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In the Asset Management track, you investigate the challenges of investing money and creating the right portfolio strategy based on your clients’ needs. The track focuses on investment management roles that require detailed analysis of companies, but no computer programming.

The programme

During your Master's you will follow 6 general courses and 4 track-specific courses. You will finish with a thesis. If you have a drive to enhance the adoption of sustainability in finance, you can participate in our Honours programme.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Advanced Corporate Finance
    Period 1
    5

    This course combines a deep analysis of traditional concepts, with an open-ended reflection upon the recent transition to a knowledge economy across most developed countries. Each week, you will first engage in a comprehensive examination of a specific topic in traditional corporate finance, analysing both foundational theories and salient empirical evidence. You will then engage in an exploratory analysis of how the traditional topic applies to intangible assets and human capital.

  • Financial Markets
    Period 1
    5

    This course explores market microstructure; how trading works and prices form in securities markets. Learn about trading mechanisms deployed in modern securities markets, the role of market makers, and techniques to measure market liquidity empirically. You will discuss theories of market liquidity and price discovery, and further examine how liquidity affects asset prices.

  • Applied Financial Econometrics
    Period 1
    Period 2
    5

    In this course, you apply various statistical techniques to make causal inferences and predictions. You will learn how to work with panel datasets, state-of-the-art statistical techniques for addressing endogeneity and omitted variables problems, and apply econometrics to time-series data analysis. Particular attention will be paid to common failures of the exogeneity assumption and how to solve these through appropriate empirical design, as well as to making predictions with econometric forecasting models.

  • Advanced Investments
    Period 2
    5

    This course focuses on helping individuals and organisations to invest their savings and prepare for the future. You will analyse funds, which manage money for retirees, universities, or the whole nation. You will learn the asset allocation policy implemented by large institutional investors, and how they decide to allocate to individual assets. You will also examine recent debates on governance, fiduciary responsibilities, socially responsible investing, and shareholder activism.

  • Restricted-choice track electives
    Period 2
    5

    Choose 1 out of 3 courses: Computational Finance, Derivatives or Valuation.

  • Empirical Methods in Finance
    Period 3
    5

    In this course, you will learn statistical methodologies used on the current frontier of empirical analysis. You will also learn to implement these methodologies through weekly case assignments, completed using the statistical program STATA or computing language R. Discover the university’s databases and how to prepare for thesis research.

  • Thesis seminar Finance
    Period 4
    3

    This course provides you with a solid foundation for your Master's thesis. You will start with a thesis proposal, which will receive multiple rounds of feedback from classmates. The guidance you receive in the course will help you to polish your proposal and prepare for further independent thesis work. Also, you will learn how to provide critical opinions of your classmates’ thesis proposals, and how to give effective presentations.

  • Restricted-choice track electives
    Period 4
    10

    Choose 2 out of 3 courses: Behavioural Finance, Quantitative Finance and Algorithmic Trading or Real Estate and Alternative Investments.

  • Restricted-choice programme wide electives
    Period 5
    2

    Choose 1 out of 2 courses: Ethics and Professional Skills in Finance or Sustainable Finance.

  • Master’s Thesis
    Period 4
    Period 5
    Period 6
    15

    The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic in your chosen track, and to learn how to independently complete a comprehensive research project. A professor with expertise on your topic will supervise your effort. You will also receive guidance on how to manage your time, break down a long-term project into a series of manageable steps, and communicate in a clear and professional manner.

Compulsory course
Elective
Specialisation

Do you want to know more about the courses?

The course catalogue provides detailed information for each course, including content, assessment methods and recommended literature.

Honours programme: A Sustainable Perspective on Finance

The Honours programme is designed for students with excellent analytical and leadership abilities, and a fundamental passion to enhance the adoption of sustainability in finance. It is a challenging programme and a great way to stand out for future employers. The programme must be finished in 1.5 years, and includes 3 additional courses: Sustainable Finance, Honours Course on Impact Investing, and an elective course (Corporate Governance, Advanced Investments, or Financial Regulation).

Real-life case: Asset Management Game

Students work in groups to practice trading stocks using real-time prices. In this asset management game, every subgroup manages a hypothetical portfolio of €1,000,000 in U.S. equities and ETFs. Trading ideas can be derived from guest lectures by asset management professionals at the Dutch Central Bank, Robeco, and Algemene Pensioen Groep (APG).

Vera Scholten - student
Copyright: EB
'The lecturers are very good and try to engage with the student in every way' Vera Scholten - student Read Vera’s full review
Frequently asked questions