Hello all and Duncan, I am looking for MBA in Finance at DBS,Dublin, Ireland for 2018 intake. I am having 6yrs SALES experience and want to shift career in Finance. Kindly let me know how good is DBS, Ireland in terms of MBA education and job opportunities at DBS, Dublin as well as in Ireland,for Indian or international students in general and also in case of career change. I am looking at this option as the fees is less as compared to other b schools in UK and also have two years post study work visa which is 4 months for UK. Kindly help with info and also if any other options which can be worked out.

I'm not sure why you would pick DBS's MBA rather than an MSc in finance from a traditional university like Limerick, UCC or DCU. If you look at the DBS curriculum you'll see it's very light: not many courses and not much detail about them. In comparison, the Limerick course looks excellent http://www.ul.ie/business/postgraduate/full-time/msc_financial_services

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 10, 2018]

But DBS - Dublin Business School seems to be one of the good b-schools in Ireland after Trinity and National College. I choose DBS coz of less fees and MBA in one year. But about MSc in Finance firstly I never thought abt it and I am also not having any idea as to how much response I will get after its completion for Job opportunities if I compare it to MBA. As MBA will be having more weightage as compared to MSc. So how is MSc a better option in comparison to MBA in regards to Education and also job opportunity as I said I am from engineering background and have 6 yrs sales exp. MSc in Finance will be a better option for finance background people or commerce background I guess.? I also gave thought of Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS), New Zealand for MBA as that is also less in cost and no issues going on in NZ like UK Or EU. But Dnt know abt AIS. Plz provide suggestions on AIS education of MBA, job prospects post MBA, in NZ.

[Edited by nrj on Jan 10, 2018]

No, I don't really think that DBS can be described as average or above average in the context of Irish business schools. For example, in the rankings from the FT, QS and eduniversal, it's not included:
- http://www.eduniversal-ranking.com/business-school-university-ranking-in-ireland.html
- https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2016/business-management-studies

Although you are right that an MBA is generally better than an MSc, there are two points to consider:
- First, an MSc from an above-average school is better than an MBA from a below-average school, especially one like DBS which lacks international accreditation (from AASCB, EQUIS or AMBS) and, indeed, which doesn't even have the right to award its own degrees. Look at these MSc salaries: http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-finance-pre-experience-2017 If you ask, I think you will find that the DBS full-time MBA is taken overwhelmingly by students from different parts of Asia who then return home, and do not get similar salaries. Indeed, if you don't want to work in Ireland then an MBA will be known better than an MSc.
- Second, if you want to move into finance then a course with serious finance content will be needed.

Auckland Institute of Studies is not an above-average option.

Thank You Duncan for the MSc option, as an alternative to MBA in Finance. I think it's a really good option. I have started surfing about it to know more in detail and comparison between MSc vs MBA. But if I fortunately get a job in Ireland in Finance itself from Limerick or UCC or DCU or byself post Msc then i guess its THE definetely good option as the topics taught in MSc finance will get me into the depth of Finance field as compared to MBA. but if I dont get a job considering the scenarios going on in UK and EU then I will be under huge debt. And also considering that I will be switching my career from Sales to Finance is also one question as to will I be able to get a job in Finance stream with MSc . Sorry I am just being little negative here. Thats why i was also considering Auckland Institute of Studies, Nz as it has 2 yrs post study work visa. Do you got any other option? Or any suggestions

[Edited by nrj on Jan 12, 2018]

Hello Duncan, while going thru MSc in Finance came across UCD, Dublin,Ireland, which one is better UCD MBA or UCD MSc Finance? Considering job prospects post the course in Ireland.? How good is UCD for international students and overall?

[Edited by nrj on Jan 12, 2018]

UCD has a very good MBA but it does not have the heavy finance course load that the MSc has. Lots of finance sector employers are moving some operations from London to Dublin so I don't get your point about the UK and EU. Dublin is booming so much... Which is also why Trinity College is building a new business school downtown.

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 13, 2018]

So UCD MSc in Finance is a better option as compared to its MBA, . My point about UK and EU is of job opportunities for international students and plus with a career switch and added to that is a MSc in Finance and not an MBA. I am having 6 yrs exp in sales and not in Finance so I guess the chances will be less as compared to the guys with relevant experience. I am just not able to make a decision considering the job opportunities. Else even I liked both the options of yours the MSc in Finance from UCD and Limerick . In fact Limerick is the only one I guess which gives Bloomberg and trading experience. And budget wise also it's not that high as how MBA is. And Ya as you had spoken before about international accreditations while talking about DBS, UCD has all three accreditations, so my query is whether the course is also recognized by the same accreditations, as I am inclined towards MSc now so will it be treated same like the MBA if both from UCD. Or MBA is having a better demand as compared to MSc. I am just saying this because UCD is listed in FT rankings at 70th globally but I don't knw whether it's for MBA or MSc? Or is there any separate list for MSc.? And MSc in Finance vs Masters in Finance ? Which one is better? And you had sent me a link of FT of Masters in Finance Pre-Experience 2017,there is also a Post Experience Page so what's the diff between the two?

[Edited by nrj on Jan 13, 2018]

Yes, the triple accreditation will cover all the business courses at UCD. I agree that Limerick has an excellent design and strong price performance. Other things being equal, an MBA is better. But for you other things are not equal, since you want to transfer into finance. A specialist degree in finance will be better.

The post experience courses are for people with prior experience in finance. They are not suitable for you.

Thanks a lot Duncan for your suggestions. I guess the Limerick or UCD are better options for MSc in Finance. Now I have started searching for some more universities offering MSc in Finance as per the FT list of Pre - experience. I am confirmed with two options atleast a Limerick and UCD. Will keep you posted.

How is Canada compared to Ireland (Limerick and Dublin the two choices what I have made as of now) in regards to MSc in Finance education and job opportunities post Msc. ? These two are such countries where you have 3 yrs post study work visa which are helpful to explore more in terms of education as well as professional.

Yes Canada generally has better visas but lower salary.

As you have suggested me the MSc in Finance option, I have a question, as I am a non-finance background student so would it be a good option as compared to MBA, bcoz in MBA it's considered that the students are from Finance and non-finance background and taught in the same way and they have the basics to be made stronger but as compared to MSc in Finance do they also consider the non-finance students and do they have the same sort of basics or is it the advanced level. ? Bcoz as the name suggests it is Masters in Finance. So will it be right to go for MSc in Finance directly or to go for MBA first and then go for MSc. / Masters in Finance. Bcoz I have heard many people saying Finance is difficult to understand as well as to clear? Or is MSc also taught from basics subjects of Finance? And not forget the course is of one year only.

I don't think your assumption is correct. MSc finance students generally do not have prior study of finance. But the point is that you want to work in finance, so obviously you need to focus on that. Your background means you probably have a good feel for managing markets and people, which an MBA would also focus on. With your budget you can do either a bad MBA, which will not impress finance sector employers, or an excellent MSc.

So there are people who are not from Finance background but pursuing or completed MSc in Finance. And as per the pre-experience ft rankings is the highest salary offered post Msc to the same guys.

Yes. Of course some of them might have studied finance in advance, such as in their undergraduate degree. Generally, you will see that these MSc degrees will not require that.

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 16, 2018]

Some of them might have studied Finance in advance?
These degrees will not require that?

Correct. For example read the Limerick requirements.

Yes I read the Limerick requirements they say that the minimum entry requirement shud be a primary business degree or a cognate discipline is also considered.
UCD also has written somewhat same in its vision statement as MSc in Finance is aimed at pre-experience graduate students with a background in economics, finance and business to prepare them for a career in the financial services industry.
I searched only these two as these are the only two in my radar as of now.

Indeed, so you can see that prior study of finance is not a requirement for these degrees. Outside the German-speaking region, I think that will be the case most places.