Admissions status:
Open. The current round closes on October 15, 2025.| Course Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Degree | MS |
| Length | 3 terms / 10 months (full-time) or 22 months (part-time) |
| Department | Department of Economics |
| US degree credits | 30 |
| Austrian degree ECTS credits | 60 |
Program Description
The Master of Science in Finance at CEU is a one-year specialized program for students wanting to gain a competitive edge in financial management, fintech innovation, risk assessment and investment strategies.
The curriculum of this uniquely structured master’s program is kept up to the minute under the guidance of the Corporate Advisory Committee - a working group of senior executives active in international investment banks and financial service companies. You will learn from experts at Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, McKinsey, JP Morgan Asset Management and Citi, to name a few.
During your time at CEU in Vienna, you will develop hands-on skills in financial reporting and control, corporate finance, portfolio management and tradingin financial markets. Your instructors will guide you in the application of key statistical, analytical, technological and management tools employed in cutting-edge finance organizations.
You will be based in Vienna, which was named the world's most livable city for the third consecutive year in the Global Liveability Ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). You will also have the chance to extend your experience and study abroad for a week or a month at one of our partner schools.
How This Program Works
This program is designed with flexibility in mind. You can choose to study for an MS in Finance part-time as a working professional and complete your degree at your own pace. You may also commit to full-time study and maximize your learning and networking opportunities before the next chapter of your academic journey.
Whichever option you select, you will attend a set of electives to gain a thorough foundational knowledge of the financial sector with its current challenges. You will also choose electives across four thematic modules that suit your professional and academic aspirations:
- Data Tools & Analytics
- Financial Management
- Innovation & Fintech
- Investments & Banking
The culmination of your finance education will be a capstone consulting project. You will work with a client of your choosing and apply your new skills to diagnose, investigate, evaluate and solve a real-life problem.
Who Is This Program For
This master’s degree in Finance is ideal for finance professionals who have already gained some international work experience in the financial sector. Alongside broadening your understanding of global financial markets, you will dive into financial analytics and data analysis to develop expertise in data-driven decision-making.
If you are eager to elevate your skills to keep up with the ongoing technological transformations in finance, banking and investments, then this program is for you.
Check If You Meet the Eligibility Criteria
If you plan to pursue a PhD: This master’s program is intended for students with a completed 4-year bachelor’s degree who are looking to pursue a PhD in the future. Graduating with the MS in Finance (1 year) at CEU allows you to get a PhD degree anywhere in Europe.
If you completed a 3-year bachelor’s degree previously and wish to pursue a PhD degree after you complete your master’s level program, you should choose a 2-year master’s program.
If you do not plan to pursue a PhD: If you have completed a 3-year bachelor's degree and are not interested in a PhD degree later, then, in exceptional cases, you can be allowed admission into this 1-year master’s program. To qualify for this exception, students have to demonstrate substantial experience in quantitative analysis, finance, economics, mathematics, statistics or a similar field. Please contact us directly to discuss your application.
Program-Specific Requirements
In addition to meeting the general CEU admissions requirements, you must provide a 500-word statement of purpose and proof of a valid GMAT score of at least 600 (or a GRE General Test or CEU Math Test).
What Awaits You
The Master of Science in Finance offers a professional curriculum that prepares you for an exciting career in the global financial sector. Surrounded by a group of international peers, senior practitioners and academics, you will join a growing community of 19,000+ alumni across six continents and build a strong professional network.
Program Overview
Program Overview
- Pre-Session for Finance
- Maximizing Your Future
- Economic Foundations
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Trading & Portfolio Theory
- Asset Pricing
- Financial Reporting & Control
- Financial Management
- Elective subjects
- Data Analysis 1: Exploration in R & VBA
- Data Analysis 2: Finding Patterns
- Data Analysis 3: Prediction & ML
- Data Engineering 1-2
- Data Visualization 1-3: Tableau, R, Python
- Python 1-2
- SQL for Business
- Behavioral Finance
- Company Valuation
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Restructuring
- Corporate Risk Management
- Banking IT & Fintech
- Fintech in Depth
- Fintech in Transaction Services
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Derivatives
- Financial Regulation
- Financial Trading Design & Tech
- Fixed Income Analysis
This program overview is provided as an example based on previous years' curricula. It is for informational purposes only and subject to change. Course offerings, schedules and content may be updated or modified at any time without prior notice. Please refer to official sources or contact the relevant department for the most current program details.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Science in Finance at CEU is registered with the New York State Education Department in the United States and accredited by AQ Austria in Austria. CEU is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Find out more about accreditation at CEU.
Your Instructors
The MS in Finance at CEU is taught by renowned practitioners and academics in the fields of finance and economics, business intelligence, international trade, business analytics and more.
See the full list of permanent and visiting faculty who are currently teaching in the program here.
In addition to the permanent and visiting faculty, the program is supported by the MS in Finance Advisory Committee. Current members of the group are:
- János Babos | Owner, Managing Partner | Process Solutions
- Tommy Erdei | MD, Global Co-Head of Healthcare | Jefferies (UK)
- Norbert Fogarasi | MD, Head of Budapest Office | Morgan Stanley
- Elemér Gidófalvy | Senior Advisor | WOOD & Company
- Orsolya Hegedűs | Partner, Financial Advisory | Deloitte (Austria)
- Ákos Janza | MD, Global Head of Offices, Head of Budapest Office | MSCI
- Levente Jánoskúti | Managing Partner | McKinsey
- George Juscsak | ED, Senior Sales Executive CEE | JP Morgan Asset Management (Austria)
- Zsolt Katona | CEO | Solus Capital
- Sriram Nagarajan | SVP Global Operational Controller | GE-Genpact
- Szabolcs Szalay | Partner, Associate Director | BCG
- György Ungár | Director, Head of CSC Budapest Finance | Citi
- Bence Várady-Szabó | Group CFO | Partner in Pet Food
- Balázs Vinnai | President, Investor | W.UP.
After Graduation
Your Career Prospects with a Master’s Degree in Finance
After graduating with the MS in Finance, you can explore international work opportunities in future-thinking financial organizations, banks, and investment companies with a global reach. You may consider exploring roles with the following job titles:
- Financial Manager
- Financial Adviser
- Investment Banking Advisor
- Risk Analyst
- Financial Data Scientist
- Portfolio Manager
- Commercial Analyst
- Credit Analyst
- Corporate Finance Consultant
5 Reasons to Study Master of Science in Finance in Austria
- Dual degree: Earn both an American and Austrian degree and expand your career prospects internationally.
- Small class sizes, more support: The MS in Finance program small class size ensures your instructors and visiting lecturers have more time to dedicate to your questions and coursework.
- Professional opportunities in Vienna: The capital of Austria is a bustling European financial hub and a base of operations of many key players in the regional and global finance sector, such as J.P. Morgan, the World Bank Group, Erste Group Bank AG and Deutsche Bank.
- Curriculum shaped by the industry: The program is designed and taught in collaboration with international senior executives and researchers, ensuring the students stay on top of the latest trends and practices in finance.
- Internationally connected: Study with peers from different countries or spend up to one month abroad to gain global perspectives in your area of expertise. In addition, you will become part of the 18,000+ CEU alumni network across six continents!
