Master in International Banking and Finance

Master in International Banking and Finance is one of 8 English-taught Finance programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 7 institutions. 7 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 4 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

The Master's in International Banking and Finance at the University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society BFI Vienna is a part-time, English-taught programme that connects finance with economics, law and data analytics. It runs over three semesters (90 ECTS) and leads to a Master of Arts in Business (MA).

What you study

The curriculum covers core banking and finance topics such as International Capital Markets, Corporate Finance and Sustainable Finance. A particular focus is placed on Emerging & Frontier Markets, where you examine the economic, financial and institutional characteristics of markets from Central and Eastern Europe to the Global South. Economics, law and data analytics are woven into the modules, so you learn to see how these areas connect. The programme also addresses current developments like AI and its use across the banking and finance value chain.

How the programme is organised

This is a career-parallel programme: classes take place three times a week and on Saturdays during the day at Campus Wohlmutstrasse in Vienna's second district. The compact three-semester format lets you gain a specialised qualification while continuing to work. Teaching is in English, and the student body and lecturers bring international experience, which adds to the exchange. You have the option to spend a semester abroad at a partner university, recommended in the third semester. The programme also uses dynamic teaching materials that integrate new developments and market changes.

Who it suits

It suits people who want to understand financial questions from different angles and think beyond a single specialist field. If you already have some professional experience and want to move into demanding specialist or leadership roles in finance, this format is built for you. The interdisciplinary approach is especially relevant in the age of AI, where the key is interpreting relationships and connecting knowledge from different areas. Students with international backgrounds contribute a range of perspectives, so you should be comfortable working in intercultural teams.

Admission, language and next steps

To apply, you need a secondary school leaving certificate and a bachelor's degree in social and economic sciences, natural sciences, engineering or law (or equivalent). You also need proven qualifications in Business Administration and/or Economics (6 ECTS) and Mathematics and/or Statistics (6 ECTS). English at CEFR level C1 is required; German is not necessary. The admission procedure consists of a written application, an online multiple-choice test and an application video. A preparatory script is available, and no external courses are required. Free bridging courses (May to July) help you acquire missing ECTS. The application period for EU/EEA citizens runs from 1 October to 15 May, and for non-EU/EEA citizens from 1 October to 31 March. Applications go directly to the institution. As a university of applied sciences, the programme charges a tuition fee per semester, shown on the institution's page along with the student union fee.

The acquisition of relevant practical management skills, tailored to the needs of the international banking and finance industry, lies at the core of the internationally focused, English-language International Banking and Finance master degree programme. Career parallel lecturers from leading international banking and financial institutions and the BFI Vienna’s highly qualified full-time lecturers pass on their expert knowledge to students and encourage in-depth discussions.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society BFI Vienna. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admission procedure. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.