Programme overview

We train professionals for top-ranking banks, foundations, financial and research institutions, that are in demand on the global labor market.

2007 saw the start at ICEF of the international master’s program created with the academic support from The London School of Economics (LSE). With skills requirements identical to those of the industry, the program brings together the Russian traditions of scholastic education and the British expertise in delivering master’s degree programs.

Extensively supported by practicing experts, we offer comprehensive training in Economics, Finance, and Econometrics that students complete over a short period of time. It allows our alumni - a total of 400+ – to find employment at investment banks, at research institutions globally, and domestically.

The programme is delivered in close cooperation with employers. For instance, a scholarship fund is established by VTB Bank for the best-performing students, specialists from leading companies conduct courses and master classes, job offers are submitted to our Career Centre on a regular basis. The contacts the programme and its professors maintain with the international research community enable our students to engage in research, which they do also via ICEF International Laboratory of Financial Economics.

Programme requirements

Since instruction is in English, candidates are expected to have advanced English language skills. Candidates should be able to produce IELTS (≥6.0) or equivalent. One more essential requirement is the in-depth knowledge of mathematics (please click here for the full list of topics). Requirement number three is stay focused on studies. This master’s degree programme is what guarantees solid knowledge and skills, as well as career opportunities, but juggling it with work is highly unrecommended.

2 years

Full-time Programme

25/15/2

25 state-funded places
15 fee-paying places
2 fee-paying places for international students

ENG

Instruction in English

Programme advantages

• Esteemed reputation and academic excellence: The MSc Financial Economics program has consistently ranked among the Top 100 QS Masters in Finance for six years in a row and is acknowledged as the leading program in its field in Russia (2019-2024);
• Instruction shared by Russian finance practitioners and visiting professors from foreign universities;
• Faculty staff with PhD degrees from USA’s and Western Europe’s leading universities;
• Individual learning paths: office hours, mentorship programme, career guidance, wide selection of electives, internship opportunities;
• Alumni association: those already in the industry mentoring students and sharing job offers before they go public.

Curriculum

Year 1

Compulsory courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Mathematics for Economists, Asset Pricing

Electives*: students choose 2 + optional courses

Term paper preparation

Year 2

Compulsory courses in Corporate Finance and Financial Econometris

Electives*: students choose 5 + optional courses

Master thesis preparation and defence

Seminars Year 1 and Year 2

Student research seminar in Financial Economics

Mentor's seminar

*Electives and Optional Courses

Applied Corporate Finance

• Investment Analysis
• Corporate Valuation Cases in Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Equity and Venture Capital

Quantitative Finance

• Fixed Income
• Derivatives
• Risk Management
• Foundations of securitization

Data analysis, Machine Learning

• Basic Python for Machine Learning
• R Programming and Applications to Finance
• Big Data and Machine Learning with Applications to Economics and Finance
• SQL
• Deep Learning
• Artificial Intelligence: Fundamentals and Applications

Other courses

• Banking
• Financial Market Microstructure

Our courses are designed to equip you with:

• current methods of statistical and econometric analysis;
• ability to deal with massive arrays of information, retrieve, verify, supply and synthesize missing data;
• ability to make core forecasts of corporate financial performance, financial and industry-specific markets performance, and various economic variables;
• presentation skills, article writing and skills in reporting analytics to expert communities; and
• principles of and legal framework for professional standards.

Alumni career paths

How to enroll

To apply to HSE ICEF, please prepare your portfolio to help us assess your qualifications.