Master in Finance

The Master in Finance at USI offers training for a successful career in the financial industry and in other sectors of the economy. Testifying to the quality of our program, the Master in Finance has recently been ranked number 28 in the world (and 2nd in Switzerland) by the Financial Times.

The skills that we provide span such diverse fields as portfolio management, data analytics, banking regulation, and crypto currencies. Catering to different backgrounds and preferences, the Master program is organized in three minors: Quantitative Finance, Banking and Finance, and Digital Finance. The minors are designed to match the demands from the job market, individual interests and educational backgrounds.

Courses in the first semester are common across all minors. They are aimed at providing the students with the foundation of finance, statistics, programming, and accounting. They serve as the basis for all subsequent courses and allow students to identify their personal interests and strengths. When entering the second semester, students choose the minor in which they want to specialize in. The second semester is then dedicated to core courses, establishing the foundations of Quantitative Finance, Banking and Finance, and Digital Finance. In the third semester, half of the ECTS (15) are from core (compulsory) courses, which complete the foundations in the chosen fields. For the remaining 15 ECTS, students have access to several elective courses that allow them to customize their curricula according to their individual interests and professional goals. Students also can choose to undertake a field-project consisting of a consulting project for a firm under the supervision of a faculty member.

The Master degree is obtained after the fulfillment of 90 ECTS, i.e. it can be completed in three semesters. Students can also decide to prolong their permanence in the program for one additional semester, during which they will write a thesis. Thus, they will have their first experience of scientific research and consider the possibility of a potential academic career, for example in the prestigious and world-renowned SFI PhD program in finance. The master thesis provides additional 30 ECTS, bringing the total up to 120 ECTS. Alternatively, students may build a first-hand industry experience through an internship in a firm.

Our Master program is accredited by the Swiss Finance Institute, a network of Swiss Universities aiming at excellence in financial education and research.

Antonio Genovese

JP Morgan Wealth Management

"The MSc in Finance offered by the Swiss Finance Institute and the USI gave me the opportunity to learn from renowned contributors of the academic society and the high professors-to-student ratio makes the faculty members very accessible. The master program gives strong background in the quantitative aspects of finance. I could develop programming skills who helped me put in practice more theoretical aspects of asset valuation or modelling of economic trends which also has relevant presence in the program. The partnership with the Swiss Finance Institute gives you access to an incredible number of resources not limited to the high quality of the professors: conferences, international speakers passing by and constant presence on campus of senior members of the industry wanting to get the latest views on financial services industry trends. USI has a wide international network worldwide among some of the most prestigious institutions, I chose to spend one semester at Virginia Tech among many options available."

Thierry Girardier

"Success is the combination of opportunity and preparation. Opportunity given by an environment designed to help you grow; preparation in the form of hard work and commitment towards your goals. The MSc in Finance at USI provided me with the opportunity. A high quality, module-based programme matched with close proximity with internationally recognized professors allowed me to make the most out my years at university. I particularly appreciated the blend of quantitative/theoretical content and concrete case studies in almost every course. In an increasingly demanding and competitive global working environment, the ability to understand and solve complex problems is an invaluable asset. This is one of the many skills I acquired during my time at USI."