How to apply

• Students with a Bachelor degree from a Swiss university

  Students who hold a Bachelor degree in finance, economics or management from a Swiss university are directly admitted.

  Students who hold a Bachelor degree in another field providing evidence of prior university studies in finance, economics or management deemed sufficient can apply.

• Students with a Bachelor degree from a Swiss university of applied sciences (HEG/HES)

  Students who hold a Bachelor degree in finance, economics, management or a related field  from a Swiss university of applied sciences are admitted conditionally following successful completion of a one-semester (30 ECTS) bachelor-level pre-programme in economics.

  Fast track programme for student excellence: students who hold a Bachelor degree in finance, economics or management from a Swiss university of applied sciences with an average grade of at least 5.00 can apply for direct admission. 

• Students with a non-Swiss Bachelor degree

  Students with a non-Swiss Bachelor degree in finance, economics, management or a related field can apply.

  Depending on qualifications and grades, students are either admitted directly or may be asked to complete a one-semester (30 ECTS) or two-semester (60 ECTS) bachelor-level pre-programme. If accepted conditionally, students start the MScF programme following the successful completion of either one of these pre-programmes.

• When will I receive a decision on my application?

  Your application is reviewed in less than a month after your application.

• Are GRE/GMAT or any other language test required?

  No, these tests are not required.

• I will complete my Bachelor degree before the beginning of the MScF programme, but not before the admission deadline. Can I still apply?

  Yes. However, you need to have your bachelor degree before the programme starts.

• What is the reapplication procedure?

  The same as the normal application. If your application was rejected, do not reapply unless you obtained another diploma in the meantime.

• How does the MScF programme distinguish itself from similar programmes?

  Beyond high scientific standards, the programme is designed to prepare and facilitate the transition to the finance professions.

  The first semester concentrates on core courses in the foundations of modern finance, accounting, quantitative methods and economics. After the first semester, the small number of students allows interactive teaching and team work to solve case studies and projects.

  The programme has a strong focus on financial analysis, asset valuation and portfolio management so that it is tailored to take the CFA exams. These professional exams are highly valuable and recognized all over the world.

• Is it possible to prepare for the CFA exam while enrolled in the MScF?

  The Master is part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This status is granted to institutions whose programme incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, which provides you with a solid grounding to sit for the CFA exams.

• Is it possible to follow the programme part-time?

  Yes, upon request and in exceptional cases such as employment or child care. Approval of the director of the MScF is mandatory.

• Is it possible to follow the courses from a distance?

  No.

• How many people do you admit each year?

  Our goal is to admit around 30 students every year.

• Do you accept credits and transfers from other universities?

  Credits transfers obtained in other master programmes are limited to elective courses. They are reviewed case by case.

• I am interested in a PhD in Finance. Does the MScF lead to a PhD?

  Every year, some students decide to write a PhD thesis at the Institute of Financial Analysis in Neuchatel or abroad (UK, US). Elective courses with strong theoretical foundations, either in Neuchâtel or at other Swiss universities, facilitate the enrolment in a PhD programme.

• How many students are able to get internships?

  Many students complete an internship between two semesters.

  If certain conditions are fulfilled, students can earn 6 ECTS for completing an internship report.

  In addition, it is possible to write an internship thesis instead of a research thesis during the fourth semester. ​The internship thesis is a project completed under the guidance of a company and allows to earn 30 ECTS if a student signs up for the extended 120 ECTS Master in Finance.

• Are the internships guaranteed?

  It is not possible to guarantee internships, because by Swiss law these have to be based on individual contracts between the student and a company.

  In our experience, good students from Switzerland and the EU comfortably find internships in Switzerland. Non-EU students have to consider additional administrative burdens and constraints from their visa. It is also possible to do internships in another country than Switzerland.

• What is the average salary for MScF graduates?

  The median is CHF 80'000 when hired and CHF 100'000 after three year for Alumni working in Switzerland.