Study the most hands-on and up-to-date trends in finance and economics in the financial capital of the world. The Finance and Economics majors at Webster Geneva Campus are designed for students who are looking for a personalized, rigorous education that leads to careers in the economics and finance, management in the private and public sectors and at international organizations. Students can also continue their studies at graduate and professional schools of economics, finance and social sciences.
Start Your Financial Career in Geneva
Study the most hands-on and up-to-date trends in finance and economics in the financial
capital of the world. The Finance and Economics majors at Webster Geneva Campus are
designed for students who are looking for a personalized, rigorous education that
leads to careers in the economics and finance, management in the private and public
sectors and at international organizations. Students can also continue their studies
at graduate and professional schools of economics, finance and social sciences.
Students can choose from two different programs:
- The Bachelor of Arts in Economics provides applied and hands-on experiences throughout the studies and prepares students for confident and comprehensive decision-making in various areas of life.
- The Bachelor of Sciences in Finance focuses on finances from basic to advanced investments and financial management, and prepares students to work in banking and in other financial services.
Both programs share a core set of courses that are common to all business majors (Business Administration, Management, etc.) combined with specialized core and elective courses in economics or finance. The courses are taught by professors who have extensive professional experiences in their area of expertise. Courses are enhanced by visits, among others, to banks, including digital banks, insurance companies, and international organizations, such as the International Trade Center and the World Trade Organization.
Students can pursue internships towards the end of their studies — a unique opportunity arising from Webster Geneva’s strong ties to the local and international community in Geneva. Students can also consider these programs as part of their Study Abroad experience. This gives them the possibility to gain a truly unique perspective while advancing toward graduation with their major course requirements.
Bachelor Programs in Finance and Economics
Academic Catalog Links
The following are links to the specific program requirements and courses in each major in Webster University's official academic catalog:
Geneva is a great place to gain real-world experience as you study Finance and Economics. Our city has an international reputation as a financial center, with a 500-year tradition as a center of trade, an ideal geographic location in a secure and competitive economy, and because of the city’s reliability and trust for quality standards.
Multinational Companies
Geneva's location in the heart of Europe and its proximity to Africa and the Middle East, its highly skilled, multilingual workforce and its political stability and safety make it particularly attractive to multinationals. Around 130 multinational companies are based in Geneva Lake region. They are predominantly involved in trading, banking, watchmaking, fragrances, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and in luxury.
All of these firms need new, highly-trained talents, and many provide internship opportunities. The quality of universities and research in Lake Geneva region contributes to making Geneva a key player in the future — including in sustainable finance — and Webster Geneva Campus provides talented alumni employed by major companies across the region.
Geneva as a Finance Center
Studying Finance in Geneva gives you access to a rich and forward-thinking business community in the world of Finance. More than 3,200 finance-related companies operate here and account for more than 35,600 jobs in our region. There are 92 banks in Geneva, including 22 commercial and investment banks and 51 foreign-owned banks. In addition, there are hundreds of independent financial advisors, financial intermediaries, insurance companies and accounting firms based here.
Trade Finance
No other financial center in the world boasts the same concentration of skills as Geneva in areas related to commodity trading. This unique constellation comprises the main banking institutions with expertise in trade financing, leaders in this sector, including the global leader in inspection and certification, not to mention the large numbers of consulting firms and law firms that provide essential services to this industry. Geneva is the global leader in trade finance.
Shipping
Most goods traded internationally are transported by ship. A unique feature of Geneva is the interconnectedness of service providers for the shipping industry, from banks to inspection companies, and this explains why the world's second largest shipping company chose to locate in Geneva — even while Switzerland is located in a landlocked country. Today, the Lake Geneva trading center accounts for around 22% of the total volume of commodities shipped worldwide.
Sustainable Finance
Geneva has become a veritable laboratory of sustainable finance, due to the convergence of finance and international development in the city. Sustainable finance seeks to incorporate environmental and good governance criteria into investment decisions, for the benefit of clients as well as society as a whole. The Geneva Financial Center endorses this initiative through its support for Sustainable Finance Geneva.
Fintech
Financial services are in the midst of a digital transformation. And Geneva banks are not only well positioned to manage this transition, but are also playing a central role in shaping the industry’s digital future. Geneva boasts outstanding infrastructure and experience in data management. The Geneva Financial Center takes part in the activities of the association Swiss FinTech Innovations.
Universities and Research
Geneva boasts first-rate universities and research institutes specializing in areas as diverse as international relations and life sciences. The presence of 600 companies actively pursuing research and development make Geneva a center of innovation and technical excellence. Geneva's Financial Center supports educational initiatives that range from apprenticeships to basic research, as well as professional and continuing education.
Webster Geneva Campus runs an Economics and Finance Student Club that offers monthly discussion forums about the latest economic and financial outlook, invites guest lecturers to our campus and organizes field visits to companies, banks and international organizations. It also offers mentoring and tutoring for its members.
The Economics and Finance Programs offer unique opportunities for students to further enhance their studies by enrolling in signature courses, such as the Digital Economy and the Money and Banking. These special signature courses take students out of the classroom to explore Geneva, broader Switzerland or Europe for an unforgettable learning experience.
As an example, in Fall 2024, the students of the Money and Banking course visited Zurich for a two-day trip, which was packed with exclusive insights into the world of finance, cryptocurrencies and digital assets. During the visit, students had the privilege of meeting top industry leaders.
Read Money and Banking Signature Course Trip to Zurich Recap on LinkedIn
“Transferring my prior Swiss university credits to Webster allowed me to complete a bachelor’s degree, a highly valuable internship and a thesis in only 2 1/2 years, preparing me for my postgraduate studies.”
Alec Rochat
BS in Finance, ’19
Alec on Building a Professional Network
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