MSc/ Diploma in Finance LSE

Question

Hello, 

I am an Indian female, age 31, an IT engineer with work experience of 7 years in the UK. I woul like to have a change of career into finance. I have no experience whatsoever in finance or related fields. I hear that there is a Diploma in Accounting and Finance available in LSE for people like me who want to switch to finance. 

The questions I would like to ask are 

1) Is this a good enough course that can help me have a good career in finance. Is it a recognized degree on its own and reputed as well to attract good financial institutions, or should I take a Masters as well to get a good job. 

2) Age factor: Am I too old to switch career into finance when I do not have any finance experience, that too with a diploma. 

3) Which is a better option for me? Diploma or Masters? Will it be easy for me to into MSc Finance with my background?

Is there any other alternative you would like to suggest? 

I have taken my Gmat and got a score of 680.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

SimaQ · Answer

You can try and see https://www.lbs.ac.uk Too old... 31?

nope... But yeah, if you have no backround in finance, diploma in LSE is one of the best options.... After that you can enter LBS masters or LSE masters...

finance · Answer

Would you be able to comment on the Diploma Program in LSE. Will the Diploma alone help me have a successful career in finance. Is it necessary to do an MSc in addition. 2 years of study is definitely going to be a problem

esp because I have got a family as well with kids. The reason I asked whether I was too old was because I dont want to end up in a classroom where there are fresh graduates - 21/22 and then me - 31

I'm not sure if studying with such a group would help me. Even when some recruitment does happen, I dont want to end up in a situation that I am not considered because of age esp when I have no experience at all. I want to know if this program will help me. For LBS MSc , the website says it is for people who want to change careers within Finance/ know more about the subject and not for people who want a career change to Finance.

Hjort · Answer

The first question that comes to mind- why are you interested in moving into finance? Which area of finance interests you (e.g. IB, commercial lending, internal corporate function)? 

You have probably already seen this, but the overwhelming majority of MSC students are in the 20-25 age range (c. 75%). Students age 31 and above represent around 5% of the total. Nonetheless, being in a program with a number of other students with little experience in finance might not be such a bad thing. 

What sort of academic background do you have in accounting, finance, and economics?

finance · Answer

Thank you for the reply Hjort. I do not have any academic or work knowlege of Finance. I have an engineering IT background. I want to shift my career into Finance (not Finance in IT though). I have not decided exactly what in Finance, but I think I would like retail banking..

Why I am interested in Finance?? 
I have always been interested in Numbers etc and Maths and my problem solving skills has been my strong point. I have an engineering background. When I was in college I didnt know what I wanted to really do. My major was Electronics engineering. I got an IT job through campus placement and just went with what I got. Only later on, when I was fed up doing my job, did I start looking for other options and I thought a move into Finance woulod be a good one, as I have got the interest for that. Moreover, Finance market is the market is the most lucrtive and growing market. 

Is there anything you can suggest for me?

MSc/ Diploma in Finance LSE

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