LSE Diploma in Accounting and Finance or Master's?

Hi everyone,

For a bit of context, I am a final year undergrad student and recently accepted an IBD SA 2023 offer. I come from a non-finance background from a UK uni. HR told me that if I am successful in the internship, I will join the FT analyst class of '24 in June/July, so I will essentially have a 10-month waiting period.

As such, I have to do a Master's programme (to buy a recruitment cycle in case I do not convert + to do something productive for 10 months), but because I have no finance academic experience, I think it is highly unlikely that I will be accepted into a Master's programme at LSE (they are essentially the only uni having a 9-month Master's programme). I'm instead considering going for the Diploma in Accounting and Finance. 

Are there any other alternative options that I am missing? Perhaps I should shoot my shot at the 9-month Master's instead? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

7 Comments
 

LBS is also probably feasible? Also the school will value your SA

Not to say 'only' finance experience is gonna be valued for the LSE Msc finance... definitely plenty of people from different backgrounds. Good grades will matter though. 

 

OP here: thanks for the tip, but LBS's program is too long (12 months). I'm predicted a First Class + high firsts in Maths modules, but not sure if that's enough.

Interestingly, MSc Finance does not require any knowledge of finance at all (apart from A Level Maths), but MSc Accounting and Finance require substantial exposure... perhaps I ought to apply straight to the MSc Finance even if it's substantially more competitive (like 6% acceptance).

 

Would also consider doing a masters in a non-finance related subject! Your IBD SA would still get you interviews regardless. London IB classes are getting more and more diverse in terms of academic background as time goes on.

Even better if your masters relates to your undergrad, you could craft a pretty compelling story that it was your plan all along to do the masters out of academic interest.

Would avoid the diploma if I were you.

 

OP here: thanks for the advice but all the master's programmes which are related to my course are 12+ months in length, so unfortunately they don't fit. LSE is essentially the only viable option.

 
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