Universities to pick for Hong Kong front office finance jobs
I will be applying to UK universities in this application cycle, and my grades aren't perfect (GCSE 999887776 letting me down), which makes me unlikely to get an offer from super targets like Oxbridge LSE . Does anyone know the best semi-target for Hong Kong front office finance except for Warwick? Also, does university brand matter in HK as much as the UK?
For Hong Kong front office finance roles, university brand does matter, but the emphasis is slightly different compared to the UK. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you should consider:
UK Semi-Targets for Hong Kong Finance
If Oxbridge, LSE, and Warwick are out of reach, here are some strong semi-targets that could still position you well: - UCL: While often considered a target, it’s slightly more accessible than Oxbridge or LSE and has strong placement in finance. - Imperial College London: Another solid option with a strong reputation in finance and quantitative fields. - Durham: Known as a semi-target, it has decent placement opportunities, especially for those who network effectively. - St Andrews: A respected semi-target with growing recognition in finance. - Bath and Nottingham: Both are semi-targets with regional strengths and some placement into finance roles.
University Brand in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, university prestige is important, but networking and your ability to demonstrate an edge are equally critical. Mainland-based asset management companies and other firms in Hong Kong often value: 1. Top UK universities: Graduates from Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, and Imperial are highly regarded. 2. Networking: Building connections in Hong Kong is crucial, as many roles are China-related or regional. 3. Language Skills: Learning Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) can significantly boost your employability.
If you’re aiming for Hong Kong, focus on universities with strong global reputations and leverage their alumni networks in Asia.
Sources: The future of Hong Kong high finance, Q&A: 2nd Year Equities L/S HF Analyst in Hong Kong, The future of Hong Kong high finance
University brand matters a lot in HK as you're competing globally.
BBIB SA classes of 10-20, depending on the year / market, are filled with UK/US/HK/Mainland candidates roughly 1/4 each, with 2-4 seats for UK.
Couple years ago, many BB HR only looked at resumes from Oxbridge / LSE / UCL / Imperial / LBS (postgrad) as there was no need to go outside this pool to fill UK seats. Even 1-2Y postgrad programs at these institutions were fine to pass screening, as long as your resume carried the name.
Else I've seen internal transfers from UK to HK from less well-known UK universities (starting off at smaller shop in UK, xfer to BB UK, then BB HK office) where school brand didn't matter at all in the transfer decision.
I hold a Hong Kong passport and is fluent in both Cantonese Madarin and English, do I compete with HK locals or UK?
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