Finance Program (Undergraduate) – School of International Economics, CFAU (2025 Edition)

1. Program (Name and code): Finance (020301K)

2. Duration: 4 years

3. Degree: Bachelor of Economics

4. Program Features

As the only university directly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Academy’s academic positioning is closely aligned with and serves the new era of China’s distinctive major‑power diplomacy. Guided by Xi Jin‑ping’s diplomatic thought and the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, the Academy focuses on cultivating the urgently needed foreign‑affairs talent for the nation. It emphasizes the integration of theoretical learning and practical application, giving equal importance to professional knowledge and foreign‑language proficiency, and deeply blending political literacy, patriotism, and an international perspective. Centered on an innovative, independently developed Chinese model of diplomatic and foreign‑affairs talent education, the Academy builds a high‑quality, compound‑type talent‑training system featuring a distinct diplomatic character and strong language advantages.

This major is dedicated to training high‑quality, compound‑type international finance professionals for government departments and financial institutions. Graduates are expected to master English, possess solid professional fundamentals, have strong communication skills, and be capable of meeting the demands of globalization. The program’s distinctive features are:

Financial Expertise: Mastery of economics and finance theory, and familiarity with modern financial operations.

English Proficiency: Strong comprehensive abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, enabling English to be used as a working language.

Global Perspective: Insight into the inherent logic of financial globalization and the ability to track its evolving dynamics.

Diplomatic Background: Effective utilization of Ministry of Foreign Affairs resources to conduct finance‑diplomacy education.

5. Objectives

The Academy, guided by Xi Jin‑ping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, is devoted to shaping and educating students. Its overarching talent‑development goal is “Love the motherland, understand the world; master the specialty, excel in foreign languages; possess high quality and be multi‑talented.” With this aim, the Academy is committed to cultivating a new‑generation, China‑characteristic, compound diplomatic and foreign‑affairs talent who possess:

¨ a high level of political consciousness,

¨ solid professional knowledge,

¨ outstanding foreign‑language proficiency, and

¨ strong overall competence.

The training emphasizes the cultivation of students’ acute political sensitivity, deepens their practical experience in diplomatic and foreign‑affairs fields, and fosters a broad international outlook together with excellent cross‑cultural communication skills. It also strengthens students’ innovative thinking and decision‑making abilities for coping with complex international situations, aiming to produce outstanding diplomatic and foreign‑affairs professionals who can skillfully apply diplomatic techniques, possess strategic vision, and effectively carry out international cooperation and exchanges.

The major is designed to train compound financial‑diplomacy talents who have a firm political stance, a solid foundation in Marxist theory, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Graduates will:

¨ Systematically master Marxist economics as well as Western economic theory,

¨ Be proficient in modern economic and financial knowledge and possess a global perspective,

¨ Skillfully use foreign languages and digital technologies, enabling them to serve in financial‑diplomacy roles within government departments as well as in the international financial operations of financial institutions.

¨ Graduates will have robust comprehensive qualities, combining five fundamental competencies—politics, specialization, language, communication, and information technology—with five core capabilities—research, case handling, protocol, negotiation, and innovation. They will be well‑qualified to undertake management, research, and practical work in the financial sector, dedicating themselves to serving China’s major‑power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

6. Requirements

(1) Ideological‑Political Quality Requirements

¨ Love the motherland and support the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

¨ Thoroughly study Xi Jin‑ping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

¨ Firmly establish the “four consciousnesses,” strengthen the “four self‑confidences,” and achieve the “two safeguards.”

¨ Observe laws and regulations, cooperate in teamwork, and possess good moral cultivation, sound physical and mental health, strong dedication to work, a strong sense of social responsibility, and an appropriate spirit of competition.

¨ Deeply understand the core essence and strategic direction of China’s diplomatic policy, and possess keen political insight capable of accurately grasping the political situation in a complex international environment, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

(2) Professional Quality Requirements

Students of this major mainly study Marxist economics, Western micro‑ and macro‑economic theory, international economics, and the fundamentals of finance, receiving solid training in economic thinking and acquiring basic abilities in theoretical analysis, practical application, and operational work.

Students are required to participate in the academy’s mandated practice‑teaching activities and public‑service labor. Graduates should possess the following knowledge and abilities:

¨ Master the basic theories and analytical methods of Marxist economics.

¨ Master the theories and analytical methods of Western economics and finance.

¨ Apply quantitative, statistical, and other mathematical tools to analyze and research financial issues.

¨ Be familiar with the operation of major countries’ financial systems and the operating rules of the global financial system.

¨ Master the basic business knowledge and practical operations of banking, securities, insurance, etc., and cultivate commercial ethics.

¨ Understand the real‑world operation of domestic and foreign financial institutions and financial diplomacy activities.

¨ Be proficient in law, especially international financial law and international commercial law.

¨ Be familiar with diplomacy, international strategy, and the theory and practice of China’s foreign relations.

¨ Have a high level of English proficiency (listening, speaking, reading, writing, translation) and be able to work in English in foreign‑related economic positions.

¨ Be proficient in computer software such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), EViews, SPSS, Python, STATA, .

¨ Possess five basic skills (political, professional, language, communication, and information‑technology basics) and further develop into eight key abilities (research, case handling, protocol, negotiation, coordination, innovation, quantitative analysis, and economic-financial judgment).

¨ Hold six guiding concepts:

Ø Historical view: Understand the role and innovation of finance from the perspective of Chinese and world history.

Ø Philosophical view: Use philosophical thinking to approach problems.

Ø Legal view: Cultivate legal awareness and master legal knowledge.

Ø Global view: Grasp finance from the heights of globalization, international strategy, and an open mindset.

Ø Moral view: Uphold moral standards and serve as a moral model.

Ø Realistic view: Pay attention to and interpret the development trends of domestic and international finance.

(3) Physical Education Quality Requirements

¨ Understand basic sports knowledge and master fundamental methods and skills for physical exercise.

¨ Be proficient in one to two sports, meeting the “qualified” or higher standard for university students’ physical health.

¨ Possess scientific exercise awareness, develop good living habits and regular exercise routines, and adapt to academic and life challenges with a strong physique and resilient will.

¨ Continuously maintain a healthy lifestyle.

(4) Aesthetic Education (Art) Quality Requirements

¨ Establish a correct aesthetic outlook and comprehend the aesthetic connotations of multiculturalism.

¨ Possess the ability to perceive the beauty of natural landscapes, social life, and artistic works, with rich capacity to feel, understand, and express natural, social, and artistic beauty.

¨ Actively participate in aesthetic‑education activities, enhancing aesthetic judgment and innovative thinking.

¨ Use beauty to inspire intelligence and to nurture the heart, thereby shaping a sound personality and refined sentiment.

（5）Labor Quality Requirements

¨ Foster a correct view of the value of work, develop both a sense of labor and the ability to work.

¨ Understand that labor creates wealth and value, and cultivate work habits through practical experience.

¨ Possess a spirit of perseverance and willingness to endure hardship, nurture teamwork and problem‑solving abilities, and respect the results of labor.

¨ Form an admirable work ethic that values labor, is diligent, and embraces a solid, conscientious approach to tasks.

7. Major Discipline: Economics

8. Main Courses

Principles of Marxist Political Economy, Macroeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Accounting, Public Finance, Statistics, Finance, Corporate Finance, Principles of Insurance, International Settlement, International Finance, Financial Risk Management, Securities Investment, Commercial Banking Business and Operations, etc.

9. Teaching Plan

The program emphasizes integrating ideological and political education with professional education, including dedicated ideological and political courses and embedded political education components across all courses.

On the one hand, a comprehensive talent‑cultivation system is built that includes dedicated ideological‑political courses as well as ideological‑political modules embedded within each professional course.

On the other hand, the curriculum is arranged as follows:

¨ Lower‑class years focus on solidifying the foundational knowledge and research methods of economics. Core tool‑oriented subjects such as English and Advanced Mathematics are emphasized, and foundational professional courses—micro‑ and macro‑economics, accounting, and statistics—are offered.

¨ Upper‑class years concentrate on the application of financial theory and the enhancement of practical skills. Hands‑on training with research tools is intensified, “In English professional teaching” is promoted to strengthen students’ competitiveness for employment and further study, and the internship/practice component is reinforced.

¨ 10. Credit Composition

10. Credit Structure

Course Category		Credits	Credits that include practice teaching	Remarks / Sub‑total
General Education	Ideological & Political Theory	18	2	87
	General Foundations	18	7
	General Core	43
	General Electives	8
Professional Education	Professional Foundations	33		73
	Professional Core	16
	Professional Practice / Training	12	12
	Professional Electives	12
Practice Teaching	Social Practice / Social Survey / Practice Activities (Innovation & Entrepreneurship)	1	1	9
	Military Training	2	2
	Professional Internship	2	2
	Graduation Thesis	4	4
Overall Total Credits			30	169

11. Assessment

Student academic assessment is carried out strictly in accordance with the relevant regulations, namely the Regulations on the Management of Undergraduate Students of the Diplomatic Academy, the Detailed Rules for Undergraduate Course Assessment of the Diplomatic Academy, and the Practical Teaching Outline of the Diplomatic Academy.

12. Employment Directions

Graduates may pursue careers in the following areas:

¨ Financial diplomacy and foreign affairs departments of national government agencies at all levels;

¨ Foreign‑related business divisions of financial institutions;

¨ Financial reporting and editing units of news media;

¨ International financial organizations;

¨ Financial business divisions of large corporations;

¨ Various consulting and management firms.