Seeking Opinions on Master of Finance Programs in Toronto (York, Queen

Question

Hey everyone,
I recently got accepted into several Master of Finance programs in Canada and would love to hear your insights. My goal is to land a  buyside portfolio analyst or equity analyst  role in  Toronto  after graduation.
The programs I’ve been accepted to:
 
  York University (Schulich MFin)  
  Queen’s University (Smith MFin - Toronto campus)  
  Wilfrid Laurier University (MFin with co-op)  
  McMaster University (MFin, DeGroote School of Business)   
I’m particularly interested in hearing about:
 
  Future career prospects:  Which program has the best track record for placing graduates into equity research or buyside roles? 
  Alumni network:  How strong is the alumni network in finance, especially in Toronto? 
  Reputation:  Among these schools, which one is most respected by employers in asset management, hedge funds, or pension funds? 
  Co-op vs. non-co-op:  How valuable is the Laurier co-op for someone looking to break into buy-side roles?  
Any insights, suggestions, or experiences with these programs would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

shishimaru · Answer

Congratulations on your acceptances! For buy-side/equity research roles in Toronto, Queen’s Smith MFin (Toronto campus) likely has the strongest reputation, given its alumni network and industry connections. Schulich MFin is also well-recognized, particularly for finance roles in Canada.

In terms of career prospects, Smith and Schulich have the best track records for asset management placements. Their alumni networks are well-represented in major banks, pension funds, and hedge funds in Toronto. McMaster and Laurier are solid but don’t carry the same weight in finance-specific recruiting.

A co-op can be valuable if you lack direct finance experience, as it provides hands-on exposure and networking opportunities. However, many buy-side roles prioritize networking and direct applications over structured co-ops.

If breaking into equity research or asset management is your priority, Smith MFin or Schulich MFin would be the best choices, with Smith having a slight edge in finance industry reputation.

Best of luck with your decision!

charleschang0101 · Answer

charleschang0101 · Answer

First of all, thanks for the detailed reply!

I'm still struggling to make a final decision because I don't have any buy-side/equity research-related experience. Additionally, I think that having the opportunity to intern at big buy-side firms would be a big plus on my resume, so I thought going to Laurier was a no-brainer. However, the only thing I'm worried about is its relatively low reputation. Therefore, I don't know if it's justified to choose Laurier over York and Queens just because of its co-op opportunity.

Also, may I ask why do many buy-side roles prioritize networking instead of offering return offers to co-op students?

Thanks and have a nice day!

Seeking Opinions on Master of Finance Programs in Toronto (York, Queen

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