Mid-level UK business school for MiM or...?
Hi all, would really appreciate some advice on my work/study situation
I'm a UK citizen from London who graduated from the University of Leeds in 2022 with a mid-2:1 in International Relations. No real quant background (just basic maths), but I have just under 2 years' experience in the capital markets policy team at one of the UK's/Europe's major finance trade bodies (think AFME, UK Finance, The Investment Association)
I've been considering starting a master's this September to strengthen my profile. I could probably have got into LSE, Imperial, UCL or Warwick for an MSc Management, but they're £40k+ and there are basically no scholarships left this late in the cycle. I also can't apply for MSc Finance because I don't have the required finance/maths background
So far I've received offers from Bath, Nottingham and Exeter for MSc Management, plus Bayes and Henley for MSc Real Estate (Henley gave me a £2k scholarship). Still waiting on Lancaster and Cranfield for MSc Management
Most courses are around £15k-20k, but Bath has offered me a £5k scholarship, bringing tuition down from £18.9k to £13.9k. With the £13k UK Gov postgraduate loan, I'd basically only be paying living costs out of pocket while repaying the masters fee alongside my bachelors fee only when I am earning over a certianly salary.
Long term, I'm not interested in investment banking. I'd much rather work in wealth management/private banking, energy project finance, corporate/business development, or potentially real estate capital markets, asset management or PE if I went down the real estate route.
The job market has been pretty rough. I left my previous role to travel earlier this year and haven't managed to land anything for this September, which is why I'm now seriously considering a master's. I'm fully aware that just having the degree won't be enough and I'd need to get a distinction, join relevant societies, network hard and secure internships where possible.
Given my background and career goals, do you think the master's (especially Bath at effectively no out of pokcet tuition cost) is my best option? Or would I be better off spending the next month trying to break into a boutique wealth management/private banking firm in London by networking and cold emailing instead? Bear in mind I would like to find something to start by late August/September after travelling and returning to London
Would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!
