Finance, M.Fin

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Master of Finance Degree

The Master of Finance program consists of fifteen courses (or project equivalent to one course) offered over three consecutive terms beginning in September and ending in August or December of the following year (depending on whether students take a summer work term). The format and length of the program is designed to ensure that students obtain a complete analytical tool kit, focusing on the core themes of modern finance while allowing them to investigate specialized topics. Of the fifteen credit courses comprising the Master of Finance program, eleven are required and four are electives. Students are also required to complete successfully a non-credit career skills development course. In addition, immediately prior to the start of the first term students participate in a Transition Program comprising workshops in mathematics and stastistics, computer programming and software pacakges and career development skills.

Admission

Admission to the Master of Finance program will be granted in accordance with the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies as specified in the front of this calendar. Applicants normally must have a Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with at least B+ standing and a minimum GMAT score of 600. In lieu of a GMAT score, a comparable GRE score will be considered. Admission decisions are based on past academic performance, GMAT or GRE score, and the strength of two (preferably academic) reference letters.

Program Requirements

The finance component of the program is offered primarily in the second and third academic terms. In the fall, students take courses in accounting, economics, finance, and statistics if they have not already done so. A full course load for a student with no prior preparation would comprise five half courses. Depending on a student’s prior preparation, some of these half courses may be exempted and replaced with other courses. For students with prior finance training, 700-level finance courses could be taken. Students with no prior finance training, but with courses in the other subject areas, are allowed to choose electives in business or cognate fields, depending on their background and interests. Requests for course exemptions should be directed to the Master of Finance program’s Administrative Coordinator at mfin@mcmaster.ca

A career development program(FINANCE 610 ) of lectures and interactive forums to equip students with the necessary tools to aid in their summer and graduate recruitment search process is also required. Topics include: skills assessment, resume and cover letter development, interview skills, networking and job search strategies.

Program Structure

The Master of Finance program structure is as follows:

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Electives

Electives courses will be from a selected list of finance electives presently offered in the MBA program or, with the approval of the Program Director and consent of the department involved, electives in mathematics, statistics or economics. MBA electives are offered at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington. The Finance electives from which Master of Finance students can choose are as follows:

MBA Finance Elective Courses

The Master of Finance is a course-based program in as much as most graduates are expected to pursue careers in industry. Students will have the option of taking BUSINESS F719 Independent Research Project in Finance , in lieu of one course, under the supervision of a faculty member and with the approval of the Program Director and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research. Students who plan to go on to a Ph.D. in finance or a cognate subject will be encouraged to choose the BUSINESS F719 option in order to undertake or participate in a project involving original research.

Graduate students not registered in the Master of Finance program may only enroll in the Master of Finance courses with the approval of the Program Director. Enquiries should be directed to the Administrative Coordinator of the Master of Finance program at mfin@mcmaster.ca.

In order to continue in the program and graduate, students must maintain an average of at least B with no more than one failing grade (below B-). A student will be required to withdraw from the program if they receive more than one failing grade.

A student with a failing grade in a course is required to repeat, or, in the case of elective courses, substitute, one course. However, inasmuch as courses are ordinarily only offered once a year, a student failing a required course must join the next year’s cohort in order to complete the program. Students who do not successfully complete a Term 1 course are not permitted to take the Term 2 required courses and students who do not successfully complete the Term 2 required courses are not permitted to take the Term 3 required courses. Term 2 and 3 electives, in contrast, may be taken by students who successfully complete all of the courses in Term 1.