Overview
The Master of Science in Financial Economics is a STEM eligible degree that requires four semesters (fall and spring) of full-time study at Columbia Business School. The program provides academically distinguished and industry-oriented students the opportunity to obtain a rigorous, graduate-level finance education. MSFE students learn to apply tools from financial economics, econometrics, machine learning, and data science to solve complex, real-world investing and asset management problems. Program graduates land top jobs in sell-side, buy-side, and Fintech firms in the US and around the world.
Class at a Glance
Columbia Business School looks for intellectually driven people from diverse educational, economic, social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. Our students share a record of achievement, strong leadership, and the ability to work in teams. Columbia Business School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, nationality, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability, or veteran status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MSFE program STEM eligible?
Yes, all of our MS programs are STEM eligible.
Does one need experience in industry to be a competitive MSFE applicant?
While you do not need previous work experience to apply or to gain acceptance, we do find that some work or internship experience may prove valuable for both.
Do I need to send official GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, etc. scores to apply?
We do not require you to send official scores to apply to the program. However, if offered admission, these documents will be required to validate the offer off admission.
Does one need to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE to apply?
International students who do not have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution in which all instruction is conducted in English must take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the PTE (Pearson Test of English), or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You may be exempted only if you have earned a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction. We will not accept requests for exceptions to this policy. Your scores must be valid when you submit your application.
Be sure to self-report your TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score when completing your application. If admitted, you must submit an official score report. For the TOEFL, Columbia’s ETS code is 2141. For the PTE and IELTS, select Columbia Business School from the list of schools provided. The Admissions Committee will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application.