Prior to earning a master's in corporate finance, you should complete an undergraduate degree. A major in finance or a related field, such as business management or economics, will prepare you for the postgraduate level. If you have any career experience in corporate finance or something similar, this could count toward your credentials in qualifying for a master's program. After identifying schools that you would be interested in attending, find out when the deadline for application is for each one, and apply as early as possible. Your grades and performance as an undergraduate will affect your eligibility for a master's program.
In addition to earning a bachelor's degree and possibly some career experience, you will most likely need to take an entrance exam for a master's program. The graduate management admission test (GMAT) may be a requirement, and you will likely be expected to perform according to a certain standard. Other requirements to obtain a master's in corporate finance include providing several references. These could be endorsements by industry or academic professionals, for instance. International students who want to obtain a master's in corporate finance in a country where English is the primary language are likely to be required to take and pass a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
If attending a university full time is not feasible because of work or other obligations, it is possible to earn a master's in corporate finance over the Internet. Online programs tend to be less expensive than the more traditional option of enrolling as a full-time student. The Internet course work should be similar to the instruction provided in a live setting, and an online degree could take a couple of years to complete. You should expect to write and discuss a thesis in front of faculty, which is a similar requirement to a more traditional master's program.
Of course, to obtain a master's in corporate finance, you are going to need to excel in finance-related courses and show an aptitude for performing complex deals involving various participants in the markets. You will likely need to gain a command of business management and business law because of the regulation that oversees corporate finance activity. Also, you may need to explore internship opportunities in order to graduate, which will also serve as some career experience and may help in obtaining employment in the future. Relevant corporate finance assignments can be found at investment firms, including banks and private equity shops.