Master in Strategic Corporate Finance

This two-year master's program is designed for those who want to gain a deep understanding of finance and its many applications. While the focus is on corporate finance, the program has a balanced curriculum covering macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics, quantitative finance, behavioral finance, and many more. Graduates of the program work at leading consulting groups, investment banks, M&A advisory firms, and investment funds in Moscow, London, and other global financial centers. Some pursue careers as strategy consultants, buy-side analysts, and portfolio managers, while others develop their own businesses, conduct academic research, and work as CFOs in real sector companies.

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Program Overview

Key Advantages

Our master's program is meant for those who want to gain a deep understanding of finance, while simultaneously obtaining a broad professional vision. The key focus of the SCF program is corporate finance. Our program provides a unique combination of deep knowledge of modern financial theories and essential practical skills, equipping our graduates with a competitive advantage in the market.

At the same time, the program is built in such a way that it allows students to gain a broad spectrum of knowledge in other areas of finance and economics as well. Aside from corporate finance, our students study macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics, asset pricing, venture capital, value-based management, behavioral finance, and much more. Our graduates work in consulting and at leading investment banks, M&A advisory firms, and investment funds. Some become strategy consultants, and others – buy-side analysts and portfolio managers. Some develop their own business, conduct academic research, or build a career as a CFO in companies of the real sector. Our alumni live mostly in Moscow or London, but there are also those who have gone to New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, and even Sydney.

The Strategic Corporate Finance program is taught by leading Russian academics, visiting international professors, and finance practitioners from major global companies. Students gain qualitative theoretical knowledge that will open a broad range of future professional opportunities, as well as practical skills that will set them apart from other candidates in the early steps of their careers. Core courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, corporate finance, risk management, and corporate governance give students a strong foundation in finance theory, principles, and methods. A variety of practice-oriented courses in business valuation, M&A deals, financial modeling, and venture capital, for example, are carried out with the help of staff from KPMG, EY, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and other consulting firms and financial specialists with extensive experience in emerging markets.

1 Year

1. Courses based on classic theories Advanced Macroeconomics, Advanced Microeconomics, Theory of Finance).
2. Instrumental courses (Advanced Econometrics).
3. Core professional courses (Corporate Finance-2, Business Valuation-2).
4. Electives (Corporate Governance, Corporate Risk Management, Consolidated Financial Statements, Financial Modelling, etc.).
5. Obligatory minor (wide choice).
6. Research seminar and project work.

2 Year

1. Electives (Behavioral Finance, Asset Management, Quantitative Finance, International Finance, Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring of a Firm, etc.).
2. Research seminar & internship.
3. Master Thesis defense resulting in a diploma of MSc in Finance.

The SCF program has a rich history. During 10 years of work, 300+ students have graduated from the program. Our graduates work in consulting and at leading investment banks, M&A advisory firms, and investment funds. Some become strategy consultants, and others – buy-side analysts and portfolio managers. Some develop their own business, conduct academic research, or build a career as a CFO in companies of the real sector. Our alumni live mostly in Moscow or London, but there are also those who have gone to New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, and even Sydney.

It is not uncommon for our alumni to hire our recent graduates, as they are familiar with the high level of preparation that takes place within the SCF program. Graduates of the SCF program are in high demand in many industries.

Here are the top most popular career tracks:

• Investment banks and companies: Sberbank CIB, VTB Capital, GOLDMAN SACHS, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Alfa Capital, Gazprombank, Uralsib, Prosperity, GHP Group, Renaissance Capit
• Consulting: ATKearney, McKinsey, Accenture, Oliver Wyman, BCG, Roland Berger, Monitor Group, Bain & Company
• Business Valuation: KPMG, PWC, E&Y, Deloitte
• Real sector: Gazprom, Rosneft, LukOil, Rosnano, RosAtom, Norilsk Nickel, TNK-BP, Vimpelcom, AkzoNobel, RusAl, SUAL, Wimm-Bill-Dann, etc.