A smiling young woman holding a notebook and a phone in a modern office environment.

Master in Finance

Gain a practical professional profile to navigate today's dynamic financial landscape
duration10 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid
intakeSeptember & April
FormatFull-time
Optional tripsLondon, New York, Ghana

NAVIGATE A DYNAMIC FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE WITH A UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

The Master in Finance gives you the expertise and insight into financial markets needed to influence economic decision-making and excel in today’s finance industry. This program delves into the latest trends in finance—including sustainability, technology and AI—to sharpen your competitive edge for the digital future.

  • Practice with today’s most popular financial tools and gain real-world experience in our state-of-the-art Trading Room.
  • Expand your expertise with a broad portfolio of skill-building electives and choose from certifications in Finance Technologies & Artificial Intelligence or Sustainable Finance.
  • Focus and deepen your skills by choosing one of three unique specialization tracks: Investment Banking & Private Equity, Global Markets & Asset Management, or Real Estate Finance & Alternative Investments. Whichever you select, we’ll guide you to become an expert in your field.
  • Benefit from IE Talent & Careers’ dedicated support throughout your academic journey. Our specialized Master in Finance team is ready to help you make connections and secure the career opportunities you’re striving for.
An advertisement for the Master in Finance program at IE University, showing two students focused on their work.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

WHO IS THE MASTER IN FINANCE RIGHT FOR? ​

  • IT'S FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO...

    …are top-performing students with a love for numbers and a passion for finance, who thrive when presented with a challenge. They are analytical thinkers, ambitious leaders, who stay up-to-date with the latest financial news, cutting-edge trends and are determined to make a name for themselves in the industry, create a difference in their community and achieve prosperity for society.​

  • ARE LOOKING TO...

    … propel their finance career to the top and make a meaningful impact by accessing unique opportunities.​​ Motivated to build a network of finance professionals from around the globe and acknowledge that having access to a leading careers department is key to achieving professional goals.They strive for roles such as: Investment Banking Advisor, M&A Analyst, Corporate Finance Analyst, Equity Trader, Consultant, Real Estate Asset Manager and more.

KEY AREAS

  • FUNDAMENTALS

  • CORPORATE FINANCE

  • GLOBAL MARKETS

  • TECHNOLOGY IN FINANCE

  • SPECIALIZATION TRACKS

Master in Finance Rankings IE

Get to know more about IE Business School’s placement in international rankings.

  • 6
    BEST BUSINESS SCHOOLS LISTWorldwide
    FORBES
  • 10
    BUSINESS SCHOOLSIn Europe
    Financial Times
  • 12
    Master in Finance pre-experiencein the world
    Financial Times

REASONS TO STUDY THE MASTER IN FINANCE

  • 01.

    Build a strong foundation, then specialize

    Start with a rigorous core that gives you a comprehensive understanding of finance. Next, tailor your path with specialization tracks in Global Markets & Asset Management, Investment Banking & Private Equity, or Real Estate & Alternative Investments. Go deeper with certifications in Sustainable Finance or Financial Technologies & Artificial Intelligence to stand out even more.

  • 02.

    Designed to fast-track your career

    This program is built with one goal in mind: landing you a high-impact finance role before graduation. Our dedicated IE Talent & Careers team works with you one-on-one, aligning your profile with market demands, preparing you to ace interviews in your chosen sector and guiding you toward exclusive opportunities that match your ambitions. You can also boost your experience with an optional summer internship.

  • 03.

    Stay ahead of the fintech curve

    Finance today is tech-driven. In the Master in Finance, you’ll master essential tools like Python, financial programming, AI and blockchain while understanding how innovation is transforming payments, investing and more. All this and an additional elective fintech and AI certification will keep you at the forefront of a rapidly changing industry.

  • 04.

    Gain real-world experience, globally

    Take your learning beyond the classroom with international experiences in London, New York or Ghana. Work on real-world projects, visit top firms and explore the social impact of finance. You can also join short exchanges at collaborating universities—top institutions like London Business School, Frankfurt School and HKUST.

  • 05.

    Become part of a world-class, global network

    Become part of the worldwide IE Community, connecting with students and alumni from a diverse range of backgrounds. From day one, you'll build connections with peers, faculty and industry leaders from over 160 countries. These connections will shape your career and provide support for years to come.

YOUR FUTURE NETWORK

STUDENT PROFILE

  • ACADEMIC BACKGROUND (%)

    Business,
    Engineering
    Others
    Economics & Finance
    Science
    Legal
  • Geographic distribution (%)

    Europe
    Spain
    Asia Pacific
    Africa & Middle East
    Latin America
    North America
  • International Students (%)

    International students
    Spanish students

CAREER OUTCOMES

HERE ARE SOME POSITIONS OUR STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE AFTER THE PROGRAM

  • Career Opportunities

    Positions Card
  • View all positions

Discover Diverse Career Paths

  • A person sitting at a computer desk working on a project.

    Investment banking & private equity

    Today’s complex financial world needs professionals who can help people invest in various innovative but profitable ways. Deep dive into investment banking and hone the skills you’ll need to transition to a career in private equity.

    With this specialization, you could work in capital and primary markets; underwriting business, advisory, IPO and M&A; equity capital markets (ECM); debt capital markets (DCM); financial accounting and tax planning; project finance, leverage finance; or corporate finance and banking.

  • A classroom filled with students working on laptops.

    GLOBAL MARKETS: SALES & TRADING

    Take a leading role in the high-stakes world of global markets, developing and handling transactions for financial institutions, governments and corporate giants.

    With a specialization in global markets, you could work in fixed income, currency and commodities; equity; cash, derivatives and structured products; quant, algorithmic and high-frequency trading; prime brokerage services; v clearing and settlement platforms; or exchanges, clearing house and market data.

  • Three young adults engaging in conversation near a staircase.

    Asset management

    Get ready to manage funds and investment portfolios on behalf of companies and individuals, growing your clients’ value.

    An asset management specialization will prepare you to work in pension, macro, value funds and traditional portfolio management; private banking; or high and ultra-high-net-worth individual wealth management.

  • A group of young professionals engaged in a lively conversation in a modern office setting.

    REAL ESTATE AND ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS

    In this volatile market, investors are looking for a surefire way to invest their money. If you are specializing in real estate and alternative investments, you could work in directional, macro, equity, derivatives, commodities, foreign exchange and cryptocurrencies; private equity, private credit, debt, real estate, infrastructure, renewable energy and venture capital; or private banking.

  • An office setting with two individuals focusing on computer screens displaying data visualizations.

    FINANCIAL ANALYTICS AND DIGITAL FINANCE (FINTECH)

    This is the next big thing in finance—are you ready to get in on the ground floor?

    If this is your specialization, you could work in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, big data, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies or digital assets.

  • Two women are sitting at a table, engaged in a conversation while looking at a laptop.

    CONSULTING

    Consulting, particularly in Strategy and M&A, plays a crucial role in shaping the financial landscape today. As companies navigate growth, restructuring and expansion, consultants offer essential expertise to guide critical decisions. With this specialization, you could work in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financial restructuring, operational optimization or business transformation. Consultants often collaborate with top executives in a range of companies, making for a dynamic career with exposure to various industries and markets.

COMPANIES WHERE OUR MASTER IN FINANCE ALUMNI WORK

Our school’s Talent & Careers service is open to all current and former students. This department works to guide you through your IE Business School journey, giving you the best work opportunities possible.

Hiring Companies:

Barclays
Goldman Sachs Logo
Citigroup Logo
JP Morgan | IE Business School
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DISCOVER MORE ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE MASTER IN FINANCE

ACADEMIC PARTNERS​

As your success is our focus, we have developed three exciting modules to propel you toward the next step of your career development:

  • The Master in Finance is a comprehensive program that will prepare you to become a game-changing financial practitioner in today’s high-octane environment. By partnering with the world-recognized organizations CFA and CAIA, we are able to provide students with several benefits throughout their journey. We accept exams as valid entrance tests, allowing you to build on the knowledge gained in an entirely new finance program. On the other hand, any students or members of the association who wish to take their exams during the Master in Finance will benefit from scholarship opportunities. And, to ensure a maximum chance of success, we offer specific exam-preparation electives.

    CFA INSTITUTE

    The CFA exams are the most renowned qualifications for finance professionals worldwide. To achieve CFA partnership status, the CFA conducts in-depth auditing of the program’s finance contents, as well as of the teaching faculty. IE Business School’s finance programs enjoy this status, thereby ensuring our Master in Finance a place among the world’s most prestigious educational programs—and a leading position in terms of ethical and professional standards. This not only further increases IE Business School’s prestige within the financial world, but also adds value to your career.

    CAIA ASSOCIATION

    This academic partnership constitutes a major step in their efforts to promote the common core mission of contributing to the education of investment professionals in the area of alternative investments. IE Business School is the first business school in the world to offer CAIA members—and candidates that passed Level I—scholarships to study a Finance program at our school. Eligible candidates that receive admission will be able to benefit from a scholarship. Additionally, top students of our Master in Finance will receive a full scholarship to sit for the CAIA exams. As part of the scholarship, our students will benefit from special enrollment conditions, affecting the enrollment fee as well as the standard examination fees.

  • At IE Business School, we embrace collaboration as an opportunity to unite innovative minds and explore new, eye-opening perspectives. For this reason, Master in Finance students have the option of joining other outstanding institutions to gain the most holistic educational experience possible.

    LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL

    Thanks to a new partnership agreement, our Master in Finance students can apply to take an elective module at London Business School and experience a week in one of the world’s most important financial hubs. Students at IE Business School and London Business School will have the opportunity to study, work and liaise at each other’s campuses during the elective stage. This will allow them to participate in academic sessions, expand their international networks in the financial field, visit companies and meet with recruiters to boost their professional careers.


    HKUST BUSINESS SCHOOL

    The exchange program between IE Business School and Hong Kong University of Science & Technology - HKUST Business School is an exciting opportunity for students to broaden their personal and professional horizons. Students can immerse themselves in the rich culture and dynamic business environment of Hong Kong, where they will remain for the entirety of their elective period, engaging in academic sessions, workshops and meetings with leading industry practitioners. In this way, students can network with local recruiters and build international connections that will continue to serve them long after they return to IE Business School.




  • To ensure continuous progress, academic institutions must constantly innovate alongside successful companies. At IE Business School, we accomplish this through a process we call the Company Project Collaboration.

    As part of your final exam, you will have the opportunity to undertake a corporate project that consists of the valuation of a listed company. Previously, students have worked closely with top financial institutions like Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Finance division, Deutsche Bank, Equita, ALANTRA, JLL, Pictet, Arcano, Nomura and Taconic to carry out corporate valuation projects. Participating firms typically choose one company to be valued by the team, while providing assistance throughout the process.

    Company Project Collaboration creates a highly employable cohort as students have the opportunity to work on real-life projects and gain real-life experience.


STUDENT EXPERIENCE

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LONDON EXPERIENCE: DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN FINANCE

As part of the Master in Finance, our students have the opportunity to travel to London, explore the city and visit top leading companies in the industry. Leverage these diverse trips to develop the skills that professionals are seeking, apply your knowledge, and expand your network through interaction with sector leaders.

Trading ROOM

Deep dive into the opportunity of having classes in the Trading Room at IE Business School. You will be able to enhance your financial skills and knowledge by applying your knowledge in real-world settings.

Benefit from an advanced learning environment where you can bring theory into practice and utilize complex tools that are key for any professional willing to work in the financial markets.

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Empowered women in finance

Alumni and current students from IE University discuss what it's like to be a woman in finance, how the sector is moving toward gender diversity, and how IE Talent & Careers team helped them launch their careers.

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

At IE Business School, one of our core goals is to blend expert teaching with practical learning, equipping students for real-world success. Our current students in the Master in Finance program are making remarkable strides in their careers, securing prestigious internships and positions at leading global companies.

Learn more about their journeys here:

OUR FACULTY ARE HERE TO GUIDE YOU​

DISCOVER OUR FACULTY​

In the Master in Finance, our faculty’s commitment to you goes far beyond teaching. Their mission is to help you understand the person you are now and guide you on the path to becoming the leader you want to be in the finance sector.

From working with you to reveal your strengths and identify your career goals to helping you refine how to make the impact your sense of purpose demands—or even discovering what that purpose is—they’re on hand to challenge you to think about yourself in new ways, learn the skills you need for your financial career and become the next best you. Drawn from all over the globe, our faculty brings expertise from a vast range of industries, roles and functions, meaning they’re equipped with the real-world experience to help you succeed.

MAKE IT A DUAL DEGREE - DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT

Pursue two disciplines while gaining insight from different perspectives and ways of thinking. You'll cover the contents of two master's programs—and graduate with two diplomas—ensuring in-depth expertise that maximizes your value in the job market.

A view of a city street with large blue flags displaying 'ieNYC' hanging from a modern building facade.

INTERESTED IN STUDYING FINANCE IN NEW YORK?

Check out the MS in Finance at our partner institution IENYC, focused on building a deep understanding of global financial markets, investment analysis, financial modeling, and risk management to advance your career in finance.

Experience Madrid

Madrid is one of the most popular cities in Europe for Gen Z travelers and one of the most student-friendly cities in Spain, with a great, affordable public transport network, cool underground culture and fabulous nightlife. But Spain’s capital is also home to international companies of stature, including Google, Microsoft and Apple, creating a myriad of opportunities for professional experience.

Madrid is in a league of its own and provides the perfect backdrop for rounding off a unique educational experience.

A busy urban street scene featuring classic architecture and a statue on top of a building, under a clear blue sky.
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Discover related programs to the Master in Finance

    The ultimate guide

    Everything you need to know about our Master in Finance

    DISCOVER OUR BLOG!

    Are you ready to learn what it means to be part of IE University? Discover our student life, explore the career paths ahead and find out all you need to know about your program from those who know it best. 

    Uncover the IE experience.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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    Detail

    • The Master in Finance is a one-year, full-time program taught in Madrid. Highly specialized, it is geared towards analytical thinkers, visionaries and ambitious future executives who are passionate about numbers and want to make a meaningful impact in the world of finance.

    • This program offers four unique specializations: Investment Banking & Private Equity; Global Markets & Asset Management; Real Estate Finance & Alternative Investments; and Financial Analytics & Digital Finance. There are also several elective modules covering areas such as private equity, fintech and digital finance, derivatives and hedge funds, among others.

    • A background in finance is helpful, but not essential. Students of the program come from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, including engineering and business. What we’re looking for is a real passion for finance; somebody who’s up-to-date with the latest developments in the financial sphere and enjoys working with numbers.

    • The Master in Finance is a firsthand examination of the modern realities of the financial markets, covering the latest developments in corporate finance, global assets, private equity and alternative investments. On the other hand, the Master in Applied Economics is more focused on the practical application of economics in monetary and fiscal policy, and how the discipline can solve key economic challenges for states and businesses.

    • The Spring intake is slightly longer, with the Master in Finance lasting 15 months. This means you have more time to prepare for recruitment season, which tends to start in September. There are also more courses to explore in April, with Investment Banking, Private Equity and Real Estate included in the core period. Moreover, it will generally give you more breaks over the year.

    • The Master in Finance is a one-year program that takes place in the heart of Madrid. You can enhance your learning with optional trips to various international destinations, including Ghana, Frankfurt, London and New York. With intakes in April and September, this full-time, in-person program is delivered entirely in English.

    • Students of the Master in Finance study a mix of core courses, program add-ons, electives and four distinct specialization tracks: Investment Banking & Private Equity; Global Markets & Asset Management; Real Estate Finance & Alternative Investments; and Financial Analytics & Digital Finance.

      The final project is as flexible as the program, allowing you to showcase your expertise through an academic research project, a collaborative project with a real company, a case study, a valuation report, a CFA research challenge, a portfolio management practicum, or a microfinance project in Ghana.

    • IE Business School has ongoing collaborations with leading business schools around the world. These include London Business School and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

      Through these partnerships, you can spend an extended period in an institution of your choice to learn, take part in company visits and network with local recruiters to help boost your profile and international network.