Master of Science in Finance
- 1 year(s)
- English
- Master
- Full-time
About
This 1-year master’s programme provides you with the opportunity to study at 2 universities in 2 countries: Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Venlo (the Netherlands) and University of Plymouth in Plymouth (United Kingdom). With the MSc in Finance you sharpen your analytical and critical reasoning skills, and hone your financial knowledge and technical proficiency.
This master’s programme helps you to broaden your knowledge of financial strategies, econometrics, financial management and more, all with a global perspective of this complex industry. As a graduate, you have the skills to work at any leading company around the globe in need of financial experts with a deep understanding of financial management.
Why this study in the Netherlands?
- 1-year Master of Science specialised in financial management
- British degree enabled through 30-year-old cooperation with University of Plymouth (UK)
- Aimed at business bachelor graduates with little or no work experience
- Small classes of 20-30 students, personal attention
- Study in both the Netherlands and England
What are you going to learn?
Develop your analytical and critical reasoning skills, broaden your knowledge of financial strategies, econometrics and financial management, and develop a global perspective on this complex industry.
- In-depth knowledge of financial markets
- Use of financial instruments for international company valuation, determining potential for mergers and acquisitions (M&As), making financing decisions and identifying optimisation potential in wealth/portfolio management
- Focus on investment with emphasis on shares, bonds and real estate
- Analysis of exchange rate movements, inflation and their effects on interest rates
- Managing risk with currency options, financial futures and swaps
- Analytical and critical reasoning skills
- Mix of applied science (Fontys) and scientific research (Plymouth) approach decisively enhances your career prospects
- In addition to qualifying for a PhD, graduates of the MSc in Finance can pursue a management career in all areas of finance, e.g. consulting, hedge funds, private and investment banking, and venture capital companies
Patrick Szillat, Study programme manager MFIN
Study programme manager Patrick Szillat answers some of the most important and frequent questions that potential students might have.
How does your week look?
- You’ll have classes 3 days a week. The other 2 days are dedicated to research and self-study.
- For 10 weeks you’ll have classes for 15 hours a week (from mid-September to December).
- You’ll follow the master’s programme at 3 locations: in the Netherlands, in the UK, and at a company of your choice for your master’s thesis.
Get to know our campus
Check out our classrooms, outside area, engineering labs, the city of Venlo and much more via our 360° tour.
Damon:“When I did my first presentation I was so nervous and spoke so fast because I wanted it to be over. After being given feedback and working on certain areas, I was able to gain confidence and improve my skills. This can be said for a number of areas including working in groups and the quality of my assignments.”
Courses
The MFIN is divided into 3 terms: term 1 is offered in Venlo (Netherlands), term 2 in Plymouth (UK), and term 3 is dedicated to your master’s thesis and can be completed anywhere.
During the first trimester, you attend lectures and tutorials for core modules that provide you with in-depth knowledge on corporate financial decisions and company valuation as well as on the management of investments, financial risk and portfolios. The core modules that you follow are Investments, and Corporate Finance.
Investments
You study, from the perspective of an advisor, how to design portfolios that meet the needs of individual clients. The module also introduces you to the valuation of bonds and equities. You are also exposed to bond and portfolio management strategies. In addition, the role of derivatives in portfolio management is covered.
Corporate Finance
You develop in-depth knowledge of theories that build the connections between corporate decision-making, corporate governance mechanisms, and the value of the firm. To grasp these dynamic relationships a number of topics related to corporate objectives, time value of money, long term capital investment decisions and their complexities and decisions related to equity financing and debt financing are covered in detail. Further, you investigate capital investment appraisal in a real-world market with conditions such as inflation, tax, relevant costs, risk, capital rationing and the replacement cycle. Finally, topics related to information asymmetry and agency theory provide the knowledge base to understand corporate governance challenges and their role in affecting firm value and firm performance.
The second trimester starts with an intensive introduction to your master’s thesis and associated research method training. In addition, you’ll be familiarised with topics such as financial reporting, foreign exchange markets and hedging. You follow the core modules International Finance, and Analysis of Financial Statements.
International Finance
You are introduced to the various and varied aspects of international finance. It helps you to understand the role of multinational companies, the balance of payments, foreign exchange markets and international parities conditions. Further studies enable you to appreciate the complexities of foreign exchange exposure, derivatives markets, hedging and foreign direct investment.
Analysis of Financial Statements
You are introduced to the UK and international regulatory regime for financial reporting, including accounting principles, concepts, conventions and Standards. This enables you to critically appraise the financial reporting theories and international accounting standards that underpin a company’s financial statements: statement of profit / loss, balance sheet, statement of equity and the cash flow statement. You also identify the tools and techniques to analyse and evaluate company performance within a sector and over time. Finally, you get an overview of the development of global corporate governance codes and an appreciation of the impact of good governance on a company’s financial results and reputation. Here, the focus is on two different approaches to corporate governance : the “principles approach” (UK) and the “legislative approach” (USA).
During the third trimester, you work independently on your dissertation (master thesis). You receive guidance from a member of the scientific team that will be appointed as your supervisor. Your dissertation is part of the module Advanced Business Research.
Advanced Business Research
You undertake supervised research into a suitable finance related topic of your choice. You produce and present a research proposal for review by the module team before proceeding to undertake the research itself. You are expected to prepare and submit a 8,000 - 10,000 word dissertation.
Diploma and language requirements
A relevant Bachelor degree (e.g. Accounting and Finance, Economics, or Business Studies/Business Administration) obtained in the Netherlands, U.K. degree or equivalent qualification. For non UK and non Fontys students the following is required:
- IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element).
- TOEFL iBT score of 90 (with mimimum scores of listening 17, reading 18, speaking 20, writing 18).
Entering the UK as an EU/EEA citizen
EU citizens can enter the UK as a visitor at the moment with only a passport. Also it is recommended to take out an extra travel insurance, as the European Health Card will not be sufficient either. We advise our students to take the InsureToStudy insurance.
Keep yourself informed about the latest UK immigration rules via the following link: Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
Insurance
By law everyone in the Netherlands must be insured for medical expenses. The type of health insurance cover that you will require will depend on your personal situation. It is very important to ensure you are properly insured during your stay at Fontys.
Diploma and language requirements
A relevant Bachelor degree (e.g. Accounting and Finance, Economics, or Business Studies/Business Administration) obtained in the Netherlands, U.K. degree or equivalent qualification. For non UK and non Fontys students the following is required:
- IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element).
- TOEFL iBT score of 90 (with mimimum scores of listening 17, reading 18, speaking 20, writing 18).
Entry Visa / Authorisation for Temporary Stay (‘MVV’)
All non-EU/EEA students entering the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa (‘MVV’), except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the USA and Vatican City State. This Entry Visa is a sticker that is placed in your passport and is issued by the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin.
Residence Permit (‘VVR’)
All those who enter the Netherlands with or without an Entry Visa (‘MVV’) and who wish to stay for a period of longer than three months, are obliged to apply for a ‘Verblijfsvergunning regulier’, or ‘VVR’ (a Residence Permit). The Immigration Officer will send the application to the Dutch Immigration & Naturalisation Service (‘IND’) on your behalf. Your Residence Permit will be ready soon after your arrival in the Netherlands.
Note:
Students from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cameroon and Nigeria have to be aware they have to transfer the full refundable amount of the living expenses to the bank account of Fontys. Proof by financial documents you have access to this amount will not be accepted.
Students with a residence permit for the Netherlands are also required to live in the Netherlands. We therefore highly recommend that you start searching for a suitable place to live as soon as possible.
Insurance
If you require an entry visa and/or residence permit, insurance will form a compulsory part of the immigration procedure, which Fontys will arrange on your behalf. The visa process will provide you with further information.
Costs
| EU/EEA students | Non- EU/ EEA students | |
|---|---|---|
| First instalment charged in August (1st semester in Venlo) | €7,800 | €7,800 |
| Second instalment charged in January (2nd semester and Summer period in Plymouth) | £6,933 | £6,933 |
- Withdrawal up to 30 September: 75% of the Venlo fee is refunded
- Withdrawal between 1 October & 31 October: 50% of the Venlo fee are refunded
- Withdrawal after 31 October: no refund
Withdrawal date is the day on which the withdrawal is handed over as hard copy to the MBM coordinator or support staff.
There are currently no scholarships available for the study programmes that we have on offer at our Fontys Venlo campus. However, for other programmes Fontys currently offers several scholarships for Non-Eu / Non-EEA students. You might also be eligible for other scholarships not provided by Fontys. These can be found on Grantfinder.nl
More information about the scholarships that Fontys offersLiving expenses Plymouth
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Plymouth are between £ 900 - £ 1.100 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Living expenses Netherlands
The Dutch currency unit is the Euro (i.e. abbreviated to ‘EUR’ or ‘€’).
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Holland are between EUR 1,100 and EUR 1,500 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Dutch Immigration Service (IND) requires non-EEA students to proof they have access to € 14.641 per year (€ 7.320 per semester)
Costs within the first months upon arrival will be higher than all other months due to a housing deposit, intro week and books. Study books are usually bought at the start of the semester and therefore it is wise to reserve and have direct access to an amount at the start of the semester which can cover the price of all study books and the living expenses for the first two months.
Finding accommodation in Venlo for only 4 months is not always easy. Unfortunately Fontys is not in a position to assist you in your search. We advise you strongly to search at commercial housing agencies, Facebook groups etc. Make sure to start your search as early as possible. If you are an EU student, you can also consider looking for accommodation across the German border, e.g. Kaldenkirchen is a city which is very close to Venlo and easy to reach by bike. On our website you can find several housing agencies that you can contact in or near Venlo.
In Plymouth, students look for accommodation on their own. Most students find accommodation by searching online or by asking alumni. In general, it is not difficult to find good accommodation in Plymouth within two weeks.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the MSc in Finance can pursue a management career in all areas of finance: Consulting, hedge funds, private and investment banking, venture capital companies, insurances or in the public financial sector. They are often found at ‘The Big Four’: Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Popular positions include financial analysts, corporate accountants, investment and private bankers. Some graduates pursue PhD studies and research in the Netherlands, Germany, or elsewhere in Europe.
Damon:“Doing the MSc in Finance helped me enormously as it enabled me to build on subject areas in which I was pretty poor, as well as opening new opportunities.”
How to apply
The application process may differ for EU and Non-EU students, please read below what applies for you.
Application deadlines
| September intake | |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 15 August |
Your application in 4 steps:
1. Submit an application.
At this moment we are working hard on creating a new program in collaboration with Plymouth that we can offer to our students. As of September 2026, we plan to offer the new and improved study program. Unfortunately due to this reason, we will not be offering the study programs Master of Science in Business and Management and the Master of Science in Finance in September 2025.
As of October 2025 you will find more information on the start of September 2026 here.
2. Submit your enrolment documents.
Once the applications for September 2026 are open, the link to submit your enrolment documents will become available here.
The documents that will need to be submitted are:
- Copy of a valid ID or passport.
- Diploma in the original language and a certified translation into Dutch, English or German
- Final transcript of records in the original language and a certified translation into Dutch, English or German
- Proof of English proficiency as mentioned in the admission requirements. The language certificates that are accepted are mentioned in the application form. All certificates must be obtained at a test center and cannot be taken online.
Upload the required admission documents and identification documents digitally through the admission form. The diploma validation might take up to four weeks. You will receive a notification of the outcome as soon as available.
3. Complete the payment of the tuition fees.
Once you have received the information that you are admissible, you will receive a Payment Letter in which we ask you to pay the tuition fees to Fontys in 1 time. This payment must be paid before the deadline mentioned on the Payment Letter. The amount will only be for the semester at Fontys.
4. Show us your original diploma including the list of transcripts upon arrival in the Netherlands. You will receive more information on this via email once the application is submitted.
Application deadlines
| September intake | |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 1 June |
Your application in 4 steps:
1. Submit an application.
At this moment we are working hard on creating a new program in collaboration with Plymouth that we can offer to our students. As of September 2026, we plan to offer the new and improved study program. Unfortunately due to this reason, we will not be offering the study programs Master of Science in Business and Management and the Master of Science in Finance in September 2025.
As of October 2025 you will find more information on the start of September 2026 here.
2. Submit your enrolment documents.
Once the applications for September 2026 are open, the link to submit your enrolment documents will become available here.
The documents that will need to be submitted are:
- Copy of a valid ID or passport.
- Diploma in the original language and a certified translation into Dutch, English or German
- Final transcript of records in the original language and a certified translation into Dutch, English or German
- Proof of English proficiency as mentioned in the admission requirements. The language certificates that are accepted are mentioned in the application form. All certificates must be obtained at a test center and cannot be taken online.
- Motivation letter that contains the topics mentioned in the application form.
- CV that contains the topics mentioned in the application form.
Upload the required admission documents and identification documents digitally through the admission form. The diploma validation might take up to four weeks. You will receive a notification of the outcome as soon as available.
3. Complete the payment of the tuition fees.
Once you have received the information that you are admissible, you will receive a Payment Letter in which we ask you to pay the tuition fees to Fontys in 1 time. This payment must be paid before the deadline mentioned on the Payment Letter. The amount will only be for the semester at Fontys.
4. Show us your original diploma including the list of transcripts upon arrival in the Netherlands. You will receive more information on this via email once the application is submitted.
Agenda
Sign up for one of our events. There's no better way to find out if this study programme is right for you! Visit a webinar from the comfort of your home or meet us live on campus. Whichever you choose, we hope to meet you soon.
Open Day
March 22, 2025
Programme
Keep me informed
Would you like to receive an email as soon as you can register for the next Open Day?
Sign up and stay in the know!