"Coming from a non-financial background, the MAF programme provides me with an ideal grounding in financial knowledge and a quick inroad into the industry. The MAF programme not only incorporates the world-renowned CFA curriculum, but also offers the holistic SMU educational experience. The collegiate setting ensures dynamic and comprehensive learning experience in the discipline of investment valuation and portfolio management."

Dharma Yasa Jayanto, CFA
Associate
Wilshire Associates

The SMU’s MAF programme, taught by its brilliant finance faculty, is designed for the real world with up-to-date exposure to theory and practice of finance. It is a well-structured programme, especially for the part-timers with enough flexibility to balance workload and study. The subjects refreshed my current knowledge in derivatives and broadened my understanding in new areas like Wealth Management. I have also enjoyed the group projects.

Bala Trichy
Head Treasury Finance
Emirates Bank International, Dubai

The MAF electives are taught by industry practitioners. Our discussions focus on practical issues, and not just limited to the theoretical framework. The experience has given me a deeper insight into the various specialised areas within the financial industry - in particular, wealth management and hedge fund management. This is especially useful in planning my future career path.

The SMU’s MAF programme has the distinct advantage of being taught by top-notch lecturers who bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise in both the academia and practices of applied finance. These lecturers break free from the confines of the classroom and cover a wide variety of real-life concerns and complexities that textbooks do not cover. But, more importantly, they provide advice to students on how to handle these issues, both within and beyond the context of the financial industry.

"...Getting to the root cause seems to be the motto and culture of the graduate students that we had encountered in teaching the Hedge Fund Management course. The stimulating issues that the students raised and the relentless questioning brought back memories of seminars during our graduate school days when research findings were being presented. Unlike the traditional way of teaching where the lecturers led the students to the final points, we find that the SMU students were confident in dictating the pace and direction on many occasions. Their enthusiasm and sharpness would sometimes stump even the most well prepared lecturers ..."

"The participants interrupted, jumped ahead and grasped key concepts before I had started the lesson proper... indeed, they were hugely stimulating to teach!"

Peter Douglas
Principal, GFIA Pte Ltd