Master of Finance: A Comprehensive Guide

A Master of Finance (MF) is a specialized degree that prepares students for careers in the financial sector. It covers topics such as financial analysis, risk management, portfolio management, corporate finance, and financial markets. An MF degree can help students gain the skills and knowledge they need to pursue various roles in banking, investment, consulting, or academia. In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive guide on what an MF degree is, what are the benefits of pursuing it, admission requirements, curriculum, courses, and career prospects for MF graduates. Whether you are interested in advancing your current career or exploring new opportunities in the finance industry, this blog will help you understand if an MF degree is right for you.

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Also Read: Diploma in Banking and Finance

Why Pursue a Master of Finance?

As a budding student with numerous opportunities for career growth, choosing a Master of Finance might prove extremely beneficial for your education as well as for your working career. But many students might ask why they should go for this degree. Here are the reasons why pursuing a master’s in finance will benefit your career:

High Salary

As the global requirement of Masters in Finance course is super high, you will never face problems bagging high-paying jobs. Depending on your designation as well as your experience, you will earn hundreds and thousands of dollars.

Extensive Job Opportunities

As the finance industry changes and evolves continuously, no one is able to predict the proper movement. Whether the world goes through a new currency transformation or witnesses the development of one specific currency, you will never face dull moments while working in the finance industry.

Acquiring Skills

When you start knowing the ins and outs of the finance sector, you will be able to empower yourself with extensive knowledge and information. When you gain knowledge from every aspect of the finance sector, you will be able to boost your experience and your position. You can also harness your own skills such as managing your investment portfolio and money. This will help you lead a successful life.

Also Read: Stock Market in India

Master of Finance: Specialisations Covered

Studying Master of Finance, you will get to learn about the different facets of the economy at large as well as concepts such as dealing with the exchange rates, financial markets, risk management, equity and derivate policies along with monetary policies. Since the domain of finance is widely spread, there is a multitude of specializations that you can choose from. Below we have elaborated on some of the major subjects and disciplines in the arena of Finance that you can specialize in:

Financial Management

Financial Management is an ideal field for those wanting to pursue a career in banking, accounting, investment, and financial services, amongst others. This specialisation under Master of Finance covers varied concepts like accounting, financial market, corporate finance, shareholder dividend policies and allocation of assets. 

International Finance

Derived from the branch of Financial Economics, International Finance is concerned with interrelating monetary and macroeconomic perspectives. It is a pivotal sub-discipline of the Master of Finance and encompasses topics such as exchange rate, foreign direct investment, monetary system, and international taxation, amongst others.

Financial Econometrics

Several techniques of econometrics are used in the major fields of Economics incorporating the usage of statistics, mathematics and computer science. Financial Econometrics plays an integral in facilitating the analysis of securities, portfolio management and risk management. Pursuing a Master of Finance, students are imparted with the knowledge of detailed methodologies regarding the relationship between econometrics and finance. 

Financial Engineering

Financial Engineering is a multidisciplinary field of study that offers a technical fusion between software engineering and computational engineering with statistics and mathematics. Students perusing this specialization under the Master of Finance will get to know about the fundamental financial theories and models applied in the measurement of risk management using programming tools and mathematics.  

Financial Markets

By studying Financial Markets, you will get to know about monetary policies, equity and derivative markets, financial institutions and regulations and debt and foreign exchange markets on a global level. In a master of Finance degree, this specialization also focuses on monetary policy formulation, the history and evolution of financial markets, private sector banking, macroeconomic analysis and bond markets.

Also Read: CFA Level 1

Top Universities and Courses for Master of Finance 

Across the globe, many esteemed universities offer a diverse range of master of finance programs. The courses can vary from one institution to another as well as the specializations one wants to pursue. Here is a table that enlists some of the major universities that are known for their master of Finance programs:

QS Ranking 2023	University Name	Country	Course Name
1	HEC Paris	France	Master in International Finance
2	Oxford	UK	MSc Financial Economics
3	London Business School	UK	MSc in Financial Economics
4	MIT (Sloan)	USA	Master of Finance
5	UCLA (Anderson)	USA	Master of Financial Engineering
6	Cambridge (Judge)	UK	Master of Finance
7	ESSEC Business School	France	Master in Finance
8	UC Berkeley (Haas)	USA	Master of Financial Engineering
9	London School of Economics	UK	MSc Finance
10	Bocconi University	Italy	MSc in Finance

Also Read: Short-Term Courses in Finance

Master of Finance: Admission Process

This is one of the most important things you should remember while applying to top universities worldwide for a master’s in finance. This is because many students don’t pay close attention to their admission process which affects their chances of getting enrolled at the top universities in the world. Therefore, don’t forget to contact Leverage Edu and the professionals will help you.

Eligibility Criteria

Here’s the list you need to remember to know whether you’re eligible to pursue a master’s in finance from a reputed university:

• You must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. In addition, the overall marks of your bachelor’s should be more than 70%.
• English language proficiency test is mandatory while applying to a reputed university abroad. Make sure you have a proper score in IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL.
• You also need to submit your GMAT or GRE score.
• Apart from showcasing a minimum of 2 years of experience, you also need to apply for a passport as well as a student visa.

Master of Finance: Application Process

This is another important aspect you need to keep in mind if you’re planning to complete a master’s degree in finance. Sometimes the application process might get overwhelming. This is where the professional from Leverage Edu will help you. It’s important to complete the application process without any mistakes. Here are crucial things to consider:

1. Call us and we will help you shortlist your favourite quantum finance university in the world. But you need to submit your application to multiple universities to broaden your chances of getting selected. 
2. Compile all essential documents. Don’t make mistakes while submitting the documents. 
3. Submit the application before the deadlines and start the application process for accommodation, student visa, and scholarships/student loans.
4. Accept the offer letter
5. Don’t forget to get your visa approved.

Documents Required

The documentation process is one of the most essential steps you should consider. But making some common mistakes will jeopardize your application. The documents you need to submit are::

• Educational certificates- As you’re going for the highest fundamental degree in finance, you need to provide your other mark sheets such as the 12th mark sheet, UG mark sheet, etc.  
• Letter of recommendation
• Letter of intent 
• Financial documents 
• Statement of purpose 
• Passport

Also Read: Courses after MBA Finance

Master of Finance: Career and Job Opportunities

This is one of the most important things the students who want to pursue higher education in Master of Finance. When you complete your education at a well-known university in the world, you will be able to receive high-paying jobs.

Best Job Designations

Here are the best jobs you can receive when you complete your degree with a great score. Keep in mind that these jobs will highly depend on your overall academic qualification and the marks you’ve obtained.

• Financial Analyst
• Financial Manager
• Financial Services Sales Agent
• Financial Advisor
• Actuary
• Accountant
• Chief Financial Officer

Salary by Country

Here is the salary structure of someone who has completed their master’s course in finance.

Country	Salar/Year
USA	USD 85,000 (INR 69 Lakh)
UK	GBP 51,000 (INR 51 Lakh)
Australia	AUD 67,000 (INR 39 Lakh)
Canada	CAD 70,000 (INR 43 Lakh)

If you want to get into a high-ranked university, you’ll need more than just good grades; you’ll also need flawless application because the competition is fierce. You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realise your goals. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.