Study Content: Semester 1
PC-Lab: Quantitave Finance
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This module has two main goals: it serves as a repetition of content students should already be familiar with as well as an application by transferring formulas into action. Students will rely on Excel, VBA, and MATLAB as software packages. Basic concepts from Bachelor's studies as well as CFA Level I content will be covered. First and foremost, students deal with the essential concept of time value of money, followed by applications in asset pricing, e.g. bonds, derivatives, and portfolios.
Seminar: Financial History
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
The knowledge from our past is essential to understand current and future developments. This also holds true for finance. Hence, this module covers the historical development of risk management, money, banks, financial crises, etc.
Scientific Methods & Competences
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
In this introductory module, students learn the soft skills that are necessary to succeed in the professional world. Therefore, topics such as Academic Writing, LaTeX, Persuasive Communication, and Persuasive Presentations are combined.
Data Analysis & Statistics
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This module teaches students about distributions, tests, data architecture, SQL, big data approaches, significance and stochastic modelling.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
Students will be familiarised with the latest methods and developments in project management. In the key part of this module students will learn to apply Design Thinking, Kanban, PPS, Scrum and other methods to project management. A particular focus will be on visualisation and a variety of supportive IT tools.
Study Content: Semester 2
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
Topics covered in this module include optimal portfolio selection and asset allocation, the theory of asset pricing models, market efficiency, behavioral finance, as well as techniques for evaluating investment management performance. Much of the course is devoted to common stocks, but other investments, especially fixed-income securities and derivatives will be included.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This course will enable participants to support the right financing decisions, communicate effectively with investors, optimise the financial result, and, more importantly, contribute to the strategic success of a company.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
The topic of this module is to identify the impact of digital technologies and innovations on firm behaviour, business models and market outcomes. Special emphasis will be put on networks and platforms. Finally, the module will discuss the benefits and possible pitfalls of digitisation for the economy and will furthermore address the topic of regulation and government intervention in digital markets.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This module aims to introduce students into the data-driven and results-oriented quantitative modelling of econometrics. Widely spread models of Statistics and Econometrics are considered. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of the rational of quantitative models through applications as well as to apprehend the limitations of such modelling. Furthermore, the students should be able to develop their own applications by analysing a problem, making the necessary assumptions and synthesising knowledge gained into a meaningful result-oriented application.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
Private Equity and Venture Capital investments have transitioned from being specialty investment cases to the mainstream. With increasing allocation of capital flowing into these forms of Entrepreneurial Finance, an understanding of the fundamental dynamics and specificities are necessary for today’s finance professionals. Not least an exceptional monetary policy environment and the resulting hunt for yield has put entrepreneurial forms of finance center stage of the investment interests of private and professional investors the world over.
Study Content: Semester 3
International Markets & Study Trip
5
ECTS
56
Contact hours
English
Students can choose between four study trips (subject to change) and are themselves in charge of the planning, organisation and implementation of their excursion.
- Silicon Valley (USA)
- London (UK)
- Brussels (Belgium)
- Hamburg/Berlin (Germany)
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This module provides tools and solutions to pricing, hedging, trading and portfolio management problems by employing mathematical methods and computational tools. Students learn about financial instruments and derivatives, as well as their pricing and hedging under the principle of arbitrage-free markets, both from a theoretical perspective and from a practical perspective.
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
Students should be aware of M&A as a tool in strategic management. This course will deal with the topic with a focus on the value maximising process, the description of the due diligence process as well as the application of valuation methods.
Digital Toolbox/Masters' Elective
5
ECTS
64
Contact hours
English
Students of all Master’s study programmes can choose one profile from the following six profiles:
- Digital Strategy
- Intrapreneur
- Communication
- Programming
- Data Business
- Business Process Transformation
Study Content: Semester 4
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
Preferably in a real-life project (subject to availability), students cover a real project task with a practical background in finance. If no real-life project is available, students will cover a realistic case-study, again preferably in cooperation with a company.
10
ECTS
28
Contact hours
English
This research seminar prepares students for their master thesis and aims to build a bridge between information technologies and finance.
Sustainable Innovation & Compliance
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
This module introduces the topics sustainability and compliance. Both are cross-sectoral themes relevant to managers, employees and other stakeholders of any type of organisation. Fundamental theories and definitions of both topics will be introduced and potentials for business development and innovation as well as challenges and opportunities for investors and other actors in financial markets discussed.
Quantitative Risk Management
5
ECTS
40
Contact hours
English
In QRM, students are concerned with the measuring and hedging of (financial) risks. This includes, first and foremost, market risks like prices and interest rates, credit risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk. Emphasis is put on credit, liquidity, and op risks. The module is accompanied by at least one guest lecturer.
Study Content: Semester 5
Master's Thesis & Colloquium
25
ECTS
English
The Thesis concludes the postgraduate programmes at HSBA. Its results will be presented in the final Colloquium.