MBA vs Master's in Finance (MiF)

Hi all, newbie here and this is my first post—would love to get your thoughts on a big decision I'm planning to make in the next year.

I'm currently working in regional private equity in Southeast Asia in the last 3 years. Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Econ in late 2021, with a 3.55 GPA from a top university in my country (ranked in the 40–50 range in Asia, though not well known globally). I passed CFA L1 in 2023 and am now studying for the GMAT, targeting a high 700+ score to crank up my profile.

My main goal for pursuing graduate studies is to use it as a steppingstone to transition into a top-tier IB or PE firm in major financial hubs (HK, SG, NY, etc.). From my convo with colleagues and what I've seen on forums, the general consensus seems to lean toward an MBA as the more traditional route.

However, I find myself more inclined toward MiF, mainly for the following reasons:

1. Shorter duration and lighter on my pocket (typically 1–1.5 years)
2. Stronger focus on finance—I tend to prefer specialization over a generalist approach
3. Still offers decent networking opportunities, although I understand the alumni reach may not be as strong as an MBA’s

Although, my main concern is that the MiF isn't a common route into top-tier IB/PE roles, and may be less effective for breaking in compared to an MBA. Also, most MiF cohorts tend to be younger (23–24), and I’m turning 27 this year (‘98 kid), so there’s that age dynamic too. Hence, I think this is where MBA excels.

For context, these are the schools I'm currently considering:

• MIT Sloan – MiF, MBA
• Wharton – MBA
• Oxford (SBS) – MiF, MBA
• LBS – MiF, MBA

Your suggestions/advises on choosing between MiF and MBA are most welcome. Many thanks.