit

Our Master in Finance program will upgrade your skill set and focus on your goals. Our Talents & Careers department will help you map out the next steps and provide continuous training, professional guidance, and top-tier resources to strengthen your applications—including lifetime access to an extensive network of alumni, industry giants, and over 3,500 international recruiters.

• 8th Master in Finance Pre-Experience Worldwide - Financial Times, 2022
• 11th Master in Finance Worldwide - QS, 2022
• 5th Master in Finance For getting an investment banking job - Efinancialcareers, 2019

The Master in Finance is divided into three terms and four key areas of knowledge and skills for professionals in finance. This one-year program based in Madrid, offers two different intake moments (in April and in September), running until July of the following calendar year. It is made up of engaging face-to-face classes, group meetings and presentations, hands-on simulations and in-person debates, access to resources such as Trading Lab and the IE Library, classes at our headquarters in the fast-paced financial center of Madrid, and much more.

The Master in Finance is made up of a start module phase and two periods of core courses followed by a period of electives, allowing you to focus your financial knowledge with career-boosting specializations in four different tracks and seven different modules. Specialization tracks are linked to specific jobs in finance, allowing you to customize your studies by helping you choose your electives based on your specific job preferences.

You will also work on a final project during the last months. You can choose between completing a CFA competition project; producing corporate valuation projects; executing a portfolio management practicum; carrying out a microfinance consulting project in Ghana; completing academic research, or writing a case study. What’s more, you have the opportunity to take part in various add-ons which provide access to practical experience in real-world situations.

Start Module

The Start Module is an introductory period of face-to-face sessions held in April for the spring intake and virtual sessions held in August for the fall intake. During this module, participants will explore the foundations of a series of topics including fundamental technical finance knowledge, investment banking, and capital markets. They will also dive into the essentials of valuation, markets, financial accounting, and economics.

The Start Module is designed to prepare participants to successfully face job interviews after graduation. We will help you brush up on your CV and cover letter creation skills, as well as provide the necessary tools you will need to be competitive in the job market.

• Pre-program Quantitative Methods (online)
• Introduction to Valuation
• Introduction to Portfolio Management
• Employability in Finance
• Economic & Market Updates
• Essentials of Accounting
• Trading Room Essentials
• Excel Basics
• Case Method
• Financial Maths & Essentials of Quantitative Methods

Core Period

Term 1

In this period, students are equipped with the core fundamentals of finance. The subject matter will cover the principles of corporate finance, financial accounting, and financial analysis. This will lead to an exploration of economics for markets, quantitative finance, and FinTech. The period ends with an introduction to investments, markets, and the basics of fixed income.

• Investment Banking and Financial Institutions
• Introduction to FinTech
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Accounting & Analysis
• Applied Financial Engineering
• Quantitative Finance I
• Asset Pricing & Portfolio Decisions
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Fixed Income Fundamentals
• Portfolio Management
• Strategic Macro Economics for Investors
• Historical Episodes in the Financial Markets
• Presentation Skills
• Economic and Markets Updates

Term 2

The second core period builds upon the knowledge foundation built during the first, helping students gain expertise in advanced finance topics. What’s more, with visits to New York, London, and Ghana, participants will have a firsthand look at key financial players in dynamic environments. Alternatively, there is the option of a short exchange period with either the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management or the London Business School.

• Advanced Corporate Finance
• Financial Modeling
• Derivatives & Risk Management
• Quantitative Finance II
• Financial Programming
• Valuation
• Asset Allocation
• Foundations of Banking
• Financial Inclusion
• Risk Governance
• Economic and Markets Updates
• Regulation in Financial Markets
• Ethical Dilemmas in Finance
• Negotiation
• ESG & Impact Investing

Program Add-Ons

Our program add-ons comprise a selection of diverse opportunities to forge key connections while gaining practical experience in real-world situations. Whether they are talks and conferences, exchange programs with top institutions, a microfinance project in Ghana, or other eye-opening trips to global financial centers, these add-ons are springboards to a lifetime of career success.

• Titans of Finance
• Financiers Without Borders In Ghana
• Optional Trip to New York
• Optional Trip to London
• Short Exchange with Frankfurt School of Management and Finance
• Exchange with London Business School

Specialization Period

Tracks

Tracks go ahead if a minimum number of students (around 15) choose them.

Once students choose a track, it is compulsory to take all the courses of that track, for which the student will receive 42 credits. The rest of the credits required during the third period will be chosen from a broad academic offer. We will guide students through the seven modules to help them reach their professional career goals.

Modules are linked to careers and provide students with some guidance about which electives to choose, depending on their job preferences. Electives contained in each module are not compulsory, so students may choose electives from different modules if they wish.

To complete the minimum compulsory credits of the elective period, students will have the opportunity to choose—given that 15 students select the same elective—between the following modules:

Elective modules

• Investment Banking & Corporate Finance
• Private Equity
• Investment & Asset Management
• Derivatives
• Hedge Funds
• Fintech & Digital Finance
• ESG

Final Exam

The Master in Finance has been carefully designed to adapt to your unique set of personal and professional needs. We work hard to provide our students with the utmost flexibility in every way, which is why we allow them to choose their preferred mode of examination. We also encourage students to consider how their final exam option will demonstrate the practical and theoretical knowledge gained throughout the year.

Our Talent & Careers Department is made up of a growing international team of dedicated professionals, working tirelessly to connect you with our extensive network of over 3,500 international recruiters.

Whether you’re looking to break into a new industry, supercharge your current career trajectory or tap into the unrealized potential, our master’s degree is a one-way ticket to your future in finance. With access to exclusive connections with industry giants and top-tier resources to strengthen your applications, it’s not surprising that 95% of alumni find employment in the sector within three months of graduation.

In the 2022 academic year, we invited over 190 recruiting partners to our campus networking events in different fields of finance, including investment banking, global markets - sales & trading, asset management, private equity, and fintech. And the support doesn't stop when you graduate—IE Business School alumni gain lifelong access to our career services and network of recruiters, no matter where in the world they end up.

Potential Areas of Employment

Investment Banking & Private Equity

Today’s complex financial world needs professionals who can help people invest in various innovative but profitable ways. Deep dive into investment banking and hone the skills you’ll need to transition to a career in private equity.

With this specialization, you could work in: capital and primary markets; underwriting business, advisory, IPO, and M&A; equity capital markets (ECM); debt capital markets (DCM); financial accounting and tax planning; project finance, leverage finance; corporate finance and banking.

Global Markets - Sales & Trading

Take a leading role in the high-stakes world of global markets, developing and handling transactions for financial institutions, governments, and corporate giants.

With a specialization in global markets, you could work in: fixed income, currency, and commodities; equity; cash, derivatives, and structured products; quant, algorithmic, and high-frequency trading; prime brokerage services; trading clearing and settlement platforms; exchanges, clearing house and market data.

Asset Management

Get ready to manage funds and investment portfolios on behalf of companies and individuals, growing your clients’ value.

An asset management specialization will prepare you to work in: pension, macro, value funds, and traditional portfolio management; private banking; high and ultra-high-net-worth individual wealth management.

Real State & Alternative Investments

In this volatile market, investors are looking for a surefire way to invest their money. If you are specializing in real estate and alternative investments, you could work in: directional, macro, equity, derivatives, commodities, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrencies; private equity, private credit, debt, real estate, infrastructure, renewable energy, and venture capital; and private banking.

Financial Analytics & Digital Finance (Fintech)

This is the next big thing in finance: are you ready to get in on the ground floor?

If this is your specialization, you could work in: cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, big data, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies, and digital assets.

This is a full-time, on-campus program that takes place in Madrid, Spain over the course of one year. There are also optional trips to London, New York, Ghana and Frankfurt.