gateway into London I-Banking: HEC Paris, Cass or Warwick???

Question

I'm also interested in pursuing MSc in Finance degree... main objective is to get into i-banking/client management roles in london so far i've been offered these programmes:

1) Maastricht University - MSc Financial Economics (Banking) (unconditional)
2) Warwick MSc Accounting and Finance (conditional)
3) Cass MSc Banking and International Finance (conditional)
4) HEC Paris MSc Finance (unconditional)
5) Stockholm School of Economics - MSc Business and Economics (Finance) (unconditional)

given that most schools are expecting a reply within the next 2 weeks, i'm torn between warwick, cass and hec paris.

pls correct me if i'm wrong, but given that i would like to work in london after graduation, warwick has the best name amongst the 3 to get me a job in london. however, i am afraid that the accounting degree will relegate me to some middle office position which i do not want. it's also a conditional offer- i have to attain 4.5 GPA- this creates a lot of uncertainty.. if i don't maintain my GPA i am fcked.

cass' programme looks interesting but i think it has the worst name amongst the 3 but it's in LONDON baby. also conditional offer, similar to warwick's.

HEC Paris seems like a good school. have also been awarded a scholarship there... the only thing is i don't know a word of french except "bonjour". i have heard that HEC Paris is good with job placements in the french market. but what about in london?

please advise, anyone. especially if you have done similar programmes in these schools!
much appreciated xxx.

sailtheworld · Answer

Cass is the worst of the 3 you're considering

I dunno if Warwick has the best name necessarily. I think worldwide HEC has a better name. Also, why not SSE? It is as strong as HEC for recruiting in London, but obviously HEC has a bigger name globally. HEC also has great placement in France in addition to London.

I personally would go to HEC, but it's really up to you between Warwick and HEC.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi sailtheworld, thanks for the reply! I initially considered SSE but decided against it because the programme is 2 years along.. although I personally would like to go to Sweden on a longer time basis!

Cass may have the worst name of the 3, but they have the best location, right in the heart of European banking? also, their programme is the shortest with just 9 months. However, with that said, I am actually right now more inclined to take up HEC's offer because of the conditional offers by Cass and Warwick. I'm getting in touch with Cass office to see if they can waive the condition. But if they can't by 15 April (date i have to accept HEC's offer by), i will stick with HEC. i just had a few concerns abt job placements in London; i know in France it shouldn't be a problem with HEC.

sailtheworld · Answer

The various placement numbers posts on thestudentroom.co.uk show that Warwick>Cass even with the location of Cass. Warwick and HEC are about the same, though some firms show Warwick a very slight bit ahead. But those numbers are just for London; so if you're interested all of Europe (and maybe even around the World), that's why I would have HEC ahead. But if you know you're going to start in London, your experience will mean more anyways and from there it won't matter as much the brand name of your degree.

sailtheworld · Answer

Also, I looked at Warwick's Accounting & Finance courses and it seems it is softer with less ability to focus on quantitative courses. It seems like it'd only be good for IBD, Equities Research and PE-type roles. I dunno though, maybe it's like LSE where as long as the name "Warwick" is on the degree, the BBs don't distinguish (I doubt it).

I think HEC would give you more options in terms of the other areas of finance you could get into outside of IBD if you decide to change your mind.

I think HEC would give you more options in terms of the other areas of finance you could get into outside of IBD if you decide to change your mind.

Anonymous · Answer

thanks for the research, sailtheworld! what i didn't like about the A&F course at Warwick was its greater focus on the accounting modules.. it seems pretty limited when you can only choose 2 electives out of the list of electives that they have.. and core modules look like they are gonna take up the bulk of the studying. not sure if i will learn much from there even though there's the good name attached to the degree. also, i just checked with a few contacts working in London- they said they have not met that many people from CASS working in the industry, compared to warwick and HEC ( a little surprised abt HEC). so it seems from the analysis above that HEC is the best choice amongst the 3? gotta start picking up french then! thanks for the help!! :-D

Nelsonjp86 · Answer

Guys, Any opinions about RSM, Duisenberg school of finance, and St. Gallen?

YalaYolo · Answer

He people check financial times ranking :
 https://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-finance-pre-experience-2011

Warwick definitely is a better option but it`s worth considering Cranfield School of Management as the avg. weighted salary is 76000 USD post course completion and is ranked 8th salary wise.

thaihoang305 · Answer

I think LSE is the best

gateway into London I-Banking: HEC Paris, Cass or Warwick???

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