
Study banking abroad
An in-depth guide to studying banking as an international student.
Banking degrees abroad
Banking is a highly competitive and rapidly changing sector in every modern economy. Factors like globalization, deregulation and advances in technology have revolutionized the banking and financial sectors around the world.
A degree in banking gives you the chance to study the theory and practice of financial services and financial markets. You’ll get to analyze the role of the financial sector in national and international economies, and develop an understanding of today's global economic system.
By studying banking abroad, you’ll be able to see financial issues from an international perspective. Banking is a truly global subject, and degrees are available at a range of universities and business schools all over the world.


Banking program structure
You can study banking at a range of degree levels including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. At undergraduate level, banking is primarily offered as a BSc and can take three or four years to complete, depending on where you study. In the US you can study banking as your major concentration, or as a minor subject.
It is quite common to study banking alongside another related subject like accounting, finance, or international business. Some universities do offer single-honors banking undergraduate programs, but these are quite rare.
Master’s degrees are also available, and will usually last between one and two years. Some universities offer banking as an MSc, or you can study for an MBA. PhD programs in banking are quite rare, and they’re usually in a specialized area of finance.
The content, curriculum and structure of each banking program will differ depending on the university you’re attending. Most courses are made up of core modules you must study, and a range of electives you can choose to tailor your programs. Some core topics and modules you can expect to study include:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Principles and practices of banking
- Banking governance and ethics
- Banking systems
- Commercial banking
- International banking and finance
- Financial mathematics
Banking program structure
You can study banking at a range of degree levels including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. At undergraduate level, banking is primarily offered as a BSc and can take three or four years to complete, depending on where you study. In the US you can study banking as your major concentration, or as a minor subject.
It is quite common to study banking alongside another related subject like accounting, finance, or international business. Some universities do offer single-honors banking undergraduate programs, but these are quite rare.
Master’s degrees are also available, and will usually last between one and two years. Some universities offer banking as an MSc, or you can study for an MBA. PhD programs in banking are quite rare, and they’re usually in a specialized area of finance.
The content, curriculum and structure of each banking program will differ depending on the university you’re attending. Most courses are made up of core modules you must study, and a range of electives you can choose to tailor your programs. Some core topics and modules you can expect to study include:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Principles and practices of banking
- Banking governance and ethics
- Banking systems
- Commercial banking
- International banking and finance
- Financial mathematics
Best countries to study banking
How to study banking abroad
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Banking study abroad programs
Banking undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in banking
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Actuarial Science and Finance: Banking and Risk Management - BSBA University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
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27,000 USD
Fee in university's local currency 27,000 USD
- Start date
- January, August, June
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Banking - BB Vilnius Kolegija University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
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3,355 USD
Fee in university's local currency 2,800 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Banking - BBA Stephen F. Austin State University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
18,564 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,564 USD
- Start date
- August, January
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Banking & Financial Planning - BSc (Hons) University of Northampton, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
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17,854 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,900 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Banking and Finance (Top-up) - BSc (Hons) London Metropolitan University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,577 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,700 GBP
- Start date
- September
Associate in banking
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Banking and Finance - ASc Laney College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,950 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,950 USD
- Start date
- August, June, January
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Banking and Financial Services - AASc Fox Valley Technical College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
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5,000 USD
Fee in university's local currency 5,000 USD
- Start date
- January
Certificate in banking
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Banking and Finance - Cert Laney College, USA
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,950 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,950 USD
- Start date
- August, June, January
Banking graduate programs
Master's in banking
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Banking - MFinCr Siberian Federal University, Russia
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
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3,307 USD
Fee in university's local currency 250,000 RUB
- Start date
- September
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Banking & Asset Management - MMgt HEC Liège Management School, Belgium
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,618 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,200 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Banking and Finance - MSc University of Stirling, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
22,075 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,950 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Global Banking & Finance - MBA EU Business School, Spain
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,849 USD
Fee in university's local currency 17,400 EUR
- Start date
- October, January
-
Business Management: Advanced Finance, Banking & Controlling - MSc Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation, Germany
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,538 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,960 EUR
- Start date
- August, December, November, October, September, July, June, May, April, March, February, January
Doctorate in banking
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Finance and Banking - PhD Siberian Federal University, Russia
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
3,632 USD
Fee in university's local currency 274,597 RUB
- Start date
- September
Diploma in banking
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Global Banking and Economics - GDip Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
14,394 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- September, May, January
Pathway in banking
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Banking & Finance Pre-Master's - PGP Kingston University, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 8 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
13,148 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,500 GBP
- Start date
- April, January
Future banking careers
Gaining a banking degree from a university abroad will put you in a great position to pursue a number of careers in financial services. Some of the most popular roles for banking graduates to go into include:
- Securities analyst
- Financial analyst
- Financial manager
- Investment manager
- Investment banker
- Auditor
- Broker
- Loan officer
There are a huge number of other roles you could be ideal for, so don’t limit yourself to this list. There are other careers like accountancy or law you could also pursue, but these would require further postgraduate studies.
