Economics for Finance, Corporations and Sustainability

The key words are: economics, finance, and sustainability. The degree program is divided into three curricula. The functioning of financial markets and the strategies and operational choices that intermediaries, companies, funds, and national and international institutions must implement in the current complex global market scenario are studied in the “Economics and Finance” curriculum. The control and management of business risks to increase resilience and ensure value generation over time through an analytical and data-driven approach are the focus of the “Economics and Business Data (EdI)” curriculum. The management and regulation of interactions between market performance on the one hand and the environment and natural resources on the other, with a specific focus on climate policy and finance, are the focus of the studies offered in the “Markets and Sustainability (M&S)” curriculum.

Students will be trained in the methodologies required to examine economic and financial issues from a dynamic perspective that takes into account the evolution of society. They will acquire accounting and business planning tools, mathematical and statistical methods, elements of market regulation, instruments for theoretical and applied economic analysis of markets and policies, and tools for financial analysis.

With regard to economic and financial aspects, graduates will acquire the skills needed to manage, within an integrated framework, the main types of risk in light of the current European and Italian regulatory context. Students will develop a thorough understanding of the structure and functions of financial institutions and markets, as well as of the strategic interactions among economic agents. They will also gain the ability to interpret the macroeconomic dynamics that characterise contemporary markets—particularly the interactions between real and financial markets—and to assess, at both the macro and microeconomic level, the effects of economic policy measures.

In the business field, students will develop the competencies required to understand the purposes of financial statement analysis, with particular emphasis on the perspective of an external analyst, as well as the ability to evaluate market and business opportunities and risks. Further skills include business design and organisational planning, enabling graduates to adapt corporate structures effectively to policy interventions and emerging market opportunities.

Regarding market sustainability, the multidisciplinary training in economics, business, law, and quantitative methods will equip students with the competencies necessary to analyse the risks and opportunities for business activities related to climate change processes. They will also develop the ability to understand and assess the effects that market economies produce in terms of environmental degradation and to identify possible policies to mitigate and regulate these impacts, within a broader macroeconomic and financial stability framework.

All the logical and analytical tools provided will train students to adopt an analytical approach to the examination and understanding of complex socio-economic problems from a dynamic perspective, taking into account, where necessary, institutional and socio-economic innovations.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements consist of two types: curricular requirements and adequate personal preparation.

Curricular requirements
Possession of a three-year Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following classes: L-33 (Economic Sciences) or L-18 (Economics and Business Management) – formerly classes 17 or 28 under Ministerial Decree 509 – constitutes a sufficient prerequisite for enrolment.

Alternatively, candidates holding a three-year university degree, a university diploma, or another qualification obtained abroad (officially recognised as suitable), regardless of the awarding institution or degree class, are eligible for enrolment provided that they have acquired a minimum of 54 ECTS credits in the following four disciplinary areas: business, economics, quantitative methods, and law.

The 54 ECTS credits must be distributed as follows:

a) at least 15 ECTS in the economic area (ECON-01/4 to ECONO-05/A and STEC-01/B – formerly SECS-P/01 to SECS-P/06 and SECS-P/12);

b) at least 15 ECTS in the statistical-mathematical area (STAT-01/A to STAT-04/A, and MATH-01/A to MATH-06/A – formerly SECS-S/01 to SECS-S/06 and MAT/01 to MAT/09);

c) at least 15 ECTS in the business area (ECON-06/A to ECON-10/B – formerly SECS-P/07 to SECS-P/11 and SECS-P/13);

d) at least 9 ECTS in the legal area (GIUR-01/A to GIUR-17/A – formerly IUS-01 to IUS-21).

If the student has not passed an examination of at least 6 ECTS in a foreign language, or does not hold a B1-level language certification issued by an accredited institution, the missing credits must be obtained by attending the University’s Language Laboratory (30 hours in total).

Any missing curricular credits may be acquired through single examinations in the lacking areas prior to the verification of individual preparation. Curricular requirements are verified through an assessment of the student’s previous university record, as documented at the time of the enrolment request.

Adequate personal preparation
Personal preparation is considered adequate if the Bachelor’s degree has been awarded with a final grade of 94/110 or higher.

For candidates with a lower final grade, the adequacy of personal preparation is verified through an interview conducted by a Commission appointed by the Director of the Department of Economic and Legal Studies (DISEG) upon proposal of the Degree Programme Council.

If the Commission identifies any gaps in preparation, the student will be assigned a Tutor who, in coordination with the Quality Assurance Committee, will provide guidance during the first year of study to ensure a successful integration into the SEFAS Master’s Degree Programme.

Internships and Placement

Support for internships and external training activities (internships and traineeships) falls within the broader institutional responsibilities of the University’s Placement Office, whose mission is to build a bridge between the University and the labour market and to provide students and graduates with better opportunities for professional integration.

At the Department level, the Department of Economic and Legal Studies (DISEG) has established a Placement Committee (Resolution of 22/11/2021), whose role is to promote to the student body of all degree programmes within the Department — each according to its specific features — the initiatives proposed by the University Placement Office. In particular, the Committee monitors all events and initiatives promoted by the Placement Office to disseminate them effectively to graduates of the Department’s degree programmes.

For the SEFAS programme, the Degree Programme Council has appointed both Placement representatives and academic staff members responsible for organising substitute seminar activities focused on professional topics, held with the support of experts from the labour market.