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Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Master in

Accounting and Finance

Are you interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of financial information of companies and financial markets? Do you want to learn which financial decisions can ensure a company’s success in highly dynamic business environments? Then this master is definitely for you!

Course description

Accounting and financial services jobs are rapidly evolving due to innovations in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable investing. With this master you can develop the cutting-edge skills, insights and mindset for a sustainable business future and a successful global career.

The master explores a wide range of financial topics and prepares you for a variety of career paths. Depending on the study track, the programme is designed to equip you for a career as a future chartered accountant, a corporate finance manager, a financial analyst, or a business consultant. You will be able to develop skills to become a successful player in the digital and sustainable transformation of companies and financial markets.

The study programme provides specialised knowledge – more specifically – in financial reporting, big data analytics and management control, corporate finance and financial restructuring, risk management, trading and asset management, and artificial intelligence (AI)-related applications in accounting and finance.

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At a Glance

Degree class: LM-77
ECTS credits: 120
Duration of the course: 2 years
Courses will be taught in: Italian, German and English (trilingual)
Places available: 70 EU + 5 non-EU
Campus: Bozen-Bolzano
Tuition fees: ca. € 1350 per year

Structure of the course

The first year offers you with core courses in accounting, finance, economics, big data, and business law. In the second year, you develop specialised competences. Are you interested in interpreting financial reports and developing auditing skills? Then, you can opt for the Professional Accounting and Auditing study track to gain cutting-edge expertise in financial and sustainability accounting, auditing and taxation. Or are you aiming at a career as a financial manager or financial analyst? The Finance and Financial Markets study track builds advanced knowledge in corporate finance, financial risk management, asset management, sustainable investment, and AI-powered financial analytics. If your ambition is to become a business consultant or a controller, the Business Administration and Consulting study track develops key competences in strategic management, management accounting, and business analytics. As well as the three study tracks offered, students have also the opportunity to create their own study plan by combining courses of interest.

The curriculum has a practice-oriented approach that exposes students to best practices of management through case-based teaching, small-scale laboratories, and presentations by guest speakers. The use of real-life cases in highly interactive classes allows students to develop skills in analytical thinking and decision making.

People

Degree Course director: Prof. Claudia Curi (photo)
Student Representative in the Course Council: Francesco Benetti

Internships and exchange programmes

During the programme, you are required to do an internship of at least 150 hours. You can take advantage of our established contacts with several national and international firms to secure an internship of your choice. We additionally offer exchange programmes with selected European and international universities.

Double Degree Programmes

We offer an exclusive Double Degree programme in collaboration with two prestigious universities in the United States, Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY), and Stern Business School, New York University (NYU). The Double Degree is aimed at students with an excellent academic record in the first year and proficiency in English. The selected students can attend the Master of Science in Finance at Baruch College, or the Master of Science in Accounting at Stern Business School. At the end of the programme, students will obtain both the master degree (Laurea Magistrale) awarded by unibz and the corresponding Master of Science awarded by CUNY or NYU.

Several scholarships are available to cover the tuition fees for the Double Degree Programme. These are generously sponsored by Südtiroler Sparkasse AG, Südtiroler Volksbank AG and Bureau Plattner.

Accreditations of the programme

Conditional upon the fulfilment of specific requirements, our students when obtaining two advantages to become a Chartered Accountant in Italy (see also this short video):

  • the start of the mandatory professional internship already during the second year of the master
  • exemption from the first exam to access Section A of the Register of Chartered Accountants and Auditors

Our courses also prepare you to successfully take the following professional certificates, issued by international associations with which our programme is accredited:

Interested students will have to take the certification exam provided by the respective association. Reductions in the registration fee for these exams are provided for.

Career opportunities

According to the most recent AlmaLaurea survey, 93% of our graduates are employed in junior management positions, such as:

Study track: Professional Accounting and Auditing

  • Chartered Accountant: preparation and analysis of financial and sustainability reports, with focus areas including financial accounting, transfer pricing, taxation, and business restructuring
  • Auditor: assurance services for compliance with internal control procedures and accounting standards for financial and sustainability reporting 

Study track: Finance and Financial Markets 

  • Financial Specialist: financial analyst, financial portfolio manager, expert of AI and big data in finance, specialist in financial and sustainable investments, specialist in financial and climate-related risk management in banks, insurance companies, rating agencies, asset and savings management companies, investment and private equity funds, venture capital, alternative and sovereign investment funds
  • Finance Manager: AI-powered financial management, corporate treasury and risk management in companies, banks and fintech, and other financial intermediaries

Study track: Business Administration and Consulting

  • Controller/Business analyst: management accounting and control, market research and data analyst, administrative and management functions
  • Business Consultant: business advisory services on strategies and execution in several industries

This study programme also qualifies to gain admission to post-graduate training, such as a PhD programme.

You will be well prepared and ready for the job market. On the website of AlmaLaurea you can check statistical data about graduates’ satisfaction and their employability.

Go to the Survey (in Italian)

Maximilian Eisendle

M&A and Corporate Finance Analyst | SMC Corporate Finance GmbH

"After graduating from my bachelor in Austria, I didn't want to start with a master programme right away, but rather gain a year of practical experience first. During this time, I became aware of the then newly introduced programme in Accounting and Finance at unibz. I was immediately impressed and excited about the possibilities offered by it, such as preparing for international certificates like the CFA or FRM or the many opportunities to spend a semester abroad. I had the opportunity to participate in the double degree program in partnership with Baruch College and to live and study in New York City for one of the two years. This was of course my personal highlight and shows how well unibz is internationally connected. Besides studying in three languages, a big plus of studying at unibz is the direct and close contact with the professors, which often led to very important and valuable discussions. I a convinced, that this master program creates an ideal foundation for a successful international career in the world of finance."

Andrea Brugnera

Audit Staff | EY

"After my undergraduate studies in Economics, I wanted to undertake an Accounting programme that would allow me to pursue a professional career in Italy without having to give up to an international and innovative perspective. This Masterrepresented - and still represents - everything I was looking for. At unibz I found a stimulating and challenging academic environment: the courses provided us with advanced knowledge of accounting and law matters, while also preparing us for current issues in the finance world. Although the Covid-19 Pandemic hit right after my first semester in Bolzano and forced us to continue our studies remotely, the faculty proved itself to be able to effectively reorganize and guarantee the high-quality teaching that has always characterized Unibz. I never felt alone during that period, also thanks to the close contact with our professors and the possibility of studying in small groups with fellow students. Overall, Bolzano offered me an ideal study environment for its excellent level of teaching, its practice-oriented approach and its high level of internationalization, which made it a unique experience."

Margherita Pasqualini

Risk Management Graduate | GEMs Unit - European Investment Bank

"After my graduation at unibz, this master was exactly the opportunity I was looking for. The first thing that pushed me to choose unibz was its location. Since I was little, I have always loved South Tyrol. This is such a small, beautiful region and yet extremely international, a feature that is perfectly mirrored within the university by the possibility of pursuing trilingual studies and the international outlook (34%of the teaching staff comes from abroad). Moreover, the small size of the classes allowed for a constant exchange with the professors, as well as with fellow students. Finally yet importantly, all the courses combined theoretical knowledge with practical examples taken from current issues in the world of finance, such as blockchain, bitcoins, etc. During my last year I took part in a business-consulting lab where I had the opportunity, together with my team, to work closely with a German company and learn enormously from my teammates and our mentors. unibz will always hold a special place in my heart!"

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Application and Admission

You can find all you need to know in order to apply and gain admission to this study programme by browsing through the information below.

Early Bird Application

Application: 01/03 - 07/05/2024 (by noon local time)
Language exams (online): 18/03/2024 (fully booked) and 17 - 18 - 19 and 22 - 23/04/2024 (registration: 25/03 - 09/04/2024)
Publication of ranking lists: by 28/05/2024
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 06/06/2024 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from 12/07 - 15/10/2024 (by noon local time) 

Late Application (only for EU citizens)

Application: 29/05 - 18/07/2024 (by noon local time)
Language exams: 24 - 29/06/2024 (registration: 29/05 - 16/06/2024)
Publication of ranking lists: by 07/08/2024
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 20/08/2024 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from publication of the ranking list until 15/10/2024 (by noon local time)

Additional Application Session (only for EU citizens)

Application: 18-27/09/2024 (by noon local time)
Language exams: Language exams are not offered by unibz. For the English language it is still possible to obtain certificates from external certifying bodies/institutes within the application deadline, such as LanguageCert or TOEFL iBT Home Edition (you must choose the type of exam that tests all skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking). Should you not get the actual certificate in time, the "Statement of Results" will be recognised.
Publication of ranking lists: by 11/10/2024
Payment of the 1st instalment of the tuition fees: by 18/10/2024 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: from publication of the ranking list until 18/10/2024 (by noon local time) 

Preparatory courses and Freshers Days

Intensive language courses: 02 - 20/09/2024 (Monday to Friday, 6 h/day)
Mathematics pre-course: 23/09 - 04/10/2024
Freshers Days: 30/09 - 01/10/2024

1st semester

Classes: 30/09 - 23/12/2024
Exams (extraordinary session): 12 - 23/12/2024
Holidays: 24/12/2024 - 06/01/2025
Classes: 07/01 - 25/01/2025
Exams: 27/01 - 15/02/2025

2nd semester

Classes: 03/03 - 17/04/2025
Holidays: 18- 21/04/2025
Classes: 22/04 - 14/06/2025
Exams (extraordinary session): 15 - 24/05/2025
Exams: 16/06 - 12/07/2025

Autumn session

Exams: 25/08 - 27/09/2025

The Advisory Service provides support regarding your choice of study. In many cases a simple call or a short request is enough to get the relevant information (Tel. +39 0471 012100).

Sponsors

The study programme is supported by bureauPlattner, Banca Popolare dell'Alto Adige, Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano, Manteco, Rego, REVI & Partners.

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