The Economics, Data Analytics and Corporate Finance Master of Science and Technology is a two-year course taught entirely in English. It provides students with essential skills for strategic decision-making in the corporate world.
The program combines three complementary disciplines that are usually taught separately at this level of study:
Microeconomic analysis: The microeconomics component gives students the tools for learning about corporate strategic decisions and strategic interactions within an ever-changing environment. Students focus on areas such as market and industrial organization, game theory and econometrics.
Corporate finance: This field deals with the analysis of firm's financial decisions. The students get to grips with various analytical techniques according to each subject, and tackle quantitative case studies.
Data analytics: Gaining crucial knowledge in econometrics, statistics and big data, the program equips students with the skills to analyze and interpret data.
Curriculum
The Program offers high-level classes taught by École Polytechnique's academic professors and researchers, as well as by professionals. Throughout the two years, the focus moves from academic classes and exams toward more project-oriented courses (data research, essay writing, etc.). Each year is divided into three trimesters, with the first two devoted to classes (9 weeks each), presentations and projects. The last trimester takes the form of an end-of-year internship.
Year 1 of the program involves principally theory-based teaching, focusing on fundamentals and methodologies of the disciplines studied, and finishing with a four-month internship period.
In year 2, students follow an in-depth curriculum with applied courses. A six-month internship then forms the final chapter of the program.
Each week, students attend three to four science classes and a personal development class (management, languages, civilization, sport). In addition to the academic classes with professors, our students regularly attend lecture series given by guest professionals, during which they are occasionally required to make presentations. Each trimester, students take:
- Mandatory courses in microeconomics
- Mandatory courses in econometrics or data analytics
- Mandatory courses in corporate finance
- One extra elective course
- classes in sports, languages, social sciences and management
Internships
At the end of each year, our students complete internships in France or abroad. They may decide to develop their practical skills in corporate finance by joining banks or private equity firms, or go into strategic consulting or data analytics across many different sectors (industry, retail, etc.).
The Economics Department, regularly receives offers of internships from a wide variety of companies, giving students a great scope of possibilities. Students may also find internships by themselves or through the alumni network.
I really enjoyed the fact that teachers had both a theoretical background and the ability to translate the different theorems we learnt into real-life scenarios […] I did my internship in the mergers and acquisitions division of an investment bank. I wanted a challenging experience, tough in terms of expectations and where I could apply what I learnt to real-life scenarios. I enjoyed it a lot.
ABOUT OUR ALUMNI
“ The first class just graduated and most of them already have jobs. A number of them are working in banking or the financial sector, some are going to do M&A, venture capital or join private equity firms; some of them are working in the consulting sector, with a focus on data analysis, and others have found a job in the industry where they also use their data-analytics skills. ”
Marie-Laure Allain, Program Director
The EDACF Master opens the door to wide range of professional opportunities. Corporate Finance, Consulting, and strategy management are just a few of the career paths our students can choose:
CORPORATE FINANCE
The Program offers many opportunities in corporate finance, including mergers and acquisitions, investment funds and business ventures (students take specialized classes in start-up valuation).
CONSULTING
Our graduates are also hired by consulting firms. They receive training in both economic strategy analysis—particularly through an in-depth course in industrial economics—and data science studies geared towards the needs of consulting firms.
IN ADDITION...
Our students are given a strong technical base in data science, with a number of them going on to become big data experts, working across a variety of fields. Some of them become strategic data analysts in a consulting company, while others opt for professions in industry, or in marketing. For many, the natural choice is to become a data analyst, but our students are also fully qualified for strategy-oriented careers. A position in strategy management within a company is therefore a logical medium- to long-term career choice.
Graduates of the Program can easily join any type of company, from start-ups to multinational corporations, in fields such as digital transformation, data science and strategy.
Of course, students also have the opportunity to pursue PhD study after completing their Master’s.