Asking firm to pay for masters? (London)

I currently have a return offer for a prop shop I interned at, with the full time role starting in 2025. However, I am graduating in 2024 so I will need to do a masters to fill the year.

These masters are very expensive, at £40k as well as a minimum of £20k living costs for the year. Would it be acceptable for me to ask the firm to pay for some of the masters? Or at least some sort of loan?

I don't have the money and I would have to take a bank loan.

Thanks in advance.

12 Comments
 

Because I have a year to kill before I start FT. I've told them I was doing a masters.

Also from a career perspective having a masters will be useful down the line.

 

Logically speaking, no company would do this, because that premise is ridiculous lmfao. "Pay for this thing that I'm doing voluntarily that probably only vaguely links to the job because I have a year to kill and it would be useful for my career (not with you btw) so I'm transferring the cost of that to you". Might as well ask them to fund a trip to South East Asia so that you come back a more "well rounded person".

But it's a prop firm so who knows.

 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's not uncommon for individuals to seek financial assistance from their future employers for further education. However, it's important to approach this topic delicately. Here are a few steps you might consider:

  1. Research: Understand the company's policies. Some firms have programs in place for this, while others don't.

  2. Value Proposition: Make sure you can clearly articulate how your further education will benefit the company. This could be in the form of specialized skills or knowledge that you'll bring back to the firm.

  3. Plan: Have a clear plan on how you'll balance work and studies if you're considering a part-time program. If it's a full-time program, discuss how you plan to return to the firm and contribute after completion.

  4. Negotiation: If the firm is open to it, you could negotiate this as part of your job offer. This could be in the form of a loan, tuition reimbursement, or even a salary advance.

Remember, every company is different and what works in one might not work in another. It's important to have this conversation with your future employer in a respectful and professional manner. Good luck!

Sources: European Master in Finance programmes (pre-experience), Buy Side: An unorthodox route, Moving from extreme poverty to wealth via IB, UK Student loan advice - To pay or not to pay

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

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