Updated thoughts on MS London teams?
Mainly care about culture and hours rather than exits as I feel like every team is going to be strong regardless. Also interested in exposure to different products rather than solely M&A
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, MS London teams are known for their strong deal flow and reputation, but the culture and hours can be challenging. The environment has been described as "not exactly premier" in terms of culture, with some teams being more intense and less collegial. The hours are long, with a reputation for being extremely detail-oriented and focused on perfecting even minor aspects of work, which can lead to late nights and high stress.
In terms of exposure to different products, MS London does offer opportunities beyond M&A, but the experience can vary significantly depending on the specific team. Some teams are smaller and more specialized, which might provide broader exposure, while others are more focused on specific areas. If you're looking for a balance between culture and hours, it might be worth exploring specific teams within MS London to find one that aligns with your preferences.
Sources: BAML M&A London - Exit opps? Hours? Reputation?, London IBD Cultural Differentiators between GS/MS/JPM, Quick plug for LMM PE re: Work / Life Balance, London: Tell me about your IB's Culture, Lazard vs. Morgan Stanley?
Bump
Wouldn’t recommend M&C. Absolute sweatshop. No time to prep for exits
Avoid GPUG like the plague, it's an absolute clown town and culture turned quite bad together with arguably the worst WLB at MS. Only upside seems to be good exits for Infra (e.g. BX Infra, Brookfield Infra)
Thanks. Do you happen to know what groups have comparatively good wlb/culture and how FIG/FSG compare?
FIG is bad as well, FSG very chill on average but depends if you get stuck working with teams such as M&C which get your hours up.
I think Industrials, Traspo, Tech, Consumer, M&A (same caveat as FSG), UK M&A (same caveat as FSG) all have reasonable/chill hours
Can you please elaborate on GPUG?
I'm interning elsewhere but I know some of the GPUG team at MS London.
The ones I know are generally very awkward, quite political and miserable.
How is the Industrials team?
Weakest Industrials team out of the big 3 and they are huge I think nearly 50 ppl - leads to a lot of internal politics, cliques within subverticals forming etc. Another issue is that the Transport team is separate (good deal flow and should in Industrials) and that a lot of their deals are also covered by UK and EMEA M&A MDs which means you may not get pen on model or have to deal with separation of interesting work between the teams.
Culture isn't great but in all honesty culture across the board at MS is terrible in ldn.
Update for 2026 with summer apps coming up next week
How do the cultures of teams stack
Thinking about Tech, FIG or FSG
What are people's views
Consumer - Small team, not too difficult to feel like you are actually part of it
Media Comm/Transportation - Best teams, but very long hours. Media & Comms experience is very coverage/vertical specific
Industrials - Quite weak, a lot of politics. Good option if you are German, otherwise would not recommend
Healthcare - Their floor is always very silent, good deal flow, easy to stay focused. People are willing to help, but you need to proactively ask for it
Tech - The deal flow has been bad recently
GPUG - Long hours, good deal flow, great exits
M&A - Top team, nice people, but a lot of process work. You don’t work much with other people within your team
FIG - Quite understaffed, good deal flow
Real Estate - Nice team overall
Financial Sponsors - Same as M&A, you will mostly work with people from other teams
Hope this helps
My top choices would be Media Comms and M&A
This is super!
Because MS is very European which teams would you recommend for a native UK undergrad because I know M&C and Consumer can be heavily French / Italian
Why not RE
Are they opening 2027 apps for London
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