Master's objectives in Finance and Strategy

The Master's in Finance and Strategy trains young graduates for careers in finance and strategic management of companies. Students prepare for roles as analysts or managers in sectors such as:

• Investment banking
• Investment funds
• Corporate financial services
• Financial markets
• Fintech
• Financial regulation
• Financial audit firms, statutory audit, strategic consulting firms, and the finance or strategic departments of large companies.

The master's program is based on three key principles that summarize its specificities and objectives:

• Multidisciplinary training in management and social sciences with a professional focus, delivered by instructors with practical experience at the highest level and systematically employing case studies.
• Balanced instruction in finance and strategy, equipping students to analyse a situation comprehensively and develop innovative solutions to major contemporary challenges such as energy transition and climate change.
• Progressive learning approach: The first-year courses aim to provide students from different backgrounds with a common multidisciplinary foundation, upon which they acquire advanced expertise in their chosen field during the second year of study.

Master's Programme in Finance and Strategy

The programme is taught in English, with the option of taking some courses in French. It is completed over two years, with an increasing specialisation throughout the programme:

• Business strategy
• Financial analysis
• Impact/sustainable finance (climate finance)
• Banking and financial regulation law
• Financial markets
• Financial mathematics
• Accounting and non-financial standards
• Management control
• Strategic marketing

First Year

In the first year, mandatory courses allow students to master essential finance concepts and connect them to the company's development and competitive environment.

Around forty specialized and professional elective courses integrate topics of sustainable strategy and finance, innovation and impact, as well as issues related to data and digital.

Discover the course outline of the first year:

• First year, semester 1
• First year, semester 2

Optional Gap Year

An optional gap year between the first and second year of the Master’s programme gives students the opportunity to gain full-time professional experience and to refine their career plans through two six-month internships completed at different organisations.

Second Year

During the second year, students choose a specialism and build up an advanced level of expertise in one of two major:

Data and digital courses and elective courses are common to both majors.

The core courses in strategy and finance are complemented by elective courses that combine theoretical input, real-world examples and testimonials from practitioners, covering a wide range of topics. These courses allow each student to tailor their programme to their career aspirations.

In addition, they can either choose to:

• Spend six months attending courses at Sciences Po, followed by six months completing an final internship;
• Complete a year-long part-time apprenticeship at an organisation, interspersed with part-time study and culminating in the submission of an apprenticeship report.

Discover the course outline of the second year:

• Second year, semester 3
• Second year, semester 3 in apprenticeship
• Second year, semester 4 (available soon)
• Second year, semester 4 in apprenticeship (available soon)

Dual Degrees

The Master's in Finance and Strategy offers dual degrees with an international partner university, allowing students to acquire dual skills:

• Fundação Getulio Varga-Escola de Administração de Empresas (Brésil)(eng.)
• Università Bocconi (Italie)(eng.)
• University of Pennsylvania (États-Unis)(eng.)
• University of St. Gallen (Suisse)(eng.)

The first year of the Master's programme is completed at Sciences Po, and the second year is completed at the partner university.

Campus

The Sciences Po Master’s Finance and Strategy is taking place on the Paris campus.

Admissions

Know more about the admission procedures of the Master in Finance and Strategy.

Career opportunities in Finance and Strategy

The Master's degree in Finance and Strategy offers students the ability to pursue a wide variety of sectors and careers, including investment banking, strategy or organisation and management consulting firms, private equity, asset management, insurance, real estate companies, risk management, auditing, financial regulation, strategic or financial leadership roles in large companies, startups or entrepreneurship, etc.

They can pursue a range of professions, including:

• Financial analyst
• Portfolio manager
• Investment banker
• Investment advisor
• Financial auditor
• Internal audit in banks
• Supply chain management
• Product management
• Management controller
• Risk manager
• Statutory auditor
• Actuary
• Tax specialist
• Finance consultant
• Strategy consultant / organizational transformation
• Innovation or strategic marketing project manager
• Entrepreneur

Numerous career events, interview preparation sessions and opportunities for networking with recruiters help to ensure an excellent placement rate for students of the programme. 65% of Master's graduates are offered a job prior to graduating, and 95% are employed within six months of graduation.

The Master in Finance and Strategy also offers students the option of working towards certain professional certificates, which further boost their chances of success in the job market.

Contacts

• Scientific Director: Stéphane Guibaud
• Finance and Finance with Apprendiceship concentrations:
  • Academic advisor: Georges-Emmanuel Rosmade - Phone: +33 (0)1 45 49 76 17
  • Academic assistant: Milena Sandulovic - Phone: +33 (0)1 45 49 50 29
• Strategy and Management concentration and Dual degrees
  • Academic advisor: Fleur de Marie Guillot - Phone: + 33 (0)1 45 49 50 09
  • Academic assistant: Camille Cherif - Phone: +33 (0)1 45 49 61 79

Email: masterfinancestrategy@sciencespo.fr