SSE MAVFM vs. RSM F&I Master vs. Finance Master @ German universities
Hi Monkeys,
As per the title, I am currently deciding between different options for my master studies. I completed my undergraduate degree in business administration at a German university and undertook internships at a mid-cap IB boutique and a mid-cap PE firm, both with a focus on the DACH region. With the goal of joining a mid-cap PE firm post-master studies, either in London or Germany, what would be the best option?
I currently lean towards SSE, but I'm unsure if the flagship master at RSM versus the non-flagship at SSE better suits my target. Additionally, from a recruitment perspective, is the MAVFM seen as an accounting or accfin master?
Happy for any input.
Kind regards
Navigating through your options for master studies with a focus on joining a mid-cap PE firm post-studies is a crucial decision. Based on the WSO dataset and discussions, here's a breakdown to help guide your decision:
SSE (Stockholm School of Economics) MSc in Accounting, Valuation & Financial Management (MAVFM): SSE is highly regarded for its strong academic reputation and close ties to the finance industry in Scandinavia and beyond. The MAVFM program, while not the flagship finance program, offers a unique blend of accounting, valuation, and financial management, which are critical skills for a career in PE. Given your interest in PE, the valuation component of this program could be particularly beneficial. SSE's strong network in London could also facilitate opportunities there, despite the program's more specialized focus.
RSM (Rotterdam School of Management) MSc Finance & Investments (F&I): RSM's flagship finance program is well-recognized for its comprehensive coverage of finance topics, including investment analysis, corporate finance, and portfolio management. Its reputation and network in the finance industry are solid, particularly within Europe. For someone targeting a career in PE, the broad finance skills and network you'd gain from RSM could be very advantageous. Additionally, RSM's cost-effectiveness, as mentioned in the context, could be a factor to consider if budget is a concern.
Finance Master at German Universities: German universities offer strong finance programs with a good balance of theory and practical application. Given your undergraduate degree from a German university and internships in the DACH region, pursuing a master's in Germany could further strengthen your local network and understanding of the market. This could be particularly beneficial if you aim to work in PE in Germany. However, the international recognition and network might not be as strong as SSE or RSM if you're considering a career in London.
Regarding the perception of SSE's MAVFM program, it's essential to clarify that while it includes accounting, it is not solely an accounting master. The program's focus on valuation and financial management aligns well with the skills required in PE. It's more of an accfin master, blending crucial aspects of both accounting and finance, which could be seen as a strength in the PE industry.
In conclusion, if your goal is to work in a mid-cap PE firm, especially with a possibility in London, SSE's MAVFM could offer a unique skill set highly relevant to PE. However, if you prefer a broader finance focus with strong European ties, RSM's F&I could be a better fit. Should you prioritize strengthening your network and expertise in the German market, a finance master from a German university could be the most strategic choice. Consider where you want to be geographically post-graduation and which program aligns best with your career aspirations in PE.
Sources: RSM or SSE (Master's in Finance in Continental Europe on budget), Imperial MSc Finance and Accounting vs. ESCP MiM vs. IE MIF, European Masters Rankings
I have no clue how things work in Germany so let me share some insights re London. There is only a handful of PE funds in London that take analysts and usually such funds recruit grads as off cycle interns (not analysts) and then after around 6 months you MIGHT get an analyst position but it's not guaranteed To illustrate this I know one grad from LBS who landed 4 off cycle PE internships so 2 years after graduation he is still an intern but didn't manage to convert any into a FT role. Of course it massively depends on the fund needs, market, headcount etc so things you don't have control over, but just wanted to comment on that. Besides applying for PE off cycle internships, you can try the easier route that is IB -> PE. SSE is 2 years, while RSM is 1 year but you can take an additional year so you keep the student status for 2 years as well so this is a thing to consider when creating your recruitment strategy whether to apply for internship or FT roles in IB. Prestigewise I think there are more grads from RSM in pure IB to be honest while I've seen SSE grads doing various roles like wealth management, private credit and IB as well. However, there are some RSM grads who made it to MFs directly or through IB so RSM isn't inferior to be clear. Though Stockholm seems to be a nicer city to live in for 2 years.
Perfect, thank you very much – especially for the insights into UK PE.
So to sum up, prestige-wise, the schools should be pretty much the same. The decision is more about recruiting strategy and city (life), correct?
Yes indeed. Rotterdam has also a larger alumni base while SSE is overall much smaller, so if you hope to get any leads in the industry based on your university name, with RSM it might be easier. I know networking / referrals isn't a big thing in the UK but I think it's always good to grab a coffee with some alumni to get insights into their job, even if this won't give you a referral.
What do you think is a better option for someone who only speaks english? How would HSG compare to SSE/RSM?
IF you don't speak German would say worse
Right. In that case, what’s the best situation for someone who only speaks english looking for a EU masters? I’m an international at a semi-target in the UK (2025) and of course familiar with top UK Masters options for London IB/PE/ER/MBB etc., but have EU citizenship so could take advantage of cheap and/or free tuition at SSE, RSM etc etc
I would work anywhere in Europe + UK after grad but am currently limited by only speaking English. Thus, if I (for example) went to SSE and struck out with London recruiting, I might be out of luck being without Swedish language skills for Stockholm IB. Worried about this scenario and how it extends to if I attended HSG, RSM, HEC Paris etc.
What do you think is my best bet?
To me it seems I have these options:
UK schools (LBS, LSE, Imperial. Ox not realistic as I have a 2.1. obv London target but expensive, fees likely 50k EUR+)
HEC Paris (London/EU target but relatively expensive at 45k EUR)
Bocconi (less target for London? but less expensive + scholarship $$ vs UK/HEC)
SSE (less target for London but feeder for Nordic IB? also free)
RSM (less target for London but feeder for Dutch IB? also basically free)
HSG (Zurich/Germany target, less target for London? also quite cheap)
not sure if other options but let me know what you think thanks
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