International finance

FACULTY International Economics and Administration Faculty
DEPARTMENT Department of Computer Science and Economics
PROFESSIONAL AREA Economics

Speciality: International finance

Awarded qualification: Financier

Level of qualification: Master

Length of programme: a year /a year and a half

Number of credits: 60/90

Field(s) of study (ISCED-F): 0412: Finance, banking and insurance (343)

Specific admission requirements: Successfully completed secondary/higher education.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning:
Formal: diplomas and academic transcripts from accredited universities.

2 semesters for Bachelors or Masters in Economics. In order to be awarded the qualification 60 credits are necessary.
3 semesters for Bachelors or Masters from other professional areas. In order to be awarded the qualification 90 credits are necessary.

Qualification requirements and regulations, including graduation requirements*:

In order to get their qualification two semester students must be allocated 60 credits -33 credits from compulsory courses, 12 from elective courses, 12 credits from optional courses, and 15 credits from State Examinations (Thesis defence).
In order to get their qualification three semester students must be allocated 60 credits -33 credits from compulsory courses, 12 from elective courses, 12 credits from optional courses, and 15 credits from State Examinations (Thesis defence).

Profile of the programme:
Master's program "International Finance" offers specialized training on topical issues of international financial activities and in accordance with international, European and national criteria and requirements.
The program is designed for preparation of students for executives and experts with professional interests in the field of international finance, financing of international trade relations, financial analysis and reports, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, investment valuation of companies, financial and banking management, transnational nature of the banking sector.
For this purpose the study plan includes basic and specialized courses, developing knowledge and skills of students in finance, banking, financial markets and investments, marketing of financial services, international economy and financial institutions on national and especially international level. Graduates of the Master's program "International Finance" can work as managers and specialists in commercial banks and insurance institutions, state and local administrations, national and international financial organizations, as well in industrial and commercial organizations, as this specialization offers a broad profile of skills suitable for the modern international activity on macro and micro level.

Programme learning outcomes:
Students who finish this specialty acquire knowledge and skills about banking, financial activities, international financial institutions, financing of international trade and the EU, analysis and evaluation of companies with international activities, preparation of financial statements, international finance and financial reporting standards, forms and methods of payment in international business, management and control of enterprises and banks.

Programme structure diagram with credits *:

№	ECTS code	Course	Lectures and seminars	Out-of-class workload	Credits
1	FIN3289	Finance	60	120	6
2	ECO1039	Economics	60	120	6
3	MAR1004	Marketing	60	120	6
4	ECO1064	International Economics	60	120	6
5	ACC1008	Fundamentals of accounting	60	120	6
Total for semester I			300	600	30
1	FIN1010	International finance	45	90	4,5
2	FIN3327	International Financial Reporting Standards	30	60	3
3	FIN3328	Financial markets and institutions	45	90	4,5
4	ACC3121	Financial statements	30	60	3
5	MAR3012	Marketing of financial services	30	60	3
6	FIN3254	Geo-economic aspects of the transnational nature of the banking sector	30	60	3
7	FIN3329	International payment methods	30	60	3
8		Elective course	30	60	3
9		Optional course	30	60	3
Total for semester IІ			300	600	30
		Общо за І година	600	1200	60
1	FIN3330	Financial analysis of international companies	30	60	3
2	FIN3331	Investment valuation	30	60	3
3	FIN3261	Foreign Commercial Operations	30	60	3
4		Elective course	30	60	3
5		Optional course	30	60	3
		State exam and thesis defense	150	300	15
Total for semester IІІ			300	600	30
		Total for the entire course of study:	900	1800	90
		Elective courses, choose 2 from 6
1	FIN3332	Banking	30	60	3
2	LAW3352	Legal regulation of investments	30	60	3
3	PCI3003	Business communications	30	60	3
4	MAN3441	Mergers and acquisitions	30	60	3
5	FIN3313	Financial mathematics	30	60	3
6	FIN3333	Analysis of return and risk	30	60	3
		Optional courses, choose 2 from 6
1	INF3010	Internet banking	30	60	3
2	FIN3334	Investment schemes	30	60	3
3	FIN3237	Мaster class	30	60	3
4	FIN3335	Finances of European Union	30	60	3
5	ACC3148	Globalization of accounting and contemporary accounting schools	30	60	3
6	FIN3237	Мaster class	30	60	3

* In Varna Free University, a credit equals 30 lessons, of which 10 contact hours (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours independent work.

Mode of study: full time, part time, distance learning/дистанционно.

Examination regulations and grading scale:
The grading of semester exams is conducted on the basis of a written examination or other form of written assessment performed in an auditorium or online and covering the entire learning material. Students are familiar with the evaluation criteria for each course.

Obligatory or optional mobility windows (if applicable) no

Work placement(s) (if applicable) no

Work-based learning: no

Occupational profiles of graduates: The specialty provides a wide-range and specialized professional realization for the graduates, who can work as corporate financial managers, financial analysts, specialists in financial budgeting, investments and restructuring capital in companies, commercial banks, non-bank institutions, fiscal and public administration specialists in operations management in commercial banks, financial houses and investment funds, consultants in the area of international finance and economic relations, consultants in the field marketing and promotion of financial services, financial - accounting advisors, portfolio and risk managers, credit experts, analysts in the field of monetary policy and monetary interventions, such as business consultants in departments of finance and accounting of national and international corporations.

Access to further studies:
Those who wish to continue their education can apply and all other master and doctoral programs at VSU.
The PhD programmes in the professional area 3.8. Economics аre:

Global Economy and International Economic Relations;
Political Economy;
Accounting, analysis and control of economic activity.

Programme Director:
Аssoc. prof. Nikolina Grozeva, PhD
tel: +359 52 359 631
e- mail: nnevinova@abv.bg, nikolina.grozeva@vfu.bg