Goals and Contents
The Master in Banking and Finance has been designed to provide graduates with the necessary tools and skills for understanding financial markets and products from a banker’s perspective. Lugano being the 3rd financial marketplace in Switzerland provides an ideal venue to offer students with different backgrounds the best possible start for a successful career in banking or finance. The degree provides a background in finance methodology as well as the opportunity to go into more depth in selected topics of banking and finance by choosing electives.

The Master programme stretches over two years (120 ECTS) and is structured to allow the students to personalise their study curricula according to their individual interests and educational backgrounds. It includes four semesters of lectures and seminars, and an internship. Typically, in the first semester students attend the foundation courses in order to acquire the basics of finance, accounting and statistics. The second and third semesters are dedicated to core courses and electives. The final thesis should show the candidate’s ability to integrate acquired knowledge in the advanced scientific analysis of a topic in banking and finance.

The Swiss Finance Institute at the University of Lugano coordinates the Master in Finance. The Swiss Finance Institute is an initiative sponsored by the Swiss Bankers Association with the purpose of achieving international excellence in banking and finance education and research at Swiss universities. The Institute is highly committed to banking and finance education in Ticino and Switzerland. The importance of the financial area in the Swiss economy strengthens the mission of the Institute to train the people required to meet the challenges of globalisation and the increasing competition in financial markets.

Student Profile
The Master in Banking and Finance is aimed at students who wish to pursue careers within the main sectors of banking and finance: Wealth Management, Private Banking, Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Corporate Finance. The programme is aimed at bachelor graduates with a background in economics, management, or related disciplines, who are interested in developing general expertise in finance and in the banking sector.

The Faculty and the students are an international group, with education and work experience from across the world. This further increases learning and cultural exchanges, as students also learn to work effectively with people from different cultures. Therefore a good command of English is a prerequisite.

Language: English

Duration: 24 months - full time (120 ECTS credits).

Degree awarded: Master of Science in Economics, Major in Banking and Finance
(equivalent to "Laurea Magistrale in Banking and Finance").

Course fees: 4000 CHF (about 2500 Euro) per semester. Partial scholarships will be awarded on academic excellence.

Application Deadline: 1st July 2008. Next edition will start on the 15th September 2008.