UK Target uni as an undergrad to SG IBD (Singaporean)

So I'm currently about to go to a UK target uni, with eventual hopes of breaking into SG IBD. However, I heard and read in forums that to get BB roles, you'd need at least 2 MM internships (basically strong corpfin/IBD internships) for local grads and since my degree is only 3 years, it is unlikely that I will be able to get enough experience to make it for the final year SA role in a BB in SG.

I do know of quite a few people that have gotten BB roles in SG from UK targets and I was wondering if the requirements are a bit diff for UK/US uni graduates looking to break into SG IBD. Can anyone in SG IBD share their thoughts on whether the requirements rgd experience are just as strict for UK/US unis as they are local SG graduates.

 

Well…. I’m not in IBD, but those that I know of that got a BB IBD SA during their junior year had at least 1 strong MM IBD + 2 Boutique/Big 4 FAS internship

Oxbridge/LSE will definitely get you the first interview but hiring managers are just more willing to get the local students that have prior experience

 

Hey thanks for your help on this. I was wondering how you categorise MM and boutique shops in SG, as I always thought they were pretty much the same. Could you give some examples for both? Thanks

 
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I am from the region so I can speak about this.

Top BBs in Singapore do like to take in overseas candidates (majority being Singaporeans who study overseas) just to bolster their analyst's class image. That said, they only take around 1-2 overseas grads.

In terms of requirement, I have seen that they're definitely not as strict as local candidates which all have STACKED experience before landing their BB offer. However, you can't expect it to be as lax as US too where people sometimes break in with 1/0 prior internships and just some student's group experiences.

So I think if you have 1-2 relevant experiences you may stand a chance.

 

Well there's an overlap. MM shops focus on MM deals only. Boutiques simply refers to any shops that doesn't have balance sheet. Almost all MM are boutiques, with the exception of local banks. But not all boutiques do MM exclusively.

Some boutiques active in the region include: Evercore, Lazard (only PCA/Secondaries, I think), Houlihan Lokey (more on restructuring, I think), Greenhill (Just starting out in Singapore), Rothschild, BDA Partners, Rippledot

There are many other local smaller shops active in the region as well, there are so many of them I can't name them tho

 

Tbh this is a really tough choice that I’m still debating rn. But here are my current reasons for currently choosing to start out in SG.

  1. The take home pay after taxes and with bonuses would be more or less double that of the UK (after rent of course) I’ve done the calculations myself on this
  1. As I’m a Singaporean and would likely settle down in Singapore in the long term, I’d be looking for a PE role as an exit op post IBD. Hence, being in Singapore would allow me to set my foundation down and solidify relations with PE headhunters first as PE in SEA region is extremely competitor and cutthroat
  1. In terms of culture and my overall character personality, I’m not one that likes to party too much and prefer to settle down earlier (saving up for a car and house), as I have greater ambitions in SG that I can only focus on after I have settled down. You can call me boring and stuff but idgaf

Yeah so that’s pretty much it for now. Do feel free to add anything if you feel like it :)

 

Oh yeah and as an add on to point 2 I’ve seen several profiles of people in EBs and BBs in the UK as Singaporeans having no choice but to settle for a ‘shittier’ job in MM or some lesser known shop upon coming back to SG, simply because the spaces are way too tight in SG and it’s best get an advantage by working in SG from the off start

 

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