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Department of Finance

Contents of the Bachelor's Program

The Bachelor's degree program in Banking and Finance provides students with a basic education in economics with a focus on finance and banking topics.

In the assessment phase, students acquire knowledge in business administration, finance, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and economics, and can then focus more specifically on their chosen banking and finance topics in the subsequent advanced phase, such as asset management, banking, or corporate finance. This allows students to develop a deeper understanding and a solid perspective and to understand economic relationships in the financial markets well.

The Bachelor's main language is German.

Topics and Focuses

Banking and Finance offers students an exciting insight into the world of banks and financial markets in order to answer questions such as:

  • How do you evaluate stocks and other securities?
  • Where do companies get the capital for billion-dollar acquisitions and how do they make investment decisions?
  • To what extent are financial market turbulence due to psychological factors?

In their studies, students deal with financial decisions of companies, the role of banks, the analysis of financial instruments, the functioning, but also the sustainability of financial markets, and the question of responsibility in the financial markets.

Mathematics and Statistics

In addition to the basic economic education, the study of Banking and Finance requires strong skills in mathematics and statistics. Students who want to refresh their knowledge of mathematics and statistics can attend a mathematics preparation course. This course lasts one week, provides the basics in fast-forward, and prepares students for their Bachelor's degree program.

Master in Quantitative Finance

The Master in Quantitative Finance offered by UZH and ETH is a highly competitive program, currently ranked #1 in Europe, and top 5 in the world. Much of the program is mathematical in nature. As such, students with ambitions to enter this program will need the requisite mathematics. The required level of mathematics exceeds the typical courses taken at the bachelor level. An outline of the required coursework includes linear algebra, probability theory, advanced (multivariate) calculus, real analysis, an exposure to measure theory, an exposure to Fourier analysis and transforms, and an exposure to stochastic calculus, as used in mathematical finance and financial engineering.

To assist in the course offerings, our department (via Professor Paolella) offers the courses in: Advanced Calculus (covering some relevant linear algebra), Real Analysis, Measure Theory, and Probability Theory. All of these courses are offered with ambitious finance students in mind, as opposed to students majoring in mathematics. The level of the courses is quite high, and typically require more time than most courses, but they are taught at a lower level than what is offered from the UZH and ETH math departments. The goal is to make the material accessible to highly motivated students with ambitions on working as "quants" in industry (finance, but also insurance), and/or entering the quant finance masters program, or also doing a PhD in Finance. Specific course information and offerings can be found by a usual search on the VVZ webpage.

Sustainable Finance

Sustainability and responsibility in the financial and banking sector are becoming increasingly important, which is why some modules in the Bachelor's degree program specifically deal with this important topic.

Bachelor's students learn the basics in modules such as:

  • Interdisciplinary perspectives on the question of responsibility and the (dys)functions of financial markets
  • Sustainability and the Finance Sector
  • Behavioral Ethics

Other modules also address aspects of sustainability and responsibility:

  • Asset Pricing
  • Banking
  • Corporate Finance I
  • Corporate Finance II
  • Corporate reporting and corporate governance

 

Weiterführende Informationen

Student Advisory Services

For questions about the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes:
stubera@bf.uzh.ch

What next?

You are planning to study for a Bachelor's degree at our faculty.

Semester planning

Recommended semester planning for Bachelor students of Banking & Finance.

Current Modules

Regulations and Study Rules