Sponsored by NEOMA Business School

Challenging, constantly evolving and highly paid, finance is one of the most popular industries to work in. However, careers in finance are known for being incredibly competitive, particularly if you’re looking to work at globally renowned company.

One way to set yourself apart from other applicants is by obtaining a master’s in finance. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have an inquisitive, analytical mindset a master’s in finance could be a good option for you.

Which master’s in finance should I study?

If you’re considering studying a master’s in finance, there are several excellent options available to you, allowing you to specialise in your area of interest.

At NEOMA Business School in France, there are three master’s in finance programmes to choose from: MSc Corporate Finance; MSc Finance, Investment and Wealth Management; and MSc Financial Markets and Technology.

Each of the programmes are career orientated, helping students build up transferable skills and offering the opportunity to complete work placements

Here are the key differences between the programmes:

MSc Corporate Finance

Corporate finance is concerned with managing an organisation’s money, aiming to maximise the value of the business, while balancing risk and profitability.

The MSc Corporate Finance is designed to give students the versatile set of skills needed to work in the corporate and investment banking or build a career in financial advisory.

It focuses on two main fields of finance: corporate finance and financial engineering.

What will you learn?

During the degree, you will learn how to assess a company’s risk levels and implement hedging strategies; master the techniques of corporate finance operations; understand complex financial modelling and leverage financial data for strategic decision-making.

At NEOMA Business School, the MSc Corporate Finance is a 15-month, full-time programme taught in English, with a long track two-year option available.

Students will learn primarily through practical application, with case studies, business games and a mandatory four-month professional placement, which can be completed either in France or abroad.

What are some typical career paths?

The degree can lead to a wide range of career paths, including:

• Banker, advising on mergers and acquisitions transactions
• Analyst, working in mergers and acquisitions
• Business officer or director of investment, in private equity
• CFO
• Financial auditor
• Equity research analyst, sell-side and buy-side in financial institutions
• Credit analyst
• Financing manager
• Cash manager

Who should study the MSc Corporate Finance?

Corporate finance is for individuals who have a strong grasp of mathematics, are good at problem-solving and have excellent commercial awareness.

MSc Finance, Investment and Wealth Management

A career in finance, investment and wealth management revolves around financial planning for an individual or family. This may involve managing personal finance, credit and investment.

The MSc Finance, Investment and Wealth Management degree is an internationally focused finance degree intended for ambitious students who want to work in investment, private equity and asset management.

What will you learn?

In the MSc Finance, Investment & Wealth Management, students will gain the skills they need to properly manage portfolios and risks in order to satisfy clients’ concerns.

During this degree, you will develop a strong knowledge of private wealth management, an understanding of the real estate market; and relevant skills in all aspects of an investment decision process, including planning, legal and tax impacts and performance.

At NEOMA Business School, students can choose to follow one of two tracks as part of the 15-month programme: the real estate and wealth management track, or the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) track. However, the CFA track is only open to students who have already completed the CFA level one qualification.

NEOMA Business School is one of the few French business schools that is an official partner of the CFA Institute in France. Students on the CFA track will also have the option to earn a double degree with the University of San Diego (USA). 

The school also has a partnership with PwC Luxembourg – a member of the ‘Big Five’ accounting films – which works directly with NEOMA Business School to offer relevant training.

What are some typical career paths?

Typical careers with this degree include:

• Portfolio manager, working in equities, fixed income, alternatives and real estate
• Asset manager
• Research analyst 
• Private equity
• Chief executive
• Risk manager
• Financial advisor
• Corporate financial analyst

Who should study the MSc Finance, Investment & Wealth Management?

MSc Finance, Investment & Wealth Management students typically have a finance-related undergraduate degree and are looking to gain further specialisation in real estate and wealth management, or investment

For this programme you will need excellent communication skills, a proactive mindset, the ability to adapt to changing situations, a strong interest in the financial market and excellent analytical skills.

MSc Financial Markets & Technology

By studying the MSc Financial Markets & Technology you will gain an in-depth knowledge of the technological tools revolutionising the finance industry today, and an insight into risk management.

The programme prepares students to work in risk management banks and a wide range of financial institutions. It will give you a strong foundation in data science for finance, behavioural finance and fintech.

What will you learn?

Students will gain an in-depth expertise on the main concepts, theories and practices in finance related to equity, bonds, currencies, derivatives and other alternative investments.

By the end of the programme, you will be able to perform a functional analysis and implement and action plan that incorporates digital and international components. You will also have the ability to conduct a scientific study and issue a recommendation.

At NEOMA Business School, you will focus on two major components of financial markets: financial risk management; and new technologies and their financial industry applications. 

As part of the MSc Financial Markets & Technology, students will work towards the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification: a professional certification for financial risk professionals. This is a challenging, rigorous course that assesses candidate’s ability to manage risk in a real-world environment.

What are some typical career paths?

Career paths this degree can lead to include:

• Financial investment manager
• Investment portfolio manager
• Risk manager
• Risk analyst
• Financial advisor
• Compliance manager
• Quantitative analyst
• Financial investment manager
• Investment portfolio manager

Who should study the MSc Financial Markets & Technology?

This programme is aimed at students looking to begin a career in the financial technology (Fintech) sector. The master’s degree will help you develop the right mix of technical and non-technical skills needed to succeed in the sector.

To succeed in this degree, you will need advanced mathematical and quantitative skills, logical thinking and the ability to quickly adapt to change.

Durham*
Location: United States
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 76th
Top-ranked university: Duke University (=50th)
Highest-performing indicator: Rankings (46th)

Durham did feature in the previous edition of the QS Best Student Cities rankings but was initially mislabelled as being Durham, United Kingdom rather than Durham, United States.

Nur-Sultan
Location: Kazakhstan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 92nd
Top-ranked university: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (150th)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (=10th)

Amman
Location: Jordan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 113th
Top-ranked university: University of Jordan (591-600)
Highest-performing indicator: Employer activity (52nd)

Tainan
Location: Taiwan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 115th
Top-ranked university: National Cheng Kung University (=224th)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (19th)

Busan
Location: South Korea
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 118th
Top-ranked university: Pusan National University (601-650)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (21st)

Montpellier
Location: France
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 119th
Top-ranked university: Université de Montpellier (501-510)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (35th)

Bandung
Location: Indonesia
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 120th
Top-ranked university: Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) (=235th)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (8th)

Cluj-Napoca
Location: Romania
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 122nd
Top-ranked university: Babes-Bolyai University (1001-1200)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (12th)

Gwangju
Location: South Korea
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 123rd
Top-ranked university: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (=288th)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (17th)

Baku
Location: Azerbaijan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: =126th
Top-ranked university: Baku State University (1001-1200)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (1st)

Surabaya
Location: Indonesia
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: =126th
Top-ranked university: Airlangga University (=369th)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (6th)

Kaunas
Location: Lithuania
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 128th
Top-ranked university: Kaunas University of Technology (801-1000)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (=72nd)

Quito
Location: Ecuador
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 130th
Top-ranked university: Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) (701-750)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (=33rd)

Timisoara
Location: Romania
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 131st
Top-ranked university: West University of Timisoara (1201-1400)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (7th)

Bucharest
Location: Romania
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 132nd
Top-ranked university: University of Bucharest (1001-1200)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (=13th)

Taichung
Location: Taiwan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 133rd
Top-ranked university: National Chung Hsing University (651-700)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (27th)

Albany
Location: United States
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 134th
Top-ranked university: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (=461st)
Highest-performing indicator: Student mix (85th)

Montevideo
Location: Uruguay
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 135th
Top-ranked university: Universidad de Montevideo (UM) (=449th)
Highest-performing indicator: Desirability (97th)

Denver
Location: United States
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 136th
Top-ranked university: University of Colorado, Denver (=428th)
Highest-performing indicator: Desirability (70th)

Iasi
Location: Romania
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 137th
Top-ranked university: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (1201-1400)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (5th)

Xi'an
Location: Mainland China
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 138th
Top-ranked university: Xi’an Jiaotong University (302nd)
Highest-performing indicator: Student voice / Employer activity (both 110th)

Irbid
Location: Jordan
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 139th
Top-ranked university: Jordan University of Science and Technology (801-1000)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (56th)

Łódź
Location: Poland
Best Student Cities 2023 rank: 140th
Top-ranked university: University of Lodz (801-1000)
Highest-performing indicator: Affordability (18th)

How is QS Stars different to a university ranking?

Like a university ranking, QS Stars can be used to compare universities. However, the QS Stars rating system provides a much more in-depth assessment, going into much greater detail and drawing on more extensive data. And, instead of receiving a ranking position – such as first, second or third – universities are given a QS Star rating out of five.

When considering universities, what is the difference between rankings and ratings?

Should students be more concerned with whether a university is ranked or rated?

Each can be helpful. A university that appears in rankings can also be rated, and vice versa, although some universities will only appear in one or the other. A rating system can help students identify those universities which may be a good fit, but which did not appear in the top of the rankings. If you want to study in the best universities, you can look at rankings and well as overall results of a rating. But if your concern is to find a university that matches your more specific interests, you should concentrate on ratings.

• The QS World University Rankings 2023 feature over 1,400 universities from around the world, our biggest university ranking yet.

• Institutions are assessed across six categories (or indicators) to effectively capture university performance – including academic and employer reputation, faculty/student ratio and research citations – to help you make the best decision for your future.

How do I use the rankings to find a university?

The QS World University Rankings provide a starting point for you to discover your dream university, by easily finding and comparing the institutions that interest you. You can compare the reputation of universities across the world, and filter the selection by category and region.

You can even see each institution’s score for their efforts in working towards the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs.) The SDG score doesn’t impact on the rankings, but it can help to see which universities are having a real impact on creating a more sustainable world.

The rankings can give you an idea of teaching quality, student population, employability factors, research and diversity, but they can’t make the choice for you. Further research is recommended to gain a bigger picture of what it’s really like to study at the university’s you’re interested in.

Once you’re ready to start shortlisting, you can visit each university’s profile page on TopUniversities.com to find out more about their programmes, facilities and tuition fees.

What do the indicators mean?

The six indicators that determine the QS World University Ranking 2023 are:

Academic reputation – Accounting for 40 per cent of the overall score, academic reputation looks at the teaching and research quality at the world’s universities. We collate over 130,000 expert opinions from the higher education space, creating the largest survey of academic opinion in the world.

Employer reputation – We know that students want to graduate with the skills and knowledge required for the employment market. We assess how institutions prepare students for successful careers, and which institutions provide the most competent, innovative, and effective graduates.

Faculty/student ratio – This indicator recognises that a high number of academics per student reduces the teaching burden and creates a more supportive student experience. We assess how institutions provide students with meaningful access to lecturers and tutors.

Citations per faculty – We measure university research quality with a citation per faculty metric, taking the total number of academic citations in papers produced by a university in a five-year period.

International student ratio & International faculty ratio – A highly international university creates a number of benefits. It demonstrates the ability to attract quality students and staff from across the world, and it implies a highly global outlook. Strong international institutions provide a multinational environment, building international sympathies and global awareness.

Find out more information about how each category is assessed.

How to filter the rankings

You can easily filter the QS World University Rankings by region and indicator. For example, if you want to discover universities in the US with strong employer reputation, you can use the drop-down menu to choose the region and location (or indicator).

Once you’ve filtered the list into US universities, you can click the ‘Rankings indicator’ tab and scroll through the indicators at the top of the rankings table to find the one you want. Click ‘employer reputation’ and the table will be automatically filtered from highest to lowest based on that indicator.

Adithyan, from India, used the QS World University Rankings to find both his bachelor’s and master’s courses. They said: “Using the region filter helped me to understand the quality and value of universities in different parts of the world. By using the rankings, I found a programme I wanted to study in Warsaw, Poland.”

What do I do next?

Once you’ve used the rankings to create a shortlist of possible universities for you, we recommend exploring their profile pages on TopUniversities.com, where you can find out more about what they offer, the programmes available and the facilities you could study in.

The QS World University Rankings are helpful as a starting point, but it’s important to visit university websites, attend open days, watch videos and chat to students about their experiences.

Once you’ve done as much research as you can and understand what you want to achieve from your university experience, then you (and only you) can make the right decision for your future.

Good luck!

Sponsored by Bocconi University

A double master’s degree gives you the opportunity to gain two postgraduate degrees from two separate business schools in the time it takes to complete one. Many students use this as an opportunity to study abroad at an internationally focused university, such as Bocconi University in Italy.

Bocconi University offers a wide range of double degree programmes in partnership with more than 280 top universities in Europe, India, Brazil, the USA, Canada, Oceania and mainland China.

Studying a double master’s degree at an international university shows employers that you are able to work in multicultural teams and address new challenges, pushing your boundaries to learn and take on new opportunities. In other words, it proves that you would make a good future leader.

Yiwen Jin is a 24-year-old double master’s degree student from Zhejiang, mainland China. She is currently studying an MSc International Management at Bocconi University and MA Banking and Finance in St. Gallen in Switzerland.

She said: “From the start, I was determined to apply for a double degree for my master’s. I believed this would be a unique experience. I would get to live and study in a new place, which is rather different from just traveling there.”

If like Yiwen you’re considering studying a double master’s degree at an international university, here are five ways it could benefit you:

Take advantage of international experiences

After studying abroad in the UK for her undergraduate degree, Yiwen was eager to continue her international education. She liked the idea of studying in the US and first came across Italy’s Bocconi University while browsing Yale University’s website, as Bocconi is one of Yale’s partner schools.

“Bocconi is the only European school I applied to. I received offers from both Bocconi and an Ivy League school,” said Yiwen.

To decide between the two schools, Yiwen contacted alumni on LinkedIn to ask about their experiences. After doing this, she chose Bocconi University. 

Yiwen said: “My first impression of Bocconi is that it is very international. As a Bocconi student, you have plenty of international opportunities, such as double degrees, exchange programmes and research projects.”

Understand what it’s like to work and study in a diverse environment

If you decide to do a double master’s degree, where you’ll study will depend on the programme you undertake.

Bocconi University in Italy currently offers three types of double degree.

The Future Leaders International Double Degree undergraduate programme joins Bocconi’s BSc in International Economics and Management (BIEM) with a degree at Guanghua School of Management of Peking University in Beijing, to form a four-year course.

Alessia Fontanari studied the China Master in International Management (China MiM) at Fudan University in Shanghai, mainland China. She said: "It was a great learning experience, and very different from the traditional exchanges. This kind of situation allows you to truly integrate into the host country”.

The graduate double degree offers graduate students the possibility to spend the first year at Bocconi, and the second year in another prestigious partner school specialising in their field of interest.

Yiwen, who is studying the graduate double degree, said: “I am so lucky I can study a programme I really like. Because of staying in a diverse environment, I know myself much better and I know what I want for my career and my life.”

Finally, the law double degree offers fourth-year law students the possibility to spend their fifth and final year of the Integrated Master of Arts in Law in another prestigious partner school, specialising in their field of interest.

You’ll have experiences that will help shape your career path

Studying abroad can expand your mindset, helping you realise your career goals and learn practical, transferrable skills.

By studying a double master’s degree, you will study in two different countries, giving you even more scope to enjoy new experiences.

Armando Cilento is an international management graduate who obtained his double degree at Bocconi and HEC Paris. He said: “This experience was an occasion to put myself to the test, to become part of another culture. It was like having a double passport".

“Thanks to this double degree programme, I can push myself and learn two different fields for my master’s in the same length of time for other single master’s programmes. I receive double the knowledge and double the happiness.”

She added: “By studying and living abroad, I can better understand people from different cultural backgrounds and also let others know my thoughts and understanding.”

Study two different degrees to build a diverse skillset

One of the main benefits of the double degree is that you will get to learn two completely different subjects at two international universities. This helps you to gain a unique, diverse skillset which will make you stand out in the graduate job market.

Bocconi’s international management programme is very interactive and aims to encourage collaborative approaches to problem solving.

“There are lots of case studies and group work activities that can help develop soft skills including quick learning, time management, effective communication, team work and leadership,” said Yiwen.

The teaching varies from module to module, and some aspects of the programme will be completed online. Yiwen explains that each of the professors at Bocconi University have different teaching styles and experiences, which only adds to the diversity of the programme.

She said: “During my year studying at Bocconi, I learnt so many interpersonal skills. My first presentation at St. Gallen for integration week was an unexpected success thanks to Bocconi’s training.”

Push yourself out of your comfort zone

Although there are many benefits of studying a double master’s degree, the programme is challenging and will push you beyond your comfort zone.

The double degree programmes contain many group assignments and presentations and students are expected to do additional reading around the subject outside of class.

“The teaching at Bocconi is very rigorous and intense because it contains many core courses, internship, foreign language study and thesis,” said Yiwen. “To some extent, this double master’s degree is quite different from my bachelor’s degree, but I am determined to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.”

Would you like to learn Chinese Universities’ strategy to increase local and international student numbers despite the pandemic?

Are you keen to understand how Chinese universities succeeded in improving their average rank in 2022?

If so, register for the virtual QS Higher Ed Summit: China on 13-14 April 2022!

The Summit will focus on “Knowledge Environments: Expanding education during and after the pandemic” and aims to gather local and international Chinese Higher Education experts to provide a roadmap to China’s success and explore what aspects of this region’s strategy can be replicated in other countries.

The four main topics debated will be:

• The ‘’Growth and Opportunities’’ sessions will debate what are the influences impacting the decision-making of leaders in the region and how universities, both within and outside of the region, can prepare for the future; 

• The ‘’Exporting Research’’ sessions will explore what opportunities exist for international and cross-sectorial collaboration and how research initiatives are changing over time in the region; 

• ‘’Creating a New Destination Market’’ will investigate what can be learnt from China’s success, why students are attracted to it as a study destination and how this can be sustained 

• The ‘’New Virtual Education’’ sessions will aim to reveal what are the challenges to offering online and virtual education in China and what considerations need to be made in developing new opportunities for teaching and learning

QS China Summit speakers line up include:

• Irwin King, Director, Centre for ELearning Innovation and Technology (ELITE), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Prof. Dr. Themin Suwardy, Associate Provost, Singapore Management University

• Winnie Eley, Secretary to Governing Board of CityU (Dongguan), City University of Hong Kong

• Prof. Pei-Shan Tsai, Dean of Office of Global Engagement & Professor of Nursing, Taipei Medical University

• Dr. Miguel Antonio Lim, Senior Lecturer in Education and International Development, The University of Manchester

• Prof. Leonard K. Cheng, President, Lingnan University

• Prof. Nigel Healey, Interim Provost and Deputy President, University of Limerick

• Martin Lockett, Dean and Professor in Strategic Management, Nottingham University Business School China

The Summit represents an excellent opportunity for you to join hundreds of higher education leaders from China and the region coming together to network, create strategic partnerships, and learn more about China’s education sector latest trends.  

You can reserve a free limited access ticket or a full access ticket here.

Sponsored by Bocconi University

Attending a summer school as an undergraduate student has many benefits. It’s a great way to gain a better understanding about a topic of interest or learn more about a university before applying to a programme – particularly if you’re an international student.

To give international students an insight into university life in Milan, Bocconi University in Italy is running a three-week-long summer school from 27 June to 15 July 2022, offering a variety of programmes both in person and online. Students can choose one topic in the fields of management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, finance, economics and each course lasts three weeks.

So, if you’re interested in attending a summer school as an international student, here are four reasons why you should. 

Learn more about a university or programme

A university summer school will offer an exclusive insight into a university’s programme and methods of teaching. If you’re considering a postgraduate degree, a summer school can be a great opportunity to find out if this is the right programme – and university – for you.

MSc Management student David Donev attended Bocconi University’s summer school online in 2020. Originally from Hungary, David used the summer school as an opportunity to learn more about Bocconi University before pursuing his master’s there.

He said: “I had the chance to get an understanding of a specific aspect of finance through the interactive teaching methods of Professor Gigante and to take a peek into the academic environment of Bocconi - which has convinced me to pursue my MSc at the institution.”

Xinyun Li had a similar experience. Initially from China, Xinyun decided to start a postgraduate programme at Bocconi after attending Bocconi’s summer school in Milan in 2016. 

“As a business student and football fan, there was nothing more thrilling than participating in an interdisciplinary course in sports management. This allowed me to gain a pretty comprehensive view of the sports industry from finance, marketing and management aspects,” said Xinyun.

Xinyun is currently studying economics and management in arts, culture, media and entertainment at Bocconi University. Attending the summer school at Bocconi played a large part in her decision to study there.

“When weighing various graduate programme offers, I considered my experience at Bocconi Summer School as one of the crucial factors in my final choice,” she said. 

“I believe Bocconi’s summer school offers a great chance to learn about the academic environment there,” she added.

Discover a flexible way of learning

Bocconi University’s online summer school programmes offer the flexibility to learn more about a school without having to travel. This makes them a great option for international students.

At Bocconi University if you choose to attend an online summer school, you’ll attend courses through an interactive platform, streaming classes which let you interact with professors and classmates. 

“I consider the introduction of the remote version of Bocconi Summer University very fortunate, as it has allowed me to participate in the programme while working as an intern in my home country,” said David.

Gain valuable business connections

One of the big draws of a university summer school is the people you’ll meet. You will get to know other students from around the world and work with peers from different countries and cultures. 

Xinyun explained how the social aspects of the summer school helped her meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere. 

 “Aside from the lectures, there were well-organized visits to Adidas Italia, San Siro stadium and Vero Volley Monza. We had access to the VIP lounge, welcome gifts and chances to talk with senior managers,” she said.

“It was the perfect combination of lectures, company visits and cultural immersion,” she added.

Immerse yourself in the culture

Studying abroad can be intimidating if you’re not sure what to expect. Luckily a summer school can prepare you for studying abroad. Whether you choose to attend a summer school in person or online, you will gain an insight into student life at the university and immerse yourself in the local culture.

“After-school activities, such as the cooking class and the city walk made it possible for me to surround myself in Italian culture,” said Xinyun, who studied at the in-person summer school in Milan.

David also enjoyed this aspect of the summer school.

He said: “I could immerse myself in the Italian way of living through online activities like the cooking class, in which we cooked a traditional Italian pasta recipe called cavatelli. 

“This, and building valuable relationships through the online groups, made the summer school a truly unforgettable memory.”

If you’re interested in further developing your knowledge in management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, finance or economics and you want to discover more about studying at an Italian university, Bocconi University is opening up its summer school to motivated international students.

There are plenty of courses to choose from so whether you’re looking to study online or in person, you can find a programme that suits you.