Advanced Corporate Finance

This course offers you a rich blend of lectures, guest lectures from industry representatives, readings, exercises and cases in the area of corporate finance. You will cover topics such as corporate investment strategies, corporate governance, bankruptcy, equity offerings, and mergers and acquisitions, all while discussing state-of-the-art research methodologies. You will extend your theoretical framework as well as understand how these theories are implemented in the real business world.

Financial Markets

This course provides you with a hands-on treatment of the field of market microstructure - the area of finance that studies price formation in securities markets.

Applied Financial Econometrics

In this course you expand your knowledge about regression analysis applied to finance topics,  a powerful tool in empirical finance for  analysing empirical relationships. You will review estimation and testing of the basic linear regression model and subsequently will focus on various applications and extensions of the basic model.

Empirical Methods in Finance

In this course you will focus on the current statistical methodology used in empirical work and the practical implementation of data analysis using STATA. You will attend methodology lectures on how to use the university’s databases and tutorials in which you present and receive feedback on empirical group assignments. Also you will write a first thesis proposal.

Ethics and Professional Skills in Finance

This course will explain to you the importance and relevance of ethics in finance. You will discuss:

• the relationship with corporate governance and recognition.
• personal dealing with ethical issues in the finance profession.

You will also get acquainted with ethical issues in finance through practical cases.

Workshops
Being a professional requires more than specialised knowledge of finance. You also need professional skills to become successful. That is why during this course we offer you a selection of skills workshops to choose from:

1. Public Speaking and Presenting
2. People Skills
3. Self-management
4. Negotiation Skills
5. Programming with Python
6. Intercultural Competence

Thesis Seminar Finance

This course prepares you for writing your Master's thesis. It brings you up-to-date knowledge and professional skills.  Also, you will learn how to acquire a critical view on your own work and that of fellow students. In the course you will develop your thesis plan as well as learn to present, discuss and referee other’s work.

Advanced Investments

In this course, you look at the investment and asset pricing problems from a more fundamental academic perspective. We will discuss the core theoretical concepts that tie together all different asset pricing models, empirical methodologies we can use to test the models with the data as well as the latest state-of-the-art academic advances, both on the theoretical as well as empirical fronts. 

Mandatory electives, semester 1

Choose 1 out of 3 courses: 

• Computational Finance
• Derivatives
• Valuation

Mandatory electives, semester 2

Choose 2 out of 3 courses:

• Behavioural Finance
• Quantitative Finance and Algorithmic Trading
• Real Estate and Alternative Investments

The academic programme culminates in a thesis, which allows you to engage with state-of-the-art data analysis and statistical techniques. The Master’s thesis is the final requirement for your graduation. It is your chance to dive deep into a topic in your field of choice (track) that you are enthusiastic about, and allows you to do an independent research project in Finance. A professor of your track will supervise and support you in writing your thesis.

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).

Once you have completed your curriculum, you will have the possibility of doing an internship or going on an exchange abroad. For international students, it is an excellent opportunity to experience the Dutch labour market.

Are you interested in learning Dutch? There are various options available to maximise your Dutch experience and prepare for your future job in the Netherlands.

Many of our students are members of a study association. It is fun and useful for your future career at the same time. Faculty student associations are a great way to meet fellow students and future employers. They organise study trips (abroad), career events, weekly debates and social events. You can also purchase your textbooks and course syllabi at reduced rates.

Overview Study Associations

• Faculty student association Sefa
• International Student Committee (ISC,part of Sefa)
• International Student Network Amsterdam (ISN, part of Sefa)
• Study Association Actuarial Sciences, Econometrics and Operational Research (VSAE)
• Financial Study Association Amsterdam (FSA)
• Marketing Association Amsterdam (MAA)
• International study association (AIESEC)

Amsterdam has a thriving student community with many activities organised outside of the university’s grounds. You will find student associations focusing on networking, specific interests and sports. It is only at sororities and fraternities that you can expect an initiation ritual (hazing).

At university, you are entitled to make your voice heard and assess the quality of your own education. Students can participate in the discussion on the university's education policy in various ways, such as by joining the Programme Committee, the Faculty Student Council or the first-year focus group. You can also stand for election and dedicate your efforts to the programme and your fellow students.