Discover the Swiss finance ecosystems

An in-depth understanding of financial topics is an important prerequisite for a successful professional career and admission to business courses at universities.

This semester program is designed for undergraduate students and introduces the basic concepts and models of modern financial theories via lectures, texts and case studies, and company visits.

You will learn how assets and companies are valuated. Projections of future cash flows, capital budgeting, the trade-off between risk and return, risk management, and the valuation of securities are further courses offered in this program. Practical work close to life in corporations is an important part of the program.

This program is exceptional for people who want to learn more about finance

Erick Mauricio Serrano

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Program prospects

Students of the Diploma of Financial Management will be able to understand and apply financial management principles to investment strategies and securities valuation, estimate the cost of capital and risk assessment, construct an investment portfolio, illustrate how derivative instruments can be used to manage risk and explain the role of financial institutions. Students will strengthen their reflections on the intercultural challenges related to the Swiss finance system and learn more about finance ecosystems from Switzerland.

This international focus is strongly supported by the close partnerships we maintain with academic partners, start-ups, SMEs and multinational companies from several continents.

Admission

This program focuses on undergraduate students with excellent academic achievement.

Previous knowledge of finance is necessary to follow this program.
English Skills at B2 European level or higher are essential.

Credit points

The Program is made up of six modules, an applied finance project and a “French as a foreign language” option. It is an excellent opportunity for you to certify your knowledge.

It is built on 30 ECTS and takes place every Spring semester in Fribourg, Switzerland.

En bref

Titre délivré

Diploma in Financial Management

Crédits ECTS

Up to 30 ECTS

Durée d'études

One semester

Début de la formation

Fall: September 2024 - Spring: February 2025

Langue d'études

English

Inscription

Enrollment is closed, the next program starts in September 2024.

Coûts

Please contact our International Office for more information

Lieu d'étude

HEG-FR/HSW-FR (Fribourg, Switzerland)

Modules and course structure

Applied Corporate Finance (5 ECTS) - Spring Semester

This module teaches basic concepts, such as the time value of money; corporate governance and capital structure. Besides investment planning, students will also study cost of capital estimation, cash flow calculation and financial projections; Budgeting and investment decisions. They will also look at mergers and acquisitions; Real options; Takeover process and bidding strategies; Structuring and financing a transaction.

Applied finance project (5 ECTS) - Fall & Spring Semester

The main objective of this team project work is to write a report on a specific topic in applied finance: 1/3 of the work will be developing the theory and the methodology: 2/3 of the work will be an application of real information/ data. The report will be read by at least 2 professors of the school and students will present their findings.

Financial Valuation and Investment Strategy (5 ECTS) - Spring Semester

This course will provide students with the necessary tools to formulate an investment strategy, to determine an investment approach and to evaluate the different possibilities of implementing the investments. Before addressing these important questions, the class will first review the main risk characteristic of traditional individual investments like bonds and equities. The orientation of this course aims to be resolutely practical. About 50% will be dedicated to practical exercises, realized by means of Excel.

Intercultural Management (5 ECTS) - Spring Semester

This course addresses different work-related situations where cultural differences play an important role: negotiation, marketing, human resources recruitment and management, working abroad, organization settings, mergers and acquisitions. By addressing these different aspects, this course will enable students to acquire essential skills to operate in a global world.

Portfolio Management and Derivatives (5 ECTS) - Fall & Spring Semester

This course provides an introduction to Financial Markets and Financial Assets. Students will study financial markets, portfolio construction criteria, market efficiency and asset pricing models to be able to apply various concepts, method and tools related to investment products and portfolio management Furthermore, we will look at derivatives and how it’s used in formulating investment strategies and hedging policies; futures and forwards stocks, futures valuation and cost of carry model are also analyzed.

Ethics & Enterprise (2.5 ECTS) - Spring Semester

Companies today are facing ever more important ethical challenges This module teaches students to recognize ethical issues, develop an ethical solution framework and design ethical processes. It also looks at how students can implement ethical values (trust, fairness, diversity, respect of human rights in the supply chain) in management, HR or marketing and to prevent any type of discrimination or conflict of interest in the workplace.

Risk Management (2.5 ECTS)- Spring Semester

In this module, students will learn how important risk management is to an organization and how corporate risks are managed. This module identifies threats and risks, risk definitions, the different kinds of risks, the definition of risk management, risk areas, risk treatment (avoid, reduce, retain, transfer), the risk management process, risk reporting and monitoring and risk assessment.

Banking and Insurance (5 ECTS)- Fall Semester

This course provides an introduction to the principles of banking. It examines the issues that come under the broad heading of principles of banking. First, it explains the key economic reasons used to justify the existence of financial intermediaries (and specifically banks). Second, it presents the typical financial structure of the latter, the different markets, products and business models. It also investigates the special nature of banking.

Fintech and Blockchain (5 ECTS)- Fall Semester

The courses in Fintech cover a range of topics related to finance and digitalization. They explore the impact of mobile technology, big data, cloud computing, and peer-to-peer exchange on traditional financing options. The courses also focus on sharing economies and the example of robo advisors. Additionally, the courses introduce blockchain and cryptocurrencies, discussing the role of money and providing an understanding of legal frameworks and the associated risks. The aim is to build competences for creating new business models that leverage the advantages of blockchain while being aware of its limits

Digital leadership (5 ECTS)- Fall Semester

Digital Leadership is a course designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to effectively lead in the digital age. The course covers topics related to digital transformation, including the digital economy and society, ecosystems, change management, and the future of work. Students will explore the ethical and social impacts of digital technologies, as well as the challenges for strategic management. The course emphasizes the importance of leadership in the digital age and equips students with the tools and strategies to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Business of Fashion (2.5 ECTS)- Fall Semester

The Business of Fashion course provides students with an understanding of the fashion industry and its role in modern society. The course covers a range of topics, including the global nature of the fashion industry, the impact of digital channels on the sector, and the worldwide importance of fashion to the economy. Students will explore different types of fashion consumers, internationalization and marketing strategies, and major fashion labels and their branding strategies. The course also addresses issues related to sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry.

User Experience Design (2.5 ECTS)- Fall Semester

The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of user-centered design and the importance of delivering high-quality digital customer experiences. Throughout the course, students will learn about the principles and practices of UXD, including user engagement, product, service and behavior design, and the calculation of user engagement metrics. The course will also address the importance of user engagement ethics in the design process.

Inscription au Diploma in Financial Management

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Délai d'inscription: May 1st, 2024 for Non‐EU/ EFTA Nationalities - June 1, 2024 for EU/ EFTA Nationalities / October 15, 2024 for Non‐EU/ EFTA Nationalities- November 15, 2024 for EU - EFTA Nationalities