Specialisations
During the first block, all Financial Economics students take the same courses. This gives you a solid footing from which to proceed with your specialisation, which begins in the second block. During the specialisation phase, you will take courses related to your chosen field and have the chance to choose an elective.
Would you rather design your own specialisation? You can apply to follow a ‘free specialisation’, in which you compose your own curriculum from two elective courses plus one specialisation (integration) course. The integration courses you can choose between are: Empirical Analysis of Financial Markets (EBC4010) or Global Banking (EBC4060).
You can choose one of three specialisations:
Asset Pricing
What’s it all about?
The specialisation in Asset Pricing is about understanding the factors that affect price formation of financial assets, including what drives returns, risks and correlations. In volatile global markets, one can invest in an enormous variety of financial assets with differing risk properties. You'll learn:
- what determines the price of financial assets
- how to allocate investments in a way that optimises returns and minimises risk
- how various factors affect price formation of financial assets, including what drives returns, risks and correlations
What you’ll actually do:
- translate complex financial problems into guidelines for daily investment decisions
- learn how well-functioning financial systems work within economies
- offer solutions using economic, financial and econometric skills to make optimal investments
Student profile
This specialisation is a good fit if you:
- are an open-minded, team-player
- are eager for a career in investment
- are interested in IT, research, econometrics and mathematics
- like translating financial theory into tangible action
Banking
What’s it all about?
Banking is about far more than high-street banks and credit cards. It’s also about investment banking, risk management for financial institutions, derivatives and the effects of monetary policy, as well as how these relate to macroeconomic developments. The specialisation in Banking offers you an ideal balance between the broader area of asset pricing and the narrower area of investment.
It's a unique programme, as very few universities in Europe offer anything similar. This specialised degree, along with the quantitative and decision-making skills you will learn in the programme, will make you stand out amongst your peers in the labour market.
What you’ll actually do:
- learn to make intelligent, well-informed decisions and recommendations about financial structures
- develop an understanding of what distinguishes financial institutions from non-financial corporations
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge of techniques in risk management and derivatives
Student profile
This specialisation is a good fit if you:
- are analytical, self-disciplined and ambitious
- are intrigued by occurrences in the global markets
- are interested in the business impact of monetary policy, risk management and derivatives
- want to know more about the role of central banks
- can see past retail banking to the diverse opportunities that the banking world has to offer
Financial Analysis
What’s it all about?
The Financial Analysis specialisation offers a broad approach in finance, economics, quantitative economics and accounting. You will have access to the varied knowledge and expertise of the staff of these four departments at Maastricht University. As a graduate, you'll be highly sought after in the job market, and the international character of the programme adds even more to your clear competitive advantage.
The Financial Analysis specialisation prepares you for further qualification as a Chartered Financial Analyst. You will be well qualified for postgraduate programmes in financial analysis offered by professional associations in Europe and North America, such as the CFA (US/International) and RBA (Netherlands) programmes. However, the track is also suitable for anyone looking to gain international experience in making investment decisions and solving financial problems.
What you’ll actually do:
- interpret financial market information and use it to advise the investment public
- develop an understanding of how financial markets work
- translate the value of debt and equity into financial market prices
- develop quantitative investment strategies
- assess how economic events affect financial markets
Student profile
This specialisation is a good fit if you:
- are an analytical thinker
- are looking for a multi-disciplinary approach to a specialised financial field
- want to develop the skills to interpret financial information and use it to provide valuable investment advice
- are looking for a career as a financial analyst
- want the best foundation for your professional qualification