Master in Sustainable Finance — Profile Evaluation

I am an international student set to graduate with an Economics degree and a 2.8 GPA from a semi-target US university (think Georgetown, Notre Dame, USC) after the pandemic did a number on me. I'm giving you the very basic explanation in that I kept moving from dodgy place to dodgy place in a new country, knowing that I couldn't really go back to my parents during the time. Had mental and physical health issues and, well, you get the gist of it.

I have a 760 GMAT, however. And over the last year or so I have become pretty committed to the idea that I want to be doing some work in the environmental finance/ESG field. I have a sophomore MM internship and a junior small PE internship under my name, as well as a US national prize for an entrepreneurship project I was part of a team for. As such, and knowing my options to break into IB/PE/VC are very limited at this point, I'm evaluating my options to take a Master in Sustainable Finance or in a related field.

Here are some options I am looking at (looking for real opinions, feel free to be brutal):

1. HEC Paris — Master in Sustainability and Social Innovation
2. ESADE — Master of Science in Sustainability Management
3. UCD — MSc in Sustainable Finance
4. University of Exeter — MSc Sustainable Finance and Climate Change

I'm also looking at some Master in Finance programs that offer concentrations in sustainable finance, although I am aware that these programs will be harder to get into.

2 Comments
 

I would choose continental European universities (HEC, ESADE) only if you speak the local languages and want to work there.

Otherwise I would pick a UK uni with a strong brand name:

- Imperial's MSc Climate Change, Management & Finance
- LSE MSc Environmental Economics and Climate Change
- UCL MSc Climate Change

With these you’ll be able to join Impact VC funds or work in sustainability consulting.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”