International Finance & Accounting

Would you like to play a part in the world of international finance or are you just interested in studying with people from all over the world? Then International Finance and Accounting (IFA) at Saxion University of Applied Sciences is definitely a degree to consider. IFA is a study path of the study programme Finance and Control.

Theory and practical experience go hand in hand. This degree is an excellent basis for a career in business or public service in your own country or abroad. It also offers the possibility to do your Master's at a university in or outside of The Netherlands. The content is similar to that of the Dutch Finance and Control degree.

During the four-year programme you will acquire knowledge about financial management, accounting and investing. You will discuss ethical dilemmas, learn how to debate and how to deal with cultural differences. You will work on business cases with an international focus and have a semester abroad at one of our many partner universities. The lectures are problem-guided and take place in classes with a maximum of 25 students of around 10 different nationalities.

International Finance and Accounting programme is structured around the following themes:

• ​Financial Management. Emphasis in this course is on issues of Investment and Financing. We will discuss: investment selection methods, the functioning of the stock exchange, valuation of shares and bonds, risk measures, the theory of MM, mergers/take-overs and the functioning of derivatives (options, futures). What risks are associated with investing abroad and mergers with (take-overs by) foreign companies?
• ​Financial Accounting. The Financial Accounting course can be divided into three areas: Annual Accounting/Reporting (for example the relevance, reliability and comparability of information in the Annual Report), International Financial Accounting (about IFRS, US-GAAP and the different accounting traditions) and Business Administration.
• ​Management Accounting. In this course planning and management activities of business are addressed. Topics are: expenses and net price, stock rating, performance assessment, budgeting and control and quality management (TQM, Six Sigma, etcetera). We will also discuss different management and reward systems and styles and see that they strongly depend on the cultural background of the company.
• ​Professional Skills. Other essential professional skills that we will cover, such as Computer Skills, Professional Communication, Business English, Intercultural Groupwork and Ethics.
• ​Internship. During your internship you work independently on professional tasks in a business organization in The Netherlands or abroad. You get to experience the coherence between the various disciplines within an organization as well as working under time pressure.