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DAS in Finance

Diploma of Advanced Studies in Finance

Successful management requires a deep understanding of economics, accounting, finance and analytics. Start the DAS in Finance and join our international Executive MBA class to acquire a solid foundation in these disciplines and learn to assess environmental and economic behavior, measure and track success, plan and finance your activities, and analyze data to generate new business.

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Overview

Icon of a Mortarboard – Degree
Degree
Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Finance with Focus Business Analysis
University of Bern
Icon of a Clock – Course Start
Course start
February 13, 2025
Icon of a Location Pin – Venue
Venues
Bern/Thun, Switzerland
Icon of a Calendar - Events
Format
Biweekly
Fri and Sat (Feb - July)
Icon of a Stopwatch – Duration
Duration
6 months
Icon of a Clock in front of a Schedule – Application Deadline
Application Deadline
December 15, 2024
Icon von drei Sternen – ECTS Punkte
ECTS
33
Icon of a Speech Bubble – Language
Program Language
English
Icon of a Wallet – Program Fees
Program Fees
CHF 29,500

Why choose the Rochester-Bern DAS in Finance?

The DAS in Finance is part of our Executive MBA. Receive an insight into the study program and learn how it convinced the participants.

Your Benefits

Icon of a Trophy on Top of a Book – Course Curriculum
Well-aligned Curriculum

Acquire a solid foundation in financial and managerial accounting, valuation, managerial economics and organizational principles, global economic environment, managerial decision analysis and corporate financial policy to build expertise in making data-driven business decisions.

International Excellence

#8
In the World for Finance

Financial Times 2020

#2
In the World for Economics

Financial Times 2020

Study Modules

Module 1 Financial Accounting

In the Financial Accounting course, we discuss the different types of financial information that stock market companies prepare. Financial Accounting creates transparency in financial markets and helps capital providers make good decisions when allocating funds. After the course, you will understand the different financial statements (balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements) that a company publishes externally. You will also understand how estimates impact the financial information that companies publish externally.

Module 2 Valuation

This course provides the conceptual framework necessary to help managers decide what investment decisions make best sense. We start with investment projects, such as replacing machines, launching new products, or building new factories, and end with the exciting topic of computing the value of companies and negotiating agreements about the acquisition and sale of companies. The perspectives presented here cover both theoretical and practical issues. While the course’s focus is on investments, the principles we develop apply to management decisions in general with a view to helping you make better choices.

Module 3 Managerial Accounting

The Managerial Accounting course uses case studies to show how managers can apply internal information within companies to make better decisions and create value. One of the key contributions of the finance function in companies is strategic decision-making and strategic performance measurement. After the course, you will understand how reports prepared by financial managers can help other managers make better decisions and how financial managers can measure the strategic process of a company.

Module 4 Managerial Economics

This course applies the fundamental tools and concepts of microeconomics – economic behavior, marginal analysis, opportunity cost, supply and demand analysis, and alternative market structures – to managerial decision-making. The course also uses economic analysis and tools to provide insights into internal organizational policies, including decision-right assignment, performance evaluation, and compensation plans. The course aims to help you develop your economic intuition about a broad range of problems related to business and everyday life, so that a business approach becomes second nature.

Module 5 Global Economic Environment

This course aims to provide the main tools for understanding the macroeconomic environment in which a company operates. It covers the key concepts for addressing a wide range of macroeconomic questions. We emphasize intuition and application of the concepts. Furthermore, we try to give an overview that covers the most important macroeconomic areas and topics such as growth, business cycles, monetary policy, exchange rates, and financial crises.

Module 6 Managerial Decision Analysis

In the era of data science, managers need to have a good understanding of the foundations of uncertainty modelling and business analytics. In this course, you will first learn about the underlying concepts of uncertainty management. Subsequently, you will study both the opportunities and the limitations of data analysis in business. Finally, you will tackle some challenging business problems using regression analysis, perhaps the most important tool of modern data science.

Module 7 Corporate Financial Policy

In this course, you learn how firms interact with capital markets and why that is relevant. At the core of our considerations are three financial policies:

  • Financing policy: How should firms finance their business activities?
  • Investment policy: Which factors should guide a firm’s investment activities?
  • Payout policy: How much and how should firms return capital to their investors?

You learn how financing instruments can be used to bridge disagreements, make deals more valuable, set the right incentives, and even serve as a truth serum. You discover the power of these tools in financing decisions throughout the lifecycle of a firm, including seed financing, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Finally, we extend this logic to financial risk management and learn how different financial instruments can be used to mitigate risk.

Program Details

Goals & Benefits

As one of our carefully selected students, you benefit from:

  • A personal community of inspiring classmates, professors, and guest speakers
  • Thoroughly designed curricula guided by economic principles and executive needs
  • New perspectives on management for immediate transfer into your
    organization
  • Carefully selected professors from top business schools worldwide
Modules, Dates & Professors
Financial Accounting
14.02. – 29.03.2025
Filip Roodhooft
Professor Filip Roodhooft
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Vlerick Business School, Belgium
Valuation
14.02. – 12.04.2025
Claudio Loderer
Professor Claudio Loderer
University of Bern, Switzerland
Managerial Accounting
01.03. – 29.03.2025
Filip Roodhooft
Professor Filip Roodhooft
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Vlerick Business School, Belgium
Managerial Economics
18.04. – 17.05.2025
Professor David Myatt
Professor David Myatt
London Business School, England
Global Economic Environment
02.05. – 31.05.2025
Aymo Brunetti
Professor Aymo Brunetti
University of Bern, Switzerland
Managerial Decision Analysis
30.05. – 12.07.2025
Corporate Financial Policy
13.06. – 12.07.2025
Urs Wälchli
Professor Urs Wälchli
Simon Business School and University of Rochester, U.S.

Please note that courses and dates can be subjects to change.

Applied Assignments

You will receive a grade for each course in our program. The professor will measure your performance through individual online exams, group homework and case studies, individual written assignments, presentations, and class participation. To receive a DAS in Finance from the University of Bern, you will successfully complete an individual DAS paper focusing on one of the courses you visited in the program.

Target Audience/Requirements

Classes are made up of executives and managers whose backgrounds include finance, manufacturing, business administration, IT, engineering, law, medicine, and other fields.

To qualify for the program, we require:

  • A university degree (or equivalent) and at least five years of management experience (as a project or line manager)
    or
    Over ten years of high-level managerial and leadership experience in lieu of academic qualifications
  • Middle or senior management experience with the potential for taking on increased responsibilities within the organization
  • A convincing character and the ability to work in a team
  • The ability to set priorities to successfully balance your job, studies, and personal life
  • Fluency in English
Program Fees

Program fees amount to CHF 29,500 (in two equal installments) and include tuition, materials, lunches and refreshments on regular class days, university registration, and exam fees. The fees do not include accommodation in Bern or Thun.

Application/Registration
Icon of an Application Form with a pencil next to it
Step 1
Online Application

Please complete the online application form for your respective program choice and upload it onto our application tool. We require you to submit the following and tick all confirmation boxes in the tool:

  • Two recommendation forms
  • Statement of company approval
  • CV/resume
  • Official diploma and transcripts
  • Letter of motivation
  • Portrait photo
  • Copy of passport or ID card
Icon of two Speech Bubbles – Initial Meeting
Step 2
Personal Interviews

If you meet the admission requirements, we will invite you to participate in two personal interviews, one with an alumnus/-a of the program and one with the Academic Director.

Icon of an Application Form with a Check Mark – Admission Decision
Step 3
Admission Decision

We will let you know of our decision within one week after the second interview.

Icon of a Rocket Taking off – Program Start
Step 4
Payment & Preparation for the Program

Upon acceptance to the program, we will send you a letter of acceptance and ask you to pay the first installment of CHF 14,375 to complete the process. Once we receive the deposit, we will send you further information to help you prepare for the program start.

Class Statistics

In our classes, we seek to combine a diversity of profiles to provide you with the most beneficial classroom experience and professional network possible. Here you can find the statistics of a typical class.

Origin

Functional Background

Industry Background

Gender
(female students)
Average
Age
Average
Work Experience
Average
Management Experience
23% 39 16 9

Next Info Sessions and Open Days

Modular EMBA

To provide you with additional flexibility, we offer a modular version of our EMBA. You have the option of beginning with a Certificate or Diploma of Advanced Studies (CAS or DAS) and pursuing the rest of the EMBA within five years. It is also possible to complete a certificate or diploma without continuing further EMBA studies.
Asia Experience
1 week
DAS in General
Management
8 months

DAS in General Management

After successfully completing the general management portion of the program (CAS Business Transformation, CAS Big Data & Supply Chain and Asia Experience), you will be awarded a DAS in General Management with focus Business Agility.

Executive MBA
16 months

Executive MBA

The Rochester-Bern EMBA begins in February and runs for a period of 16 months. For additional flexibility, you may split your studies into three parts over five years: two Diplomas of Advanced Studies (DAS in Finance or DAS in General Management) and a subsequent residency at the University of Rochester.

DAS in Finance
6 months

DAS in Finance

Once you successfully complete the foundational courses in finance and economics (CAS Finance Boost and CAS Economics & Statistics), you will receive a DAS in Finance with focus Business Analysis.

CAS Business
Transformation
CAS Big Data
& Supply Chain
Rochester U.S.
Residency
4 weeks
CAS Economics
& Statistics
CAS Finance
Boost

Get in touch with us!

Do you have questions about the program? Our team is happy to answer them.

Book a personal online consultation.

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