Finance
The Master's Degree Programme in Finance at Luiss, among the best in the world according to the Financial Times rankings, is designed to develop professionals capable of operating in corporate finance and financial markets, combining a solid theoretical foundation with an applied approach.
Innovative teaching is characterised by a combination of:
- lectures
- analysis of case studies
- use of professional software
- simulations
- interaction with industry professionals
Through the reconstruction of market scenarios and complex business decisions, the activities create a dynamic learning environment in which to experiment and develop effective financial strategies, honing analytical and decision-making skills.
The programme also fosters an informed understanding of the responsibilities that come with managing financial resources in an interconnected economy.
- The degree class is LM-77
Directors
Andrea Polo
Andrea Polo is an Associate Professor of Finance at Luiss and a Research Affiliate at the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance. Before joining Luiss he was an Associate Professor of Finance at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and an Associate Research Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics. He is also a research affiliate in financial economics at the Center for Economic Policy Research and a research member of the European Corporate Governance Institute and an associate editor of the Economic Journal. In the past, he has been an academic fellow at the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University. He holds a Master from Cambridge University and a PhD from Oxford University.
Paolo Santucci De Magistris
I am Professor of Econometrics at DEF since February 2018, and prior to that, I was an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics and Business Economics of Aarhus University (Denmark). Since June 2021, I hold the position of Head of the Department of Economics and Finance at Luiss. My main research fields are time-series and financial econometrics. I earned my PhD at the University of Pavia in February 2010 and held various research positions after that (visiting PhD at CREATES in 2008-2009; post-doctoral research fellow at the Department of Economics of the University of Padova in 2010-2011; FSE Post-Doc fellowship spent at CREATES from April 2011 to May 2013). During 2014, I spent a research period at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University.
The Master’s Degree Programme in Finance offers a solid, up-to-date, and highly career-oriented educational path in the fields of corporate finance and financial markets. The goal is to prepare graduates to operate with competence and awareness within a complex, international, and rapidly changing economic and financial system. For this reason, the program is divided into two Majors:
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Markets
Study Plan
Year 1 - 2026/2027
Cases in Business Law
The skills developed in the course enable students to manage the fundamental tools of business law both at domestic level and in international practice.
Advanced Corporate Finance
The course encourages students to build Excel-based operational models for studying capital budgeting, cost of capital and business valuation decisions. It strengthens theoretical and methodological foundations and presents case studies to apply theories and methods to real-world problems.
Financial Statement Analysis
The course focuses on the use of financial statements for analysis and valuation. Students will learn how to use accounting and financial information to analyse corporate financial performance and for valuing equity and investments.
Quantitative Methods for Finance
The course examines in depth analytical techniques for the management of financial instruments, corporate finance and asset pricing. Students acquire quantitative skills for risk and portfolio management.
Business Valuation
The course provides the tools to perform advanced business valuations. It focuses on the main theoretical valuation models, identification of valuation problems and analysis of possible concrete solutions.
Asset Pricing
The course combines asset pricing techniques and derivative instruments, emphasising a practical approach with examples and applications on software packages. It addresses pricing and hedging methodologies within the framework of stochastic modelling.
International Financial Economics
The course teaches students about macroeconomic fluctuations and financial dynamics in relation to economic policies, exchange rate regimes and currency markets. Students learn how to assess whether and how economic policies influence investment and financing decisions.
M&A and Investment Banking
The course is an introduction to investment banking and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with a focus on the practical side of M&A transactions and recent trends.
Year II - 2027/2028
Corporate Governance
The course examines models and theories for understanding different approaches to corporate governance as well as for analysing and designing corporate governance mechanisms.
Risk Management
The course teaches students about managing banking, financial and business risks. It examines methodologies and techniques for measuring risks and the value of capital.
2 elective courses
Additional Credits
Certificate 1
Certificate 2
Internship or Project Work
Final Thesis
Total ECTS
Year I - 2026/2027
Cases in Business Law
The skills developed in the course enable students to manage the fundamental tools of business law both at domestic level and in international practice.
Advanced Corporate Finance
The course encourages students to build Excel-based operational models for studying capital budgeting, cost of capital and business valuation decisions. It strengthens theoretical and methodological foundations and presents case studies to apply theories and methods to real-world problems.
Financial Statement Analysis
The course focuses on the use of financial statements for analysis and valuation. Students will learn how to use accounting and financial information to analyse corporate financial performance and for valuing equity and investments.
Quantitative Methods for Finance
The course examines in depth analytical techniques for the management of financial instruments, corporate finance and asset pricing. Students acquire quantitative skills for risk and portfolio management.
Asset Management
The course analyses the theory and regulation of capital markets, with a focus on securities analysis, international investment and portfolio management, as well as the latest developments in asset management.
Investments
The course introduces students to the fundamentals of investment theory and financial analysis. The approach is geared towards understanding the dynamics of risk and return as well as portfolio construction and management and the selection of securities and capital allocation strategies.
Financial Econometrics
The course covers quantitative methods of analysing and forecasting economic and financial phenomena through the use of statistical-econometric software, with a focus on: linear regression model for cross-section and panel data; OLS, GLS and IV estimators; time series models (ARMA, ARCH and GARCH); linear stochastic processes; and stationarity.
Derivatives
The course analyses the main types of derivatives in detail, distinguishing between forwards, futures, options, swaps, over-the-counter and exchange-traded instruments, initial and maintenance margins, and call and put options.
Year II - 2027/2028
Financial Intermediaries and Monetary Policy
The course analyses the role of financial intermediaries and central banks in the economic system. It explores the transmission of monetary policy, the functioning of credit markets and regulatory implications.
Equity Markets and Alternative Investments
The course offers a rigorous and intuitive introduction to equity markets and alternative investments. Topics covered include IPOs, equity analysis, types of investors, follow-on equity issues, bond markets, emerging trends in ESG, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), real assets, structured finance and the role of hedge funds in financial markets. Performance analysis and various alternative investment strategies are also explored.
2 elective courses
Additional Credits
Certificate 1
Certificate 2
Internship or Project Work
Final Thesis
Total ECTS
Luiss offers numerous international programmes for students, which can be accessed depending on their current or future degree programmes. 
- Double Degree Programmes for Master’s Students
- Erasmus and International Exchange Programmes
- Free Mover Semester Abroad
- Summer Schools Abroad
Discover all the international programmes and opportunities for experience abroad offered by Luiss to enrich your academic and professional career.
For the Master Degree Program in Finance, there is a requirement for at least one experience abroad (physical mobility), with a minimum duration of 30 consecutive days, to be completed during the master's degree program. This requirement can be fulfilled through:
- Erasmus+ Mobility, Bilateral Exchange, International Collaborative Degree Program (e.g. Double Degrees), International Networks (e.g. QTEM and ENGAGE.EU GSM), Free mover.
- Internship abroad
- Thesis abroad
- Summer School abroad
Admission procedures and requirements
Check out the useful information, procedures and deadlines for submitting an application to master's degree programmes at Luiss.
Admission to the Degree Course in Corporate Finance represents a unique opportunity to join an academic environment of excellence.
Luiss Guido Carli carefully selects its students, guaranteeing high quality services and the best conditions to facilitate their university journey towards personal and professional growth. Our University puts its students at the centre, offering constant support and personalised attention. 
Find out all the information you need to take the next admission test and start on your path to academic and professional success.
Tuition fees, scholarships and benefits
The annual single tuition fee for enrolment in the Master's Degree Programme in Finance is € 17,000.00, divided into 3 instalments, plus the regional student welfare tax.*
Luiss offers scholarships and partial or total exemptions from university tuition fees, also thanks to the support of public and private partners.
The University has also entered into agreements with Italian banks to offer flexible loans without collateral.
Check out all the opportunities related to Scholarships and Unsecured Loans.
*The amount of the regional student welfare tax will be decided by the Lazio Region in June/July 2026.
The degree program is subject to approval by the Ministry of University and may undergo modifications.
Career paths
Graduates of the programme will have the opportunity to work in the finance departments of large businesses, in the corporate banking and M&A divisions of investment banks, in financial consulting and advisory firms, and for investment funds. In particular, the programme equips graduates for careers in roles such as corporate treasurer, financial analyst, financial trader, investment banker, credit manager, private equity manager, financial controller and fintech consultant.
Graduates and employability
- The employment rate of Luiss graduates one year after graduation is 95%.
- The average time that passes between graduation and one’s first job is 1 month, with 70% of graduates already having a job offer before graduation.
- 12% of graduates work abroad.
- Luiss boasts an active network of over 500 employers: businesses, public and private institutions, and multinationals, which offer graduating students and recent graduates concrete job opportunities.
- In 2024, more than 3,200 placements were made between internships and jobs.
- More than 2,800 one-to-one career guidance meetings were provided to support students and recent graduates in their career paths.
- Over 5,000 students took part in networking and recruiting events, organised during 2024: more than 40 events, including 4 career fairs, with the involvement of over 300 employers and 90 Luiss alumni professionals.
