Opinions? Cambridge REF Masters V.S. No Masters
What I currently do - valuations & advisory intern at Colliers Paris working across all asset types in both French and English for large clients. I will most likely be accepted into the Colliers London summer internship programme which I hope will be spent in their capital markets team - I have been in talks with a Director there and he seems open to this.
I have just been accepted into the Cambridge Real Estate Finance Masters (10 months) which I am ecstatic about seen as I had nearly no relevant finance experience (3 years of residential real estate agency in Central London only) and okay undergrad (First in Business Management at King's College, London). Important to note that I was accepted at Colliers after receiving my offer from Cambridge so I felt as though my CV was not competitive whatsoever although my cover letter was strong.
Truth is, I'm not entirely sure what I want to go into. I know for sure valuations is not for me although It's teaching me valuable skills for real estate modelling etc.. I think I'd like to go into an investment team/capital markets/IB/PE but without having any prior exposure to this, it seems silly to say that this is what I want/need. I feel as though the technical side is what I am lacking, I'd like to think I am charismatic and therefore interview well (which is what landed me my current role with zero prior experience) but I am weary of trying to break into an industry which will require very strong analytical skills.
This is therefore my dilemna:
Option 1: Finish my contract at Colliers, do the summer internship programme in London and then do the Cambridge Masters with hopes of breaking into the above which will involve yet another year of no income and studying or
Option 2: Finish colliers contract and do summer internship but skip the Masters and try leverage my current experience to either lateral elsewhere or work my way internally within Colliers. Will 6 months in Colliers valuations + a cap markets internship be remotely competitive enough to do this?
Bearing in mind I am 25, will graduate my masters at 26 if that changes anything.
Would really appreciate any advice whatsoever.
Many thanks
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your situation and the potential paths:
Option 1: Cambridge REF Masters
Pros:
Cons:
Option 2: Skip the Masters
Pros:
Cons:
Key Considerations:
Your Career Goals: If you’re set on breaking into IB/PE or top-tier investment teams, the Cambridge Masters could provide the technical foundation and credibility you need. However, if you’re open to staying in capital markets or transitioning internally within Colliers, skipping the Masters might be a viable option.
Networking: Regardless of the path you choose, networking will be critical. Use your time at Colliers and Cambridge (if you choose the Masters) to build relationships with professionals in your target roles.
Financial Situation: If the financial strain of another year without income is manageable, the Masters could be a worthwhile investment. If not, focusing on leveraging your current experience might be the better choice.
Recommendation:
If you’re unsure about your long-term goals and feel that your technical skills are a significant gap, the Cambridge Masters is a strong option. It will give you time to refine your career direction, build technical expertise, and expand your network. However, if you’re confident in your ability to leverage your current experience and network effectively, skipping the Masters and focusing on gaining more practical experience could also work.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your risk tolerance, financial situation, and how strongly you feel about needing the technical skills and brand recognition that the Masters would provide.
I really recommend this Masters. If you want to have a career in real estate, then it has a high ROI. Especially if your alternative is Colliers grad scheme.
As for the age point: well, you will be 26 one way or another. You will have some classmates with a few years of experience.
Thank you for taking the time to reply in depth - I truly appreciate it. I think you've made a very good case as to why I should just do it - I do feel as though I may regret not doing it later down the line especially if I ever feel like my career is stagnating. I was also awarded a scholarship to Reading for real estate investment but I think Cambridge is the right choice despite Reading's alumni pool being so much bigger. I'm also considering making a move back to Paris in the future as most of my family live there and I think the Cambridge brand will go a lot further than Reading seen as the French can be hugely snobby when it comes to education paths.
With my future CV come graduation (Cambridge REF + Colliers valuations + colliers capmarkets summer analyst), would you recommend circumventing graduate scheme roles and aiming straight for analyst positions? This summer internship at Colliers fast tracks me to the final round of interviews for the graduate scheme but the pay is pretty terrible considering I am taking on decent debt + debt from undergrad. The only redeeming factor for me is that you spend those two years working towards your RICS accreditation, would this be a plus in the future or would you say it isn't worth the bother to work in REPE/etc...?
Any other advice you may have to best position myself before my masters and during would be immensely appreciated. Thanks again for the above.
You will get a sense of the various RE firms in London while at REF. Do attend as many dinners with alumni in Cambridge and London as you can. Get the guest lists - you have names and companies there. Try to apply directly to those companies. REF MPhil should get you at least a coffee chat or interview.
During summer focus on getting very good at Excel modelling. Especially things like modelling a rent roll for multitenant office or retail assets. I dont have any programmes to recommend here, but there should be some good online courses like WSO.
Books:
The MPhil is a significant booster to your career trajectory and I do think that it is worth the tuition fees. If you think about it, your standard 1st full yr analyst bonus should cover that (+/-).
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