What are the Target and Semi target unis for MSc to break into High Finance?

Hi was wondering what are the current the main Target and Semi Target Unis for MSc to break into High Finance apart from the obvious lbs lse etc. Mainly interested in semi target as target out of reach financially.

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of Target and Semi-Target universities for MSc programs to break into high finance:

Target Universities:

  1. UK:

    • Oxford
    • Cambridge
    • LSE (London School of Economics)
    • LBS (London Business School)
    • Imperial College London
    • UCL (University College London)
    • Warwick
  2. Europe:

    • HEC Paris
    • Bocconi University
    • St. Gallen
    • ESADE
    • IE Business School
  3. US:

    • MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
    • Princeton (for MFin)

Semi-Target Universities:

  1. UK:

    • Bristol
    • Durham
    • Bath
    • Nottingham
    • St. Andrews
    • Exeter
    • Cass Business School (now Bayes Business School)
    • Edinburgh
    • Manchester
    • King’s College London (KCL)
  2. Europe:

    • ESSEC
    • ESCP
    • Solvay Brussels School
    • WHU (Otto Beisheim School of Management)
    • Mannheim
    • Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
    • Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)

Additional Notes:

  • Semi-Target universities can still provide decent opportunities for front-office roles, especially if you leverage networking, internships, and strong academic performance.
  • For cost-effective options, consider semi-targets in the UK or Europe, as they often have lower tuition fees compared to top-tier targets like LBS or LSE.

If you’re financially constrained, semi-targets like Cass, Durham, or Bath in the UK or ESSEC and Solvay in Europe can still open doors to high finance with the right strategy.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Targets are lse /lbs /oxbridge like you said. The business masters at imperial are less competitive than those above but still carry a good amount of prestige. 

EU masters target programs place decently in the UK too: HEC, St gallen, ESCP, Bocconi, etc.. 

Semi would be: Warwick (one of the best networks) , Bristol, UCL, Durham

 

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