Master in International Finance (MIF) 12 months full-time | 24 months part-time | modular September 2016 intake

The Amsterdam Business School: A history of excellence 3

Master in International Finance (MIF) 4

Programme overview 5

Curriculum 2016-2017 6

Class of 2016 profi le 7

Mapping your career path 8

Admissions Requirements 9

Fees and Funding 10

Contact details 10

Table of contents

2 www.abs.uva.nl/mif

www.abs.uva.nl/mif3

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a modern

university with a rich history stretching back almost 400

years. Founded in 1632, the UvA has since grown into a

world-class research and teaching university with strong

international connections. With seven major faculties, a

wide range of courses and a staff of renowned academics

and researchers, UvA is ranked 58th in the world and first

in the Netherlands according to the QS World University

Ranking and ranked among the top 60-80 universities

worldwide according to the Times Higher Education

Ranking. The university is also a member of LERU,

a network of leading European research universities

including Oxford, Cambridge, University College London,

Zurich, Leuven, Leiden and Edinburgh. Through its

reputation and location, the UvA draws thousands of

international students every year. The Amsterdam Business

School (ABS) is part of the University of Amsterdam, and

its ethos reflects the university’s traditions as an

international, entrepreneurial, intellectual and socially

responsible community. Building on this heritage, ABS’s

educational philosophy is characterised by exceptional

lecturers, an international student base, small-scale

interactive seminars, workshops and case-based

programmes. The Amsterdam Business School offers many

benefits thanks to its central location in the heart of

Amsterdam, a major financial and business centre and a

gateway to Europe as well as the rest of the world. These

are just some of the factors that attract the most talented

students from all over the world to join ABS for its two

flagship programmes: The specialised Master in

International Finance (MIF) and the Amsterdam MBA.

To find out more, why not arrange a visit? Contact us at

admissions-mif@uva.nl if you’d like to attend an

information evening or a trial class, or if you’d like us to

arrange a meeting or contact with a current student, an

alumnus, or the MIF Admissions Office.

The Amsterdam Business School: A history of excellence

MEET MIF

FULL-TIME

STUDENT JAEMI

SAMONTE

(PHILIPINES)

Why the MIF programme?

‘After obtaining my bachelor’s

degree, accounting license and CFA

charter, I have decided to take a

Masters in International Finance

programme as this would be a good

way to complete my list of academic

credentials. I chose MIF based on my

own research and feedback from

alumni, and it has turned out to be a

very good decision. With the MIF, I

was able to sharpen my existing

knowledge in finance by exchanging

ideas with professors and guest

speakers who are experts in their

field, as well as with classmates

coming from diverse backgrounds.

They all gave a fresh perspective on

the topics that I’ve already seen and

heard, but was not able to

appreciate to the fullest until I took

the MIF programme. Also, unlike

other masters programmes, the MIF

really holds up to its promise of

combining theory and practice, as

the courses are academically rigorous

but with a constant emphasis on

professional application. For instance,

I knew how to do business

combination accounting before, but

with the MIF I was able to realise its

key implications for valuation and

equity research. I had a working

knowledge of investment

instruments, but the MIF enabled me

to internalise the opportunities and

challenges based on broad academic

research and empirical observations.

I’ve heard about private equity, but

never really appreciated how it is in

practice until I listened to the MIF

professors and guest speakers. I

believe that the MIF’s professional

focus will be greatly appreciated by

experienced professionals like myself,

as well as career-switchers and those

early in their careers’

What are the career perspectives?

‘Lastly, as I aim to stay in Europe, I

believe that the MIF enhances my

employability given that it is an

excellent finance master’s

programme from a very reputable

university in the E.U., with a strong

alumni network which extends even

outside the Netherlands. In fact, even

as early as the first block of classes

and all throughout the programme, I

felt that there were so many

opportunities presented to us to

enhance our career prospects, such

as through company visits and

presentations, professional

gatherings, job postings, alumni

mentoring and meeting with

alumni.’

3 www.abs.uva.nl/mif

www.abs.uva.nl/mif4

Master in International Finance (MIF)

The Master in International Finance (MIF) at the

Amsterdam Business School (ABS), part of the University

of Amsterdam (UvA) is the first steps towards a career of

financial leadership and excellence.

Our uniquely tailored MIF will help you achieve your

professional goals through world-class teaching and

personalised learning. From an overseas study trip, to

lifelong membership into the MIF alumni network, this

Advanced Masters of Science provides all the tools you

need to achieve your ambitions. What are you waiting for?

Why the MIF?

A Master’s degree in finance will help your career take off.

But as a major investment of time and money it is crucial

you select the perfect one. So… why the MIF?

With a global reputation for excellence, the MIF is one of

the top programmes of its kind internationally. Teaching is

conducted primarily by ABS’s Finance Group faculty, one

of Europe’s leading finance departments, and has strong

international focus, with researchers from 14 countries.

Most MIF professors and lecturers have published

extensively in academic journals, and specialist areas include

corporate finance, asset pricing, derivatives, capital market

integration, corporate governance and financial regulation.

Credibility

Our MIF is internationally renowned, playing to ABS’s

core strengths in corporate finance, banking and asset

management; 90% of our students are hired by top 100

firms before graduation.

Quality

The MIF juggles business relevance with academic

excellence, inviting guest input from leading finance

academics, policy makers and global figures. Our approach

is uniquely personal, from small classes and hands-on

workshops, to an international study trip, mentor

programmes and lifetime membership of the MIF alumni

network.

Diversity

We welcome applicants from all over the world; more than

15 countries are represented in our current intake.

Combined with a mix of full-time students and working

part-timers, and an international faculty, this makes for an

exciting melting pot of cultures, professional backgrounds

and academic skills. What will you bring to the table?

Small classes

To help develop your skills as a finance specialist, we keep

class sizes deliberately small. Professors can focus keenly on

individual students, personally guiding them towards their

specific goals, while learners bounce off one another during

interactive seminars and lectures. Learning is a dialogue, not a

monologue.

Career Services

The Career Service Manager will guide you through your

MIF and beyond, helping you shape your ideal career path.

Through one-on-one coaching sessions throughout the year

(and even post-graduation) you will formulate a Personal &

Professional Development Plan, identifying your strengths

and weaknesses and preparing you for the job market.

Dutch job market

Networking opportunities, speaker events, the ABS Careers

Fair, in-house visits and the Careers Office will acquaint you

with professional opportunities in the Netherlands. Our

Career Service Manager will actively assist, sourcing internship

and job opportunities and carrying out mock interviews.

Locality

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s commercial hubs and a

financial gateway to the world; most companies have bases

here. It is also a remarkable city in which to live: inspiring,

vibrant, welcoming and beautiful - and virtually everyone

speaks English!

5

Programme structure

The Master in International Finance (MIF) programme is

offered as a full-time, one-year programme and a part-time,

two-year programme. Both commence annually in

September, and both comprise 70 ECs. Upon successful

completion of the programme, students are awarded the

degree of Master of Science in International Finance.

Programme components

All core courses and electives are delivered through six

weeks of lectures, one study week and one exam week, over

a total of eight weeks.

Electives

Students can take 2 electives of the Amsterdam MBA

programme or the Executive Programme in Management

Studies (EPMS) only in addition to the required number of

3 MIF electives.

Full-time course load

The full-time Master in International Finance (MIF)

programme starts in the last week of August and ends

around mid-June. It is followed by a Master thesis research

project and potentially an internship.

Full-time students typically attend 3 classes a week in the

evening. Classes take approximately 9 hours per week.

Class preparation, casework and assignments demand a

further 18-27 hours per week.

Part-time course load

Part-time students study under the same regulations as full-

time students, except that the course programme is spread

over a period of 18-24 months.

Part-time students typically attend 1-2 evening classes per

week. The weekdays at which evening classes are scheduled

will vary from course to course, but there will be no classes

on Fridays.

Classes for part-time students take approximately 3-6 hours

per week. Class preparation, casework, and assignments

demand a further 6-9 hours per week and course.

Programme overview

Component Credits

8 core courses 32 EC, 4 EC per course

3 MIF electives 12 EC, 4 EC per course

Leadership programme

International Study Trip - South Africa 2 EC

Ethics in Finance Workshop 1 EC

Finance Research Workshop 3 EC

Master thesis 15 EC

MIF Pre-Course Training 5 EC, if required

Personal Development Portfolio applicable to full-timers, no EC granted

CASPER HEEREMANS (NETHERLANDS),

MIF ALUMNUS 2005, DUTCH CENTRAL

BANK, SENIOR RESOLUTION OFFICER

Why did you decide to pursue your Master in International

Finance degree at the Amsterdam Business School?

‘I made my decision based on a number of factors, such as the

faculty, the programme content, the university’s reputation and

accreditations, employment statistics and so on. I knew that the

University of Amsterdam had a strong finance department.

Another important factor was that I was working with an MIF

alumnus who was very enthusiastic about the programme. His

positive experiences also helped to get support from my

employer.’

You currently hold the role of MIF Ambassador. Can you tell

us more about it?

‘I find it important to give something back to the school. The

MIF programme at Amsterdam Business School has a very good

reputation and I would like to make prospective students aware

about opportunities that this programme offers based on my

positive experience. As a MIF Ambassador I am actively involved

in promoting the MIF programme, while working together with

the programme management to improve it, giving workshops

on topics related to project finance, providing information and

sharing my experience with new and prospective students, and

many other interesting activities.’

www.abs.uva.nl/mif

Block 3January

Block 4 February - March

Block 5April - May

Block 6June - August

Block 2November - December

Block 1September -October

Pre-Course (June – Aug)

Core courses

Full-time programme Part-time programme

Core courses year 1 Core courses year 2 Electives

Fundamentals of Finance

Financial Accounting

Quantitative Methods & Research Skills

Advanced Corporate Finance & Valuation

Investments

Financial Econometrics

M&A and Restructuring

Financial Derivatives

International Financial Management

International study trip to Cape Town

Risk Management & Fin. Institutions

Financial Modelling

Ethics in Finance & Finance Research workshop

Leadership programme

Master thesis

Fundamentals of Finance

Financial Accounting

Quantitative Methods & Research Skills

Advanced Corporate Finance & Valuation

Investments

M&A and Restructuring

Financial Derivatives

International study trip: Cape Town

Financial Econometrics

International Financial Management

Financial Modelling

Ethics in Finance & Finance Research workshop

Master thesis

Financial Analysis & Valuation

Real Estate Finance

Advanced Financial Econometrics

Advanced Asset Management

Computational Finance in MATLAB

Behavioural Finance

OPTIONAL: COMPULSORY:

6

Curriculum 2016-2017

www.abs.uva.nl/mif

www.abs.uva.nl/mif7

64,7

28 years

660 points

35,3

MIF Class Full-time 2015-2016 MIF Class Part-time 2015-2017

%Male

%Female

Average Age

Average GMAT

56,5 43,5%Male

%Female

Average Age30 years

Female/Male

Average age + GMAT

Cross-cultural collaboration

Imagine working on a challenging group

assignment with a Indian Investment Analyst, a

Turkish Treasury Specialist, and a Iranian Oil

Market Analyst and then discussing your project

with a Dutch Tax Manager, a Chinese

Consultant and a Brazilian Financial Analyst.

Welcome to the Master in International Finance

(MIF) programme. Boost your career and meet

the MIF 2016 class!

MIF class of 2016 profi le

Class of 2016 profi le

South America9,52%

Africa4,76%

North America2,38%

South EuropeSouth EuropeSouth Europe2,38% 2,38% 2,38% 2,38% 2,38% 2,38% 2,38% 2,38%

AsiaAsia35,70%

West Europe33,33% 33,33% 33,33% 33,33% 33,33% 33,33% 33,33%

East EuropeEast EuropeEast EuropeEast EuropeEast EuropeEast EuropeEast EuropeEast Europe7,14%

American/British, Bulgarian, Brazilian, Canadian, Chinese, Dutch, German, Indian, Indone-sian, Italian, Iranian, Portuguese, Russian, South-African,Turkish, Vietnamese, Peruvian

international47,5%

nationalities17

Nationalities

Years of work experience

MIF Class 2015-2016 Full-time

4,5 yearsMIF Class 2015-2017 Part-time

5 years4,5 years

Automotive

Banking

Consulting

Construction

Energy market

Investment Management

IT

Logistics

Real Estate

Risk Management

Telecom

Retail

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 %

Industries

www.abs.uva.nl/mif8

Defi ne and plan for your career goals

During the one- or two-year MIF programme, you will be

guided by the Career Services Manager to defi ne and plan

your career path. The Career Service Manager will work

with you very closely and will support you in achieving

your Career goals.

From enrolment to completion of the programme the

Career Services Manager will be involved on a regular basis,

and will be as well available after you become an alumnus.

You will start with an comprehensive intake and then

continue with one-on-one coaching sessions throughout the

year. The coaching sessions will be based on your needs and

the area of improvement. Together with the Career

Service Manager you will develop a Personal&Professional

Development Plan and work on various careers-related

aspects such as your skills, identifying your strengths and

weaknesses, CV and/or cover letter writing, Job interviews

preparations and many others.

Stepping stones to success

Amsterdam Business School MIF graduates are highly

sought after, as even a quick glance at the job placement

stats proves. Your MIF experience will provide many

opportunities to enhance your career skills as well as

connect with potential employers and fi rst-rate recruiters.

To help you nail the key position you’re after upon

completion of your MIF, our Careers Offi ce offers one-on-

one coaching sessions, a personal development plan, career

Sample of our MBA recruiters:

PWC

ABN AMRO

Rabobank

ING

Avenade

Profundo

Nuon

Commerzbank

IBM

Philips

Mapping your career path

Careers

MIF Class 2013 – 2014

of the students placed within 3 months after graduation

7%of the students placed before graduation

93%

DAN ZHOU (CHINA) MIF 2015 –

RISK TRAINEE AT NN GROUP

‘The career services at Amsterdam

Business School-MIF offi ce provided

me enormous help during the year of

my study. The Career Service Manager

arranged many activities, connecting

us with different companies, helping us improve our

resumes and interview skills.

She also organized all different types of workshops to

offer us the best preparation before starting or switching

a career. Besides, we all have the chance to receive a

personal coaching regarding to our career goals, personal

strengths and weakness. It was the Career Service

Manager who introduced me to the diverse job

opportunities, assisted me preparing interviews and

supported me with landing a position in the fi nancial

sector before my graduation.’

workshops, meet & greet events with potential employers,

career fairs and networking events.

Our career workshops tackle a range of topics including:

n    Working in the Netherlands

n    Personal branding

n    Professional networking skills

n    Speed interview training

n    Employment contracts & negotiations

n    Effective networking with social media

n    CV & cover letter writing

n    Job interviewing

n    How to make a Career Switch

n    How to increase Self-Effectiveness

n    Public Speaking

n    Careers in consultancy

www.abs.uva.nl/mif9

Don’t miss out

We accept 40-50 students at the MIF each year. The

programme begins in September, but admissions are made

throughout the previous academic year. Deadlines for

external funding and internal concessions are earlier than 30

June. As the number of places is limited, we would like to

encourage you to apply early.

Admission requirements

n    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

A degree from a research university in a related field

(e.g. business administration, economics, engineering,

natural sciences, mathematics, law).

n    Pre-course training

This may be required, depending on your academic

background. The pre-course training is mandatory for all

part-time students. Covers fundamentals in finance,

financial accounting, and quantitative methods &

research skills. Done via our online learning platform.

Check admission requirements to see if you need training.

n    Work experience

Minimum 1-2 years of relevant work experience in the

financial field (internships included).

n    GMAT or GRE

GMAT or GRE scores are compulsory for all full-time

applicants. Minimum: GMAT 630; GRE 650

n    Intellectual Capacity Test

Part-time applicants take the Intellectual Capacity Test in

place of GMAT/GRE scores.

n    English language proficiency

TOEFL minimum: 100; IELTS minimum: 7.0.

Step 1

Apply

Apply online using Embark: https://apply.embark.com/

MBAEdge/Amsterdam/FEB/86/

Deadline: 30 June

Step 2

Documentation

We require copies of these original documents:

n    Passport

n    CV

n    Diplomas and Transcripts (grade list)

n    Cover letter outlining why you wish to take the MIF

n    English test score

n    Full-time applicants:

GMAT/GRE score report (Minimum 630/650)

n     Part-time applicants:

Intellectual Capacity Test

n     Two recommendation letters (academic or professional)

Step 3

Interview

We evaluate all applications within 48 hours and invite

successful candidates for interview. Interviewed candidates

receive the Admissions Committee’s final decision within

two weeks.

Step 4

Contract and enrolment deposit

Once accepted you must sign a contract and pay a E2,000

enrolment deposit within four weeks of the admission date

to secure your place. When we have received the enrolment

fee and the required documentation (see above), the UVA

will arrange your visa and housing (full-time international

students only).

Admissions Requirements

www.abs.uva.nl/mif10

Fees

Tuition for full-time and part-time students starting

September 2016: E26,900.

This covers everything, from courses and the international

study trip, to MIF facilities, university.

Funding

MIF GMAT scholarship

Full-time students are eligible for scholarships based on

GMAT/GRE scores above 640. Scholarships range from

E1,000 to E11,000. Please indicate on your application that

you wish to apply for it.

Amsterdam Finance Excellence Scholarship (AFES) - non EU

This prestigious new scholarship programme has recently

been launched targeting exceptionally talented Bachelor/

Master’s students with work experience in the financial field

from outside Europe. The Amsterdam Finance Excellence

Scholarship (AFES) is a waiver of E7,500 for one academic

year. The deadline for applications is 1 February.

Amsterdam Finance Talent Scholarship (AFTS) - EU

The Amsterdam Finance Talent Scholarship (AFTS) offered

by the Master in International Finance programme is aimed

at talented students from the Netherlands and the European

Union / European Economic Area who choose to do the

MIF programme. This scholarship is a waiver of E10,000

for one academic year.

Early bird Discount

E4,000 for applications received before 1 December;

E2,000 for those received before 1 March.

Dutch Government scholarships

Contact the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country:

www.grantfinder.nl

Neso Scholarships

Contact the Neso office in your country:

www.nuffic.nl/neso

UvA alumni

10% discount. Total: E24,210.

Early payment in full

Applicants who pay full tuition fee before 30 April receive

5% discount.

Tax-deductible

For part-time applicants working in the Netherlands tuition

fees are tax-deductible.

CV Quick Scan

To check you meet admission requirements use our

CV Quick Scan now:

www.abs.uva.nl/mif > Application and Admission

Get in touch

For questions or more information on the MIF, visit

www.abs.uva.nl/mif

or contact:

MIF Admissions Office

Marjolein ‘t Jong:

T +31 20 525 4056 | E admissions-mif@uva.nl

MIF Programme Management

Sherien Ibrahim

T +31 (0)20 525 4388 | E mif@uva.nl

MIF Career Services Office

Kristina Rasikh-Stipovic

T +31 (0)20 525 5480 | E careers-abs@uva.nl

Fees and Funding