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Master’s degrees are fast becoming a major asset within the finance industry and can open many doors for graduates who are looking to kick-start their careers in finance. There are plenty of potential career paths out there so a career in banking doesn’t have to be the only option.

The US Bureau of Labor reports that employment opportunities in the finance and business sector will increase by 10 percent by 2026 and as the rules and regulations of finance are practically universal, having a master’s in finance can offer itself as a passport for worldwide career opportunities.

A considerable 64 percent of master’s in finance graduates from the IE Business School Report 2017 found work within the investment banking industry just three months after graduation, with 18 percent working in consulting. A further seven percent have secured work within asset management, four percent in sales and trading, four percent in VC (venture capital) and PE (private equity), two percent in Fintech (financial technology) and a further two percent in industry, demonstrating that the job market for graduates with a master’s in finance has a lot to offer.

Using data collected from PayScale, read on to discover just some of the amazing careers you can do with your master’s in finance.

Corporate investment banker

Average salary: $96,476 in the US

Having a keen interest in finance with the ability to understand how money is made and invested are the main traits of a corporate investment banker. Corporate investment bankers carry out financial research to develop financial solutions, achieve financial goals and provide strategic advice by identifying and securing financial deals for their clients by implementing both short-term and long-term plans. Clients can be a company, institution or government.

As a corporate investment banker, you must be equipped with strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to communicate technical information in a simple format to your clients. Like many other financial careers, as a corporate investment banker you will need to be resilient, have the ability to work well under pressure and cope with stressful situations.

Financial analyst

Average salary: $59,026 in the US

As a financial analyst you will combine your knowledge, skills and interests to evaluate investment opportunities for your employer and provide guidance and recommendations for the best course of action for your employer’s investment decision. You should be aware of current market trends as well as investment opportunities within your specialist area. Financial analysts’ employers can be non-profit organizations, government, other business or an individual. As a financial analyst you can also work in banks, pension funds and insurance firms.

Financial advisor

Average salary: $58,590 in the US

Working as a financial advisor means you will provide specialist advice and guidance to your clients with how they manage their money. You can specialize in just one particular area of expertise which can include investments, savings, estate planning, mortgages, taxes or pensions. Financial advisors provide professional recommendations for their clients by researching the marketplace and ensuring that the client has all the information possible to make a fully informed decision to secure a sale.

You can work as an independent advisor where you research and consider all areas of retail investment products or providers that can meet your clients’ needs, or you can work as a restricted advisor where you offer limited advice which focuses on only one, or a very limited number of products or providers. You must, however, always inform your client as to whether you will be providing them advice as an independent or a restricted advisor beforehand.

Stockbroker

Average salary: $51,395 in the US

As a stockbroker you’re expected to use your exceptional analytical, negotiation and communication skills to advise your clients to make informed decisions on investing in the right stocks and right markets at the best time.

In a fast-moving and challenging environment, you will also carry out market research to maintain your expertise and knowledge of up-to-date financial and tax legislation to ensure that the guidance you give your clients is as accurate as possible. As a stockbroker, communication is key as you deal with and update your clients directly with new investment opportunities.

Actuary

Average salary: $55,450 in the US

Actuaries mainly work in investment banking, corporate finance, pension funds and insurance companies. They use financial and statistical theories to assess the likelihood of certain events occurring to then help their employer or client take steps to minimize the possible risks and financial costs involved. It is important that, as an actuary, you’re able to present and explain technical and complex information in a way that non-specialist clients can understand.

Getting started

IE Business School, situated in Spain’s sunny capital, Madrid offers a full-time 10-month master’s in finance program that is taught entirely in English. The program is developed by capital market professionals and offers up-to-date knowledge in the most innovative areas of finance.

This article was originally published on October 19th, 2018. 

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The recently launched QS World University Rankings: Masters in Finance Rankings 2019 ranks the top schools for the subject based on five indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity.

In the world of business, thorough financial knowledge is highly critical to success, and this year sees seven European institutions rank among the top 10 schools for finance (four of which are in the UK), while the remaining three are based in the US.

Due to the schools’ high level of prestige in the academic and social departments, many of them have very low acceptance rates and rather complicated admissions processes. Read on to find out more about your likelihood to be accepted to study at the top 10 schools for finance.

 1. London Business School

Renowned for its highly respected reputation as one of the world’s top schools for business studies, the London Business School ranks number one in the master’s of finance rankings this year.

According to the school’s website, the full-time MSc in Finance class of 2017 was made up of 106 students in total, while the part-time class consisted of just 67. Admission to the school is competitive, and applicants must have a minimum of two years’ relevant financial experience, an undergraduate degree (or a strong career history and/or professional qualifications), as well as an international outlook and intercultural communication skills.    

2. HEC Paris School of Management

Currently ranking second in the world for its Master in International Finance course, HEC Paris is a widely recognized business management school with the most sought-after degrees in business management.

With an overall acceptance rate of just eight percent (as of 2012), receiving admission to the school is undoubtedly extremely competitive. To even be considered for its master’s in finance course (Business track), applicants must be fluent in English and must (at least) hold a second-class honors undergraduate or postgraduate degree from an international institution, including a history of prior training in the financial sector.       

3. MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan currently ranks third for its course in Master of Finance, a program which aims to lay out the essential basics of any career in the world of finance. The class profile for students entering the Master of Finance course of 2018 had a total of 62 students enrolled in the standard 12-month program, and 49 enrolled in the 18-month program.

Applicants from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but must have a range of strengths to make the chosen few, including excellent test scores, communication, leadership, teamwork, creativity, and work experience.  

=4. London School of Economics

A new entrant in the master’s in finance rankings this year, the London School of Economics entered at joint fourth place (with Oxford Saïd Business School). Its MSc Finance course provides students with a broad and in-depth foundation in the field of finance, boasting an excellent reputation amongst employers within the sector.

The minimum entry requirement for this 10-month course is an upper second-class honors degree in any discipline, good quantitative skills (or GMAT for UK undergraduates), and GMAT or GER for all non-UK undergraduates.

The competitive nature of admissions to this course is shown in the class of 2017, when a mere 93 out of 1,679 applicants were enrolled.

=4. Oxford Saïd Business School

Oxford Saïd Business School ranks at joint fourth place in the master’s in finance rankings this year. Its MSc Financial Economics course is an intellectually challenging but rewarding nine-month program, combining excellent academic training with real-world professional experiences.

Once entry requirements are met, you may complete and submit your online application (along with supporting documents) for 2019-2020 entry, by one of three chosen application deadlines. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for an interview or provided with a direct offer, after which a final decision will be made.

If successful, you’ll be required to pay a non-refundable deposit fee of £6,400 (US$8,420), due 30 days after your notification of acceptance.

6. Cambridge Judge Business School

At sixth place, Cambridge Judge Business School is a new entrant in this year’s master’s in finance rankings. Its Master of Finance course aims to provide a unique learning experience by focusing on the core foundations as well as niche topics of both the theory and practice of finance.

As of 2015, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 21 percent, and to be considered for the Master of Finance course, applicants must at least have an upper second-class honors degree at undergraduate level (or the equivalent), a minimum of two years’ graduate work experience in the finance sector, fluent proficiency in the English language, and maths and stats proficiency. 

7. ESADE Business School

Heading to Spain, ESADE Business School’s MSc in Finance course earned it seventh place in the rankings this year. The course delivers an enriching combination of knowledge and technical skills to help prepare its students for the world’s top recruiters in finance.

As is the case with many of the top international business schools, ESADE has quite a small applicant pool, and admissions across its wide range of courses are often very competitive.

For the MSc in Finance program, the admission process involves a series of stages and to be eligible, you must have an impressive academic background and have a high level of English proficiency.

8. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

Ranked eighth place, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business is one of just three US business schools featured in the top 10 of the master’s in finance rankings this year. Its Master of Financial Engineering course takes a year to complete and prepares its students for leading roles in the finance/fintech industry.

As is the case with most of the world’s top institutions, admission to US Berkeley Haas is highly competitive. 79 students out of a total of 565 applicants are currently enrolled in the Master of Financial Engineering class, their average GRE/GMAT test scores bordering perfection.

Before applying, you must ensure you meet all the admissions criteria.   

9. ESSEC Business School

Up one place this year to rank ninth, the ESSEC Business School has campuses located in France, Singapore and Morocco.

The school’s Master in Finance course is an intensive and enriching program delivering 21 core courses and 29 elective courses, to match its students’ personal interests and professional ambitions.

An open-minded business outlook, flair for leadership and an excellent academic record make up some of the application requirements listed for this course. An undergraduate degree and/or a master’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics, business or economics from a top university/school is also a must.

More about admissions for the Master in Finance course can be found here. 

10. UCLA Anderson School of Management

The UCLA Anderson School of Management ranks 10^th this year for its Master of Financial Engineering course. The program aims to hone high-achieving students’ mathematical modeling skills, computational expertise and quantitative skills in preparation for today’s challenging financial markets.

Applicants to the course are expected to demonstrate high computational programming skills, have a strong quantitative background and should be able to provide evidence of experience using mathematical tools (such as MATLAB). They also need to show progress toward obtaining a CFA certificate, and must have excellent writing, speaking, and presentation ability in English. 

The application process can be found here, and all applications for the 2019/20 academic year must be submitted before the final deadline on April 30, 2019.

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The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving in Moscow for the first time is the sheer scale of the city. Individual buildings take up entire blocks, roads contain more lanes and cars than you can count; it’s as if someone has taken a normal city and scaled everything up by a factor of four.

This awesome sense of scale is unlike other capital cities around the world, where construction has reached towards the sky as space comes at a premium. Moscow, meanwhile, has plenty of space. So much so, in fact, that its top tourist attraction is a large, empty space the length of more than three football fields. In person, Red Square somehow manages to be even bigger than the mental image that description has given you.

For international students, the idea of studying in Russia can feel like a step into the unknown. Barring a few surrounding countries, Russian isn’t widely spoken around the world. The climate and people are both perceived to be cold, the political situation fraught. Of course, the reality – as with all preconceptions – is extremely different.

Here’s what we learned on a recent trip to Moscow about what it’s really like to study in the Russian capital.

There’s a reason Russia produces so many Nobel Prize winners

Only France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US have produced more Nobel laureates than Russia and the Soviet Union, and one tour of the laboratories at a top Moscow university is enough to reveal why.

Serious levels of investment into STEM and innovative technologies has occurred across lots of Russia’s top universities but the facilities at the National University of Science and Technology MISIS are particularly noteworthy. On our visit, we were shown how researchers are looking to produce hydrogen from aluminum waste, literally creating energy from Russia.

As well as impressive, space-age facilities, money has also been invested in ensuring students are taught by the best faculty members available. Professor Alexander Gromov, who works in the university’s Non-Ferrous Metals and Gold Department, had spent time working abroad in Italy before returning to Russia and ending up at NUST MISIS. To be led by him from lab to lab, from one science experiment to another, was like being shown around a sweet shop by an excited child. The passion is infectious.

This passion extends all the way to the top and Rector Alevtina Chernikova. She told us with great pride of the advances made by the institution in recent years, and of the number of NUST MISIS scientists featured in leading academic journals and publications around the world, proof of the university’s growth in research and development.

New ideas are everywhere at Moscow’s top universities

The level of innovation you’ll encounter at the top universities in Moscow is staggering. NUST MISIS have even gone as far as creating a whole academic conference dedicated to digital innovations in education, called EdCrunch.

Away from the conference hall, you don’t have to look hard to see how some of these ideas are being put into practice. At the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (also known as RUDN University), we spoke to medical students who are able to use a training simulation center to practice their craft and learn how to overcome the language barrier with patients.

We also saw the Mission Control Center used by the university’s Institute of Space Technologies, which receives the same live feeds as the country’s actual space agency. Researchers excitedly talked us through how students were able to use the center’s data to identify illegal mining sites on satellite images and report them to local government.

No, you don’t need to speak Russian to study here

The idea of living and studying somewhere where you can’t speak, read or understand the language can be terrifying, especially if you’re interested in pursuing a technical degree which requires using a complex vocabulary.

What is most noticeable when visiting universities in Moscow, however, is how open they are to English speakers. It’s extremely rare to meet a faculty member or student who can’t confidently speak in more than one language, and many degree programs are English-taught. At the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), for instance, there are now three English-taught bachelor’s degrees available.

Speaking to current international students in Moscow, it’s also remarkable how many of them have learned the language alongside their studies. It’s a fairly common practice at some universities, including MIPT, for international students to attend a preparatory one-year course to learn Russian before their degree starts, and the extent to which this helps students assimilate into the local culture is remarkable. Several students told us of how learning the language helped them settle into their new home and make more from their time in Russia.

Students here genuinely love what they do…and that’s not true everywhere

Have you ever met someone in love with a type of metal? Visiting RUDN University, one student spoke to us excitedly about a fire- and explosive-resistant steel material that they were working with as part of their studies. This level of passion and excitement was evident in everyone we spoke to, whether they were designing artificial bone replacements or studying Russian as a foreign language.

Maybe it’s a sign of how much a university degree is taken for granted in some parts of the world, but it’s clear that for these students their time at university isn’t just a rite of passage or a stepping stone to a particular job. There’s an earnest enthusiasm which is, for example, a long way from the British stereotype of apathetic students sleeping in late and missing lectures.

By contrast, studying in Moscow means fully embracing every academic opportunity available, so much so that one of the NUST MISIS Students Science Society members we met wasn’t even a scientist - Maria Peremitina joined to learn new skills and meet people from other subjects. The society, one of around 10 at the university, is open to anyone and provides a fantastic opportunity for personal development which students are eager to take.

Think you’d like to learn more about studying in Russia? Find out more about the top universities in the country with the QS BRICS Rankings 2019, which features the top universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

By Alicia Vida

I’ve always valued the importance of getting to know other cultures and of learning new languages. That’s why I decided to pursue a degree in International Business Management at Lancaster University, a double degree four-year integrated program, where you spend two years in Lancaster and two overseas.

So far, I’ve spent my first two years at Lancaster, and will be spending my last two years at ICADE in Madrid. However, Lancaster also offers students the chance to finish their last two years in other universities, such as Northeastern University in Boston in the United States, UDLAP in Puebla, Mexico, and CESEM in Reims, France. And despite only being established in 1964, Lancaster University is currently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the UK (ranked 131^st in the most recent QS World University Rankings®).

But looking beyond rankings and international exchanges, what else does Lancaster have to offer? Read on to find out why I’d highly recommend studying here…

It has excellent accommodation options

Lancaster students are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation options. On campus, there are eight undergraduate colleges to choose from: Bowland, Lonsdale, Furness, The County College, Fylde, Cartmel, Pendle College, Grizdale College and Graduate College. Each of them offers numerous options to satisfy every student’s needs, such the possibility for students to be catered, common rooms with ping pong and pool tables, bars, chill areas and laundry facilities. Standard rooms with a washbasin, en-suite bathrooms, superior en-suites, townhouses, studios…whatever you’re after, Lancaster University offers it.

On the other hand, if you prefer to live in town, the city center also has a good supply of accommodation. There are plenty of companies that help students to find accommodation, Student Housing Lancaster and Yellow Door Lets being just two, with options such as City Block available right in the center of town.

There are 200 societies to choose from

Lancaster has a fantastic selection of societies on offer, covering a huge range of activities, hobbies and causes – meaning there’s bound to be at least one that suits you. Joining a society allows you to meet people with the same interests, and gives you the opportunity to experience something completely new. It also means you can increase your academic network and meet friends from outside both your accommodation and your course. Throughout the year there will be loads of events o put in your calendar, such as rehearsals and performances, campaigns, competitions, cooking events, guest speakers, and of course the socials, in which you can show off your fancy dress skills for themed nights out on the town. And in the unlikely event that you can’t find a society to match your interests, you could always start your own!

Lancaster still battles York in the ‘Roses’

It’s not quite the Wars of the Roses, but every year the hugely competitive Roses tournament pits the University of York and Lancaster together with competitions across a wide range of sports and an unbeatable atmosphere. The Roses is organized by LUMS (Lancaster University Student Union) and YUSU (York University Student Union), and is often described as the largest inter-university sports tournament in Europe! The two institutions take it in turns to host, and it is definitely a great weekend for spectators and supporters, with also a range of cultural events taking place to make the event even more special.

And if you’re interested in keeping fit during your spare time, you’ll be pleased to hear that the university opened the new, state-of-the-art Sports Centre in 2011, featuring the very latest in top of the range sport facilities and open seven days a week, 360 days a year. And the university’s students' association possesses more than 35 sports clubs, including American football, rugby and hockey - with all of them regularly competing against other institutions across the country.

Lancaster is famous for its nightlife

Photo credit: Adam Bruderer (Flickr)

Lancaster is incredibly international, home to almost 3,000 international students from all around the world, and boats a wide selection of bars and night clubs where students can go out during the weekend or even during the week. Wednesdays in Sugarhouse, a nightclub managed by students, are particularly famous! They have extensive discounts and even organize free buses from the club to the university, helping to ensure that your night out doesn’t break your budget. Another notable night club is Dalton Rooms, which also organizes Latin Parties.

You can get your caffeine fix at the city’s trendy coffee shops...

If there’s one thing students need, it’s coffee. In Lancaster, you’ll find endless options to satisfy your caffeine craving. As well as the obligatory chain coffee shops, there are loads of trendy local options where you can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and an artisan flat white or whatever your heart desires. The Music Room for example is an incredibly popular choice with students.

...And satisfy your taste buds

Italian, American, Asian, Mexican…you’ll find every cuisine you can imagine in Lancaster. And the best part…home delivery! Or, if you’re looking for a more luxurious restaurant, the canal has a number you can choose from. The White Cross and Water Witch are probably the most famous, where they also put on live music for you to enjoy while you eat.

It’s ideally located for day trips

Lancaster is located in the northwest of England, and for many students, this may be their best opportunity to travel and experience new cultures. Take advantage of this opportunity and be sure to visit other cities such as Liverpool or Manchester, only one hour away by train. Alternatively, you could visit London or Edinburgh, two vibrant cosmopolitan capital cities with endless attractions and experiences. The Lake District is also another must-see, especially for nature lovers. Go on endless hikes to enjoy the beautiful scenery, or visit during the summer months and you can rent a boat and swim in the lakes without freezing to death.

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Overall, I think Lancaster University is the perfect place for students to get a world class education, as well as being able to meet people from different nationalities and explore other cultures. Studying abroad has many benefits, and is one of the most enriching experiences you can ever commit to. But most importantly, it’s a huge amount of fun!

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