RSM vs ESCP vs SSE vs Bayes as a not native and stay in that market?
Italian, graduated 2025 from an Italian non-target, Economics. 95/110 (≈3.4 GPA), 110/110 average in my final year, which I flag on my CV. GRE 318 (161Q / 157V), TOEFL 105.
Languages: Italian native, Spanish native, English fluent. Putting this up top because I think it's the most relevant thing about my profile and I want to know if I'm reading that right.
One year of experience, project management at an Italian startup — not finance.
Extracurriculars: member then VP of my local Junior Enterprise, founded the Finance Club at my university (50+ members, small school).
Bocconi and Tier 1s are off the table with my numbers, I know, save it.
Applying R1, shortlist is:
- Bayes MSc Finance — the only one that seems to actually open London
- RSM Finance & Investments — Rotterdam, good school but i know nothing of Dutch
- SSE MSc Finance — Stockholm, same as Rotterdam
- ESCP MiM — priciest, unclear ROI to me since it doesnt really target london, and its kinda of a wishy washy unclear path with all the cities, it would be useless to pay that much just to get back in italy...
I don't speak Swedish or Dutch nor French and but I do not want to go back to Italy. Native Italian + native Spanish and Fluent English feels like it's only monetisable in London, on Italy or Iberia coverage. Is that right, or am I overrating it?
I wanted a quick rating and check of these unis, what would you guys do in my situation?
Thank you
For me has to be either RSM or SSE. Both are good, strong academically and cheap! Amsterdam is decent to find a finance job without dutch and only english. Stockholm needs swedish to succeed and is a smaller market so you might take a risk to end up back in Italy afterwards. Bayes absolute non target while ESCP is a target only in france (more than 90% of its reach) and you need fluent french to find a job in France.
You cannot get into IB/PE/Consulting without speaking Dutch in Netherlands (from my experience as a Spanish person who did my bachelor there).
Also for internationals studying in RSM its useless because the network/brand name is only in the Netherlands. They'd have to learn Dutch for integrating into society too
Absolutely nuts comment... you don't need Dutch in the Netherlands to find a job in contrast to ESCP or SSE where respectively French and Swedish is key (or you end jobless)!
I’m working ER as an intern at the best firm for ER in the Netherlands. And I’ve networked enough in amsterdams finance scene to tell you that even if you’re not Dutch you can still break in but you have to be locked in.
Obv Dutch helps - but I know so many people who don’t speak Dutch and have FO roles (like my whole team)
I’ve met people at ABN, ING, Citi, VLK, Rabo, etc… and none of them speak Dutch.
Pay is good, life quality is good, not the craziest market but it is possible to break into it.
Escp MiM by a big margin. They place really well in London, especially italians who go there, which gives a strong network to target. Plus you get the UK graduate visa for off cycles.
Yes italian + bocconi or escp is a very strong combination for London because of the alumni network there with this exact combination.
The rest are of course good schools but to maximise outcomes this is the best.
Totally disagree. ESCP is only a target in france full stop... Avoid it
ESCP top, rsm or sse next but you don't speak either Dutch or a nordic language so think of the value.
Bayes you can forget. It's low semi target at max despite being in London
ESCP & Bayes > Rest
Know lots of good job outcomes from both of those programs.
Absolutely stupid comment doesn't know anything
I have not heard many good things from the french business schools apart from HEC. ESCP / ESSEC, might also be questionable.
Personally I would go to SSE. Why? Less investment, good reputation, Finance not Management & Stockholm is a nice place.
You talked about Bocconi & Tier 1, but what about IE / IESE?
I was actually thinking about IE and IESE, the thing is: I am not really interested in the Spanish market and I might just stay in italy at that point. I'm not sure though. What would you say about them? Surely working in IB in Spain is still better than not working in IB in Italy lol.
IE is absolute crap. Worst ROI of europe... IESE is good for an MBA that's it. ESADE is slightly better yet still the issue of the ROI (very expensive degrees for what you get and given the salaries after in spain....).....
Personally would say ESCP, I went to Bayes and did manage to land an IB offer but that was mostly because of prior internships. The people who do break in from Bayes already have good experience but coming from a non target and with no prior finance internships it won’t help IMO. Can’t speak for the other schools.
worst possible advice 😵💫
ESCP > SSE >> RSM >>> Bayes
SSE is vastly superior to RSM and Bayes.
lol
What did you decide OP?
I think either ESCP or SSE. I don't think I can get into SSE with my profile actually, so I'll try to get the GMAT next month and see what I get before applying... ESCP is the most realistic one (and arguably the best one on the list), but it really costs a lot... I'll have to get a loan for it (and a big one).
Worst case scenario: Either I decide to do another bachelor and change career since i also like Engineering, or I'll go to a local semi Target (LUISS).
It is not the best one at all... lol
Im also putting Escp as the best choice but targeting a broad range of schools in Europe. Are you aiming for any in Germany? Lmk if I can dm
rsm ans sse great value but weak placement in ldn. escp very strong placement with the gap year to build some experience and target a good summer/oc in ldn
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