Master of Science in Global Finance and Economics (MSc GFE) Goethe University Frankfurt

The MSc in Global Finance and Economics programme is taught by professors from the Faculty of Economics and Business at Goethe University Frankfurt, augmented by lecturers from the Faculty of Economics and Management at the Vietnamese-German University. The programme also involves courses taught by high-level practitioners in financial markets and in economic analysis who share their experiences with programme participants.

The programme is conducted in English.

Practitioners in today's financial markets and economic analysis are facing a myriad of probing challenges. The MSc in Global Finance and Economics programme is designed with such challenges in mind and

• combines thorough training in state-of-the-art methods in asset pricing and corporate finance with corresponding training in microeconomics, monetary economics, macroeconomics, econometrics, data science, and selected aspects of programming, providing its participants with a broad methodological apparatus and those tools needed to address current and future challenges in global finance and economic analysis.
• combines academic rigour with a focus on topical issues facing financial practitioners and economic policy decision-makers and gives due consideration also to the development of transferable skills such as effective communication, networking, and leadership. 
• provides its participants with the opportunity to gain valuable experience outside of Vietnam through an optional "Experience Frankfurt" module, including the option to engage in in-depth academic research at Goethe University as part of the work underlying the Master's thesis.

The programme is aimed at promising graduates of Business, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics and related undergraduate programmes, whose goal is to prepare for rewarding professional careers in financial markets, financial regulation, or in monetary and fiscal policy. The programme draws upon the expertise in finance and monetary economics at Goethe University and at Vietnamese−German University and links to the broad range of premier financial institutions based in Frankfurt as well as the growing number of these in Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting the city’s efforts to become an international financial centre. The key objective of the programme is to put graduates in a highly competitive position in the recruitment process for rewarding jobs in the financial industry. Some programme graduates may choose to pursue academic research in top-notch structured PhD programmes in Finance and in Economics.

The Master in Global Finance & Economics is conducted in English as a full-time format. Classes take place on the campus of Vietnamese-German University (VGU), located about 40 km from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The programme starts once a year in VGU’s autumn semester, around mid-September. The programme lasts for four semesters and entails 120 credit points (according to the European Credit Transfer System).

Approximately 4,700 EUR per year (international students)

The tuition fee covers all costs for enrolment and participation in the programme for one academic year.

The tuition fee does not cover any non-academic fees, such as living and travel/transportation costs as well as health insurance costs.

Advanced Fundamental Courses (7 x 6 CP) in semesters one and two convey a thorough knowledge of the core areas of finance, economics, quantitative methods, and programming as needed to carry out advanced work in finance and economics.

• Asset Pricing
• Microeconometrics & Data Science
• Microeconomics
• Financial Econometrics & Macroeconometrics
• Macroeconomics
• Corporate Finance
• Programming Languages

The modular curriculum in semesters two and three gives students the opportunity to choose six Advanced Topics Courses (6 x 6 CP) from the following fields of specialisation:

• Asset Pricing
• Corporate Finance
• Econometrics & Data Science
• Macroeconomics

Practice topics courses (2 x 3 CP) in semesters two and three focus on how models and methods, as studied in the advanced fundamentals and advanced topics courses, are applied by financial market practitioners and economic policy decision-makers.

Transferable skills seminars (2 x 3 CP) in semesters two and three will support students in developing the transferable skills essential for a career in financial markets and economic policy analysis.

In semester four, the Master's thesis (24 CP) demonstrates a student’s in-depth knowledge of a topic from the programme’s fields through an original, critical synthesis of research and independent work using theoretical and empirical methods. The thematic focus of the Master's thesis may be chosen following individual professional and personal interests.

Throughout the Master's thesis phase, guidance will be provided by a faculty adviser and through the Master's thesis seminar (6 CP), which offers peer and further faculty feedback. Graduates earn a Master of Science degree from Goethe University Frankfurt's Faculty of Economics and Business.

In semester four, the MSc in Global Finance and Economics programme provides participants with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in Germany through the optional "Experience Frankfurt" module.

The module offers students two main components. First, they will be able to engage in in-person interaction with the faculty adviser of their Master's thesis at Goethe University. Second, they will have the opportunity to gain insight into major institutions of the German and European financial and monetary systems located in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is not only home to two major central banks, the European Central Bank and the Deutsche Bundesbank, but it is also home to the German Stock Exchange and many other German and international financial institutions that play an important national role and also affect the development of international financial markets.

2,350 EUR

Approximately 4,700 EUR per year (international students)

The tuition fee covers all costs for enrolment and participation in the programme for one academic year.

The tuition fee does not cover any non-academic fees, such as living and travel/transportation costs as well as health insurance costs.

There is no further semester contribution.

The overall expected average cost of studying at VGU is 5,500 EUR per year (including tuition, accommodation, food, health insurance, local transportation, and study materials). This should be contrasted with an anticipated average cost of studying in Frankfurt, which is 10,500 EUR per year (including semester contribution, accommodation, food, health insurance, local transportation, and study materials).

First university degree

Candidates with an undergraduate degree (that is, Bachelor's or equivalent) in business or economics, or another quantitatively-oriented degree programme (for example, mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, computer science) involving at least 180 credit points (CP) based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) are eligible for admission.

In case the final Bachelor's degree certificate is not yet available when applying for the MSc in Global Finance and Economics programme, a candidate's application can alternatively be assessed based on a proof of enrolment and on an interim certificate. This interim certificate must:

• certify that at least 80% of the CP required for graduation with the Bachelor’s degree have been earned,
• contain a current average grade (GPA) calculated on the basis of the completed CP in accordance with the regulations of the degree programme in question, and
• have been issued by the same office that is responsible for issuing the degree certificate at the university offering the Bachelor’s degree programme in question.

An admission based on the interim certificate is provisional and conditional on the examination certificate for the Bachelor’s degree being submitted latest by the end of the first semester of studies in the MSc in Global Finance and Economics programme. If the examination certificate is not submitted by this deadline, then the admission is withdrawn and the enrolment is to be rescinded.

In case of doubt, applicants are encouraged to contact the academic coordinator of the programme, Dr Le Van Ha, at ha.lv@vgu.edu.vn for further advice on interim certificates.

Quantitative proficiency

Quantitative proficiency will be assessed based on the Quantitative Reasoning Score of the GRE General Test or the Quantitative Score of the GMAT. In either case, the test must have been taken no more than four years prior to the date of submission.

The admissions committee of the programme may also accept alternative proofs of adequate mathematical/quantitative skills (such as a qualified university degree in the field of mathematics or successful completion of a programme-specific entrance examination held at VGU).

Applicants are required to submit proof of English language proficiency at the B2-level in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The programme will accept the results of the following tests, taken no longer than four years prior to the date of submission:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS), minimum score of 5.5
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT® and TOEFL iBT® Home Edition, minimum score of 46 to 59
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, minimum score of 160 to 165
• English Language Level Test (ELLT) – Oxford International Digital Institute

Applicants may apply for a waiver from submitting one of the above proofs of proficiency in English in case one of the following conditions applies:

• The applicant is a native speaker of English.
• The applicant has completed undergraduate or Master-level studies in a degree programme taught entirely in English.
• The applicant has worked in an English-speaking country in a position involving the use of professional English for at least one year

In case of doubt, applicants are encouraged to contact the academic coordinator of the programme, Dr Le Van Ha, at ha.lv@vgu.edu.vn for further advice on demonstrating English proficiency.

Students applying for the MSc in Global Finance and Economics are eligible to apply for a number of scholarships and financing opportunities.

https://vgu.edu.vn/scholarship

https://www.goethe-business-school.de/en/master-programs/master-in-global-finance-and-economics/tuition