The IMQF program commences in the first week of December and can be completed in approximately 12 months, including work on the Masters thesis. The maximum time in which all of the program requirements need to be completed is 24 months. In order to complete the program and receive a Master degree, a candidate needs to accumulate a minimum of 60 ESPB credits. Each course carries 5 ESPB credits. A minimum of 45 ESPB credits needs to be obtained from the coursework. There are seven required courses worth, in total, 35 ESPB credits; the remaining 10 ESPB credits are earned by selecting two out of four elective courses. An additional 15 ESPB credits are obtained upon the defense of a Masters thesis. The thesis must be written and defended in English.

The program is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission of the Republic of Serbia and is in full accordance with the Bologna Declaration. It is recognized in Europe, the US, and around the globe. The style of instruction combines ex-cathedra lectures with practical exercises, real-life financial and economic data analysis, hands-on modeling experience, and teamwork on projects. Pre-exam activity and activity in class carry a significant weight towards the final grade. The language of instruction is English. The curriculum incorporates more than 80% of the CBOK Body of Knowledge required by the CFA Institute for candidates taking the CFA exams (Level I to III). In addition, it provides thorough preparation for the globally recognized risk management certification exams: the PRM and FRM.

Required Courses

 

There are seven core courses that all IMQF students are required to take, regardless of their background:

·     Mathematics and Modeling for Finance

·     Investments

·     Financial Statements, Valuation, and Corporate Finance

·     Financial Economics and Mathematics of Financial Markets

·     Financial Derivatives and Fixed Income Securities

·     Microeconomic Theory

·     International Finance

Elective Courses

In addition to the required courses, each IMQF student must select at least two of the following courses:

·     Financial Econometrics

·     Advanced Economic Research Methods with Applications to Finance

·     Financial Risk Management with Preparation for Professional Risk Manager's (PRM) Certificate

·     Real Estate and Private Equity Investments

Master Thesis

After earning 25 ECPB credits, the program participant may select a topic for the Masters thesis. Work on the Masters thesis is completed under the guidance of an IMQF faculty member. It is written in English and publicly defended in front of a committee of three Faculty members.

The Degree

Upon the successful defense of a Masters thesis, the student will be considered to have fulfilled his/her IMQF program requirements and will be awarded the degree of Master in Economics by the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade with the Diploma Supplement: International Masters in Quantitative Finance (IMQF). Contact us for an up-to-date class syllabus and teacher distribution at imqf@ekof.bg.ac.rs.