The programme builds on previous studies at the undergraduate level in finance, accounting and strategic management. Students, at the completion of the programme will be familiar with advanced theoretical and empirical concepts in finance, strategic research and international finance areas. The programme will extend their knowledge of the major areas of financial decision-making and train them to identify, analyze and resolve complex financial problems. Important objectives are to familiarise them with the main areas of investigation and research techniques used in finance, and to give them the general knowledge required to specialize in their preferred area of finance.
Knowledge and Understanding
The strategic thinking is getting more importance on the frontier of international strategy practices where integration of finance and global strategy research is viewed both as an opportunity and as a necessary development. Therefore, there is significant need to train individuals who could assess the challenges to conventional wisdom regarding the integration of contemporary finance and international business. The graduates of this master’s programme will be able to analyse managerial problems and make strategic decisions related to international business and finance. They are trained to understand the specifics of international business environments and its financial considerations in analysing the boundaries, governance and economic performance of corporations in the global markets. The programme is designed to enhance the international knowledge and skills but the special focus is given to the international emerging markets of the world which are the primary target of current and future business activities. The programme curriculum has been refined to ensure that students receive both a conceptual framework and practical methodologies in economics, finance and strategic management.
Regarding the competencies in the core field of finance, the students will gain knowledge in corporate finance, managerial economics, international financial management, valuation of financial assets and international accounting. More precisely, the students will train themselves in the basic areas of finance such as corporate finance, accounting and financial economics.
For the competencies in specialised field of strategy research, the students will increase their knowledge for the functional areas of strategic management such as global strategic work, organizational strategy complemented with empirical strategy research using advanced econometric methods.
Concerning international financial markets as the second area of specialisation, the students develop specific skills in international finance and corporate strategy particularly in emerging markets context.
Skills and abilities
The aim of this specialist programme is to offer an International Master of Science degree of high international standard that will give students required theoretical and practical competences to conduct strategic planning in turbulent global financial environments. Therefore, the goal of MSF programme is to develop skills in quantitative and analytical aspects of International business and finance.
The Master Degree programme in Strategic Finance provides expertise in strategic management of financial assets and corporations in terms of global knowledge-intensive environment. This is achieved by integrating both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Students will gain expertise in following aspects and areas: key concepts and knowledge of essential theories, applying theories, information acquisition and analysis, source critics, industry collaboration, tolerance and multiculturalism. Theoretical expertise is provided through active research by the core faculty, dissemination of research results into teaching, international distinguished visiting lecturers, and contemporary high quality teaching materials. Our course assignments are theory driven and carefully designed to support the development of rigor analytical skills. Industry collaboration is an organic part of our curriculum and includes field projects and company assignments. The extensive global academic partnership network of LUT School of Business expose students to international learning culture and environment, and prepares them for their challenging future careers.
Values and attitudes
Master’s of Strategic Finance also shares rich set of values and attitudes. First of all, our students are characterised of having truly global mindset as they are aware of opportunities and changes in the global financial environment. Second, students will have innovative mindset, and they see dynamic business environments as opportunities and are trained to do strategic financial decision making in such environments. And third, students possess also strategic finance oriented mindset, and they view finance as a strategic orientation of a firm. Graduates are committed to good financial practice, ethical, social and professional responsibility in all activities involved in tactical, operational and strategic level financial decision making.