Master in Banking and Finance (MBF)
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Master degree
DURATION
3 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The University of St.Gallen is renowned as one of Europe's leading business schools, consistently ranked among the top ten by the Financial Times. But is it the right fit for you? Explore your possibilities by joining our Bachelor’s and Master’s Open Days
The M.A. HSG in Banking and Finance (MBF) delivers a solid education in financial markets, financial institutions, corporate finance, and quantitative methods, balancing theory with practical application. It equips students with the skills needed to launch successful careers in banks, consulting firms, insurance companies, and corporate finance departments, both within Switzerland and internationally.
Why MBF
- Outstanding Career Opportunities
The MBF programme, known for its rigorous curriculum, prepares graduates for rewarding careers in banking, insurance, consulting, and corporate finance. According to the Financial Times Ranking 2022, every MBF graduate received a job offer within three months of completing the programme. Additionally, the MBF is a gateway to prestigious PhD programmes worldwide. - Top Rankings and Global Recognition
The MBF programme holds an esteemed 11th position in the Financial Times Masters in Finance Ranking 2024, making it the highest-ranked finance programme in Switzerland and the German-speaking region. Moreover, the University of St. Gallen consistently ranks among Europe's premier business schools. - Flexible curriculum
The MBF programme has a clear and flexible structure. In the first semester, students complete all mandatory courses, establishing a solid academic foundation for selecting core electives in the following semesters. The programme offers a wide array of electives, spanning subjects from asset management to corporate and sustainable finance. Students also engage in an off-campus research seminar and conclude their studies with a research-based Master's thesis. - Combining theory and practice
The MBF is equally focused on theory and application. We are convinced that sound theoretical and methodological fundamentals are essential for graduate education in finance. However, we also put a strong emphasis on the practical application of this theoretical knowledge. The content of the MBF programme is also considered to be highly relevant to the curricula of the CFA and CAIA programmes. - Genuine internationality
Situated near Zurich, a global financial hub, St. Gallen offers both professional networking opportunities and access to a vibrant international community. Students also benefit from a multicultural learning environment and can choose from over 200 partner universities for exchange programmes worldwide. - A Strong Global Alumni Network
The MBF Alumni Club offers a robust and engaged network for graduates. Frequent events and networking opportunities help alumni maintain strong professional relationships and foster connections with corporate partners across industries.
Your Profile
Academic excellence and analytical aptitude
The MBF programme is intended for students with a strong academic background in an economics or business-related undergraduate programme.
Prospective students should possess strong analytical skills and be ambitious to solve challenging tasks related to finance.
Interest in financial markets, institutions and quantitative methods
The programme is relevant for students who are highly interested in financial markets and financial institutions and eager to learn the quantitative methods related to them. Many students aim to continue their career path in the financial industry, in consulting or in academia. The MBF curriculum is very flexible and designed to give students the opportunity to find their individual career paths.
Ambitious / Aspiring
The MBF programme is challenging and encourages as well as requires students to go the extra mile and to unleash their full potential.
Professional goals related to the financial industry, consulting or academia
On completion of the Master’s programme, our students may aim to:
- take up jobs in financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, asset management firms, etc.;
- work for a consulting firm;
- work as auditors in the fields of banking and insurance;
- go into the finance or strategy departments of corporations in all industries;
- pursue an academic career in finance, banking or insurance management in the context of doctoral studies (Ph.D.).
Practical skills and international orientation
We expect our students to be effective communicators who are able to explain findings from the frontline of academic research to the practical world. In the MBF programme, our graduates obtain high-quality education in both theory and application. The ideal MBF student has already completed internships in fields related to finance and can demonstrate that she or he can thrive in an international environment.
General Information
The MBF program is structured in such a way as to ensure that students are able to acquire their basic knowledge in the compulsory courses of the first semester. In the second and third semesters, students select core electives and contextual courses according to their individual preferences and thus determine the orientation of their studies themselves. Like this, the MBF curriculum guarantees utmost flexibility and freedom of choice.
Compulsory subjects
In the first semester, students attend the compulsory courses Financial Markets, Financial Institutions and Quantitative Methods. These challenging courses allow the students to develop the fundamentals in finance, allowing them to further tackle the other specialised courses and the empirical Master’s thesis.
- 7,150 Financial Markets
- 7,155 Financial Institutions
- 7,160 Quantitative Methods
This course offering corresponds to the current planning status. You can find the entire course offering in the official Course Catalogue Online.
Core Electives
Throughout the programme, students may design their individual curriculum according to their preferences. They can freely combine courses from an extensive list of core electives grouped in the focus areas of Financial Markets, Banking & the Financial Economy, Corporate Finance, Alternative Investments, Risk Management & Insurance and Quantitative Methods & Data Science. It is also possible to obtain a Diploma Supplement in one of the above-mentioned areas when a student completes at least 12 ECTS and the Master’s thesis in the corresponding subject track. The wide selection of courses and the flexibility of the curriculum make the MBF programme particularly attractive.
You can find the entire course offering in the official Course Catalogue Online.
Research Seminar
The research seminar is a 3 ECTS course, available in the spring semester, where the students are required to write a paper with a particular research focus. All groups present and discuss their main findings with the class. In combination with the Master’s thesis, the MBF therefore provides a thorough preparation for a Ph.D.
