Target Universities In Europe

11th Grade International Baccalaureate Student here. Am likely going to get a 42-44/45. I take Maths AA HL, Physics HL and Econ HL. Manage an investment fund of 10,000 Euro for my school, and have done many other leadership roles for nonprofits. I have had one internship at Deutsche Börse, and am doing another this summer at Deutsche Bank. What are some target universities in Europe? Currently looking and Bocconi and Erasmus, and am not sure about UK universities as they have much higher fees. What are the financial aid options, as my parents will only pay fully for lower cost schools such as Bocconi and Erasmus. I am not sure about the US due to the current political stress, especially on outsiders so it might be too high risk. Any advice from people working in IB/PE, etc. would be greatly appreciated. 

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of target universities in Europe for someone aiming to break into IB/PE:

Top Target Universities in Europe for IB/PE

  1. UK Universities (Higher fees but strong placement in London IBD):

    • Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge): Top-tier for IB/PE, but fees are high.
    • LSE (London School of Economics): A major feeder for London IBD.
    • Imperial College London: Strong in finance and engineering.
    • UCL (University College London): Well-regarded for finance roles.
    • Warwick: Known for its strong finance programs.
  2. Non-UK European Universities (Lower fees, strong placement):

    • Bocconi University (Italy): A top choice for IB/PE in Europe, with strong placement in London and other financial hubs.
    • HEC Paris (France): Excellent for finance, with strong networking opportunities in London.
    • St. Gallen (Switzerland): Renowned for finance and economics, with strong placement in IB/PE.
    • Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University, Netherlands): A solid choice with lower fees.
    • ESSEC, ESCP, and EDHEC (France): Strong business schools with good placement in finance roles.
  3. Nordic and German-speaking Countries:

    • CBS (Copenhagen Business School): A target in the Nordics.
    • SSE (Stockholm School of Economics): Strong for finance in the Nordics.
    • WHU, Mannheim (Germany): Well-regarded in German-speaking countries.

Financial Aid Options

  • Bocconi: Offers merit-based scholarships and financial aid. Many international students benefit from these.
  • Erasmus: Lower tuition fees compared to UK universities, making it a cost-effective option.
  • UK Universities: Limited financial aid for international students, but some scholarships are available (e.g., Chevening Scholarship).
  • HEC Paris and St. Gallen: Offer scholarships and financial aid for international students.

Advice for Your Profile

  • Your strong IB score (42-44/45), leadership roles, and internships at Deutsche Börse and Deutsche Bank make you a competitive candidate for top European universities.
  • Bocconi and Erasmus are excellent choices given your financial constraints and career goals.
  • If you’re open to the UK, LSE and Warwick could be worth considering, but ensure you explore scholarships to offset the higher fees.

Given your interest in IB/PE, focus on schools with strong placement records in London and other financial hubs.

Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/master-in-finance-hec-paris-vs-bocconi-vs-st-gallen?customgpt=1, UK Target Universities Discussion Thread, European Master in Finance programmes (pre-experience), European target schools for London IBD, University Of St. Andrews experience? Opinions?

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Most Helpful

In EU there's some undergrad targets but the truth is you're not supposed to land your full time job with just an undergrad so start including the cost of masters in your overall study plan too. 

bocconi, St gallen bachelors are very well seen, however Milan and Switzerland aren't the cheapest. Sse, Erasmus, cbs are solid too and quite affordable. 

With those bachelors you can legitimately target the tier one programs for masters (lse, lbs, hec, oxbridge, escp, bocconi etc.) and get scholarships. 

 

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