Can a degree from an Irish university get you anywhere in IBD?

Live in Dublin, a short walk from UCD and a short commute from Trinity. 

I'm at the end the Irish version of 'high school' and I am considering my further eduction opportunities, with the hopes of getting into the finance sector of London (particularly IB, for the £ and exit opps). Are Trinity or UCD target schools in London? 

Would going to Trinity or UCD get your application to a spring week or internship disregarded? In an ideal world I would go to LSE, but I do not have 100,000 euro to spare. 

If anyone has thoughts or any info at all on the above, I'd love to hear it. 

5 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

  1. Trinity vs. UCD Smurfit:

    • Both Trinity Business School and UCD Smurfit are well-regarded institutions in Ireland. However, various rankings rate these two schools differently, and the prestige can vary depending on the specific program and industry perception.
  2. Target Schools for London:

    • While Trinity and UCD Smurfit are reputable, they are not traditionally considered "target schools" for London investment banking (IB) roles. Target schools are typically those that investment banks actively recruit from, such as LSE, Oxford, and Cambridge.
  3. Spring Week and Internship Applications:

    • Attending Trinity or UCD Smurfit does not automatically mean your application will be disregarded. However, you may need to work harder to stand out. Networking and leveraging alumni connections can be crucial. Use LinkedIn to connect with alumni from these schools who are working in London IB.
  4. Financial Considerations:

    • If attending LSE or another top UK school is financially unfeasible, focusing on excelling at Trinity or UCD Smurfit and building a strong network can still provide pathways into London IB.
  5. Actionable Steps:

    • Networking: Utilize the alumni network from Trinity or UCD Smurfit. Reach out to alumni working in the finance sector in London.
    • Extracurriculars: Get involved in finance-related societies and activities to bolster your CV.
    • Internships: Apply early for internships and spring weeks, and consider gaining relevant experience through internships in Dublin if London opportunities are initially out of reach.

In summary, while Trinity and UCD Smurfit may not be traditional target schools for London IB, with strategic networking and a strong CV, you can still make a compelling case for yourself.

Sources: Spring Week strategy 2021, Low GPA, trying to get my foot in the door. What do I do?, Trinity vs Smurfit MSc in Management/Marketing, How screwed am I if I didn't get a spring week offer? first year from a non-target (but reputable) university from London, Apply to spring weeks before or after starting uni?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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I'm Irish working in London so can comment on this.

It is definitely possible, however only from a limited number of courses. This is unlike the UK where the university you go to is enough to land a top role.

1. Economics and Finance in UCD is the best and places several students in IB roles in London. It has a 1 year internship programme in the middle of it where the top Irish corporate finance/private equity/trading/credit firms recruit from. However, I'd be aiming for 625 points in the leaving cert to get into this course. 

2. Trinity would be second. Degrees from here that could get you to IB in London are MSISS, BESS, as well as some combination of mathematics/economics. However, there is no year-long internship programme as part of this course so you have to find your own internship. This might be a better option if you can't get 625 points for UCD.

3. BSc Finance in UCC. This is less of a target than the other two, but it still places some students in London. Like UCD, they have a great internship programme as part of the course. 

Of course, going to a top London target like Oxbridge/LSE would increase your chances but it is certainly not necessary. Have a look on LinkedIn and you can see all of the Irish people working in investment banks in London.

 

These are all good courses (although don’t know anyone in London from UCC). Commerce in UCD yoy should consider also. They do an annual trip to London which you can apply to if your Gpa is reasonable.

Major help in getting to London is contacting the alumni network and I believe UCD trumps all others in that regard.

Best of luck.

 

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