Programme Director
Master's Degree Programme in Banking and International Finance
The Master's Degree Programme in Banking and International Finance (BIF) provides an interdisciplinary degree and a strong quantitatively oriented background for the students to serve as professionals especially in financial markets, banking and other duties in the fields of economics and finance requiring highly analytical performance.
Graduates of the Master's Degree Programme in Banking and International Finance master the three core content areas of their discipline: identifying the role of banks and financial markets, working as experts in banks and international financial markets, and applying empirical methods. BIF graduates are able to apply the core scientific knowledge and methods of their discipline in practice.
BIF graduates are also competent in critically analyzing interdisciplinary challenges related to the behavior of economic agents in financial markets and have good communication skills in international financial markets and business environment.
Programme info
Applications for Master's Degree Programmes can be submitted once a year in January. The next call for applications is in January 2025.
Master's Degree Programme in Banking and International Finance is a two-year full-time programme (120 ECTS credits) and is taught entirely in English. Studies begin in September and there is no mid-point entry to the programme. After graduation, students are awarded the title Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration).
This programme consists of advanced studies in Banking and International Finance, communication and language studies, and elective studies. Master’s thesis is included in the studies. The advanced studies in Banking and International Finance contain courses in core themes of economics, finance and also financial accounting, forming a unique mixture of the special skills required to serve in these positions.
Student profile
The BIF programme is for those who are interested in pursuing a career in the finance sector. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the global financial system and the functioning of banks and financial markets.
It provides an interdisciplinary degree and a strong quantitatively oriented background for the students to serve as professionals, especially in financial markets, banking, academia and in other duties in the fields of economics and finance requiring highly analytical performance.
Suitable fields of background degrees include:
- Economics and Business Administration (major in accounting, economics or finance).
- Mathematics and statistics (which includes studies in finance and economics).
- Engineering (information technology, industrial business and management, or equivalent, which includes studies in finance and economics).
Depending on the individual background, the student may be required to take some supplementary courses.
Career
Prominent job market positions for the graduates from the BIF programme are central bank and other bank economists, analysts, bank managers, and other researcher, specialist and manager positions in the service of research institutions and financial sector in general.
Completing the BIF programme also gives graduates the possibility to apply for doctoral studies for example in the doctoral program of the Graduate School of Finance, or after completing some advanced level courses in economics outside the curriculum of the BIF programme, also in the Finnish Doctoral Program in Economics.
The next call for applications is in January 2025
In order to be eligible to international master’s programmes at the University of Jyväskylä, applicants must hold (or must complete by our deadline) a bachelor’s degree, master's degree or equivalent from a recognised institution of higher education. Please note also, that all applicants, even native speakers, must demonstrate their English language proficiency in one of the ways mentioned in the admission criteria.
The online application form will be available in the Studyinfo.fi portal only during the application period. In addition to the online application form, the applicant needs to submit the required attachments mentioned in the programme-specific admission criteria and on the application form.
Well before you apply, please read carefully the general instructions for applying and the programme-specific admission criteria below.
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Contact us
If you have questions concerning the admission process, please contact JYU Admission Services: admissions@jyu.fi
About tuition fees and the scholarship programme for students liable to pay tuition fees, please contact the International Office: degree-students@jyu.fi
If you have programme-specific questions for example on studies in the programme, or the suitability of the field of your previous degree when applying to the programme, please contact us: bif-jsbe@jyu.fi
Programme Coordinator
