Master in Finance (MIF)

Benefit from a career-oriented academic curriculum that relies on a wide range of teaching methods including lectures from experts in their field, current events and case study analysis as well as in-class exercises. You will gain a global perspective in finance with a strong emphasis on the underlying skills necessary to operate in today’s financial professions. 
The three assets that best characterize ESSEC Business School’s faculty are academic excellence, a global frame of mind and original and outstanding teaching. 
The Finance Department counts with 23 faculty members, 1 adjunct professor and 13 part-time lecturers.

YEAR 1 (Master 1 ; M1)

At ESSEC France or at ESSEC Asia-Pacific

Depending on your background and latest degree, you will start the program in M1 and the total duration of the program is 2 years (M1+M2).
To build up your strength and help you build your foundations, you will begin the program with a term (T0) of preparatory courses in Finance, Mathematics and Statistics.
Examples of courses include:

• Financial Theory
• Statistics
• Foundations of Calculus & Probability
• See all courses… 

During the following term (T1), you will follow 6 courses from a general track (1 compulsory & 5 electives). Through this first year, you will be able to discover your professional interest, to help you decide on which track to choose in Year 2 (M2).
Example of courses include:

• Programming in Python
• Management Control
• Strategic Cost Management
• Sustainability Performance
• Macroeconomic Theory and Development
• See all courses… 

 You will do a 6-month internship at the end of M1.

YEAR 2 (Master 2 ; M2)

At ESSEC France or at ESSEC Asia-Pacific

Depending on your background and latest degree, you will start the program in M2 and the total duration of the program is 1 year (M2), or you will continue with the second year of the program (M2) if you started in M1.
This year (M2) is divided into three terms, where you will cover: courses, 2 study trips to the major financial centers (London and New York or Hong Kong), specialized tracks, certificates in FinTech & Analytics, Energy & Commodities, andor/ AMF certification (optional), and an internship or academic dissertation. 

Terms 0 & 1. Build your Foundations
In France (Paris area) or in Singapore, during these first terms you will take core courses and electives.
Examples of courses include:

• Corporate Financial Management
• Financial Markets
• Options
• Programming in Python
• Big Data Analytics
• International Finance
• See all courses… 

Terms 2 & 3. Choose your Track 
To tailor the program to your career goals, you will follow core and elective courses on the specialization of your choice: Corporate Finance Track, Financial Markets Track, Fintech & Analytics Track. 
Examples or courses include:

During term 2 you will also have the possibility to do inter-campus mobility.

The Master in Finance is built on the premise of learning by doing. That is to say, we don't want you to just theorize about your chosen field of expertise, but to experience it and to delve into the complexity of business life in the real world.

Each year (M1 & M2), you will complete an internship with a duration of 4 to 6 months; it can take place anywhere in the world and is designed to let you integrate into the professional world. You will acquire hands-on experience as an intern in an organization enabling you to put into practical use the knowledge and skills attained in the program.

ESSEC’s corporate internship partners include:

Summer internships & graduate programs - some alumni past positions

During M2, ESSEC Master in Finance offers a unique opportunity for students to travel to two of the major financial hubs (London and Hong Kong or New York). The study trips allow privileged access to the most prestigious investment banks and consulting firms such as: Barclays Capital, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, BNP-Paribas, Crédit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, etc. Students not only meet and exchange views with professionals but also get to interact with ESSEC alumni.

During M2, ESSEC Business School, in partnership with top leading banks such as Société Générale, organizes a Digital Workshop Competition to work on a series of challenges set by the banks. This innovative learning and professional experience allows students to be aware of the digital stakes within large investment banks, and prepares them to develop a whole set of skills. It is also a great opportunity to immerse on real life challenges, understand today and tomorrow’s digital world, and show their skills to potential employers. Organized in parallel over ESSEC two campuses, and with students from Master in Finance, Master in Data Sciences & Business Analytics,and MSc in Marketing Management & Digital; mixed teams on Cergy and Singapore campuses will compete on a Hackathon format.

During M2, you will have the chance to attend finance specific recruitment fairs, for example:

• International Finance Forum on the ESSEC Cergy campus and Finance Get-Together Session in Singapore in mid-October where you will be able to brush shoulders with major banks and financial institutions from across the world and meet their recruiters who are looking to hire for their summer internship programs and graduate schemes and for various other job positions.
• Finance Forum with CentraleSupélec in London is organized for students from ESSEC & CentraleSupélec, a leading French Engineering School. It is a great opportunity to meet recruiters and practitionners of the financial sector in London. 

For more information, visit the Careers section.

ESSEC Business School’s Finance Department regularly holds research seminars where students can meet researchers and professionals. These seminars provide an opportunity to students to meet and discuss with professionals and practitioners from major financial sectors. The lectures, current events, and case studies allow a better understanding of the latest changes and developments in the financial sectors.