Leading Comprehensive Finance Master of Finance Programs

Question

I have received quite a few messages over the last few months about comprehensive finance Master of Finance programs.

While there is a confusing profusion of MS Finance programs the vast majority are Mathematical Finance or Financial Engineering programs (see Taxonomy below). Once one screens out these programs there are remarkably few Comprehensive programs.

London Business School
MiF
https://www.london.edu/mif.html

Oxford/Said
Masters in Financial Economics
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/html/mfe_who_takes.asp

Princeton
Masters in Finance
https://www.princeton.edu/~bcf/master.htm

Vanderbilt/Owen
MS Finance (note that students can later return to Owen to receive an MBA)
https://www.owen.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbi ... /index.cfm

Florida
MS Finance
https://www.cba.ufl.edu/fire/programs/ms ... urriculum/

Washington University
MS Finance
https://www.olin.wustl.edu/prospective/msfin.cfm

Taxonomy

1) Mathematical/Computational/Quantitative Finance

"The program creates an integrated curriculum spanning four disciplines: economics, mathematics, econometrics/statistics and computational/numerical analysis." USC

2) Financial Engineering

"Financial Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that request familiarity with financial theory, the methods of engineering, the tools of mathematics and the practice of programming." Columbia

3) Comprehensive Finance

"Unlike mathematical or computational finance Master programs, we teach all of finance. This means for instance that we teach accounting, corporate finance, behavioral finance, etc., in addition to stochastic calculus, derivatives pricing, financial engineering, etc. We believe that our broad multidisciplinary approach to finance is an important advantage of our program, and that our placement record reflects it." Princeton

biztudent · Answer

Feel free to join this google group which aims to serve as a center for discussion for anyone interested in or affiliated with LBS. Post questions and share experiences!

https://groups.google.com/group/london-business-school

Adil · Answer

How strong and well known LBS MiF program? I am curious whether people know about it outside London City?

))

Paul · Answer

I graduated from LBS MiF and you would be surprised to know that for instance, in Korea, the MiF is better known than the MBA. From experience, the MiF is really catered to students with above average finance experience and I would not recommend it if you do not have at least 3 years work experience. Should you have any further question, feel free to start another thread to ask me.

candylynn83 · Answer

Here's a link of a programs listing for Masters of Finance degrees; came across it from a friend:

https://www.global-derivatives.com/schoo ... 003-04.php

Just wondering if a more recent rankings list exists...?

eurospec26 · Answer

Hey, great observation! Yeah, unfortunately (for me, at least

) there are only a few comprehensive finance master's program.. I've been taking note of this because I'm more interested in Corporate Finance / Investment Management rather than Quantitative Finance / Financial Engineering. Here are some of the master's programs in Finance (non-Financial Mathematics). You can just research on their websites. 1. University of Rochester - MS Business Administration, concentration in Finance The Simon Graduate School of Business Administration is well-known in the field of Finance. You may want to consider this school. 2. Rochester Institute of Technology - MS Finance Not as well-known as U of Rochester, but one look at the program website and it looks okay. Above average, at least. 3. Bentley College - MS Finance A well-known business college. Strong in undergrad, i'm not sure if Bentley is strong in its graduate programs. 4. Illinois Institute of Technology - MS Finance Finance is not the bread and butter program at IIT, but it's worth a try. 5. Webster University (main campus, St. Louis, MO) - MS Finance I'm not sure if this is AACSB-accredited. Webster is not really a traditional university, but when I researched their site, I found it quite good, but I focused primarily on the main campus. 6. London School of Economics - MS Finance A very well-known school around the world. The full-time MS Finance program will commence this Fall 2008. This has a dissertation requirement, though, if that bothers you (not as comprehensive as a PhD dissertation, of course!). 7. Warwick Business School - MS Finance Very well-known in the UK, Europe, and Asia. This school is AACSB-accredited. It also has a dissertation requirement. Hope this list helps! If anyone knows about other non-Financial Mathematics tracks programs (preferably in the USA), please let me know! raul.chebat@yahoo.com

pankaj019 · Answer

Hi,
I just want to enquire about the kind of students get admitted at LBS or LSE, as i want to apply there but i'm having some doubts about it.
I'm looking to apply for MS fin in LBS, LSE, OXford, Queen's college Kingston CANADA. But i'm not sure if my profile is good enough for that.
I've done my b-tech (Computer science) from an indian university, with 65% (non honours), then i have 2 years of work experience (IT) with FIDELITY Info Services, working for yorkshire, clydesdale bank and bank of america.
Will be gving the GMAT, probable score of 700/800(hopefully, look favourable).
i will be giving CFA level 1 in june 2009.
Looking at my average Academic record, Plus the applications will be sent for third round, Shall i apply to the schools i have mentioned here, or i shall look for some other schools which look favourable.
Kindly, tell as to what i should do? and to which schools i shall apply? Little bit confused for the time i'm applying for the MS fin Schools, i mean i'll be applying by january end or february. is that ok?

Thanks a ton for replying to it, and helping me out of this!!!

Regards,
Pankaj
mail:
pankaj.gndu19 AT gmail

meganbaxter1 · Answer

great list...but I think only LSE, Warwick and Simon are good in the above. the rest seem just normal, or with bleak career prospects.

on a side note, for those wanting to find career prospects and various profiles of quantitative analysts, or graduates of such masters of financial engineering degrees, (also known as quants), should definitely google "advancedtrading" and follow the first link

Megan

anshikamalik · Answer

Can anyone help me or suggest me.

I have done my undergrad from Delhi University and Masters in USA,both in Economics with specialisation in finance. I have passed Level 1 CFA and currently working for more than 10 months now in an HR consultancy as Financial Analyst in its Accounting Department.

I am not keen on 2 years Masters in Finance since I have a masters already. Rather I am interested in only 1 year masters and specifically in Corporate Finance. But I cannot get good and confirmed information on schools. Any suggestions?

I have LSB and SDA as one of the schools in my list. Anymore?

osbornecox · Answer

I have a question for those of you who know about the Simon School at Rochester:

- For a S&T, equity research or portfolio management job in NYC, is it better to do the MS in Finance or the MBA? I have a good CV prior to grad school, but it's not a finance profile.

nickk · Answer

does anyone know about the master in finance and investments from the rotterdam school of management?

Wolf · Answer

nice list

Wolf · Answer

i want to go for this in future

Alchemist1320 · Answer

any views on Bharuch,NY MFE...appears to be great value for money !!

daman · Answer

Good list. You can go to msfhq.com for a list of other master in finance programs

daman · Answer

https://www.quantnet.com/review-baruch-mfe-program

supereco87 · Answer

Cass Business School: Msc Quantitative Finance
St. Andrews: Msc Quantitative Finance
Durham: Msc Finance
RSM: Msc Finance

2shuvro · Answer

you can also look into cambridge and MIT Sloan

sailtheworld · Answer

Top 5 Continental European Schools (Targets in London):
St. Gallen (HSG), Rotterdam School of Management, HEC Paris, Bocconi, Stockholm School of Economics

Nelsonjp86 · Answer

I think St. Gallen is a good choice, and is also the cheapest of all. But do you have any idea about its placement record for Masters in Banking and Finance programme? More importantly incase you are a Non-German speaking international student? Thanks.. :-)

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