When applying for a master’s degree, the differences between similar majors are often a concern for applicants. Today we will focus on the majors of Finance & Investments and Finance & Investments Advanced at RSM, one of the top business schools in Europe. RSM is the top business school in the Netherlands and one of the top 3 in Europe. Although it is only ranked 9th on the FT list, the FT list is mainly for MBA programs, while most applicants for postgraduate programs apply for MSc or Master’s programs. So RSM is still one of the top elite schools in Europe. The two majors we are going to talk about today are specifically: MSc Finance & Investments and MSc Finance & Investments Advanced. Just by looking at the names, the word “advanced” seems much more “advanced”. But what exactly are the differences between these two majors related to investments? Let’s take a look.
difference in program length
The Finance & Investments major focuses on financial policy decisions from a management perspective, so there are some differences and focuses compared to a pure MSF program (each school’s finance program is actually different, and has different focuses, so your motivation letters cannot be the same). The FIA program will be at least 4 months longer than the sister FI program: You will be challenged over 16 months with advanced academic courses.
characteristics of the programs
For the general FI program, there is a cooperative relationship with the CFA. Financial analyst and investment banker are two positions that tell us the motivation letter must have specific positions to support career planning, otherwise it becomes empty talk. The school’s promotion also targets what kind of people are suitable for what positions. The FIA program not only has a higher threshold, but also increases the difficulty of the entire program. But it also provides more career resources than the FI program, especially the list of partner companies and internships.
curriculum settings
The overall structure of the FI program is standard for an MSF, with 22 compulsory core credits, 18 elective credits, and 20 thesis credits. The core courses best demonstrate the orientation of the curriculum. For the FIA program, the total length is longer than the 60 credits of the FI program. The additional parts are: advanced courses, enhanced career preparation, an internship, high-profile external lecturers, intensive contact with corporate partners, and study trips. This shows the difference from FI, with a very strong emphasis on career background, having the style of an MBA, but without the MBA’s mandatory work experience requirements.
career prospects
FI and FIA have a high degree of similarity in career outcomes for graduates. The difference is that FIA will provide more career training and opportunities for internal referrals and contact with partner companies. The list of partner companies includes Rabobank, Deloitte, Unilever, Achmea, Oliver Wyman and Merrill Lynch.
tuition comparison
The tuition fee for FI is around 17,500 euros per year, while the total expected fee for FIA is 23,333 euros for non-EEA students, plus a one-time fee of 8,000 euros. So FIA is much more expensive.
In summary, the Finance & Investments Advanced program at RSM has a higher difficulty level, longer length, more career resources, higher tuition fees, and stricter admission requirements compared to the Finance & Investments program. Applicants need to evaluate their own conditions to choose the appropriate program.