Programs

Master's in Finance

The Program

Master’s in Finance

This program will enable you to develop a solid knowledge, and analytical and problem-solving competencies in the financial area, in a fully international learning environment.

Below you can find more information regarding the basic structure of the program and remember: you can tailor-make the curriculum according to your interests.

Have a look at the elective courses (specialize in a particular field), areas of expertise (focus a part of your studies on a specific area of interest) and skills accelerator modules (let’s talk about responsible leadership and creative thinking) sections as well, to make sure that your program reflects the way you want your career to move.

Note: Please refer to the "Apply" section in order to learn more about your eligibility for this program.

Candidates Profile

From bachelor's programs with a strong quantitative background. For those with limited quantitative skills, it will be mandatory to attend bridging courses in August.

Looking for a practical approach designed to gain the necessary theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills for a successful career in the world of finance.

Aim to develop a solid knowledge, analytical and problem-solving competencies in the financial area.

Applications Fall intake 2023/24

Applications are closed.

For more information, please contact us by emailing leadyourfuture@novasbe.pt or calling +351 213 801 699.

Week 1

  • Discovery Week


1st Semester (30 ECTS)

  • Mandatory Courses
  • Electives
  • Study Trips
  • Skills Accelerator Modules
  • Career Development Program - Mastering Your Career
  • Mentoring Program
  • Conferences, Meeting with Alumni, Networking Events, Business Forum


2nd Semester (30 ECTS)

  • Electives
  • Skills Accelerator Modules
  • Study Trips
  • Conferences, Meeting with Alumni, Networking Events, Business Forum


3rd Semester (30 ECTS)

  • Work Project
  • Conferences, Meeting with Alumni, Networking Events, Business Forum

* Please note that for the academic year of 2023/2024 this information may be subject to changes.

  • Corporate Finance
  • Empirical Methods for Finance
  • Financial Modeling
  • Investments

* Please note that for the academic year of 2023/2024 this information may be subject to changes.

Sustainability

“Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).

To ensure global sustainability over time, the green transition focuses on responding to the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation but also to the need to work for an economic and societal transformation, integrating all three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.

That is the goal of this Area of Expertise, which will be taught in partnership with Nova’s School of Science and Technology (FCT). This area of expertise is common to the Master’s programs in Management, Economics and Finance.

  • Corporate Governance
  • Energy and Climate Change
  • Energy Finance
  • Finance and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Fundamentals on Environment and Sustainability
  • Impact Investments
  • Sustainability Evaluation of Policies, Plans and Projects
  • Sustainable Finance
Banking

Recommended for students looking to pursue a career in central banks and regulatory bodies, or in retail banking or in the consulting and auditing of financial institutions.

  • Asset Management
  • Banking
  • Corporate Valuation
  • Credit Risk
  • Derivatives
  • Finance and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Financial Distress, Bankruptcy and Restructuring 
  • Financial Intermediation
  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Fixed Income
  • Futures and Options
  • Hedge Funds
  • Islamic Finance
  • Macroeconomics of Financial Markets
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Risk Management
Corporate Finance

Designed to help students build up the required analytical and practical tools to pursue a career in Investment banking. Retail banking, private equity, and venture capital or consulting and auditing.

  • Applied Corporate Finance
  • Auditing
  • Behavioral Finance
  • Corporate Valuation
  • Entrepreneurial Finance & Venture Capital
  • Finance and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Financial Distress, Bankruptcy and Restructuring 
  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Impact Investments
  • Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring
  • Private Equity
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Strategic Costing
  • Strategic Planning and Control
Business and Data Analytics

The Data and Business Analytics area of expertise is designed for students who understand business problems and want to use technology to solve them. A strong background in mathematics and applied statistics is required so that students will be able to analyze large data sets and translate them to support data grounded strategic decisions.

  • Algorithmic Governance
  • Blockchain Fundamentals
  • Computational Thinking and Data Science (includes Applied Statistics) 
  • Data Analytics for Finance
  • Data Curation
  • Data Visualization
  • Fintech Ventures
  • Introduction to Programming
  • Machine Learning   
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Network Analytics
  • Web 3 a New Frontier in Business and Finance
  • Web and Cloud Computing

 

Financial Markets

Aims to provide in-depth knowledge for all students seeking a career in Investment banking, Investment management, or portfolio risk management.

  • Asset Management
  • Behavioral Finance
  • Corporate Valuation
  • Credit Risk
  • Data Analytics for Finance
  • Derivatives
  • Energy Finance
  • Finance and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Fixed Income
  • Futures and Options
  • Hedge Funds
  • Islamic Finance
  • Macroeconomics of Financial Markets
  • Nova Students Portfolio
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Risk Management
  • Sustainable Finance

 

*Please take note of the following:
— Students can qualify for only one area of expertise, but it is not mandatory for students to choose one. 
— Areas of Expertise and respective courses might be subject to change from one academic year to the next. 
— Some courses might not be offered every academic year. 
— Students may attend elective courses from other master’s programs, subject to availability.
— Please note that for the academic year of 2023/2024 this information may be subject to changes.

  • Algorithmic Governance
  • Applied Corporate Finance
  • Asset Management
  • Auditing
  • Banking
  • Behavioral Finance
  • Blockchain Fundamentals
  • Computational Thinking and Data Science (includes Applied Statistics) 
  • Corporate Governance
  • Corporate Valuation
  • Credit Risk
  • Data Analytics for Finance
  • Data Curation
  • Data Visualization
  • Decentralized Finance
  • Derivatives
  • Doing Business in Emerging Markets
  • Energy and Climate Change
  • Energy Finance
  • Entrepreneurial Finance & Venture Capital
  • Finance and the Transition to Net Zero
  • Financial Crises in History
  • Financial Distress, Bankruptcy and Restructuring 
  • Financial Intermediation
  • Financial Reporting
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Fintech Ventures
  • Fixed Income
  • Fundamentals on Environment and Sustainability
  • Futures and Options
  • Game Theory
  • Hedge Funds
  • Impact Investments
  • International Financial Management
  • Introduction to Programming
  • Islamic Finance
  • Machine Learning   
  • Macroeconometrics
  • Macroeconomics of Financial Markets
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring
  • Microeconometrics
  • Network Analytics
  • Nova Students Portfolio
  • Private Equity
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Risk Management
  • Sovereign Advisory
  • Strategic Costing
  • Strategic Planning and Control
  • Sustainability Evaluation of Policies, Plans and Projects
  • Sustainable Finance
  • Systematic Investment
  • Web 3 a New Frontier in Business and Finance
  • Web and Cloud Computing

 

* Please note that for the academic year of 2023/2024 this information may be subject to changes.

The Skills Accelerator is composed by 4 areas and students must complete 1 module in each area, according to their Master’s program.

  • Digital

Technology for business: concepts, tools and software.

  • Ethics

The concept of ethics and its importance in life (personal and professional). Exposure to ethical challenges and practical discussions on how to address them. 

  • Market Links

Activities career and job market related. Organized by Careers office, student clubs, or faculty. Depending on the module selected, corporate partners and other companies are invited to participate. Competencies you might acquire and/or accelerate: self-awareness, collaboration, teamwork effectiveness, critical thinking and problem-solving, job market knowledge, Alumni networking.

  • Leadership

Leadership concepts and tips: self-leadership and leading others.

* Please note that for the academic year of 2023/2024 this information may be subject to changes.

Before you cross the finish line

The Work Project

As part of the degree requirement, students must carry out a work project (thesis) in their final semester. There are three formats available:

Field Lab
Students focus on a specific theme or topic of more applied nature to propose solutions to solve an existing local real-world problem in a specific setting (group setting).

Directed Research Internship
Students carry out a problem-based issue to help address an identifiable problem in a company setting relevant to the course of study.

Directed Research*
Students showcase their knowledge and expertise by investigating a research problem of scientific nature in a relevant area of interest.

* This format is generally reserved for those intending on pursuing their studies

ECTS this, ECTS that

How does the grading system work?

Grading is based upon the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) a grading scale developed to facilitate the understanding and comparison of grades given according to different national systems. 

We did the math for you, and the awarding of ECTS grades per curriculum component breaks down as follows:

21 ECTS
in Mandatory Courses

2 ECTS
In Mastering Your Career Activities

35 ECTS
in Elective Courses (minimum)

2 ECTS
in Skills Accelerator Modules

30 ECTS
in the Work Project

90 ECTS in total to graduate
You need a minimum of 90 ECTS to complete your Master’s, but if you need 120 ECTS to proceed with your studies, you can extend your Master’s by one semester with courses (28 ECTS) and modules (2 ECTS).

Ready to write new chapters of your story?

Ready to write new chapters of your story?

Attend one of our many Master’s Talks and learn all about this program, its Academic Director, the teams that can help you journey your way to Nova SBE and clarify any doubts you may have.

Check the agenda

Raise your academic profile with the CFA® Institute Research Challenge

Each year, Nova SBE enters the CFA® Institute Research Challenge annual global competition, which provides students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis, report writing, and presentation skills. This truly international challenge receives applications from more than 5000 students from over 1000 universities.

By participating in the CFA® Research Challenge, students have the possibility to use it as a foundation to develop their final Work Project, namely by doing an Equity Research project. ​Teams will be composed of four to five students who will defend the thesis together.

Become one of the leaders of tomorrow with the CMA® certification (Certified Management Accountant).

Nova SBE is part of IMA’s Higher Education Endorsement Program, which is a valuable addition to the Master’s in Finance student’s CV, when looking to pursue a successful career in management accounting and beyond.

IMA’s Higher Education Endorsement Program represents a stamp of excellence to our Master’s in Finance curricular content and gives students the chance to apply for the IMA® Student Leadership Experience Program, which is an exclusive benefit for Endorsed schools.

 

IMA’s globally-recognized CMA® program is a relevant assessment of advanced accounting and financial management knowledge in areas such as financial planning, analysis, control and decision support – each of which is increasingly critical in meeting the changing needs of business, and therefore, essential learning for students of accounting and finance.

Each year, Nova SBE and IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) will make available ten scholarships that cover the costs of the CMA® program. To find out more about this scholarship, check this page."