Master in Advanced Economics and Finance (MSc)

Master in Advanced Economics and Finance (MSc) is one of 4 English-taught Finance programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 1 institution. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 8,000 a year.

The MSc in Advanced Economics and Finance at Copenhagen Business School is a two year master's programme taught in English. It is built for students who want to work with advanced quantitative models and data in economics and finance. The programme admits around 65 students each year, and 71 percent of them come from outside Denmark.

What you study

The programme splits roughly between finance (55 percent) and economics and mathematics (45 percent). In finance you work with asset pricing, portfolio theory and corporate finance, and you look at capital structure, derivatives, risk management and the dynamic models used in financial institutions. Corporate governance and incentive problems come in through contract theory and game theory. On the economics side you work with micro and macroeconomic modelling, econometrics and empirical methods, and you learn to test theoretical predictions against economic and financial data.

The first year courses named on the programme page are:

• Contract, Agency and Game Theory (7.5 ECTS)
• Asset Pricing (7.5 ECTS)
• Corporate Finance (7.5 ECTS)
• Econometrics (7.5 ECTS)
• Advanced Industrial Organization (7.5 ECTS)
• Derivatives and Risk Management (7.5 ECTS)
• Financial Econometrics (7.5 ECTS)
• Macroeconomics - The Global Economy (7.5 ECTS)

How the programme is organised

The first year gives you a balanced curriculum in both economics and finance. In the second year you specialise further in one field or combine the two, depending on your interests and career goals.

The third semester is 30 ECTS of electives or exchange. At least 15 ECTS of your electives must be a progression of the mandatory courses, and you can also take electives at other Danish universities if they are relevant to the programme. Many students go on exchange in this semester, usually at one of CBS' more than 300 partner universities. Going through CBS means you do not pay for teaching at the foreign university, with a few exceptions, and you can keep your SU.

The fourth semester is the master's thesis, 30 ECTS, on a topic you choose. Students typically write it with a fellow student.

Teaching is demanding. The curriculum leans heavily on advanced research articles, and some courses are shared with PhD students. An online math camp runs before the start. The atmosphere is friendly and collaborative, with group work and knowledge sharing as a natural part of the programme.

Who it suits

You should want to work with advanced quantitative models and data, and be curious about how corporations make financial decisions, how markets behave and what drives economic fluctuations. Solid skills in mathematics, statistics and econometrics are needed. The point is not just to run calculations but to use the tools to understand and critically discuss theories and models.

The workload is intensive and expectations are high. Small cohorts mean plenty of contact with professors, and you are expected to take part actively and study independently. If you are aiming at a PhD or a research career, the theoretical and empirical training fits that path.

Admission, language and next steps

The programme is taught in English. If your bachelor's degree was not taught in English, read CBS' guidance on English taught programmes before you apply. Applications for master's programmes go straight to CBS, not through optagelse.dk. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee that the institution sets.

CBS holds an Open Day for master's programmes where you can meet students and staff. The programme page also links to the programme regulations, which set out the formal rules.

Master’s applications go straight to Copenhagen Business School, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.