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A word from Academic Directors

The increasingly globalized and complex economy creates an additional demand for graduates with a well-recognized expertise in all areas of finance. In addition, corporate financial directors, consulting (advisory) firms, investment banks and financial institutions are in need of in-depth technical knowledge in finance.

Career-oriented and internationally focused, the ESSEC Master in Finance is a highly selective and intensive program designed to offer high quality training to high potential students who wish to pursue a career in corporate finance, financial markets, fintech, asset and portfolio management as well as risk management. 

Unique in its kind, ESSEC Master in Finance accounts with the recognition and accreditation of French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, conferring its students with an official Master Degree diploma. 

The program has a strong international dimension and teaches students to adapt to a multicultural environment, addressing multinational issues and providing exposure to both Europe and Asia. It offers a global approach to finance with a strong emphasis on the underlying skills necessary to operate in today’s financial professions."

Romain BOULLAND Academic Director


Gerard DESPINOY Executive Director

Peng XU Associate Academic Director

Romain BOULLAND

Academic Director
Ph.D. in Finance,
Univ. of Paris Dauphine,
MSc Economics - ENSAE
Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay
Finance Department

 Gérard DESPINOY

Executive Director
Ph.D. Economics,
Univ. of Paris Dauphine,
MBA INSEAD
Finance Department

Peng XU

Associate Academic Director
Ph.D. in Finance & Economics,
Univ. of Toronto
CFA Charterholder
Finance Department

The Master in Finance Experience

What Makes this Program Unique?

The MIF program has a strong analytical focus and aims to provide you with a comprehensive view of finance enabling you to develop and become a fully-operational professional.
According to your professional project, you may choose to apply in the program either on the ESSEC France campus (Cergy, Paris area), or the ESSEC Asia-Pacific campus (Singapore).

 

What does the Master in Finance Look Like?

The duration of the Master in Finance is 2 years (Master 1+Master 2) or 1 year (Master 2 only), depending on your background and latest degree.
If you have or are currently pursuing:
- A 3 years Bachelor, or a Licence 3 at the minimum: you will complete the program in 2 years (M1+M2)
- A 4 years Bachelor or a Master Degree at the minimum: you will complete the program in 1 year (M2)
If the commission board finds that your background is strong but not complete enough in some required aspects, we may ask you to complete the program in 2 years (M1+M2) instead in order to build up your strengths and ensure your success.

 

Master 1
A year to grasp the prerequisites of Finance and decide where to specialize during the M2

TERM 0

IN FRANCE OR IN SINGAPORE
Preparatory courses

TERM 1

IN FRANCE OR IN SINGAPORE
Core courses

TERMS 2 & 3

Internship

Master 2
A year to gain a comprehensive knowledge and experience in Finance, and to tailor the program to your specific career goals

 TERM 0

 IN FRANCE OR IN SINGAPORE
Core Courses

TERM 1

IN FRANCE OR IN SINGAPORE
Core & Elective Courses
AlumnEye Training: prepare for summer program recruitment

 Possibility to apply for inter-campus mobility

TERMS 2 & 3

France or Singapore
CORPORATE FINANCE
France or Singapore
FINANCIAL MARKETS
Singapore
FINTECH & ANALYTICS

Core and elective courses

Core and elective courses

Core and elective courses


Internship or Academic Dissertation + International Study Trips (London and New York or Hong Kong) + Digital Workshop Competition + Job Fairs

A top-notch and career oriented program

Curriculum | Advanced technical skills to undertake a career in the world’s major financial centers

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:

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:

France or Singapore
CORPORATE FINANCE
France or Singapore
FINANCIAL MARKETS
Singapore
FINTECH & ANALYTICS

Core courses
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Firm Valuation
- Private Equity
- See all courses...

Elective courses
- Wealth Management
- Portfolio Theory & Investment Analysis
- Coaching CFA
- See all courses...

Core courses
- Fixed Income
- Advanced Derivative Markets
- Volatility Trading
- See all courses...

Elective courses
- Financial Econometrics
Energy & Commodity Markets & Products
Digital Financial Platforms and Intermediation
- See all courses...

Core courses
- Digital Financial Platforms & Intermediation
- Financial Econometrics
Big Data Analytics
- See all courses...

Elective courses
- Commodity Markets & Energy Products
Financial Risk Management
- Advanced Derivative Markets
- See all courses...

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

Your Professional Career Starts Now

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.

THE INTERNSHIP

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:

  • ARDIAN
  • BANK OF AMERICA - MERRILL LYNCH
  • BARCLAYS
  • BNP-PARIBAS
  • CREDIT AGRICOLE CIB
  • GOLDMAN SACHS
  • HSBC
  • J.P. MORGAN
  • MORGAN STANLEY
  • ODDO & CIE
  • NOMURA
  • ROTHSCHILD & CIE
  • SOCIETE GENERALE
  • STATE STREET BANK SINGAPORE
  • LAZARD FRERES
  • FRANCE TELECOM
  • KPMG
  • SCHRODERS

Summer internships & graduate programs - some alumni past positions

summer internships & graduate programs ESSEC alumni positions

 

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY TRIPS

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.

 

DIGITAL WORKSHOP COMPETITION

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.

 

PROFESSIONAL EVENTS

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.

Recognition

 

The ESSEC Master in Finance program is authorised by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to award a recognised BAC+5 degree, Master’s Grade, to its students. Authorisation is delivered following assessment by the National Management Programmes Assessment Commission (Commission d’Evaluation des Formations de Gestion - https://www.cefdg.fr) for a renewable period. This Commission undertakes assessment for all programs, with or without the Master’s Grade, delivered by business schools that are recognised by the French State to guarantee the quality of teaching delivered and the value of their degree.

This is valid whether you do your program at France campus or at Singapore campus.

Welcome to France - Campus France

ESSEC Business School has been recognized by Campus France and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for the quality of its international students’ welcome.
The school received the highest level that can be obtained from the "Bienvenue en France" certification, which is the third level.

This certification recognizes the quality of ESSEC's reception in all the criteria provided:

  • The quality and accessibility of information
  • The welcoming of new international students
  • The academic offer
  • Accommodations
  • Campus life
  • The quality of post-graduate follow-up

 

Standards of Excellence Labels

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Eliza, Federica and Aleksandra, current students, will be more than happy to answer your questions.
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Upcoming events

  • Dec 08
    Master in Finance Program Presentation

    oin the Academic Directors of Master in Finance program Romain Boulland and Peng Xu, as well as International Promotions Officers Zoë Jofeh and Johnny Liang for a Q&A ...

    12:00 | Online session Sign up
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