Course overview
Reducing systemic risks and addressing environmental and social aspects of sustainability are key issues for the financial services industry of tomorrow. Aimed at the busy financial sector professional, the MAS UZH in Sustainable Finance, systematically explores how sustainability issues affect the various financial actors and aspects of financial markets. The program’s courses provide specific academic and methodological skills and training that enable participants to become agents of change for a more sustainable financial system.
Course structure and content
Structure
This 60-ECTS program adopts a modular structure that allows the creation of individual study programs, depending on personal interest and facilitates graduation alongside the workload of busy professionals. It combines compulsory core, compulsory elective and elective courses, with the compulsory elective and elective courses, allowing participants to define an area of specialization in different Sustainable Finance topics. For the MAS program, participants undertake all 23 ECTS Credits from the 2 core areas, at least 18 ECTS Credits from the compulsory elective area, a maximum of 9 ECTS Credits from the elective area, plus an MAS thesis. The program takes approximately 4–5 semesters to complete.
Content
Core SF Courses
• Climate Change Finance
• Corporate Governance & Corporate Social Responsibility
• eFundamentals of Sustainable Finance
• Financial Inclusion & Microfinance
• Sustainability & Finance – Introduction
• Sustainability in Banking and Insurance
• Sustainable Development & Impact
• Sustainable Investing
Core Finance Courses
• Abschlussseminar
• eFundamentals of Banking
• eFundamentals of Corporate Finance
• eFundamentals of Derivatives
• eFundamentals of Financial Markets
• Einfuhrungsseminar
Compulsory Elective Courses
• Biodiversity & Finance
• Current Trends in Sustainable Investing
• eCorporate Finance Basic
• eDerivatives
• eInvestments
• Emerging Market Finance
• Ethics & Sustainability in Finance
• Fintech & Sustainability
• Insurance for Development
• Portfolio Management Simulation
• Sustainable Investing in Wealth Management
Elective Courses
• Free choice from all Finance Executive Education courses
MAS Sustainable Finance Thesis
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
The courses are taught via distance learning, blended learning or classroom sessions, depending on the course selection, and are partly supplemented with elements of game-based learning. The courses held as classroom sessions usually take place at the University of Zurich’s Center for Continuing Education. Online participation possibility is guaranteed for most courses. (If less than 10 people wish to participate at an on-site event, we reserve the right to hold the event completely online via Zoom.)
The lecturers are professors and lecturers from the University of Zurich as well as other universities and proven practitioners.
Assessment
Mandatory attendance, active classroom participation and a final assessment are all required to successfully obtain a Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Finance. Final assessment methods vary, depending on the course (multiple answer, single answer, open essay questions or a combination thereof.)
Grades for assessments are given in half grades on a scale of 1 to 6. 6 is the highest grade, 1 the lowest. ECTS credits are awarded if the overall score is a grade of 4 or better.
Entry requirements, fees and application
Degree-level qualifications
A previous university degree and some professional experience (University Master or an equivalent (such as a BA or an FH Degree with additional professional experience) are a prerequisite, whilst “sur dossier” admission of experienced practitioners without a university degree is also possible.
Depending on the course in question, the MAS is taught in English or German. Therefore, both English and German language skills are required to complete the full program.
Participants have the option to upgrade from the CAS or DAS to the MAS in Sustainable Finance. In such cases, all ECTS credits gained can be transferred to contribute towards is new qualification.
Fees
The MAS can either be purchased per course (in which case there is an additional one-off charge of CHF 500.–) or at a reduced total package fee. Please refer to the individual course pages for current prices.
Fees include electronic course materials (excl. textbooks) and final assessment.
Application
All participants can apply on a rolling basis and start with most courses. Visit our website to register for the CAS, DAS and MAS in Sustainable Finance or individual courses.
Career opportunities
The MAS in Sustainable Finance is unique in the market and, as such, provides banking & financial industry professionals with the edge to succeed in this increasingly competitive field. After completing the program, armed with well-founded knowledge of the concepts of Sustainable Finance, graduates will be able to address sustainability aspects in their work and become agents of change for a more sustainable financial system.
Contact
For course related enquiries please contact:
Finance Weiterbildung
Universität Zürich
Plattenstrasse 14
8032 Zürich
Phone +41 44 634 40 57
E-Mail finance@execed.uzh.ch
Website www.finance-weiterbildung.uzh.ch
