The MSc in Finance prepares students for high-level careers in the global financial industry. CATÓLICA-LISBON offers a unique opportunity to prepare for the internationally recognized CFA® Level 1 exam during the degree. You can also pursue an extra exchange semester or a Double Degree at a top international business school.
Master of Science in Finance
Outline
Overview
The MSc in Finance at CATÓLICA-LISBON is one of the best Masters in the world. This MSc is a rigorous and comprehensive program, which aims at developing finance professionals with strong ethics and an in-depth knowledge of the field, both in financial investments and corporate finance.
The program combines theoretical rigor with a practical hands-on approach. Students have the opportunity to explore hedge fund strategies, discuss corporate restructuring, empirically test investment strategies, and immerse themselves in private equity or M&A deals.
Our graduates pursue high-level careers in investment banks, other financial institutions, consultancies, and other major corporations all over the world.
Program Structure
1st Semester | 2nd Semester
3rd Semester
Core Finance Courses
Foundation Courses
Elective Courses
Leadership Lab
Professional Internship Requirement
International Experience (optional)
Summer Internship (optional)
Language Requirement (mandatory)
The mandatory courses in Finance assure an appropriate preparation in the main areas in Finance including both theory and standard applications:
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Data Science for Finance
- Empirical Finance
- Financial Derivatives
- Financial Investments
- Firm Valuation
- Risk Management
These courses are designed to offer students the background knowledge required for the Finance specialization.
Courses can be waived based on previous academic experience.
- Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
- Accounting
- Finance
- Managerial Economics
- Language Course
You may take free elective courses in Finance or outside of your program to complement your area of expertise, or simply explore a topic that interests you. In our MSc in Finance, some electives that you can take are:
- Advanced Financial Derivatives
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Financial Innovation and Hedge Funds
- International Financial Reporting Standards
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Advanced Fixed Income
- Banking and Finance
- Financial Statement Analysis
- FinTech
Leadership Lab is designed to help you develop important competencies for managing and working with people and, therefore, for lifelong employability and growth. You can select among 1) career and employment workshops, and 2) personal development workshops.
Professional Internship (mandatory): non-credit granting company internship with a minimum duration of 6 weeks. Prior professional experience can be used to satisfy this requirement (subject to validation by the Careers & Talent Office), if completed after June 1 of the year prior to beginning of the MSc program.
To obtain a valuable international experience and further improve your knowledge, you can pursue a Double Degree or complete an exchange semester in one of CATÓLICA-LISBON’s prestigious partner schools around the world.
Students are encouraged to complete a summer internship before or during the MSc program.
Until the time of completion of the MSc degree, you must show evidence of proficiency in two foreign languages other than your native language.
Thesis Project
The thesis project involves a research methodologies workshop, designed to provide you with advice, resources and useful tools to plan the research for your thesis, and a dissertation.
Admissions requirements
Graduates in Business, Economics, or another Quantitative discipline that seek to improve their financial knowledge and skills in order to pursue a high level international career.
Professional experience/internship (up to 2 years), international exposure (exchange, summer school or internship abroad) and extracurricular achievements are highly valued by the Admissions Jury.
Double Degree: your passport for an international career
Spend one year at CATÓLICA-LISBON followed by a second year at the partner school of your choice, and get two diplomas.
Double Degree programs offer you the opportunity to gain a deep international experience and to challenge yourself by experiencing two distinctive academic cultures and approaches.
At the end of the program, you will be granted two diplomas – one from CATÓLICA-LISBON and one from our partner school.
Above all, the cross-cultural awareness gained through this experience is highly valued by recruiters and likely to increase your potential for an international career.
Partner Schools
Aston Business School
BI Norwegian Business School
Bocconi University
ESCP-Europe
WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at ASTON |
|---|---|
|
N/A |
MSc in International Business, MSc in Entrepreneurship & International Business, MSc in Strategy & International Business or MSc in Business Analytics |
Specific Requirement:
TOEFL score of 93 IBT (26 in writing, 22 in speaking, 18 in reading and 19 in listening) or an IELTS score of 6.5 (6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in reading and listening) or a Pearson Academic test score of 63 (63 in writing and speaking and 57 in listening and reading).
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at BI |
|---|---|
|
N/A |
MSc in Financial Economics or MSc in Business, Major in Finance |
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at BOCCONI |
|---|---|
|
N/A |
Laurea Magistrale in Accounting, Financial Management and Control |
Specific Requirement:
Admitted students must provide proof of English Language ability: TOEFL (min. 600/250/100 Paper Based/Computer Based/Internet Based); IELTS (min 7.0); CAE (min. B) or CPE; Certain other certificates at min. level C1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages; Bachelor degree entirely taught in English.
Students admitted must have at least 10 weeks of professional experience.
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at ESCP |
|---|---|
| N/A | Diplôme Master Grande École (MSc in Management) |
Specific Requirement:
Admitted students must perform a 40-week internship before, during or after the thesis.
Enroll in a Double Degree Program and you will be awarded two degrees:
Majors available |
Program at WHU |
|---|---|
|
N/A |
MSc in Management or MSc in Finance |
Specific Requirement:
- Admitted students must have a GMAT score of 600 (or either GRE or TM-BASE equivalent) by the end of January.
- Admitted students must provide proof of English Language ability: TOEFL 105 [IBT] or IELTS 7.5 by the end of January.
- Students admitted must have at least 5 months [20 weeks] of professional experience.
Application process
When to apply
2019 intake
2nd round - until February 18th, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee: 110€
3rd round - from February 19th to March 18th, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee: 120€
4th round * - from March 19th to April 15th, 23:59 p.m. (GMT) - application fee: 130€
* limited spots available
How to apply
Start your application online, provide us with your personal information, upload the mandatory documents and pay the application fee. Graduates with a non quantitative degree, must submit the GMAT/GRE result or take the CATÓLICA-LISBON Internal Admission Test. The Admissions Jury reviews your application and makes a decision.
For further information about our programs and the admission process, please contact the MSc Marketing & Admissions Office (msc@ucp.pt | +351 217 214 140).
Tuition Fees & Scholarships
MSc in Finance
Double Degrees
Semesters |
Program total fees |
|---|---|
| 3 semester track | 13.500€ |
| 4 semester track (includes an exchange semester) | 15.500€ |
Please note that application fee and CATÓLICA-LISBON internal admission test fee (40€) are not included in total fees. These fees, including the enrollment fee, are non- refundable.
PARTNER School |
Program fees |
|---|---|
| ASTON (UK) | Total fees Double Degree ASTON 17.000€ |
| BI (Norway) | Total fees Double Degree BI 17.000€ |
| BOCCONI (Italy)* | Program fees 17.000€ |
| Registration fees at BOCCONI 365€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree BOCCONI 17.365€ | |
| ESCP (France)** | Program fees 17.000€ |
| Double Degree program administrative costs 2.500€ | |
| Registration fees at ESCP 2.550€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree ESCP 22.050€ | |
| WHU (Germany) | Program fees 17.000€ |
| Double Degree program administrative costs 4.000€ | |
| Total fees Double Degree WHU 21.000€ |
(*) fees related to host university are subject to change (yearly update)
(**) registration fee at ESCP: 850€ per year until the conclusion of the 40-week-internship (due to ESCP internship requirements, it is predicted that students are enrolled at ESCP for 3 years).
Scholarships
CATÓLICA TOP+ SCHOLARSHIP
CATÓLICA Top+ is a scholarship program meant for students with an outstanding academic record.
Implemented by CATÓLICA-LISBON, this program allows high-potential students to complete their MSc with a partial waiver of tuition fees for the regular track of the program (3 semesters at our School; exchange semester excluded).
We encourage outstanding students to apply for this scholarship during the admission.
Note: Double Degree and Joint Degree students can only be granted a scholarship in the 1st year.
Other scholarships
Grants to Higher Education Students in Portugal - more information here or contact our Student's Support Office (GApA) - gapa@ucp.pt
Scholarship Fundação Amélia de Mello (for portuguese students only) - more information here
Careers: Immersion in the Corporate World
From day one, CATÓLICA-LISBON supports you throughout your academic journey, preparing you for the challenges of the job market by providing you with the skills to open the path to a successful professional career.
Employed within 3 months of graduation |
Employed before concluding the MSc Program |
Top Sector |
Top Function |
Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|
| Banking, Financial Services, Insurance | Finance/Accounting | BNP Paribas |
| Consulting | Consulting | KPMG |
| Auditing | Auditing | Deloitte |
|
Other recruiters: Mercer, PwC, Banco de Portugal, BPI, BCP, Banco BIG, Morgan Stanley, EDP, EDP Renewables North America, HAITONG BANK, BCG, Adidas, Private Equity, AIG, Santander Global Corporate Banking, BPI, Neste Jacobs, BPI (Suisse), Sustainalytics, British American Tobacco, LGG Advisors, Capgemini and IKB - Deutsche Industriebank. |
Why CATÓLICA-LISBON Masters?
Best Business School in Portugal
A TOP 10 most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem hub in Europe
Lisbon hosts the Web Summit since 2016 and is ranked 5th best European city to launch your start-up. (according to Startup Heatmap Europe survey 2016)
Which makes it an extraordinary combination between:
Why Lisbon?
Lisbon, the "city of the seven hills", is the political and economic capital of Portugal. It stretches along the north bank of the River Tagus in the westernmost country of mainland Europe.
Also known as the “white city”, the almost constant presence of sunshine and the River Tagus transforms Lisbon into a mirror of a thousand colors, highlighting the city’s unique architecture and beauty.
Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries, quaint museums, great cuisine and the best sandy beaches in Europe are some of the features that make Lisbon one of the best cities to study and live.
Meet Our Students
"The courses taught by experienced professors, significantly expanded my knowledge in finance."
"Being intellectually challenged prepares you to make a difference and to guarantee your dream job."
"I can only say that reality has exceeded expectations I had on these experiences."
I truly recommend this master to fully dedicated and ambitious people who would like to stretch their limits to later distinguish themselves in the workplace.
FAQ's
You can find here the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we receive from prospective students interested in our MSc Programs. If you still have any question after reading this information, you are invited to contact us.