MBM (MSc) with specialisation in Finance

This exciting MSc, Master of Business Management, with specialisation modules in Finance, challenges students to study at a high academic standard, combining case studies and research. However, the degree programme also has a practical approach in its design - through project weeks, professional enquiry and a module of professional-based learning in which students complete a short work placement often linked directly to their final project.

The programme offers a combination master of business administration subjects and broader modules in economics and management. Through modules looking at global economics and strategic management, globalisation, society & culture, the programme will enable students to further develop their deeper knowledge of business management and administration.

The specialisation in finance specifically looks at managing business and organisations from a strategic planning perspective, and in combination with the concept that leadership and understanding of financial aspects plays an important role in defining the direction of an organisation.

The finance specialisation shows a clear link between risk taking and risk management, coupled with organisational change, company development and long-term financial planning.

Semester 1

(Core Modules)

• Marketing Management
• Globalisation, Society & Culture
• Research Methods Introduction (Final Project)
• The World Economy
• Professional Inquiry

(Specialisation Modules)

• Management Accounting & Finance
• Financial and Monetary Economics

Semester 2

(Core Modules)

• Research Methods (Final Project)
• Micro Economics - Global Perspectives
• Strategic Management
• Project Module (3 Project Weeks, linked to Final Project)

(Specialisation Modules)

• Corporate Finance
• Venture Capital and Private Equity

Semester 3 (Work Placement & Graduation)

• Professional-Based Learning 
• Final Project

The master's programme is delivered in a 'block format', with 2 modules being covered every 6 weeks. Core module classes are inter-disciplinary - you study shared modules with master's students from different business management specialisations. Due to the rolling entry (6 times a year), groups are dynamic, extremely international and diverse.

The modules are delivered intensively over consecutive days in the block format, which means that each module has 6 days of teaching split into two blocks of 3 days. Teaching methods include group work, case studies, presentations, and live projects. The course is delivered through a variety of approaches including lectures, presentations, tutorials and case studies, with an emphasis on interactive learning. Each module is taught by two lecturers, often a full-time Wittenborg lecturer and a guest lecturer from a partner university. Modules include regular guest speakers from industry.

The Financial Services Industry plays a vital role in the world economy, often acting as an intermediator between organisations that require funds and those able to provide financial investment and support.

The industry includes a broad range of organisations and companies that provide economic services and manage money. These include:

• Banks
• Insurance companies
• Pension funds
• Investment companies
• Accountants
• Credit-card providers
• Stockbrokers
• Financial Loan companies
• Securities Trading companies
• Government-sponsored/regulated companies
• Provincial Mortgage Societies and Banks
• Regulatory Agencies and Securities Exchanges
• Public Accounting firms
• Financial Information Services
• Financial Consulting

Customers of the financial services industry include individuals, non-profit organisations, agencies of government, and, of course, companies and businesses of all sizes.

Graduating from a highly international institute such as Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, that places high emphasis on a combination of academic research and company and professional exposure, means that the career prospects of graduates from the Master of Business Management specialised in Finance are multiple and global.

Often WUAS graduates aspire to continue their studies with a DBA or a PhD research degree; however, many students move directly into business, sometimes as a result of their work placement, and their final project, which is often company-based.

Financial specialists work in various branches of varying sizes, from corporate banks and insurance companies to SME companies advising home owners and private investors on matters relating to their personal finance.

Financial advisors are affiliated to most real-estate brokers and law firms and many Wittenborg Financial Services Management graduates have gone on to work in international banks such as HSBC in Shanghai, Commercial Bank of China in Beijing, RaboBank Netherlands in Utrecht and ABN AMRO in Rotterdam. Also, many students have also gone on to work for mortgage, investment and insurance companies such as Nationale Nederland, Achmea, and AON Consulting. A number of students have started their own consultancies.

The Financial Services Sector tends to be cyclical: when there is a downturn in the economy the industry requires fewer graduates; when it starts to recover there is a great shortage! Presently the economy is in recovery! 

The admission requirements (criteria) for the Master of Business Management programmes (all specialisations) are as follows:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent recognised qualification.
  • ​Applicants are requested to provide an academic reference from their previous education institute.
  • It is necessary to have obtained a bachelor's degree from the domains of business management, economics or trade. In their bachelor's degree, applicants must have completed an academic piece of work (final project or dissertation) that demonstrates a degree of academic writing and research experience.
• No professional experience is required for these master's programmes.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent. Click here for an overview of the equivalent scores.
The TOEFL Code of Wittenborg is 4889.

The English language proficiency level requirement is ½ a point higher than the minimum national requirements in the Netherlands.

Selection procedure

There is no specific selection criteria for students wishing to enter the master's programmes at WUAS; however, all students are interviewed and must demonstrate motivation. Students will be advised of their suitability prior to signing an initial study agreement as a pre-requisite to obtaining admission (offer letter).

Non-EU students requiring sponsored visa for study

Non-EU (visa) students are “screened” according to their background, in order for the institute to be able to guarantee their immigration status.

The screening comprises an interview, collection and correlation of all IND-required documents, including proof of sufficient funds, taking into account any scholarships provided by Wittenborg (Orange Tulip Scholarship, for instance) or by third parties (NUFFIC, EU, etc).

Details on scholarships at Wittenborg can be found at http://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-financial-assistance.htm.

Applicants are required to provide a motivation letter in which they describe the reasons for choosing Wittenborg’s programme, as well as the reason for wanting to study in the Netherlands (international students). Student motivation is important as the programmes are demanding and, especially for international students, there is a criteria that they complete at least 50% of all their credits in a year.