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    FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEGREE: ALL INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

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    Financial Management Degree: Course Content, Requirements, and Career Prospects.

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    Achieve success with clear vision: Study financial management

    Operational financial management ensures that a company remains within its means. Strategic financial management involves planning for the future. It aims to increase profitability, which includes weighing the risks of potential investments. The goal is to increase the value of the company over time. However, these areas can sometimes be in conflict. A future investment to increase revenue could initially reduce liquidity, and there is always the risk that the project will not be successful. Good financial management strikes a balance between competing goals. Other tasks of financial management in a company include managing payment systems, deciding between equity and debt financing, and maintaining profitability.

    What is a financial management degree?

    A financial management degree lays the foundation for a diverse career in the financial industry. During a financial management course, you will gain the knowledge required to work in corporate management in departments such as financial controlling and accounting. In the fields of auditing or management consulting, you can work as a financial manager. Or you might even find work as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Whatever field you choose, mathematics will always be a part of your daily work, which is why it plays a key role in financial management degrees.

    Why study financial management?

    Do you have a very good understanding of numbers and are interested in economics, the stock market, and finance? If so, studying financial management will solidify your interests and expand your skills. During your course, you will learn the economic knowledge required to succeed in the global financial sector. Students build knowledge of the analysis, planning and management of financial tasks. These skills enable finance managers to provide companies with long-term liquidity. And they can advise about how to invest strategically. Senior managers will be able to make and evaluate economic decisions based on your evaluations and plans.

    What can you expect in a financial management degree and is it right for you?

    The knowledge acquired in a financial management course comprehensively prepares you for work in the finance industry. For example, in addition to business administration, you will also learn relevant tax law. Study modules include important elements of controlling, accounting, and marketing. Essentially, you can expect to cover the following finance management subjects:

    • Balance sheet analysis

    • Cost and performance accounting

    • Accounting

    • Business Law

    • Corporate Governance

    You can quickly check whether a financial management degree is right for you by considering the following criteria. In general, to succeed in finance management you should have a very good understanding and comprehension of numbers. You should be business fluent and have a strong desire to advance your career. Other criteria include:

    • Economic thinking

    • Analytical thinking

    • Discipline

    • Strong communication skills

    • Understanding of numbers

    • Organizational talent

    Financial Management study programmes at CBS

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    What is covered in a financial management degree? What do you learn in financial management studies?

    The content of the finance management degree depends on whether you want to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree. For this reason, finance studies requirements are presented separately.

    Bachelor

    First, you will be taught general economics.

    This consists of the following components:

    • Business operations

    • Business law

    • Microeconomics

    • Statistics

    • Cost and performance accounting

    • Applied financial accounting


    In addition, programme-specific teaching content will be provided, such as:

    • Financial mathematics

    • Human resource management

    • Marketing

    • Corporate financing & valuation

    • Cost accounting

    • Financial analysis

    • Financial instruments

    • Investor relations

    • Modern corporate financing


    As transdisciplinary competencies, you will learn:

    • Foreign language

    • Business English

    • Personal skills

    • Teamwork & team development

    Master

    Initially, you will be taught in-depth general economics.

    This consists of the following components:

    • Business economics

    • Empirical research methods

    • Strategic analysis & management

    • Innovation management & digital transformation

    • Change management

    • Digital management

     

    Other programme-specific teaching content includes:

    • International corporate finance

    • Global finance

    • International financial accounting

    • Management accounting

    • Value-oriented corporate governance

    • Controlling & performance management

    • Financing & capital costs

    • Risk management


    Transdisciplinary competencies that are taught include:

    • International project management

    • Language & communication skills

    • Leadership behavior

    • Creative thinking & innovation

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    Procedure and duration 

    The procedure and duration of your studies depend on whether you want to complete a bachelor's or master's degree. The characteristics of each are presented separately below:

    Bachelor

    The Bachelor's degree in financial management lasts for 6 or 7 semesters. Finance & management lectures are available in German and English. You will complete the programme with your Bachelor's thesis for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. You can choose whether you want to study full-time at CBS or study part-time or through a dual programme. Your practical phases will be based on this decision. The full-time programme includes an internship and an optional semester abroad. CBS places great emphasis on practical experience in its programmes. Depending on the programme and study model, students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge directly through Business Projects with partners and business simulation games.

    Master

    The Master's degree in financial management lasts for 4 or 5 semesters. Finance & management lectures are available in German and English. You will complete the finance management programme with your Master's thesis for a Master of Science or Master of Arts. You can choose whether you want to study finance full-time at CBS or study part-time while working. During the financial management Master's programme, you will have the opportunity to make significant business contacts and gain insights into your future work life, depending on the study model and programme. A Business Project and an internship with a company in Germany or abroad will prepare you for the working world. Through business projects with partners and business simulation games, you can directly apply the knowledge you have gained during your Master's programme.

    What are the requirements?

    The requirements for a financial management programme depend on whether you are applying for a Bachelor's or Master's degree. The requirements are presented separately.

    Bachelor

    As a personal requirement, you should have the general university entrance qualification or the full vocational university entrance qualification. Degrees from foreign schools are also recognized, such as the Matura, A-levels, General Certificate of Education, or IB Diploma. To prove your English language skills, you must provide a certificate that is no older than two years. Alternatively, you can take the free online English test at CBS.

    Master

    To be admitted to a Master's degree in financial management at CBS, you must have a first academic degree (Bachelor Diploma) from a recognized German or international university, university of applied sciences, or professional academy with a grade of at least "good". If this grade is not achieved in the first degree, a separate admission process must be completed. The first degree should have been in a field of economics and have a total of at least 180 ECTS points.

    NC

    The programme can be studied completely without a numerus clausus (NC). An NC is not mandatory.

    All information about the application procedure and the requirements at the CBS can be found here

    Types of Study: Alternatives to On-Campus Study

    It is common to pursue a degree in financial management as a full-time on-campus course. This allows you to fully concentrate on the subject matter and the requirements of the degree, which is important and time-consuming. However, other alternatives are also available to obtain a degree in financial management.

    You can study financial management and controlling on a part-time basis at CBS. This degree can help you advance on the career ladder or change jobs entirely once you have successfully graduated. To give you sufficient time during the week for your job, lectures for the part-time program at CBS are held on weekends. The CBS program is tailored to the needs of a part-time study, ensuring that you can achieve all your goals.

    Additionally, you can choose to study finance and control as a dual degree program at CBS. In this form, you will learn the theory of financial management at the university, while also working in your dream job and gaining practical experience. Dual degree programs are usually funded by the employer. In addition, you will receive a monthly salary that you can use to support yourself.

    A dual degree program at CBS is very popular and is gaining recognition from major companies. At CBS, you will acquire the knowledge of a reputable business school while also gaining professional experience with practice partners. Companies support the form of a dual degree program because they are interested in specialists and executives who can start working without a training period after graduation. For you, the dual degree program has the advantage that you will be prepared for your first job immediately after graduation. You will also enjoy financial security during your study period.

    A full-time financial management degree at CBS requires a time commitment similar to a full-time job. During your semester weekly hours, you will participate in lectures, courses, or seminars. You will also need to prepare for and review the material. Lectures are usually held from Monday to Friday. In addition, block events are also held on weekends. You will also have to study at home because preparing for presentations, writing papers, or preparing for exams will be part of your daily routine.

    Financial Careers: What Can You Do with a Financial Management Degree?

    The demand for qualified professionals is currently very high. In fact, the shortage of skilled workers in the labor market often allows graduates to choose their dream job. A solid business and financial education will help you thrive in any company. For this reason, the chances of transitioning to a job after graduation are very good. With a degree from CBS, you can work as a specialist or executive in the finance sector. But companies in all industries recruit our graduates. Possible fields of activity include accounting, control, internal audit, investor relations, corporate finance, and more.

    You can find more information about careers in finance and the responsibilities of a financial manager here

    Financial Management Salary

    One answer to the question why study finance is that salaries in financial management are above average. This can already be seen in the salaries that beginners receive after completing their studies. Salaries of approximately $3600 gross per month are common with finance graduate jobs. The more years of work experience you have, the more your salary increases. The best paying finance jobs for graduates can pay close to $5000 gross per month.


    Financial Manager Salary - Check out the earning options - Learn More Here

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    The 10 CBS campuses

    Studying in Cologne, the colourful metropolis with around 100,000 students? Studying in the economically strong city of Mainz, where students make up a fifth of the population? Or studying in Berlin, the film and science stronghold on the outskirts of Berlin? For dual studies in Aachen, Neuss, Solingen, Hamburg, Rostock, Rheine or Hannover? Take a look at the possibilities offered by the seven CBS campuses.

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    This is What Our Students Say

    Philip Kollmann
    Project Manager
    Wayne´s Coffee

    "Especially the soft skill courses have been of great help for my performance in job interviews. Through my work in the Finance and Business Club I have built up a broad network and acquired project management skills that have enabled me to score points with companies."

    Katrin Rieger
    Bereichsdirektorin Reisevertrieb Deutschland / Vice President Sales
    HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung

    "The practical learning in small groups prepared me optimally for today's project and team work. The CBS provided me with the decisive soft skills and current knowledge from the world of business."

    Christopher Rosenbaum
    Manager
    Ernst & Young GmbH
    Wirschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

    "The Management Studies programme prepares you thoroughly for the tasks of a consultant. In particular, the development of presentation techniques as well as analytical thinking is of enormous importance in the everyday life of a consultant."

    Oliver Kiderle
    EMEA Regional Product Expert
    Google Inc.

    "The focus on internationality and practical skills have had a very positive influence on my development at Google. Especially the structured and very versatile project work, which is often found at a private school, was extremely helpful."

    Kalle Kenkel
    Commercial Excellence Manager
    GE Healthcare

    "My studies at CBS prepared me for a career in today's dynamic, global work environment. As one's origin and physical location become less and less decisive, it has become increasingly important to have a multinational network and adapt quickly to various cultures and environments."

    Neil Jordaan
    Global Digital Content Manager
    Elanco

    "Many professors shared their professional business experience with us in class and were able to illustrate dry theory with practical examples. I also enjoyed the international atmosphere on campus."

    Patrick Stein
    Head of Human Resources
    Boston Consulting Group

    "The strongly practice-oriented studies and the international orientation of the CBS, as well as the lectures held in English, were an absolutely necessary basis for starting a career with a renowned, international company."

    Download a brochure & learn more about us

    Would you like to learn more about our Bachelor's and Master's programmes at home in peace? Download the CBS brochure for an in-depth look at our business study programmes.  

    We hope that you enjoy getting to know more about our school, study programmes and what we stand for. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook, get to know us at one of our Information Events, or Contact our student advisors to get more info.
    Mirjam Zimmermann

    Mirjam Zimmermann

    Study advisory: Campus Mainz
    Got any questions? We are happy to help!

    Phone: 0800 931 8099
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    E-Mail: study@cbs.de
    Giulia Balzan

    Giulia Balzan

    Study advisory 
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    E-Mail: study@cbs.de
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