Looking for guidance on choosing the right finance program for IB career path
I’ve received acceptances from three universities (Leeds, Cranfield, and Henley) for their finance masters programs. My main objective is getting into investment banking initially, then moving to private equity or asset management later on.
Since these aren’t considered top-tier target schools, I have several questions:
• Which UK universities are considered semi-targets for investment banking recruitment?
• Would it be worth applying to additional programs to boost my prospects?
• Among my current options (Leeds, Cranfield, Henley), which provides the strongest pathway to IB and subsequent PE/AM/hedge fund positions?
• Is an MSc Finance the optimal choice, or should I consider alternatives like Financial Engineering or Investment Management programs?
Any advice from folks who have navigated this recruitment process would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and recommendations!
I’ve been in recruitment for years, so here’s my take. Out of those three, Leeds Business School has the best alumni connections in London’s financial district. But let’s be real - none of these are semi-targets like Imperial, UCL, or Edinburgh. Go with MSc Finance; it’s the most flexible for your career. Financial Engineering boxes you into quant roles, and Investment Management programs have limited recruitment pipelines. Breaking into top IB from these schools? You’ll need killer networking and grades. Here’s what actually works: crush your summer internships. Most people from non-target schools get analyst spots through internship performance, not campus recruiting. Start building relationships with alumni at your target firms now. Referrals matter way more than you think in this industry. Your success won’t come from which program you pick - it’ll come from how hard you network and the experience you build.
I went through this exact situation a few years back and landed at a non-target for my MSc Finance. The university name didn’t matter - what got me into IB was diving deep into technicals early on. Pick your school and start prepping now: modeling, valuation, all of it. Most people wait until recruiting starts and they’re screwed. Don’t ignore boutiques either! My friend broke into MM PE through a smaller IB that cast a wider net than bulge brackets. Cranfield has solid industry connections, but at this level it’s all about your hustle, not the program.