Master in Accounting and Finance
This Master program offers an in-depth, academic education in the fields of accounting and finance. The modular structure of the program allows students to personalize their curriculum and to put more emphasis either in "Accounting and Control" or in "Finance". The set of core courses must be completed by a group of course either in the field of "Data Analytics" or in the field of "Audit and Taxation". Completion of this unique program opens a wide range of professional opportunities. The program is designed for students holding a bachelor’s degree in management or economics and mastering the fundamental concepts of accounting and finance.
The Master in Accounting and Finance also offers the possibility to follow additional specialized courses at the Universities of Bern and Neuchâtel within the framework of the BENEFRI convention.
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Study plan
Courses
min. 72 ECTS
At least 18 ECTS must be obtained in the modules "Finance" and "Accounting and Control". Credits obtained in these two modules must be at least equal to 54 ECTS. Moreover, 13.5 ECTS must be obtained in the module "Data Analytics" or from a set of courses in the domain "Audit and Taxation".
Module «Finance» (FIN)
18 - 40.5 ECTS
Module «Accounting and Control» (ACC)
18 - 40.5 ECTS
Module «Data Analytics» or courses in the domain "Audit and Taxation"
13.5 ECTS
One optional master course offered at the University of Fribourg
4.5 ECTS
Master thesis
18 ECTS
Duration of the program:
3-4 semesters
Languages of study:
English, French, German
Possibility to obtain a multi-lingual degree with the indication "Bilingual curriculum, French/English", "Bilingual curriculum, German/English".
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Modules and courses for the Master in Accounting and Finance
In each of the modules "Finance" and "Accounting and Control" at least 18 ECTS and in both modules together a total of at least 54 ECTS must be successfully completed.
ATTENTION: Most courses are only offered every two years. Our current timetable, you can find here.
Please do also check here the timetable of the university for the courses of a certain semester.
FIN: Finance
For the Finance module, at least 3 of the following 8 core courses in bold must be completed successfully:
- Asset Management
- Business Valuation (former: Unternehmensbewertung)
- Corporate governance
- Finance empirique
- Gestion de portefeuille
- International Finance
- Project Seminar: Finance with R
- Risk Management and Financial Derivatives
- CFA Research Challenge (New: 6 ECTS - from fall semester 2024 on! - replaces Firm Valuation Seminar 4.5 ECTS)
- Ethique en affaires et en finance (last time in fall semester 2024)
- Mergers & Acquisitions
It is not possible to credit equivalent courses for this.
ACC: Accounting and Control
For the Accounting and Control module, the two compulsory courses and at least one of the 3 core courses in bold must be successfully completed:
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Advanced Group Accounting (compulsory course)
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International Accounting Standards (compulsory course)
- Advanced Managerial Accounting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Management Control Systems
- Cases in Accounting (NEW)
- Corporate Governance
- Performance Measurement in Nonprofit Organisations
- Projektseminar Controlling
- Seminar in Advanced Management Accounting and Control
- The Audit Profession and the Public Interest
- Théorie de l’information comptable
For the other 3 courses, we suggest either choosing them from the Data Analytics module and thus completing an Elective: Data Analytics or choosing 3 courses from the Taxation and Auditing list and thus completing an Elective: Taxation and Auditing. As a third variant, there is the option of freely choosing the 3 courses from the two areas mentioned and thus completing an Elective: Supplements: Data Analytics and Taxation.
DAT: Data Analytics
In order to achieve the additional Elective Data Analytics, 13.5 ECTS must be taken in this (any course choice)
- Big Data Methods
- Databases (Attention : Bachelor course 6 ECTS)*
- Econometric Methods and Applications
- Machine Learning (UE-SIN.08022)
- Méthodes de classification
- Policy and Impact Evaluation
- Applied Econometrics (Attention : Bachelor course 4.5 ECTS)*
- Data analysis and statistics with the R programming language
- Inférence, évaluation et sélection de modèles
- Machine Learning (UE-SBL.30002)
- Programmation scientifique (Attention : Bachelor course 6 ECTS)*
- Project Seminar: Finance with R
- Python Programming online
- Social Media Analytics
- Statistique bayésienne
- Thèmes choisis de statistique multivariée
Taxation and Audit
- International Taxation
- Steuerrecht
- Unternehmenssteuerrecht
- Droit fiscal
- Droit fiscal de l’entreprise
- The Audit Profession and the Public Interest
*Of the total ECTS credits for this Master programme, a maximum of 9 ECTS credits can be chosen in Bachelor courses, if they have not already been validated for a Bachelor programme.
In addition, additional courses can be taken via the so-called “BENEFRI” agreement at the Universities of Bern and Neuchâtel.
This list is indicative and non-binding. In some cases, courses may not be continued but on the other hand, new courses are added to the list.
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Fribourg profile
This modular program provides a high-level academic curriculum in the area of accounting and finance. Students have the possibility to put more emphasis on courses in their main area of interest. The program must be completed with courses in one of two key areas: Data Analytics or Audit and Taxation. Courses are offered in three languages (French, German and English) et it is possible to obtain a bilingual (or trilingual) degree depending on the set of validated courses. Students must be able to follow courses in English and in French or German. It is also possible to waive some courses of for the Swiss Federal degree for certified accountants if a specific set of courses is validated.
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Career opportunities
The training provides graduates with excellent career prospects in the areas of auditing, public accounting, banking and finance in general. Some examples of positions occupied by our graduates:
- Corporate finance analyst
- Analyste crédits
- Client advisor for global family office & institutional wealth
- Group treasury specialist
- Leiter Kreditberatung Center
- Financial auditor
- Responsable controlling
- Transport planner
- Planificateur financier
- Rédacteur économique
- Forensic consultant
- Internal auditor
- Portfolio manager
- Credit risk manager
- Director private banking
- Spécialiste prévoyance professionnelle
In the medium term, this study program prepares students for managerial positions in companies of various sizes, from SMEs to large companies. Some examples of employers that benefit from the skills of our previous graduates:
- Allianz Suisse
- Bâloise Bank AG
- Banque Bonhôte et Cie
- Banque Cantonale de Fribourg/Freiburger Kantonalbank
- Banque Cantonale de Neuchâtel
- Banque Cantonale du Valais/Walliser Kantonalbank
- Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
- BDO
- Bobst Group
- Caisse de prévoyance du personnel de l'Etat de Fribourg
- Confédération suisse
- Credit Suisse
- EY
- Groupe E
- Groupe Mutuel
- KPMG
- Nestlé
- Pictet Group
- PwC
- SBB Cargo
- SBB-CFF
- TPF
- UBS
- Union Bancaire Privée
- Vitol
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Admission to the Master in Accounting and Finance
- For holders of a bachelor's degree in business administration or economics from a Swiss university: Admission without other conditions.
- For holders of a university bachelor's degree from another field of study or for holders of a foreign degree:
- Admission process: Decision after analysis of the application file. In case of admission, the SES faculty may, in agreement with the Department of Management Sciences, request the acquisition of additional credits before final admission is granted.
- Application file: In addition to the documents required by the registration office of the University of Fribourg, the file must include:
- a cover letter,
- a detailed description as well as an official mark transcript indicating all courses and results obteined in the domains of accounting and finance,
- Score GMAT, required for diplomas outside the EU or EFTA
- The minimum requirement is 60 ECTS in management sciences including 5 courses in the domains of accounting and finance.
- For holders of a bachelor's degree from a HEG/FH in business economics, candidates may be admitted to the master if they validate a specific program of 30 ECTS.
- More Information