Hi everybody,

My name is Brian, and I am a Spanish student who will apply for a grad school program this fall. I would like to know your opinion about what I should do, because I am not really sure.

I would like to work in the future in corporate finance, and I am wondering how easy would be for me to find a job in this field with an MBA or a Master in Finance. I am worried about taking the wrong decision, and I would be happy to hear recommendations or some tips.

Thank you

Brian

If you have work experience then try to get into a ranked MBA programme with an internship programme. If not, then do a pre-experience masters in finance. Look at the Financial Times rankings for both.

Hi Brian,

Like Duncan noted, it definitely depends on your background. MBA programs generally provide a better salary increase - but you'll need at least 2 years of experience to get into an MBA program that's worth its value. Master's in finance programs are better for those without work experience, and those who plan on staying in academia.

Perhaps you should tell us about your profile (undergrad education, work experience, etc.) and we can help you more.

Hi everybody,

My name is Brian, and I am a Spanish student who will apply for a grad school program this fall. I would like to know your opinion about what I should do, because I am not really sure.

I would like to work in the future in corporate finance, and I am wondering how easy would be for me to find a job in this field with an MBA or a Master in Finance. I am worried about taking the wrong decision, and I would be happy to hear recommendations or some tips.

Thank you

Brian

Dear Duncan and Ezra,

Thanks for your recommendations. I have been working in finance for more than three years, but not in the specific area of the finance that I like. Therefore, I was planning on studying either an MBA or a Master in Finance. From what I read, I guess that I should apply to an MBA in order to reach my goal.

Once more, thank you for giving me your opinion.

Best regards

Brian

Brian, there are also a few post-experience MiF degrees. The one at London Business School is excellent, since you get access to the same pool of electives as the MBA and PhD students. But, yes, an MBA is a safe choice.

PS Are you in Barcelona by any chance? I am there are the moment.

Hello Brian,

Taking up a subject is completely your choice. I think you should choose a subject which interests you. You cannot and should not take up a subject that you are not interested into because , interest in any subject later helps you in achieving great heights in future.

So all the best for your future and choose a subject which interests you.

There are good prospects for an MBA in Finance. You should read through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for a more specific analysis of the kind of prospects open to you. As the economy regains stability, companies are hiring people who are highly trained in finance and accounting.
You?ll also increase your chances of nailing a high-paying position if you do your MBA through a prestigious school that has a high national ranking.

Do you mean an MBA with a concentration in finance? Why do you recommend this versus a more general MBA? I think that if you're vying for a job in finance, it's better to do a general MBA just because a wider skillset with help you more in that field than something more specific. Compared to say, the health industry, where the complex regulations and infrastructures require a more specific and up-to-date understanding.

There are good prospects for an MBA in Finance. You should read through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for a more specific analysis of the kind of prospects open to you. As the economy regains stability, companies are hiring people who are highly trained in finance and accounting.
You?ll also increase your chances of nailing a high-paying position if you do your MBA through a prestigious school that has a high national ranking.

Can someone shed a light on selection process of LBS for their Masters in Finance program. Is the selection process as rigorous as their MBA is. Sharing of any firsthand experience would be highly appreciated.

I've been an interviewer for the MBA at LBS for most of the last decade, and I would imagine the selection process is as rigourous. In percentage terms I would guess it's less selective, because a lot of people who apply to the LBS MBA really don't fit the programme at all while there's much better self-selection for the MiF.

PS The MiF's position will have been helped greatly by the FT ranking of MiF degrees, but still I think it's a good idea to apply to it rather than an MBA if you're focussed on a functional role in finance. It's a great programme, with LBS's famously massive pool of electives and recruiters.

I guess LBS is the only reputable school in UK / Europe that offers post experience masters in finance and naturally demand for the program would be very high. I think people prefer MBA over such specialized masters because such programs are very few and if someone gets rejected say from LBS masters in finance, he will be left with no other option but to pursue MBA with electives focused in Finance.

Having said that does someone knows about other reputed full time post experience masters in finance programs in UK / Europe?

Only at IE, but the LSE and Cass programmes might have post-experience candidates. If you speak French, then the post-masters specialised masters at EDHEC, ESSEC, ESCP, HEC and EM Lyon are strong.

Many thanks Duncan for your valuable reply. I just went through the IE website and found their masters in advance finance very interesting. However i have concerns about post graduate employement prospects of doing masters from IE. Post graduation i see myself working in financial advisory / consultancy firm in either UK or Middle East and wondering how help IE masters could be to achieve this objective.

In that case, I think the options are only the UK schools. Also look at Cambridge: http://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/mfin/apply/requirements.html