Studies & Degrees in International Financial Management
International Financial Management Study Programs
International financial management is the part of finance that deals with the money decisions of organisations working across borders: how to fund a subsidiary abroad, how to value a foreign investment, how to move cash between countries and how to limit the effect of exchange rates. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes financial managers as the people responsible for the financial health of an organisation; in an international company the same task has to be done in several currencies and under several sets of rules.
Students learn corporate finance, financial reporting, risk management and treasury, and apply them to cross-border cases. The international corporate finance module at London Metropolitan University, for example, covers theories of exchange rate behaviour, the hedging of currency risks, finance for international trade and cross-border mergers. The Finance & Control bachelor's programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences teaches students to analyse the financial effects of expanding abroad, taking into account foreign currencies, local regulations and economic conditions.
Qualifications and levels
The subject is taught mainly at master's level, to graduates in business or economics, and as a specialisation within bachelor's degrees in finance or business.
- Bachelor's degrees. The English-taught Finance & Control programme at Avans in Breda lasts 4 years full-time and includes a work placement at an international company in the second year. In Spain, a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
- Master's degrees. The University of Groningen offers a 12-month master's of 60 credits taught in English, with intakes in February and September. From September 2026 the programme formerly called MSc International Financial Management is named MSc Financial Management. It includes courses such as Treasury and Risk Management and a 20-credit thesis. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- Programmes for working professionals. The Máster en Dirección Financiera at EAE Business School has 60 ECTS credits, is taught part-time in Spanish and is aimed at professionals who already have experience in finance. EAE states that in Barcelona it leads to a university's own qualification (Máster de Formación Permanente), not an official master's degree.
Admission to a master's normally requires a bachelor's degree. Groningen asks for an academic bachelor's degree from a research university in business, economics or a closely related field, and offers a pre-master's route to other applicants. London Metropolitan University asks for at least a lower second class (2.2) honours degree or an equivalent qualification from abroad for its MSc International Banking and Finance, in which the core modules carry 20 credits each and the dissertation or consultancy project 60.
Where to study it
The directory lists 9 active schools for this subject: 4 in Spain, 2 in the Netherlands and 1 each in the United Kingdom, Italy and France. Examples are the University of Groningen and Avans University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, London Metropolitan University in London, EAE Business School in Barcelona, and the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon (listed as Groupe ESC Dijon Bourgogne), whose Master of Science in Corporate Finance & Investment Banking lasts 12 or 18 months.
English is the usual language of instruction in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In Spain, programmes are taught in Spanish, in English or in both: the full-time Máster en Finanzas at EAE Business School has 60 ECTS credits and is offered in Spanish and English, and in Barcelona it leads to the official Máster Universitario en Dirección de Finanzas of the Universitat de Lleida.
Tuition fees differ widely between countries and between EU and non-EU students. At Groningen the fee for EU/EEA students is €2,694 for the 2026-27 academic year and the fee for non-EU/EEA students is €22,200. Private business schools set their own prices, so ask each school for the current fee and for the recognition its qualification has.
Careers
Graduates work in the finance departments of companies, in banks, in consultancy and in the public sector. Groningen describes roles in financial management in settings that range from start-ups to multinational companies, financial institutions and consultancy firms. The BLS lists several types of financial manager, among them controllers, treasurers and finance officers, credit managers, cash managers and risk managers; risk managers try to limit, among other things, the risks that arise from changes in currency or commodity prices.
A degree is the starting point, not the whole route. According to the BLS, financial managers in the United States typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant or financial analyst. The BLS projects employment of financial managers in the United States to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a master's in international financial management take?
Usually one year. The master's at the University of Groningen lasts 12 months and has 60 credits; official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
Can I study international financial management in English?
Yes. The programmes at the University of Groningen and at Avans in Breda are taught in English, as are those of London Metropolitan University. In Spain, EAE Business School offers its Máster en Finanzas in Spanish and English.
Is every master's in finance in Spain an official degree?
No. Some are official (Máster Universitario) and others are a university's or school's own qualification (Máster de Formación Permanente). EAE Business School, for example, states which of the two each programme leads to; check this before enrolling.