Hello--I'm interested in transitioning into a career in finance. The MBA seems to be the better choice as I am a little older and the the degree is good for transitioning. But really I want to just study finance and only work in finance after. I don't want to take the marketing and other non-finance classes found in standard MBA programs. But, again, in the long-run the MBA seems to have a better ROI. I feel caught between what I want to study (finance), and what I feel like I should study (MBA). Any experienced professionals out there have any thoughts on this?

Hello LawOfTheJungle,

I don't qualify as experienced professional, still here are my observations.
1) It is difficult to change functions using MBA. Recruiters value work experience and your proven ability to solve similar problems in your past more than 1-2 years of education in MBA/MS/M.Fin etc.

2) The exceptions are people with lesser work experience, since they have little work experience. Companies tend to recruit them into entry level positions after MS in Finance.

3) There are many students in US, with Bachelors degree in Business, Finance, Accounting who after having few years of work experience compete against similar jobs that a MS/MBA Finance career changer would apply too.

4) If you want to do Finance, please also search about CFA certification levels. I am told by my classmates that such students stand more chance of getting interviewed - getting higher salary etc.

I would suggest contacting admission's team of your target school for some academic advising / counseling regarding this. You can also ask your target school to help you connect with current students (or use LinkedIn) who may have a similar career aspiration or with alumni who had a similar career trajectory.

Hi LawOfTheJungle,

I know there are some dual programs that couple an MBA with a MS in Finance. I understand that there is considerable crossover between the two curriculums. Maybe you could look around and price some of these dual programs before you decide. I know the University of San Diego is introducing this option this coming year and I'm sure there are others as well.

Hi, duncan,

I hope you are well. I am new to this website.

I am an experienced drilling engineer in E&P companies. I wanted to do MBA right after my university bachelor. But I opted to work in e&p so as to get hands on my engineering. Now after 11 years, I feel I am in good situation financially and strategicaly, to go for MBA or MSc in oil and gas finance related courses. But I am confused whether to choose MBA or MSc. Both seems equally important.

Actually I have never seen lots MBA professionals in oil industry or I never had situation or position to interact with them. So I am not sure whether MBA course will help. I have met a few finance people and in friendship with them. So they suggested that MSc finance courses are good for business knowledge.

My objective is to finish education in MBA or MSc finance, return to e&p sector and change domain from wells department to finance or projects department. Ultimately I want to have my own business sooner or later and I want education to be able to achieve so.

So I need your help. 1. To choose MBA or MSc energy finance y. 2. If MBA, then to choose generic MBA or specialise MBA in oil and gas 3. What kind of jobs or departments i can expect after MBA. 4. Which university. I checked on QS and found that Edinburgh university is in top 30 as compared to RGU, Aberdeen in terms of ranking. But you are the best judge as you are doing course.

I am not very keen to live in UK after 11 years, I am ready to change location within a company after certain sitpulated time.

Regards,
Narendra

You've mentioned two schools in Scotland, but you don't want to live in the UK. Where would you like to be?

Those are strong schools for oil, certainly, but I'm not sure they are the best for somebody who doesn't want to work in Scotland - unless the multinational energy firms recruit from these schools and then place elsewhere. I'm not sure about that, so you'll need to check with the schools to see how often this happens.

Otherwise, you can look at business schools in the location you want to work.

Duncan and Maury,

Thanks for your response. Sorry for repetative posts.

I did not mention correctly in my last post. I am not interested to live in uk after completion of education. Because of uk visa regulations, I don't see getting any good job right after MBA in UK. The visa extension is only for 4 months after finishing school. So most probably I will have return to India and apply For international jobs. I checked with friends who are in BP and they explained that BP won't touch international candidates in europe . If candidate has no work permit, adios amigo. Same is shell. I know for technical jobs as engg, shell hires international candidates from their home country only. So I am OK with it. So I said I am not interested in living in uk.

Basically I am still in search of what exactly is required in oil and gas. There are only handful of biggies as Bp, shell, chevron, Exxon who are having MBA fast track program. They do appoint from premium institutes only as imperial, cranfield, Manchester. This is what I recently came to know. Also on BP's list, HKUST, NSU, Nanyang school Are there.

I am not sure whether RGU, Edinburgh university MBA qualifies. I even checked with Rotterdam school, and they confirmed that shell does not hire on campus in Rotterdam.

Main issue is I do not have gmat yet. I am not prepared for. Gmat. I am late on that front and deadlines for submission are approaching.( as it was primary to get a job, I spent more time searching job and making applications than seriously thinking of MBA. So the delay was inevitable).

My Questions are as follows:
1. whether tier 3 Edinburgh university or RGU would help me in getting placed in MBA fast track program.
2. I checked that NUS, HKUST, Nanyang has deadlines close to 15/03/2016 for submission. I am not sure whether I would be able to achieve this. If I don't have gmat by submission, will I get additional time to submit score or gmat waiver because of high experience than usual.

Can you please help on this.

Regards,
Narendra