Switzerland
Switzerland - Zurich or Geneva?
schools for finance roles:
looking to apply for my masters in Switzerland, what do you think is the best way to get into high finance?
this is the list of schools I've developed and my opinion on them, anything I'm missing?
1. ETH - overall the best
2. UZH - great thanks to the location in Zurich and connections with banks
3. ST. Gallen - Best private school, great networking opportuinities
4. EPFL - good for quantitative roles but held back by location + network?
Due to the lack of content regarding this country, I'm not sure what to think about its industry. I'm sure it offers the best wellbeing opportunities long-term. but is it the place to be from a deal-flow point of view? what about quant roles? is it that behind the other centers?
which finance sector would be the best to get into where I can grow having zero connections, just a lot to drive, as of right now?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your query:
ETH Zurich: This is indeed a top choice for finance roles, especially for quantitative positions. The MSc in Quantitative Finance is highly regarded and offers strong technical training. Its location in Zurich, a major financial hub, provides excellent networking and job placement opportunities.
University of Zurich (UZH): UZH benefits significantly from its location in Zurich, which is home to many banks and financial institutions. While it may not have the same prestige as ETH, its proximity to the financial industry makes it a solid choice.
St. Gallen (HSG): Known as the best private school in Switzerland for finance, HSG offers excellent networking opportunities and strong placement in high finance roles. Its MSc in Finance and MSc in Quantitative Economics are particularly noteworthy.
EPFL: While EPFL is strong for quantitative roles due to its MSc in Financial Engineering, its location in Lausanne may limit networking opportunities compared to Zurich. However, it remains a solid option for those targeting technical finance roles.
Industry Insights:
Additional Notes:
Let me know if you'd like further clarification or additional recommendations!
Sources: Complete European master guide for S&T/Quant position, So you want to be a Quant?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/complete-european-master-guide-for-stquant-position?customgpt=1, Finance Career Path & List, Here are the Target Undergraduate Schools in Canada
All the schools you listed are great schools, but depending on your criteria I would change the list. If the explicit goal is to get a job in high finance, I think St Gallen should be the top choice for IB and PE from european brand recognition standpoint. Also being at a smaller school like that should help with your networking outreach success. Unless you are going for quant or something technical, then ETH is your best bet, have a bunch of friends going there for masters next year and they are extremely sharp in physics and maths. Also depends where you want to live obviously. EPFL is probably not the best bet to get into "high finance" out of those choices, but Lausanne is pretty awesome. Do not know much about UZH but as you said being in Zurich should be helpful for landing a job in Zurich.
Also commenting on your other points, Zurich vs Geneva will be personal taste, finance is more established in Zurich obviously, but I personally love the French side/culture more and Geneva is for my taste a better place to live, but that will come down to personal preferences and language skills and they are both very nice places. If you speak French or Swiss German or would rather learn one or the other that may play into the choice.
As far as what sector to go into that is all personal choice/preference. Zurich/Geneva has all major umbrella types of finance and you could be successful in each. It comes down to what you want to do. If you are technical and want to keep being technical then become a quant and go to ETH, if you more prefer deal-making and businessy aspects then go into IB/PE and attend St Gallen. If you are into other things then go into other things.
St. Gallen is not a private school, it simply sells itself as a business school. All schools you listed are either owned by the federal government or the cantons.
IB/PE/Accounting/Business/Management/Consulting -> St. Gallen
Trading/Quant Finance/Asset Management -> ETH (or ETH/UZH Quant Finance Master which is organised jointly with University of Zurich), UZH is also fine in this area, EPFL has a master in financial engineering
Economics: University of Zurich
Networking: St. Gallen has a wide alumni network and the firms come to the campus and most students have the business school mindset, ETH gets some visits from firms but it isn’t a well organised and frequented as St Gallen, students are nerdier, UZH and EPFL have a few networking events (honestly the lineup is sometimes disappointing), it is up to you to go out and make connections
Best Brand Names: St. Gallen for Finance/Business (especially in German speaking Europe but also London), ETH for STEM (well known around the world)
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