MSc advice for fixed income / macro HF path
Hi all,
I’m looking for some advice on MSc programs and how to maximize my chances for fixed income / macro roles after graduation.
background: I’m coming from a non-target European university, studied Economics with a finance focus, and have a GPA around 3.7. I previously interned at a fixed income broker, mostly on the sales/trading side, and in January I’ll start a 3-month off-cycle internship at a relatively small European hedge fund / investment shop with less than $2bn AUM, active mainly in distressed , restructurings and global macro.
The CIO has already been clear that the team is full, so I’m not expecting the internship to convert into a full-time offer.
Long term, I’d ideally like to work in fixed income / global macro within the hedge fund industry. I know this is a very competitive path, so I’m trying to understand which MSc would give me the best shot when I start in September 2027.
The options I’m currently considering are:
- UCL MSc Economics
- LSE, potentially Economics & Finance or a less obvious program such as Statistics
- HSG MSc Economics
- Finance programs at schools such as Warwick or IE
My main doubt is whether I should prioritize a stronger economics / quantitative degree from a better-targeted university, or go for a more standard MSc Finance at a school where admission is probably more realistic.
For LSE in particular, I’m not sure how realistic Economics & Finance would be with a 3.7 GPA given how competitive the intake is.
I also have both EU and Swiss passports. London would probably be my preferred market, but visa sponsorship is obviously another consideration now, so Switzerland is also very relevant.
Would appreciate views from people in macro / rates / credit / hedge funds on:
- Which of these programs would you prioritize for this type of career?
- Would Economics be viewed positively for macro / sovereign roles, or would MSc Finance still be the safer choice?
- Are there other European programs I should seriously consider?
- How much would UCL/LSE/HSG materially improve recruiting chances versus Warwick/IE given my existing experience?
Thanks.
