What is the best choice between MSc. Banking and International Finance at Toulouse Business School and MSc. International Finance at Rennes Business School?

I notice that in almost all overall business school rankings TBS ranks higher than Rennes (LePoint, L'etudiant, Le Figaro, FT, Eduniversal), in the Financial Times' European Business School Ranking, for example, TBS is 58th and Rennes is 88th. Now, surprisingly, Rennes is 24th in the Financial Times Ranking for Masters in Finance pre-experience (even above pretty big names) while TBS is not featured, therefore I am a bit confused about which of the two is better specifically for finance.

PS: how reliable is salary info? I have found that salary info in the FT ranking in many cases differs greatly from that of other sources as the schools and third party websites such as emolument.com (in many cases that of the school's being lower, which should go against their own interests).

The salary data are as represented - the FT uses PPP calculations, while emolument will probably only show responses from a subset of countries.

[Edited by StuartHE on Jun 01, 2022]

thanks for your response Stuart.. now I get it, offcourse the PPP salaries will in most cases differ from nominal salaries, I did not know that was FT's methodology. Do you have any thoughts on the question about Rennes vs. TBS?

Considering your goal, I don't understand why you are not considering borrowing to allow you to attend a school more likely to place you into equity research.  

I think TBS is the better choice. Their new campus is delightful.  It has a strong quant reputation and of course the Toulouse school of economics has a world class reputation, which might help. 

yes, I understand your point of view Stuart but my reasoning is this: 
-I cannot choose a school that asks for GMAT (that immediately eliminates the U.S and Canada).
-I have no experience to make up for my just average undergrad grades and make me a stronger candidate.
-I am sure the UK is a better place to go but even the most affordable UK schools (GBP23,000 and below) are out of reach for me financially given the weakness of my home country's currency and the only other thing I could afford would be one of Germany's free schools, but then I would have to learn german and I don't think one of my hochschules is better than triple accredited TBS.
-I thought about it and if I manage to get to at least B2 in french in 2 years, which seems reasonable and I cannot stay in France, then I have a substantial advantage to apply to go Canada in the future.
-Correct me if I am wrong but I think HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP, EDHEC and EMLYON are above my weight as a candidate.. and I don't know, if TBS is the 10th-12th best school in France I don't see any other major country where I could get into a top 12 school with my profile, I would probably have to go to a less competitive market, as Spain or Italy.
-I feel I already burnt out the number of letters of recommendation I can ask my professors for, TBS was the 4th and last school I applied to.
-TBS is triple accredited, its a good school and probably any better place I can get into won't be more than just one or 2 places above it and chances are it will cost a lot more.
I am eager to listen your opinion and possible suggestions Stuart, thanks in advance.

You are approaching this very well and assessing the right variables. Fees are high but, because they are an excellent return on investment, loans are available to admitted candidates. These loans are better and more available with the most valuable schools. If you can convince yourself that the funding is available, then other obstacles just flip into a to-do list. For example: You have a weak GPA? Okay, take some online, for-credit course that is inexpensive that allows you to get a second transcript that better shows your abilities. 

TBS is a strong option at this price point, but I am not sure that it leads into equity research. 

Thanks Duncan, based on what I have explained to you and ignoring the affordability factor what schools would you recommend me to look into? what schools (in which I have chances of getting in) do you think can help me get a job in equity research?

Use LinkedIn to see where equity researchers have studied. 


Try these posts.


Do you need to speak the local language? www.find-mba.com/board/34713
How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

mmm... based on the LinkedIn approach in France the only school that is among the top in recruitment and in which I have at least a some chance of getting in would be Université Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne... but then I have to ask Duncan, according to the somehow elitist french education system is it preferrable for jobs in the private sector to hold a diploma from a public french university or from a grande ecole (even if it is not among the very best of them)?

Broadly speaking, yes, the grandes ecoles offer a better education and, because they are more selective,  have better students and faculty.  On the other hand the Sorbonne has a location advantage, and that is perhaps evidenced by its placement. 

Personally I think its really hard to get into equity research and you might want to focus on the typical outcomes from these programmes and see what the alternative pathways are.