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When applying to masters I found I wasn’t eligible for MSc Finance courses at target unis because of my undergraduate degree (spoke to admissions), there was one I was eligible for but admissions told me they favour finance/maths/engineering undergrads and have only ever accepted someone with that background. 

Something doesn’t add up here. You claim you weren’t eligible for MSc Finance courses, but all the top Finance Master’s programs in Europe, especially in the UK, do not require an undergraduate degree in econ/engineering/finance. As long as you can demonstrate quantitative ability through A-level Maths, a strong GMAT or GRE score in the quantitative sections, and have at least a 2:1 or a First, you still have a shot even if you did not study finance, maths, or engineering. Especially for non-target or semi-target finance masters programmes. 

The harsh reality is that if you enter any Master’s program, whether it is an MSc in Finance or a similar field at a top institution in 2025, and you come from a non-target university with a non-quantitative degree, or if you have not secured BB experience before grad school, preferably a Summer Analyst stint, breaking into IB, PE, or ER will be an uphill battle and almost impossible.

 
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Mate Absolute Boll*cks! 

LSE finance undergraduate requirements : 'Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline and good quantitative skills. Admission to this programme is very competitive. In previous years the majority of students accepted into the programme had obtained 1st class honours degrees or the equivalent.' - https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/graduate/msc-finance-full-time

LBS MFA requirements  :  'We accept strong undergraduate degrees (minimum 2:1) in a numerate discipline such as finance, accounting, economics, engineering, chemistry, physics, math, computer science and business and management or other proof of quantitative ability. You must complete your undergraduate degree prior to the start of the programme in September.'  https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/masters-in-financial-analysis/fa…

In London these are the target grad schools for finance. LSE state on their website you can come from any discipline with good quant ability, again, this can be displayed through the GMAT or GRE. LBS again say that you can show 'other proof of quant ability' , this indicates that if you do not come from a typical quant degree, you can prove your quant ability through a GMAT/GRE, CFA Level 1, or quant heavy internships like IB/PE/Trading etc. I literally know people who came from completely non-quant degrees and got offers at both of these institutions for these programs so again, don't know what you're on about.  


 

 

From my assessment you a blo*dy excuse maker at the deepest core.

First of all you were wrong in your assertion that all finance masters require a quantitative degree background, now you’re making excuses like ‘ I only have a 2:1 ‘! Bohooo grow up! You think people are going to tolerate this lack of protectiveness in high finance?

If you are really serious and you strongly believe a MFA or a MSC Finance will get you to where you want to go too. You would take a maths A-level, or do a CFA level 1 and smash your GMAT and get the highest score possible.

Furthermore, again, excuse about the costs of the MFA, ironic from someone who is going to spend on a health focussed masters in London which will honestly have minimal value towards your ultimate goals. Take a gap year work at a warehouse save money and take the GMAT and smash it and apply to the MFA in the 2nd cycle.

As you are a non-target who studied a non-finance degree, you have zero right to be lowkey making excuses. All the non targets ik would be grinding like hell to do the above if they wanted something. Man up! FFS!

 

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