International Finance: Berlin School of Economics and Law

Course Description

The Master in International Finance at the Berlin School of Economics and Law is designed for students from Germany and abroad who are interested in an international and interdisciplinary programme in finance. Applicants are expected to have a Bachelor or equivalent qualification and the requisite basic knowledge of finance skills.

The Master programme comprises advanced finance courses enabling students to expand and deepen their theoretical and practical skills in both traditional and innovative financial management methods. The programme focuses equally on the two areas of corporate and capital market finance. Graduates of the Master in International Finance will have acquired extensive expertise in finance and the skills to effectively take on demanding financial management tasks in a variety of sectors.

The first and second semester move from foundation modules to specialist in-depth studies. The third semester is reserved for researching and preparing the thesis. If a student takes a placement, the programme extends from three to four semesters. Teaching is entirely in English, giving students an opportunity to sustainably improve their comprehension and speaking skills in an English context. This approach also reflects the standard requirements for applicants hoping to work in international companies.

Career Prospects

The Berlin School of Economics and Law (BSEL) awards successful students on this programme the internationally recognised Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree. The International Finance programme is diversified and provides the skills to effectively take on a wide variety of challenging tasks in companies active in international markets and financial institutions. Furthermore the „Master of Science“ (M.Sc.) is recognised as qualifying graduates to apply for posts in the senior German civil service - in line with the joint guidelines agreed by the Standing Conference of the Interior Ministers of the Länder (Innenministerkonferenz) and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (Kultusministerkonferenz).

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfil the following requirements:

• Bachelor's or equivalent degree
• Academic qualifications meeting the general requirements for admission to a University or University of Applied Sciences, or professional qualifications allowing University admission as specified in § 11 of the Law on Institutions of Higher Education in the State of Berlin (Berliner Hochschulgesetz BerlHG).
• At least 210 credit points (applicants with 180 European credit points will be required to obtain the additional 30 credit points by completing a placement in the third semester, i.e., the programme will then last four semesters)
• Excellent English skills equivalent at least to B2 on the CERF (Common European Reference Framework).
• Evidence of modules in the following subjects on the undergraduate degree: Basic Lectures in Finance and Investment Theory, Corporate Finance, Macroeconomics (or comparable courses)
• Letter of motivation in English