Modules, Time Models and Major

Adapt the content and timing of your studies to your professional and private needs. Below you will find a detailed explanation of the structure of our degree programme and the content of the individual modules. We show you how you assemble your personal timetable and provide information about our three majors.

Structure of the programme →

Full-Time or Part-Time: How do I put together my timetable? →

Three majors for in-depth expertise →

Structure of the programme

The Master in International Financial Management comprises 90 ECTS:

Mandatory Modules (48 ECTS)

The mandatory modules form the content-related foundation of the Master's programme in International Financial Management. The mandatory modules cover all essential content from the field of finance and take place in the autumn semester.

Elective Modules (15 ECTS)

You choose up to five elective modules in addition to the mandatory modules according to your interests. Our elective modules deepen topics and enable you to acquire further knowledge. All elective modules take place in the spring semester, and the range of courses is constantly adapted to current practical needs.

Coaching and research modules (27 ECTS)

In addition to the professional skills, you will also work on your personal skills. For this purpose, you will receive individual coaching in the Personal Skills in Financial Management module. 

The Master in International Financial Management includes two research projects. In the Applied Research Project, you will work in teams of two on practical topics in the field of International Financial Management. In the Master's Thesis, written individually, you will delve into a topic from your studies. You decide whether you prefer to work quantitatively or qualitatively. There is a wide range of topics from which you can choose. In addition, you can suggest a topic yourself or work with a company or your employer as the client.

Full-Time or Part-Time: How do I put together my timetable?

To complete the Master's degree in International Financial Management, you must earn 90 ECTS. You decide where to focus your studies and when to take which modules.

Adapt your studies to your circumstances. You can study compactly in three semesters or spread your studies over up to ten semesters. Time-compact blocks allow you to work up to 80 per cent alongside your studies (or up to 100 per cent if you have a flexible work schedule) or to use your time for other purposes. You decide whether to study one or two days per week and which semester to take the block weeks. Would you like to take a break during your studies? You can schedule one or more module-free and/or leave semesters for this purpose.

Our modules take place on Mondays and/or Tuesdays, and you have a maximum of two block weeks (Monday to Thursday) per semester.

Below we illustrate how you can select your modules. We distinguish between the autumn and the spring semester. Since the mandatory modules, which you must all take, take place in the autumn semester, it is mainly a matter of dividing the time between the desired number of semesters. For the elective modules in the spring semester, you have to decide on both content and time.

Autumn semester 

The mandatory modules in the autumn semester are grouped into five module blocks: 

  1. Business Analytics and Managing Financial Information and Decision
  2. Financial Environment in International Markets - Tax, Law and Finance
  3. System Dynamics and Corporate Modelling 
  4. International Financial Reporting Standards and Enterprise Risk Management and Audit
  5. Corporate Performance Management and Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Analysis
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You always take modules in a module block together. By shifting the three blue module blocks (2, 3 and 4), you can spread the mandatory modules over two to five autumn semesters.
The two yellow module blocks (1 and 5) cannot be shifted. I.e., module block I always takes place in your first autumn semester and module block 5 in your last autumn semester.
 

Modules in the Autumn Semester

Spring Semester

You can choose elective modules to the extent of 15 ECTS according to your personal preferences regarding content and time. You can spread the elective modules over one to five spring semesters.

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We distinguish between basic, standard, and advanced elective modules. The basic elective modules Management Accounting and Control (3 ECTS), Financial Accounting and Analysis (3 ECTS) and Research Design (3 ECTS) take place on Tuesdays. If you are interested in these electives, we recommend taking these elective modules at the beginning of your studies. 

The advanced elective modules Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 ECTS), Advanced Corporate Finance (3 ECTS) and Current Issues in International Finance (3 ECTS) take place on Mondays. They deepen the content of the mandatory modules and should be taken towards the end of the programme.

All other elective modules are standard elective modules:

  • Going Global (3 ECTS) and Agile Finance (3 ECTS) are block courses on three to four full-day teaching days.
  • Business Planning (3 ECTS) is a coached group activity where students set up their business plans.
  • Know-how Transfer (3 ECTS or 6 ECTS) allows students to have their internship or professional employment recognised by the programme.

Furthermore, modules from other Master's programmes of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts can be attended, such as currently Sustainability and Ethics in Banking and Finance (3 ECTS) or Organisational Transformation and Change (6 ECTS), or students can gain credit for modules from Master's programmes of other universities.

 

Modules in the Spring Semester

You can also insert module-free and/or leave semesters - for an internship or a stay abroad.

Composition of Time Model

Before the semester begins, you decide which modules you want to enrol in and thus design your personal timetable. The flexible combination of modules allows you to choose from various time models. For example, a time models with three or six semesters can look as follows: 

Example: 3 Semesters with Start in Autumn

Example_3 Semesters with Start in Autumn

Example: 6 Semesters with in start Autum

Example_6 Semesters with start Autum

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Three majors for in-depth expertise

You have the option of completing your Master's degree with a major and thereby acquiring specialised knowledge. The Master’s diploma certificate indicates the major as "MSc in International Management with a Major in ...". The following majors are available:

Major in Performance Management

Enhance your comprehension of company management and critical figures evaluation by taking the Management Accounting and Control and Business Planning elective modules. These modules will broaden your knowledge of measuring metrics and utilising data to run a business effectively. Furthermore, in your Applied Research Project and Master's Thesis, you will thoroughly delve into performance management.

Major in Accounting

Are you fascinated by the systematic recording and monitoring of money and performance flows in a company? Then the Major in Accounting is right for you. The elective modules Financial Accounting and Analysis and Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting complement your curriculum and deal in depth with various consolidation methods and topics from international accounting. In addition, in your Applied Research Project and your Master's Thesis, you will deal intensively with accounting topics.

Major in Corporate Finance

The right financing and investment decisions are crucial to a company’s success. In the elective modules Advanced Corporate Finance and Current Issues in International Finance, you will learn how financial managers take measures to ensure corporate success. You will discuss case studies and analyse different strategies for action. The Applied Research Project and the Master's Thesis on Corporate Finance complement this major.