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Hey there,

So coming from a UK target I can tell you that for IB the MSc F&A is very good and Imperial itself is pretty much a target school for all the BBs in London. You can't go wrong with your choice and I wouldn't advise loosing a year to reapply to LSE/LBS or Oxbridge (unless for that year you can gain some excellent work experience like 1 year FT somewhere).

I would say that perhaps F&A is a small step down from pure finance simply because they also include some accounting principles which pure finance doesn't cover but the F&A has solid modules such as 'Portfolio Management' as a core module and 'M&As' or 'PE and VC' as electives; all great modules that will help you get into BBs or EBs.

In summary, stick to this course and you won't regret it

 

If you don't have any relevant experience I think this program will be a waste for you, or any pre-experience finance masters for that matter. The most important use of these degrees is to get you another shot at recruiting before you graduate, whether that be for full-time for internship. If you don't have any relevant experience, dropping £32k for a masters doesn't make sense.

Breaking in is very hard, and if you don't have any experience after 3(4?) years as an undergraduate means that breaking in from a masters position is even harder.

 

As mentioned below, it'll be very hard to find FT roles without some prior experience. Some summer positions at smaller firms or boutiques or still open, alternatively consider some off-cycle internships. Jefferies offers quite a few off-cycles, PJT Partners does too and I'm sure if you google 'London boutique banks' you'll find something. Alternatively, (although it may not be the exact same) you can look at financial consulting firms which deal only banks or financial institutions that are hiring for summer positions. One that comes to mind is Chappuis Halder.

 

I last thing i would say; if i was to do this over again i would have taken a year out before my masters to do a years worth of internships at boutiques/mm firms. The people that have had prior experience even at no name banks did really well when they went for summer internships during their masters. It may be a little late for you now but maybe if you could secure an internship for the winter between now and September you could defer your masters for a year.

 

Hi, I applied on the 20th of february for the second round. I still have not received anything from them. I know that the deadline is on the 23rd of March but if my application was considered they would have sent me an email for the interview. However, still not received yet. Does it mean I have no chance?

Your answers ans thought are much appreciated.

Fadi

 

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