A Master of Finance program will prepare you for a variety of careers in the finance sector, including:
- investments
- economics
- corporate finance
- auditing
- mortgage administration
- being a credit analyst
Before you decide if a Master of Finance degree is right for you, take a look at five key courses you will need to complete the program.
1. Corporate Finance
This label can actually cover several different courses that all have a similar focus. Regardless of the field you choose post-graduation, a thorough knowledge of the corporate finance world is necessary for success.
Courses that cover corporate financial issues will teach valuable skills pertaining to:
- leverage
- dividend policy financing
- equity valuation
In addition, students will learn about the implications of mergers and acquisitions, as well as how they impact the investment banking industry as a whole. Finally, courses in corporate finance will include the unique problems that a finance officer may encounter when dealing with multinational corporations or international monetary exchange.
2. Investments
Whether or not investments are the career of choice, every Master of Finance graduate needs a solid understanding of how the investment management process works. This includes both buying and selling, as well as an in-depth exploration of portfolio management and investment selection.
Other topics covered under the umbrella of investments are:
- a practical analysis of the performance and valuation of bonds
- key aspects of hybrid markets
- the foundations of building valuation models
Learning to create accurate financial forecasts and interact with the buy side of equity is also important. Great Masters of Finance programs will also include an overview of critical historical episodes in the financial sector to extract practically applicable lessons for the future.
3. Risk Control
Learning how to properly mitigate risk is essential for financiers of every field. Courses on risk management will:
- analyze the foundations of derivatives
- learn their valuation
- demonstrate how they are used to make investment decisions and manage risk
Another aspect of risk management that is overlooked by many institutions is fixed-income structured products. Truly successful financial regulators should have a good understanding of:
- securitizations
- simple flows
- complex structured products
4. Applied Knowledge
Another key course that is often overlooked is applied knowledge. These courses may vary by program, but they should all include basic tools for success. Topics such as financial modeling with spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel should be covered in-depth. This will help students develop their ability to construct effective models with basic spreadsheet tools.
Other subject matter covered in applied knowledge courses would be:
- presentation
- professional communication skills
- computer programming as it relates to complex financial problems
Students will also develop a knowledge base for using statistical tools to complete quantitative analyses.
5. Market Economics
These courses will cover a broad spectrum of practical macro information that is vital for any financial market. Students will learn how to read and interpret data in a way that will allow them to form an educated opinion. They will also learn valuable analytical tools that are useful for determining their position in current economic debates. As a final step in learning to understand global financial markets, students will learn the dynamics of emerging markets which will help them determine appropriate investment practices.
Completing a Master of Finance degree comes with a long list of advantages and many opportunities for specialization. There are numerous career paths a post-grad financier can take. For more information about your options, visit this Forbes article for a list of career paths, resources and specializations.
Related Resources:
