Hello Monkeys,
I’m currently in my final year studying Finance at a non-target university in Ireland. I’ve completed two internships: one in consulting and the other in a treasury dealer role. I received a return offer from the treasury internship, but it’s a 3.5-year graduate program, and there’s no guarantee I’d get exposure to the Sales & Trading (S&T) side of the treasury division.
I’ve also applied to Warwick Business School’s MSc Finance and received a scholarship. I applied to Imperial’s MSc Finance, but I’m still waiting to hear back (though I’m not overly optimistic).
My ultimate goal is to break into an S&T role in London. Given the options in front of me, should I take the graduate job offer or pursue the Warwick MSc Finance program?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, pursuing the MSc Finance at Warwick Business School (WBS) seems like the better option for your goal of breaking into Sales & Trading (S&T) in London. Here's why:
Warwick's Reputation: WBS is a well-regarded target school in the UK, especially for finance roles. Its MSc Finance program has strong placement records in London, including S&T roles.
Networking Opportunities: The MSc program will give you access to alumni networks, career fairs, and recruitment events that are critical for breaking into competitive fields like S&T.
Graduate Program Limitations: The 3.5-year graduate program in treasury might not provide the direct exposure to S&T you’re seeking, and it could pigeonhole you into a less relevant career path.
Scholarship Advantage: Receiving a scholarship for Warwick reduces the financial burden, making it a more attractive option.
Imperial Uncertainty: While Imperial is another strong option, waiting for their decision might delay your planning. Warwick is already a solid choice with a scholarship in hand.
To maximize your chances, focus on networking aggressively during the MSc program, securing internships, and targeting S&T-specific roles.
Sources: MSc in Economics to get into S&T, How to break into S&T as a graduate?, London Advice on current situation and transition to IBD/S&T, MSc Finance Warwick vs Nova SBE vs ESSEC, Which masters to choose?
Masters sounds like a no brainer to me, particularly if you got a scholarship.
Take the Warwick MSc and scholarship. Warwick graduates are plentiful in the City ;)
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