This new program was designed for candidates with an international profile looking for an international career. The International MSc in Finance prepares students for high-level careers in the global financial industry. CATÓLICA-LISBON offers a unique opportunity to prepare for the internationally recognized CFA® Level 1 exam during the degree. You can also pursue an extra exchange semester or a Double Degree at a top international business school.
International Master of Science in Finance
Outline
Overview
This MSc is a rigorous and comprehensive program, which aims at developing finance professionals with strong ethics and an in-depth knowledge of the field, both in financial investments and corporate finance.
The program combines theoretical rigor with a practical hands-on approach. Students have the opportunity to explore hedge fund strategies, discuss corporate restructuring, empirically test investment strategies, and immerse themselves in private equity or M&A deals.
Our students have access to state-of-the-art resources such as Reuters Eikon, Datastream, WRDS, and many other databases.
Our graduates pursue high-level careers in investment banks, other financial institutions, consultancies, and other major corporations all over the world.
Partnership
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Program Structure
Before the program starts
1st Semester | 2nd Semester
3rd Semester
Depending on your academic background and performance, you may have to attend some online modules between June and August (2 weeks). If there is no availability before the beginning of the program, students will have the possibility to do it as soon as the MSc starts but this will mean a higher adaptation cost and more classes.
Core Finance Courses
Foundation Courses
Elective Courses
Career Accelerator Lab
Professional Internship Requirement (mandatory)
International Experience (mandatory)
Summer Internship (optional)
Language Requirement (mandatory)
Study trip (optional)
Workshops (optional)
The mandatory courses in Finance assure an appropriate preparation in the main areas in Finance including both theory and standard applications:
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Data Science for Finance
- Empirical Finance
- Financial Derivatives
- Financial Investments
- Firm Valuation
- Risk Management
- Financial Analysis and Forecasting
- Ethics for Finance
These courses are designed to offer students the background knowledge required for the Finance specialization. Courses can be waived based on previous academic experience.
- Accounting
- Finance
- Managerial Economics
You may take free elective courses in Finance or outside of your program to complement your area of expertise, or simply explore a topic that interests you. In our International MSc in Finance, some electives that you can take are:
- Advanced Fixed Income
- Banking and Finance
- CFA Challenge
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Equity Reports
- Financial Modeling
- FinTech
- International Finance
- Investing in Global Financial Markets
- Investing in Short-Term Fixed Income Markets
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Python for Finance
Career Accelerator Lab is designed to help students in CATÓLICA-LISBON’s Master programs to develop skills that are important for working with and managing people, as well as for approaching the job market, and therefore for lifelong employability and growth.
Professional Internship: non-credit granting company internship with a minimum duration of 6 weeks (240 hours). Prior professional experience can be used to satisfy this requirement (subject to validation by the Careers & Talent Office), if completed after June 1 of the year prior to beginning of the MSc program.
To obtain a valuable international experience and further improve your knowledge, you can pursue a Double Degree or complete an exchange semester in one of CATÓLICA-LISBON’s prestigious partner schools around the world.
Alternatively, the international requirement can be completed via an international internship (6 weeks minimum) either during or before starting the MSc program, in a country other than Portugal or your home country.
Students are encouraged to complete a summer internship before or during the MSc program.
Until the time of completion of the MSc degree, you must show evidence of proficiency in two foreign languages other than your native language.
Our International MSc in Finance students will have the chance to do a study trip. Study trips are great opportunities to learn about new industries, locations, and roles. In 2020, our students were able to get to know the most fascinating companies and their culture, mission as well as available opportunities in Dublin, Amsterdam or Luxembourg.
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Note: study trips are not included in our tuition fees.
Our students will have the opportunity to enroll in several workshops with international guest speakers.
Thesis Project
The thesis project involves a research methodologies workshop, designed to provide you with advice, resources and useful tools to plan the research for your thesis, and a dissertation.
Admissions requirements
Graduates in Business, Economics, or another Quantitative discipline that seek to improve their financial knowledge and skills in order to pursue a high level international career.
Professional experience/internship (up to 2 years), international exposure (exchange, summer school or internship abroad) and extracurricular achievements are highly valued by the Admissions Jury.
GMAT highly recommended.
Double Degree: your passport for an international career
Spend one year at CATÓLICA-LISBON followed by a second year at the partner school of your choice, and get two diplomas.
Double Degree programs offer you the opportunity to gain a deep international experience and to challenge yourself by experiencing two distinctive academic cultures and approaches.
At the end of the program, you will be granted two diplomas – one from CATÓLICA-LISBON and one from our partner school.
Above all, the cross-cultural awareness gained through this experience is highly valued by recruiters and likely to increase your potential for an international career.
Partner Schools
Aston Business School
BI Norwegian Business School
Bocconi University
ESCP-Europe
WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at ASTON |
|---|---|
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N/A |
MSc in International Business, MSc in Entrepreneurship & International Business, MSc in Strategy & International Business or MSc in Business Analytics |
Specific Requirement:
TOEFL score of 93 IBT (26 in writing, 22 in speaking, 18 in reading and 19 in listening) or an IELTS score of 6.5 (6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in reading and listening) or a Pearson Academic test score of 63 (63 in writing and speaking and 57 in listening and reading).
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at BI |
|---|---|
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N/A |
MSc in Finance or MSc in Business, Major in Finance |
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at BOCCONI |
|---|---|
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N/A |
Laurea Magistrale in Accounting, Financial Management and Control |
Specific Requirement:
Admitted students must provide proof of English Language ability: TOEFL (min. 600/250/100 Paper Based/Computer Based/Internet Based); IELTS (min 7.0); CAE (min. B) or CPE; Certain other certificates at min. level C1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; Bachelor degree entirely taught in English.
Students admitted must have at least 10 weeks of professional experience.
Candidates who have previously applied to Master programs at Bocconi University – regardless of the outcome of their application – are not eligible for CATÓLICA-LISBON Double Degree programs with Bocconi University.
Candidates of any nationality (or nationalities) who hold an Italian bachelor/undergraduate degree are not eligible for CATÓLICA-LISBON Double Degree programs with Bocconi University.
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at ESCP |
|---|---|
| N/A | Diplôme Master Grande École (MSc in Management) |
Specific Requirement:
Admitted students must perform a 36-week internship before, during or after the thesis.
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at WHU |
|---|---|
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N/A |
MSc in Management or MSc in Finance |
Specific Requirement:
- Admitted students must provide proof of English Language ability: TOEFL 105 [IBT] or IELTS 7.5 by the end of January.
- Students admitted must have at least 5 months [20 weeks] of professional experience.
Application process
When to apply
2021 intake
Our best advice is to apply early. Mark your calendar with the dates below to apply on time.
1st round - from January 4th to January 25th, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee 80€
2nd round - from January 26th to February 22nd, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee 80€
3rd round - from February 23rd to March 22nd, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee 80€
4th round * - to be announced - application fee to be confirmed
* limited spots available
How to apply
Start your application online, provide us with your personal information, upload the mandatory documents and pay the application fee. The Admissions Jury reviews applications shortly after each application period deadline.
For further information about our programs and the admission process, please contact the MSc Marketing & Admissions Office (msc@ucp.pt | +351 217 214 140).
Tuition Fees & Scholarships
International MSc in Finance
Double Degrees
Semesters |
Program total fees |
|---|---|
| 3 semester track | 13.900€ |
| 4 semester track (includes an exchange semester) | 15.900€ |
Please note that application fee is not included in total fees. Application, enrollment and registration fees are non-refundable.
PARTNER School |
Program fees |
|---|---|
| ASTON (UK) | Total fees Double Degree ASTON 17.500€ |
| BI (Norway) | Total fees Double Degree BI 17.500€ |
| BOCCONI (Italy)* | Program fees 17.500€ |
| Registration fees at BOCCONI 365€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree BOCCONI 17.865€ | |
| ESCP (France)** | Program fees 17.500€ |
| Double Degree program administrative costs 2.500€ | |
| Registration fees at ESCP 2.670€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree ESCP 22.670€ | |
| WHU (Germany)* | Program fees 17.500€ |
| Double Degree program administrative costs 4.000€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree WHU 21.500€ |
(*) fees related to host university are subject to change (yearly update)
(**) registration fee at ESCP: 890€ per year until the conclusion of the 36-week-internship (due to ESCP internship requirements, it is predicted that students are enrolled at ESCP for 3 years).
Scholarships
CATÓLICA TOP+ SCHOLARSHIP
CATÓLICA Top+ is a scholarship program meant for students with an outstanding academic record.
Implemented by CATÓLICA-LISBON, this program allows high-potential students to complete their MSc with a partial waiver of tuition fees for the regular track of the program (3 semesters at our School; exchange semester excluded).
We encourage outstanding students to apply for this scholarship in your MSc application. This is the only way to apply for our scholarship.
Note: Double Degree and Joint Degree students can only be granted a scholarship in the 1st year.
Other scholarships
Grants to Higher Education Students in Portugal - more information here or contact our Social Responsability Office (GRS) - grs@ucp.pt
Scholarship Fundação Amélia de Mello (for portuguese students only) - more information here
Careers: Immersion in the Corporate World
From day one, CATÓLICA-LISBON supports you throughout your academic journey, preparing you for the challenges of the job market by providing you with the skills to open the path to a successful international career.
Why CATÓLICA-LISBON Masters?
Top Business School in Portugal
A TOP 10 most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem hub in Europe
Lisbon hosts the Web Summit since 2016 and is ranked 5th best European city to launch your start-up. (according to Startup Heatmap Europe survey 2016)
Which makes it an extraordinary combination between:
Why Lisbon?
Lisbon, the "city of the seven hills", is the political and economic capital of Portugal. It stretches along the north bank of the River Tagus in the westernmost country of mainland Europe.
Also known as the “white city”, the almost constant presence of sunshine and the River Tagus transforms Lisbon into a mirror of a thousand colors, highlighting the city’s unique architecture and beauty.
Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries, quaint museums, great cuisine and the best sandy beaches in Europe are some of the features that make Lisbon one of the best cities to study and live.
Meet Our Students
"The courses taught by experienced professors, significantly expanded my knowledge in finance."
"Being intellectually challenged prepares you to make a difference and to guarantee your dream job."
"I can only say that reality has exceeded expectations I had on these experiences."
I truly recommend this master to fully dedicated and ambitious people who would like to stretch their limits to later distinguish themselves in the workplace.
FAQ's
You can find here the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we receive from prospective students interested in our MSc Programs. If you still have any question after reading this information, you are invited to contact us.