Master By Research

Applied Economics is an economic discipline established by applying the basic principles of theoretical economics to study the regularity of economic activities and economic relations in various sectors and specialties of the national economy or to analyze the economic and social benefits in non-economic activities.

BFSU established the undergraduate majors of International Economy and Trade in 1999, and Finance in 2001. In 2007, we launched a master's degree in diplomacy (International Economics), and in 2010, we obtained the right to confer master's degrees in the first-level discipline of Management Science and Engineering, and independently established two second-level disciplines of International Trade and Investment Management, and Financial Engineering. Our school was accredited to award master’s degrees in International Commerce and Finance in 2014, and master’s degrees in Applied Economics in 2018.

By combining cutting-edge economic theories with BFSU’s strengths in language and area studies, the discipline of Applied Economics aims to cultivate interdisciplinary talent with an international vision. To this end, it has set two sub-disciplines: International Trade and Finance.

Sub-disciplines

1. International Trade

By studying advanced trade theories and China’s foreign trade practice at the same time, the Master of International Trade focuses on the theories and policies of international trade and investment, and conducts in-depth research on relevant rules and regulations, international financial markets and systems, and enterprises’ transnational operation. In addition, this program gives full play to BFSU’s strengths in area studies and leads students to study regional and national economies, regional and global governance, economic and trade relations between China and major powers, and the economic and trade relations between China and countries along the Belt and Road.

The program aims to cultivate interdisciplinary specialists who have a solid theoretical foundation in economics and international trade and to enable them to master international economic theories and research methods. Through training, they will be familiar with the prevailing rules of international trade and investment and gain strong analytical, research and cross-cultural communication skills. Accordingly, they will be competent to do work related to international trade, finance and investment in state organs, multinational enterprises, financial institutions, overseas organizations, research institutes, and other agencies.

Major courses: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, International Trade Studies, International Finance Studies, International Economic Law Studies, Intermediate Econometrics, Regional and National Economy Topics, Selected Reading of International Economics Literature; 

Optional courses: International Investment and Multinational Enterprise Management, Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions, International Marketing Studies, Cross-cultural Communication and Management, Corporate Finance, Management of Operation and Supply Chain.

2. Finance

The Master of Finance focuses on theories of monetary finance, international finance, financial markets and institutions, and discusses cutting-edge theories and practices in the financial sector. It also focuses on the problems faced by Chinese enterprises in their financial activities and the progress of China’s financial reform. In addition, this program covers regional and international financial cooperation, and enterprises’ investment and financing in countries along the Belt and Road by giving full play to BFSU’s strengths in multi-lingual, cross-cultural, and area studies.

This program aims to cultivate interdisciplinary specialists who have a solid foundation in economic theories and systematic knowledge of international finance, financial market and financial institutions and to enable them to master relevant research methods. Through training, students will become familiar with international financial markets and systems and gain strong analytical, research and cross-cultural communication and working abilities. Accordingly, they will be competent to work in state organs, enterprises, and international and regional organizations in the financial sector. 

Major courses: intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, financial theory and policy, international finance studies, intermediate econometrics, empirical analysis of finance, financial markets and institutions, and selected reading of finance literature; 

Optional courses: financial engineering, financial technology, international capital markets, corporate finance, international investment and multinational enterprise management, and financial statement analysis.