M.S. in Finance
By mastering the enduring principles that underlie financial markets, MSF students in the Seidner Department of Finance broaden their career opportunities and make names for themselves in their fields. Our program emphasizes financial analytical skills that students can bring to workplaces in corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking.
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At a Glance
209,000+
Boston College Alumni
44,000+
Carroll School Alumni
#10 in Finance
U.S. News & World Report Business School Specialty Rankings
Program Length
Students have 12 months to complete the 10-course program. Full-time students typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.
Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.
7
Core Courses
Fall
- Investments (MFIN8801)
- Corporate Finance (MFIN8807)
- Management of Financial Institutions (MFIN8820)
- Financial Econometrics (MFIN8852)
Spring/Summer
- Quantitative Portfolio Management (MFIN8803)
- Derivatives & Risk Analytics (MFIN8860)
- Advanced Corporate Finance (MFIN8881)
3
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
Program Length
The quantitative finance track is a STEM-designated track, and allows you to complete the 10 total courses required for the MSF in one full year of study (12 months). Full-time students can typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.
Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.
8
Core Courses
Fall
- Investments (MFIN8801)
- Corporate Finance (MFIN8807)
- Management of Financial Institutions (MFIN8820)
- Financial Econometrics (MFIN8852)
Select four of the following Spring/Summer courses
- FinTech and Cryptocurrencies (MFIN6650)
- Quantitative Portfolio Management (MFIN8803)
- Global Macro and the Financial System (MFIN8850) OR
- Cross Asset Valuation Across Global Markets (MFIN8855)*
- Derivatives and Risk Analytics (MFIN8860)
- Behavioral Finance (MFIN8865)
- Data Analytics in Finance (MFIN8870)
- Fixed Income Analysis (MFIN8880)
* Please Note: Students can earn credit for MFIN8850 OR MFIN8855, not both
2
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
STEM Designation
Boston College’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Quantitative Finance Track is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designated program. This classification allows international MSF graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months. Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with a STEM degree from a Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified U.S. school who participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (typically 12 months) may be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension.
To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must:
- Have completed a degree in an eligible STEM field from an SEVP certified U.S. school.
- Maintained lawful F-1 status during the standard 12 month period of OPT.
- Have employment through an employer enrolled in USCIS’s E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
- Work with the employer to complete a formal training (I-983) and learning objectives.
- Be employed at least 20 hours per week in a position directly related to the STEM degree.
Program Schedule
The part-time option offers a flexible schedule, enabling you to earn your degree while continuing to advance your career. Part-time students take two classes per semester on average. At this pace, the total duration of the 10-course program will be approximately 20 months.
7
Core Courses
Required Courses
- Investments (MFIN8801)*
- Corporate Finance (MFIN8807)*
- Management of Financial Institutions (MFIN8820)
- Financial Econometrics (MFIN8852)
- Derivatives & Risk Analytics (MFIN8860)
- Managerial Statistics (BZAN7703)**
* As Investments and Corporate Finance are prerequisite courses for most other finance classes, students should plan to take these courses first.
** This is a zero-credit, self-paced online course. All part-Time MSF students are required to take this course in their first semester.
Choose One of the Following Courses
- Quantitative Portfolio Management (MFIN8803)
- Fixed Income Analysis (MFIN8880)
Choose One of the Following Courses
- Advanced Corporate Finance (MFIN8881)
- Corporate Valuation and Restructuring (MFIN8821)
3
Elective Courses
These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.
Please note: Students cannot earn credit for both MFIN8850 Global Macro and the Financial System and MFIN8855 Cross Asset Valuation Across Global Markets. Only one of these classes may be taken for credit.
Course Information and Schedules
Course Waivers
Incoming students who took an MSF core course as an undergraduate may be eligible to waive the course, and to replace it with an elective, by passing a waiver exam. Waiver exams must be completed no later than the deadline of August 1. Incoming students requesting a course waiver must submit requests to Professor Michael Barry. Students will be notified of the results of their waiver exam prior to the start of the Fall semester.
MSF students who received an undergraduate degree from Boston College and who achieved a minimum grade of B+ in an MSF core course taken at Boston College will be allowed to replace that course with an elective, provided they have taken the course within the past five years. Students who received a grade of B or lower or who took the course more than five years prior to starting the MSF program may take a waiver exam or they may retake the course with a professor other than the one who taught their undergraduate course. For more information, please contact the Graduate Programs Office at 617-552-3773 or gsomstsv@bc.edu.
Community Service
The Carroll School has a proud tradition of service to our community. In keeping with that tradition and with our Jesuit heritage, all M.S. in Finance students are required to complete 10 hours of community service in order to graduate.
Full-Time Students
Academic & Professional Profile
| Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.37 |
| Average GMAT (10th Edition) Score | 705 |
| GMAT Score 80th Percentile Range | 630–716 |
| Average GMAT (Focus Edition) Score | 643 |
| GMAT (Focus Edition) 80th Percentile Range | 600–669 |
| Average GRE | 323 |
| GRE Score 80th Percentile Range | 311–334 |
| Average Full-Time Work Experience | <1 year |
| Work Experience 80 Percentile Range | 0–1 year |
Diversity
| Women | 31% |
| AHANA* | 24% |
| International | 47% |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Age Range | 21–34 |
*African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American.
Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 10, 2024
International Enrollments
Azerbaijan
Canada
China
Dominican Republic
Hong Kong S.A.R.
India
Indonesia
Lebanon
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Undergraduate Majors
Part-Time Students
Academic & Professional Profile
| Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.09 |
| Average Full-Time Work Experience | >4 years |
Diversity
| Women | 18% |
| AHANA* | 55% |
| Average Age | 28 |
| Age Range | 22-42 |
*African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American.
Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 10, 2024
Tuition & Aid
An MSF from the Carroll School is an excellent investment in your future. We offer merit-based scholarships and financial assistance to qualified applicants. Loan and work study programs are also available.
Alumni Experiences
Cole Conderman ’22, Advisory Associate, KPMG
“I chose to pursue my MSF at Boston College due to the reputation of the Carroll School name, BC’s proximity to America’s major financial hubs, and the program’s world-class educational experience.”
Udaypaul Chilana ’22, Investment Analyst, Cambridge Associates
“The professors are what make Boston College unique. They are some of the top minds in their fields, with extensive academic and professional achievements.”
Anya Sharma ’23, Financial Analyst, Performance Beauty Group
“The MSF program’s unique blend of theory and practical learning was what really attracted me. Many of my professors had years of industry experience, bringing real-world insights directly into the classroom. This allowed me to gain hands-on understanding while still in an academic setting.”
Yuting Xiong ’24, Financial Analyst, Edelman Financial Engines
“The rigorous BC MSF coursework strengthened my technical skills, such as financial modeling and quantitative analysis, and gave me exposure to writing effective research papers in finance, analyzing financial statements, reading and writing comprehensive case reports, and practicing presentation skills—all of which are directly applicable to my current role.”
FAQ
Does the MSF program prepare students for the CFA exam?
<p>The primary purpose of the MSF program is to prepare students for careers in finance, not to pass the CFA exam. However, our students have achieved a high success rate on the exam in the past several years.</p>
bc:schools/carroll/admission/search-tags/msa-msf-prepare-cfa
How do I apply for the MSF Quantitative Finance (STEM-designated) Track?
<p>While filling out your application, you should just apply to the MSF program as a whole. </p>
<p>Admitted applicants will be able to confirm their intention to pursue the Quantitative Finance (STEM-designated) Track when they submit their enrollment forms. <b>Important Note:</b> If the STEM track is not selected upon enrollment, students will not be able to switch to it at a later time.</p>
bc:schools/carroll/admission/search-tags/msa-msf-stem
Is work experience required for admission to the MSF program?
<p>The MSF program is open to both those with work experience and those without. For international students, however, we highly recommend that students have some work experience, particularly if they are seeking post-MSF employment in the United States due to the increasingly competitive US employment market. The MSF Program is designed to meet the diverse needs of finance professionals, career changers, and recent undergraduates. To learn more about our current students’ academic backgrounds and work experience, <a href="https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/carroll-school/graduate/ms-programs/ms-in-finance.html">view the class profile</a>.</p>
bc:schools/carroll/admission/search-tags/msa-msf-work-experience-msf
Connect
Application Link & Deadlines
Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.
Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that, provided their applications are complete, applicants may receive admission decisions before the notification deadlines. However, it is important for applicants to understand that decisions are only guaranteed by the official notification date.
Rounds & Final Deadlines: For priority consideration, applicants must submit their applications by the earliest date possible. Applications received after the last deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.
Full-time MSF 2025 Deadlines
| Program Start Date | Apply By | Receive Decision By |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | October 15, 2024 | December 4, 2024 |
| January 14, 2025* | February 26, 2025 | |
| March 11, 2025* | May 28, 2025 | |
| May 6, 2025 | June 25, 2025 | |
| June 10, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
Part-time MSF 2025 Deadlines
| Program Start Date | Apply By | Receive Decision By |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | October 15, 2024 | December 4, 2024 |
| December 10, 2024 | Rolling+ | |
| August 2025 | January 21, 2025 | March 26, 2025 |
| March 4, 2025 | May 14, 2025 | |
| July 8, 2025 | August 6, 2025 |
* International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by these deadlines.
+ Rolling notification date: Candidates with complete applications, which include the receipt of letters of recommendation, will receive decisions within ten business days.
Boston College Fifth-Year BC Applicants
Boston College undergraduates currently in the second semester of their junior year or at any point in their senior year are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Finance program as fifth-year applicants. Once enrolled, students can complete their MSA or MSF degree in as little as nine months from the program start date.
Resume or CV
Use this component of the application to outline your educational background and professional experience, including part-time and internship roles with months and years in each position.
✓ Application Tip: We recommend limiting your resume to one to two pages. Please also make sure that your resume corresponds to the information submitted in the “Employment” section of your online application.
Transcripts
All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:
Course names
All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)
Cumulative GPA
Degree conferral information
Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such as SpanTran/TEC or World Education Services (WES).
✓ Application Tip: Verify that your degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree before starting your application. Agencies such as WES provide a variety of degree equivalency tools and services.
Standardized Tests
Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:
GMAT school code: 44x-J5-96
GRE school code: 3033
GMAT/GRE Waivers
Full-time MSF applicants for Fall 2025 may request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn more and submit a full-time MSF GMAT/GRE waiver request before completing your application.
Part-time MSF candidates may also request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn more and submit a part-time MSF GMAT/GRE waiver request before completing your application.
✓ Application Tip: While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand.
English Proficiency
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.
Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:
TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100
IELTS: 7.5
PTE: 68
You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:
You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.
You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.
✓ Application Tip: If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.
Letter of Recommendation
Only one letter of recommendation is required to complete your application, though we will accept up to three letters.
We are interested in learning about you from an individual who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and your potential for professional success.
Recommenders are required to submit the recommendation forms online and will receive instructions through email once you complete the “Recommendation” section of your application.
✓ Application Tip: MSF applicants are advised to submit recommendations from either academic references such as professors, or professional references such as supervisors or managers.
Required & Optional Essays
All applicants must submit a required essay of no more than 500 words telling us about your past experiences, short- and long-term goals, and why you want to pursue an MSF at Boston College. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.
✓ Application Tip: We want to hear about you and appreciate when applicants craft a unique response to the questions. Learn more about our essay questions and how to answer them.
Questions
If you have any further application-related questions, we encourage you to register for an App-y Hour application support session. These small-group sessions are held through Zoom and led by a member of the Graduate Admissions team.
Thinking about your fit for Carroll School of Management graduate programs? Review some tips and tactics to assess your candidacy.
You can also email us at bcmba@bc.edu, or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.